Fairfield and Westchester Counties
DOCTORS of DISTINCTION
Saluting those who go beyond the diagnosis
2021
VIRTUAL EVENT
SEPT. 23 AT 5:30 PM See page 3 for photo identifications.
PRESENTED BY
Fairfield and Westchester Counties
DOCTORS of DISTINCTION
Saluting those who go beyond the diagnosis
2021
WELCOME to the eighth annual Westchester and Faifield County Doctors of Distinction awards and a special welcome to our 2021 honorees who are joining us this evening. This year’s recipients are being recognized for their dedication, expertise, accomplishments and compassionate care. You will be inspired by their stories and their passion for the medical profession. Congratulations to all doctors and especially our 2021 honorees.
VIRTUAL EVENT
SEPT. 23 AT 5:30PM
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Yale New Haven Health congratulates the 2021 Doctors of Distinction, including our own. 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award
2021 Best Team
Nabil Atweh, MD
Herbert Archer, MD, PhD Sauda Bholat, MD Tracy-Ann Clarke-Leconte, MD Wendy Cleare, MD, PhD Ryan Dadasovich, MD Jing Du, MD, PhD Tao Du, MD, PhD Joseph Feuerstein, MD Taimur Habib, MD Catherine Joyce, MD Tro Kalayjian, DO Chineye Kalu, APRN Mary Kane-Brock, MD Michael Liu, MD Peter Liu, MD Matthew Lubin, MD Beitris McKeon, PA Irem Nasir, MD Qaayam Pabani, MD
Chairman of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief Bridgeport Hospital
2021 Health Executive of the Year Patricia Calayag, MD Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology Greenwich Hospital
Greenwich Hospital Hospitalists James Pallett, MD Tara Parmelee, PA Valeria Pazo, MD Ernest Retland, MD Muhammad Shah, MD Nidhi Shah, MD Omair Sheikh, DO Steven Smith, MD Miriam Sussman, PA Natalya Teslya, MD Pavel Teslya, MD Unnikrishnan Thampy, MD Alison Thompson, MD, MBA Morana Vojnic, MD Jill Waldman, MD Maia Weed, APRN Litchia Weber, MD William Weber, MD Kathryn Yunkovic, PA
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THANK YOU
TO OUR SPONSORS BENEFITING SPONSOR:
PRESENTING SPONSORS:
HEALTH CARE LEADERS:
HEALTH CARE PARTNERS:
M E DIC A L
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CONGRATULATIONS ELAINE HEALY, MD 2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
For her extraordinary career as a geriatric clinician, healthcare administrator, and medical educator and her national leadership and advocacy in long-term and post-acute care. Thank you for leading the way in delivering excellence.
Elaine Healy, Vice President, Medical Affairs and Medical Director United Hebrew of New Rochelle
Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation • Willow Towers Assisted Living • Willow Gardens Memory Care Certified Home Health Agency • Meadow Lane and Soundview Senior Apartments
www.uhgc.org 914-632-2804 5
2021 HONOREES CUTTING EDGE James J. Harding, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Richard C. Frank, Nuvance Health LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Elaine Healy, United Hebrew of New Rochelle Nabil Atweh, Bridgeport Hospital Yale New Haven Health CARING FOR ALL Karen Murray, Open Door Family Medical Center, New York Medical College Lauren Bader, Darien Pediatric Associates NO LAND TOO FAR Sudhir Vaidya, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital Allison Ostroff, Stamford Health Medical Group FEMALE TRAILBLAZER Amy Ahasic, Nuvance Health Virna Lisi-DeMartino, CareMount Medical HEALTH EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR Patricia Calayag, Westmed Medical Group POWER COUPLE Andreas Gomoll & Sabrina Strickland, HSS Stamford TELEHEALTH Nuvance Health Telehealth team, Nuvance Health ALL IN THE FAMILY William Higgins & Ellen Higgins, New York-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital OUTSTANDING NURSE Silvana Cardona, Stamford Hospital Mary Hartnett, Sarah Lawrence College Dina Valenti, Americares PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE Mathias E. Palmer, The Mayo Clinic, New York Medical College TEAM White Plains Hospital, White Plains, NY Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich, CT
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Keeping Families Close®
Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley provides access to quality healthcare for children and programs that provide the resources families need to help them cope better and ease the emotional and financial burdens they experience when faced with their child’s illness. Located on the grounds of Westchester Medical Center, just steps away from Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, the 12-bedroom House serves as a home-awayfrom-home to families during their child’s medical treatment.
BECAUSE WHEN A CHILD IS SICK, THE ENTIRE FAMILY NEEDS COMFORT AND SUPPORT. As partners in enabling family centered care, Ronald McDonald House strives to bridge access to quality health care and strengthen families during difficult times. Increasing the caregiver’s ability to remain close to their child, interact with their clinical care team and participate in critical medical care decisions. Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. EIN: 35-2181050 | 80 Woods Road, Valhalla, NY 10595 | (914) 493-6455 www.rmh-ghv.org
Celebrating 10 Years
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
CUTTING EDGE JAMES J. HARDING
Assistant Attending and Assistant Professor Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Harrison and New York, New York
Dr. Harding graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2007, completed his internal medicine residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College and hematology and oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He joined the Gastrointestinal Oncology and Early Drug Development Services at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2013, and now as a national expert in hepatobiliary malignancies Dr. Harding’s research aims to develop better treatments for these rare malignancies through the design of scientifically rational Phase I/II clinical trials. His research and training have been supported by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the National Institutes of Health, the American Association for Cancer Research and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
RICHARD C. FRANK
Chair of Cancer Research Nuvance Health Connecticut
Dr. Frank is the chair of cancer research for Nuvance Health and oversees cancer clinical trials, including original research in pancreatic cancer. He has more than 25 years of experience in medical oncology and hematology and specializes in pancreatic, gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancers such as prostate, kidney and bladder cancer as well as lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In addition to caring for patients at Norwalk Hospital, where he helped launched its cancer research program 20 years ago, he is a consultant in medical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He received The Humanitarian Award from the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society and authored the book titled “Fighting Cancer with Knowledge and Hope.”
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Congratulations
DR. PATRICIA CALAYAG Chief Medical Officer at Westmed Medical Group
Westmed is proud to congratulate Dr. Patricia Calayag who is being recognized as Health Executive of the Year. Her commitment to excellence makes it possible for us to deliver comprehensive, lifelong care to the patients we serve in Westchester and Fairfield counties. Learn more at westmedgroup.com/leadership 9
2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
SEPTEMBER 23 | 5:30 P.M.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT ELAINE HEALY
Vice President of Medical Affairs United Hebrew of New Rochelle New Rochelle, New York
Dr. Healy FACP, CMD, is the vice president of medical affairs at United Hebrew of New Rochelle, a campus of comprehensive senior care, which offers supportive health care services, including skilled nursing and rehabilitation, assisted living and memory care. Dr. Healy is board certified in internal, geriatric and hospice and palliative medicine and is a clinical assistant professor of medicine at New York Medical College. She has been actively involved in medical education, physician leadership and patient advocacy throughout her career. At United Hebrew she has helped to lead the national conversation on Covid-19 in nursing homes. She oversaw the management of the coronavirus response and as acting president of the New York Medical Director’s Association in 2020, she gave the first national presentation on the management of outbreaks at the annual meeting of the American Medical Directors Association. Since then, she co-authored the first peerreviewed medical article and wrote about the impact of Covid-19 in nursing homes for the Hospice Association of America.
NABIL ATWEH
Surgeon in Chief and Chair, Department of Surgery Yale New Haven Health-Bridgeport Hospital
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Dr. Atweh, a graduate of the American University of Beirut, received surgery training from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, and fellowship training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. After serving as an assistant professor of surgery at the American University of Beirut, Atweh joined SUNY-Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. In 1991, he joined Bridgeport Hospital as first chief of the newly developed section of trauma, burn and surgical critical care for which the hospital received verification as a level one trauma center and a verified burn center by the American College of Surgeons. In 2001, Atweh was appointed surgeon in chief and chair of the Department of Surgery at Bridgeport Hospital, and associate chair of surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery and urology at Yale New Haven Health. Atweh has more than 50 publications in medical journals and many teaching awards, but surgical education is his passion. Bridgeport Hospital is naming The Center for Simulation and Wellness in his name.
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Congratulations to our White Plains Hospital Hospitalists Team for receiving the 2021 Doctors of Distinction Team Award And all of tonight’s other honorees
and to Dr. Elaine Healy, for being honored with the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
CARING FOR ALL KAREN MURRAY
Senior Medical Director and Department Head for Women's Health Open Door Family Medical Center New York Medical College
Westchester county Dr. Karen Murray is a graduate of the 1999 Class at New York Medical College and the Metropolitan (MHC)/Westchester (WMC) ob/gyn residency program Class 2003. Originally from Jamaica, West Indies, she has been caring for immigrants during her entire practice. She spent 15-plus years working full time at MHC in Spanish Harlem and then moved on to Open Door Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center where for 10-plus years she continued to care for the immigrant population in Westchester. “As an immigrant myself, I have seen firsthand the need for care of immigrants,” she says.
LAUREN BADER
Pediatrician Darien Pediatric
Darien, Connecticut Dr. Lauren Bader spent the first seven years of her medical journey in Westchester, attending New York Medical College in Valhalla and completing her pediatric residency at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. She achieved her undergraduate studies in neuroscience, graduating magna cum laude from Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. Today, she primarily works in private practice at Darien Pediatric Associates while also serving as a pediatric hospitalist at Norwalk Hospital, through the pediatric department of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. She teaches and precepts first- and second-year medical students from her alma mater. Board certified in pediatrics and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Bader also has an interest in medical ethics and serves as a consultant for the Connecticut State Department of Public Health.
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NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital proudly congratulates
Dr. William Higgins and Ellen Higgins
for being recognized as this year’s All in the Family Doctors of Distinction recipients. We thank you for your compassionate and devoted care, and for extending yourself above and beyond during unprecedented challenges.
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
NO LAND TOO FAR SUDHIR VAIDYA
Attending Physician Burke Rehabilitation Hospital
White Plains, New York Dr. Vaidya earned his medical degree in 1979 in India and subsequently obtained board certifications in family medicine, sports medicine, pain medicine and wound healing. He has practiced medicine for more than 40 years in such disparate locations as India, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States. He joined Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in 1998 and has devoted much of his time and talents to teaching medical students, residents and fellows in the US and India earning awards for his teaching. He volunteers in his native India and New York for the benefit of disabled individuals.
ALLISON OSTROFF
Director, Division of Geriatrics Stamford Health Medical Group
Stamford, Connecticut
Dr. Ostroff is a geriatrician who trained at Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Yale and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She found her love of older adults through her close relationship with her grandmother and some unique patient interactions while in medical school. She has created three geriatric assessment centers in Greenwich, Stamford and Wilton as well as developed an inpatient geriatrics service at Stamford hospital. She has seven-year-old twin girls, a wonderful husband and loves to take nature walks, exercise and travel.
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How You Move Is Why We’re Here. Congratulations to
Dr. Andreas H. Gomoll Sports Medicine
Dr. Sabrina M. Strickland Sports Medicine
and all the Doctors of Distinction 2021 Honorees.
Stamford 15
2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
FEMALE TRAILBLAZER AMY M. AHASIC
Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medical Director of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Nuvance Health
Norwalk, Connecticut Dr. Amy M. Ahasic, MPH, FCCP, ATSF, a board-certified pulmonary and critical care medicine specialist, is chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine and the medical director of pulmonary rehabilitation at Norwalk Hospital. She has had advanced training in occupational and environmental medicine and earned a master’s degree in public health. Dr. Ahasic is co-chair of the Joint American College of Chest Physicians/American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Committee. She received an Inspiration Award from the American Medical Association and is one of 18 female physician leaders in the United States selected to participate on the Women’s Wellness Through Equity and Leadership (WEL) Project, a collaborative effort among leading medical associations.
VIRNA LISI-DEMARTINO
Radiologist, Chair of theDepartment of Radiology Caremount Medical Group Mount Kisco, New York
Dr. Lisi-DeMartino, a specialist in women’s imaging and breast procedures, started at CareMount in 2007 directly after completing her training. She considers herself very lucky to have started her career at a place like CareMount where she is able to get to know and help women in her own community. She says focusing on breast cancer screening at CareMount has been an extremely rewarding career where she has been able to grow as a person and physician with a tremendous amount of support and resources. She was vice chair of the Department of Radiology before becoming the chair in 2019.
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
HEALTH EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR PATRICIA CALAYAG
Chief Medical Officer Westmed Medical Group
Westchester County, New York, and Fairfield County, Connecticut Dr. Calayag, who joined Westmed in 2008, has been serving as chief medical officer of Westmed Medical Group since July 2021. In this position she is responsible for overseeing all clinical programs at Westmed and ensuring quality patient care for Westmed’s 350,000 patients in Westchester and Fairfield counties. Previously, she was appointed deputy medical director in 2018 and managed the implementation of Westmed’s patient-experience initiative. Over the last year, Dr. Calayag has spearheaded the cross departmental expansion of Westmed’s telehealth offering, which now includes virtual access to nearly all of Westmed’s medical specialties. Tasked with leading the clinical teams toward the future of high-quality health care delivery, Dr. Calayag has led the adoption of Westmed’s first Remote Patient Monitoring program — My Westmed Connect. This initiative is designed to help patients manage chronic health conditions outside of the exam room through digital innovation and a dedicated team of virtual health coaches. Dr. Calayag attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut for undergraduate studies and graduated with university honors. She earned her medical degree from SUNY- Stony Brook School of Medicine in New York, completed her residency training at Harvard University School of Medicine’s Beth Israel Hospital in Boston where she was also a clinical teaching fellow for Harvard medical school.
POWER COUPLE ANDREAS GOMOLL AND SABRINA STRICKLAND Sports Medicine Orthopedics Surgeons Hospital for Special Surgery New York and Connecticut
Drs. Gomoll and Strickland may be fairly common as physician couples, but the combination of two orthopedic surgeons performing a large number of revision knee surgeries is quite rare. They met at the International Patellofemoral Study Group six years ago and several years later Dr. Gomoll joined Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), which has locations in New York and Connecticut, and shortly thereafter they married. They have combined their clinical research using an online patient study platform, as well as test surgical techniques in the Bioskills Lab and study pathological conditions using 3D printing to discover new surgical innovations. Drs. Gomoll and Strickland enjoy hitting the slopes with their blended family and at home on Twin Lakes in Salisbury, Connecticut, they enjoy water sports and are known to take on rather large gardening and constructions projects like the 125 trees they planted this spring and in 2020 found themselves constructing a new outdoor kitchen when the pandemic limited their options for bringing in a carpenter.
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Hyatt Regency Greenwich is honored to partner with Doctors of Distinction to recognize all of our extraordinary healthcare honorees
1800 East Putnam Avenue Old Greenwich, CT 06870 203.637.1234 19
2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
TELEHEALTH NUVANCE HEALTH TELEHEALTH TEAM Nuvance Health
Hudson Valley, New York, and western Connecticut Nuvance Health is a family of award-winning nonprofit hospitals and health care professionals in the Hudson Valley and western Connecticut. It combines highly skilled physicians, advanced facilities and technology and compassionate caregivers dedicated to providing quality care across a variety of services, including the Cancer Institute, Heart and Vascular Institute, Neuroscience Institute, and orthopedics, primary care and surgery. Nuvance Health hospitals and outpatient locations include Danbury Hospital and its New Milford campus, Norwalk Hospital and Sharon Hospital in Connecticut; Northern Dutchess Hospital, Putnam Hospital and Vassar Brothers Medical Center in New York; and many primary and specialty care practices, including The Heart Center and three urgent care offices. Nuvance Health affiliates offer nonacute care, including home care and the Thompson House for rehabilitation and skilled nursing services. Some of the Nuvance innovators include: • Adam Greenberg, manager and architect, digital innovations • Andrew Pappas, manager, IT project delivery services • Geoffry Hook, chief information officer • Christopher Lehrach, president, Nuvance Health Medical Practice • Albert Villarin, M.D., vice president, chief medical information officer • Walter LeStrange, chief administrative officer
ALL IN THE FAMILY WILLIAM HIGGINS
Vice President, Regional Executive
ELLEN HIGGINS
Medical Director New York Presbyterian Medical Group Westchester County and Hudson Valley
Dr. Bill Higgins and Ellen Higgins, FNP have lived in the Peekskill/Cortlandt area since 1990. Married in 1984, they have one son, Liam who lives with his wife, Victoria, in Westchester. Dr. Bill Higgins is a graduate of George Washington, University Class of 1986, completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in pulmonary medicine in 1991 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, and in 2012, he received his MBA in management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Ellen Higgins received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from CUNY Lehman College in 1983 and went on to receive her Master of Science in Nursing from Pace University in 2001 graduating as a family nurse practitioner. Dr. Higgins currently serves as the vice president and regional executive medical director of the NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group in Westchester and Hudson Valley. He joins his wife in her full-time medical practice with the NYP Medical Group in Cold Spring on Fridays. They have both been active in the geriatric community for many years. Ellen held the position of administrator and nurse practitioner-in-residence at the Seabury Assisted Living and Memory Support Facility in Yorktown from 2005 to 2010. Dr. Higgins was appointed by the Governor of the state of New York to the New York State Council of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in 2009. He continues to serve in that position. The Higgins’ are especially proud to be part of the NYP health care system particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has underscored NYP’s commitment to teamwork, diversity and excellence in care. 20
caremountmedical.com
Congratulations
Virna Lisi-DeMartino, MD Chair of Department of Radiology for being selected as Westfair Communications’ 2021 Westchester County Doctors of Distinction FEMALE TRAILBLAZER
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
OUTSTANDING NURSE SILVANA CARDONA Registered Nurse Stamford Hospital
Stamford, Connecticut Silvana Cardona, a registered nurse at Stamford Hospital in the medical surgical unit for a little over a year already loves her job with a passion. Recently she started a per diem job at Norwalk Hospital to expand her nursing skills and knowledge. She hopes to go back to school to eventually obtain her master’s degree so that she can become a clinical instructor.
MARY HARTNETT
Director, Medical Services Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, New York
Mary Hartnett, RN, BSN, earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia University. She has more than 40 years of nursing experience, the last 20 of which at Sarah Lawrence College where she has held the director position for eight years. She has been instrumental in promoting health initiatives that include health fairs, a smoke-free campus and mindbody health initiatives.
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CONGRATULATIONS
Skilled Burke Therapists and State-of-the-Art Equipment Set Us Apart. Welcome to United Hebrew, the most comprehensive senior care campus in Westchester County. Here you will find innovative and high-tech solutions for your loved one’s needs, along with a compassionate and highly-trained staff that is nationally recognized for quality care. Westchester’s first choice for short-term rehab and senior care. Take a Tour Today.
uhgc.org 914-632-2804 23
2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
OUTSTANDING NURSE DINA VALENTI, RN
Clinic Director Boehringer Ingelheim Americares Free Clinic of Danbury
Danbury, Connecticut Dina Valenti has served as clinic director of the Boehringer Ingelheim Americares Free Clinic of Danbury for over 20 years. Valenti, a registered nurse, oversees the day-to-day operations of the clinic, serving more than 875 low-income, uninsured patients annually. She leads a team of staff and volunteer medical professionals who ensure patients receive comprehensive care, including exams, medications, diagnostic services and laboratory work, free of charge. Americares operates the largest free clinic network in Conn., with four locations serving nearly 3,000 Fairfield County residents per year. In addition to the Danbury location, Americares has clinics in Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford, Conn. A health care professional with more than three decades of experience, Valenti previously served as administrator and director of nursing services at Cornerstone of Eagle Hill where she managed a team of 24 nurses. Over the years, Valenti also held nursing positions at Presbyterian Hospital, Danbury Hospital and Kimberly Quality Care. Valenti earned a nursing degree from St. Vincent’s School of Nursing and has completed training courses in critical care, trauma and open-heart care and HIV counseling.
PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE MATHIAS E. PALMER
Resident Physician The Mayo Clinic New York Medical College Minnesotta
Dr. Palmer grew up in Tacoma, Washington, where he attended Whitman College majoring in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology while volunteering at the SOS Clinic, a free clinic for the underserved. After earning his bachelor’s degree he attended New York Medical College (NYMC) where his passion for medicine flourished. While there he served as a volunteer on the liaison committee and helped develop and implement of the NYMC Covid -9 volunteer response program. Currently he feels blessed with “the incredible opportunity to train in the internal medicine program at the Mayo Clinic.”
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Open Door Congratulates
“Caring for All” Award Honoree
Karen Murray, MD, FACOG Senior Medical Site Director, Ossining Open Door
and all of the 2021 Doctors of Distinction Honorees. Thank you for your outstanding dedication to improving the health and quality of life of our community.
Building healthy, strong communities since 1972. 25
2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
TEAM
WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL White Plains, New York
White Plains Hospital’s (WPH) adult hospitalist team includes more than 45 physicians and nurse practitioners at various stages in their careers. As the leaders of the multidisciplinary team, hospitalists specialize in the care of acutely ill hospitalized patients and coordinate both care and communication among loved ones, surgeons, subspecialists and the patient’s primary care doctor. Providing 24/7, on-site coverage hospitalists are uniquely qualified to treat complicated issues. When WPH admitted its first Covid patient on March 9, 2020, the complex care for Covid victims became the sole focus of the hospitalist team. Many of the hospitalists volunteered to be part of the Covid team, stepping up to provide critical care for the most gravely ill patients right from the start, when confusion and fear over how the virus could spread was very high. The team includes: Sunitha Abraham, NP Archana Alankar, M.D. Nezar Al-Shaikhly M.D. Rodney Ashir, M.D., director Christine Baric, practice manager Daniela Bejinariu, M.D. Anna Belman, M.D. Naveed Chaudhry, MBBS Mona Chiniwala, M.D. Peter Chu, D.O. Jiyon Chung, M.D., associate director Gina Cook, M.D. Rashmi Dubey, M.D. Manuel Fajardo, M.D. Kimberly Farrell, M.D. Ellen Forster-Glazier, NP
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Deanna Frustaglio, office associate Ami Gadiraju, D.O. Jason Goldstein, M.D. Travis Howlette, M.D. Sharon Jokhadze, office associate Dennis Jow, D.O. Ibtesam Khan, D.O. Jenny Kim, DNP Kaushik Kommaraju, D.O. Anu Koshy, NP Kristina Krecko, M.D. Angela Liu, M.D. Benita Mathai, D.O. Cigi Mathew, DNP Loredana Militaru, M.D. Laura Miranda, NP
Farzaneh Mohammadi, M.D. Larry Nasiratu, M.D. Rhea Newton, NP Denise Nicholson, DNP Fotis Niforos, M.D. Mirjam Norris-Nommensen, DNP Lovin Pappy, M.D. Munir Rahbe, M.D. Neelkamal Randhawa, M.D. Elliot Rhee, M.D. Jennifer Schelker, M.D. Shon Sebastian, M.D. Gregory Sebastian, M.D. Albena Tasholova, M.D. Shyam Vadlapatla, M.D Brianna Walko, office coordinator Yue Yu, M.D.
MARY HARTNETT OUTSTANDING NURSE Congratulations to our Director of Medical Services
on being recognized as the extraordinary healthcare provider you are.
Thank you for always working so hard to keep our community safe, well, and informed.
SARAHLAWRENCE.EDU
Bronxville, New York
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speech for an event that was now virtual.” Bonanno was already comfortable with virtual presenting, having been doing webinars since 2008 and recording instructional videos for her YouTube channel, which have been viewed over 2 million times. She also earned the Certified Virtual Presenter designation. To download her Virtual Presentations Cheat Sheet for Leaders, visit her website www.gildabonanno.com/virtualpresentationscheatsheet
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
TEAM
GREENWICH HOSPITAL
Greenwich, Connecticut The hospitalist program at Greenwich Hospital has grown over the past 10 years to a staff of 20 full-time physicians responsible for 70% of hospitalized patients. Over the past 18 months, the importance of a high-quality, stable hospitalist program to community health and hospital functioning has never been greater. During each of the Covid-19 surges, the Greenwich hospitalists responded by rapidly assimilating the latest knowledge on a novel disease, meeting several times a week to ensure a standard approach to management, putting in an average of 50% more time at work and caring for nearly 1,123 individual Covid-19 patients. Over that same time span, they continued to care for a growing population of severely ill patients while improving hospitalwide quality metrics such as reducing readmission rates and reducing the mortality index. Additionally, this year the group took on more responsibility as dedicated educators for the next generation of physicians at Greenwich Hospital.
Herbert Archer, MD, PhD Sauda Bholat , MD Tracy Clarke – Leconte, MD Wendy Cleare, MD, PhD Ryan Dadasovich, MD Jing Du, MD Tao Du, MD, PhD Joseph Feuerstein, MD Taimur Habib, MD Catherine Joyce, MD Tro Kalayjian, DO Chineye Kalu, APRN Mary Kane – Brock , MD
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Michael Liu, MD Peter Liu, MD Matthew Lubin, MD Beitris McKeon, PA Irem Nasir, MD Qaayam Pabani, MD James Pallett, MD Valeria Pazo , MD Ernest Retland, MD Muhammad Shah, MD Nidhi Shah, MD Omair Sheikh , MD Tara Parmelee, PA
Steven Smith, MD Miriam Sussman, PA Natalya Teslya, MD Pavel Teslya, MD Unnikrishnan Thampy, MD Alison Thompson, MD Morana Vojnic, MD Jill Waldman, MD Maia Weed, APRN Litchia Weber, MD William Weber, MD Kathryn Yunkovic, PA
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
JUDGES JANINE MILLER Executive Director Westchester County Medical Society Janine Miller joined the Westchester County Medical Society (WCMC) and the Westchester Academy of Medicine as the executive director in March 2015. Previously, she held positions at Columbia University where over the course of five years she was an assistant to the director and administrator of the LamontDoherty Center for Climate and Life and was an administrator from 2007 to 2010 at the Bronx County Medical Society. At WCMS Miller is in charge of overseeing the day-to-day operations and functions of the administrative office and of the more than 1,000 members. Her roles encompass all of the society functions, including administrative, legislative, meeting organization and overseeing the CME accrediting body through the Academy of Medicine. She works very closely with the WCMS physician Board of Directors and Executive Committee to achieve the goals of the society and academy and has built relationships with community leaders and organizations to further the interests and priorities of the WCMS, its members and New York state physicians. Miller works closely with the Medical Society of the State of New York, New York-based county medical societies, New York specialty societies and business partners in all advocacy efforts to strengthen organized medicine and enhance the value of membership.
DR. CAMELIA LAWRENCE
Director of Breast Surgery The Hospital of Central CT & Midstate Medical Center
Camelia Lawrence, M.D., FACS, is a board-certified surgeon specializing in benign and malignant breast disease. She has fellowship training in advanced breast cancer surgery. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, completed her residency at New York Medical College and then entered her fellowship training in breast surgical oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. She currently serves as director of breast surgery for the Hospital of Central Connecticut and Midstate Medical Center, responsible for further developing their breast programs. Dr. Lawrence serves as assistant professor of surgery at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and holds membership in the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the American Society of Surgical Oncology. Her research interests span a wide array of topics related to breast health, including findings related to health disparities in breast cancer. Additionally, she has traveled to South Africa as a delegate from the United States for the Annual Aortic conference on “Cancer in Africa: Bridging Science and Humanity.” Commitment to public service has earned Dr. Lawrence numerous awards, most recently, the 100 Women of Color Award in Hartford and the Southern Connecticut Black Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the Year Award.
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
BENEFITING SPONSORS
Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley (RMHGHV), located on the grounds of Westchester Medical Center, just steps away from Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, is a 501(c) (3) non profit organization that provides access to quality healthcare for children and programs that provide the resources families need to help them cope better and ease the emotional and financial burdens they experience when faced with their child’s illness. The 12-bedroom House, complete with two full kitchens, a warm-welcoming family room, playroom, fitness room and fully stocked food pantry, serves as a home-away-from-home to families during their child’s medical treatment. Since opening in 2011 RMHGHV has saved over 2,000 families nearly $5,000,000 in out-of-pocket lodging and meal costs but the real impact of the mission is beyond measure as these families find comfort and support in the Ronald McDonald House community. Visit www.rmh-ghv.org for more information.
DISCOVER THE FINEST IN SENIOR LIVING The Bristal Assisted Living has been serving seniors and their families in the tri-state area since 2000, offering independent and assisted living, as well as state-of-the-art memory care programs. We are committed to helping residents remain independent, while providing peace of mind that expert care is available, if needed. Discover a vibrant community, countless social events with new friends, and a luxurious lifestyle that you will only find at The Bristal. SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT TODAY! THE BRISTAL AT ARMONK
90 Business Park Drive | 914.229.2590
Also in Westchester: WHITE PLAINS | 914.215.5820 For a list of all locations in the tri-state area, visit: THEBRISTAL.COM
AN ENGEL BURMAN COMMUNITY
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Licensed by the State Department of Health. Eligible for Most Long Term Care Policies. Equal Housing Opportunity.
2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
PRESENTING SPONSORS
WESTFAIR COMMUNICATIONS INC. A privately held firm based in White Plains, publishes tabloid- sized business newspapers online: the Westchester County Business Journal and the Fairfield County (Connecticut) Business Journal; WAG magazine, a glossy monthly publication judged to be the “Best Magazine in New York State” for the past five years; and News @ Noon, industry-specific newsletters. The Business Journals are more than 60 years old and are the only weekly countywide business newspapers. They were founded by former Westchester resident David Moore, a grandson of celebrated New York publisher Joseph Pulitzer, and John Smith, a former Wall Street Journal editor. In keeping with its founders’ principles, the newspapers focus only on the local business community with news and information that are helpful to businesspeople and profiles on entrepreneurs and professionals, which are inspirational to the readers. The papers have gained credibility and respect in the region for their information, integrity, relevance and usefulness to readers. WAG, a lifestyle magazine with unique upscale content, has become a popular and successful must-read for the savvy residents of Westchester and Fairfield counties. The company also sponsors interactive programs for its readers, some of which are joint-ventured with other businesses or community organizations. These programs cover a variety of subjects and take different forms, including seminars, expos, conferences, roundtable discussions and debates. For more information, visit westfaironline.com, wagmag.com or call 914-694-3600.
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
PRESENTING SPONSORS
Yale New Haven Health: Bridgeport Hospital and Greenwich Hospital Greenwich and Bridgeport Hospitals are members of Yale New Haven Health, Connecticut’s leading healthcare system. Both hospitals are also academic affiliates of Yale School of Medicine. Bridgeport Hospital is a 501-bed acute care, not-for-profit hospital with two campuses and an additional 42 beds licensed to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. Together, Bridgeport Hospital and the Milford Campus of Bridgeport Hospital primarily serve patients from Fairfield and New Haven counties. A major regional healthcare provider, Bridgeport Hospital admits more than 23,000 patients and provides nearly 350,000 outpatient treatments annually. Advanced medical services include a 24/7 Stroke Center; cardiac, orthopedic and spine surgery; and the state’s only multi-person hyperbaric chamber. The Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital is the only one in the state. Bridgeport Hospital is committed to providing safe, expert and compassionate care to every patient. Learn more at BridgeportHospital.org. Greenwich Hospital is a 206-bed full-service, not-for-profit hospital serving lower Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. Founded in 1903, Greenwich Hospital has evolved into a regional medical center and teaching institution representing all medical specialties and offering a wide range of medical, surgical, diagnostic and wellness programs. Greenwich Hospital has a national reputation for patient safety, clinical excellence and patient satisfaction. Greenwich Hospital has the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence, the prestigious Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The hospital has also received a 5-star rating, the highest possible from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid – making Greenwich Hospital one of only three hospitals in Connecticut to receive this designation. Learn more at GreenwichHospital.org.
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
PRESENTING SPONSORS
Seniors enjoy life to the fullest at United Hebrew of New Rochelle. Our comprehensive array of services offer support through all the stages of aging and allows seniors to age in place successfully. At United Hebrew we meet their evolving health care and social needs in a positive, uplifting environment. Seniors live on a gracious, vibrant, campus, that is nonsectarian. We offer: • Long-term skilled nursing; • Short-term rehabilitation staffed by Burke Rehabilitation therapists; • Independent senior living; • Assisted living; • Memory care for those with Alzheimer’s and related dementias; and • Home health care. United Hebrew residents benefit from innovative and high-tech care solutions provided by compassionate and highly trained staff nationally recognized for quality. Campus amenities include: • Maintenance-free living on 7.5 acres overlooking Long Island Sound. • Cutting-edge short-term rehabilitation and therapy services to help recover from illness or injury. • Daily activities to meet therapeutic and social, cultural and recreation needs, from music and art therapy to history lectures, exercise classes, cooking demonstrations and arts and crafts. • Annual traditions such as summer barbecues, Grandparents Day, holiday celebrations, birthdays, and more. • Excellent medical care, enabling extra health care needs to be met with a full spectrum of clinical support. United Hebrew has an amazing staff, with one of the lowest staff turnover rates in New York state. This means our residents enjoy unparalleled consistency of care. Over the past 100 years, United Hebrew has become a model for providing expert and compassionate senior care throughout the metropolitan area. Our campus community is a home, where all residents are treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HEALTH CARE LEADERS:
Westchester Medical Group® is an award-winning multispecialty medical practice, staffed by a team of 500 top physicians and advanced care providers and 1,500 clinical employees, throughout our thirteen office locations in Westchester County, NY, and Fairfield County, CT. At Westmed, healthcare is a team effort. We believe that the high quality care we deliver, along with the convenience of our full service medical facilities, creates a superior patient experience, fosters better communication, yields more effective treatment plans, and ultimately produces improved health for the patients and communities we serve. Together, our team is committed to being a partner to patients in their comprehensive, lifelong care. We are nationally recognized for our integrated approach to healthcare, and we pride ourselves in providing patients with access to more than sixty medical specialties and sub-specialties across thirteen centrallylocated office locations. We are Westmed. westmedgroup.com
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HEALTH CARE LEADERS:
White Plains Hospital is a proud member of the Montefiore Health System, serving as its tertiary hub of advanced care in the Hudson Valley. White Plains Hospital is a 292-bed not-for-profit health care organization with the primary mission of providing exceptional acute and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. It’s Centers of Excellence include the Center for Cancer Care, The William & Sylvia Silberstein Neonatal & Maternity Center and The Ruth and Jerome A. Siegel Stroke Center. White Plains Hospital performs lifesaving emergency and elective advanced cardiac procedures in its Joan and Alan Herfort, M.D., Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Marie Promuto Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. It has 27 outpatient medical facilities across Westchester, including advanced services at the new Center for Advanced Medicine & Surgery and multispecialty practices in Armonk, New Rochelle, Somers and Yorktown Heights. It also has Scarsdale Medical Group locations in Harrison and Scarsdale. White Plains Hospital has received Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and has been awarded the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades® eight times. It is the only Hospital in Westchester to receive the “A” Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group five years in a row (Spring 2019 to Spring 2021), and has been named Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report for three consecutive years (2019-2021). http://www.wphospital.org.
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2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HEALTH CARE PARTNERS: M E DIC A L
Gilda Bonanno is a professional speaker, consultant and facilitator who serves as a trusted advisor to executives and entrepreneurs to transform their communication, presentation and leadership skills. Since 2006, she has run her own business and worked with leading organizations on four continents, from Chicago to Shanghai and Rio to Rome, including Travelers, Henkel, Society for Marketing Professional Services, JPMorgan Chase and Yale University. Gilda has delivered thousands of in-person programs and is also a Certified Virtual Presenter. Her YouTube channel has received over 1.5 million views and her digital newsletter has reached subscribers in more than 45 countries since 2008.
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Caremount Medical founded in 1946, is the largest independent multispecialty medical group in New York state, providing comprehensive medical care of the highest quality to 700,000 patients in 50 locations throughout the counties of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Columbia, Ulster and New York City. CareMount has grown from six physicians to 650 physicians and advanced practice professionals representing more than 40 different medical specialties. CareMount Medical has specialized centers in the departments of plastic surgery/aesthetic center, pain management, spine surgery, physical therapy, colorectal surgery, perinatology, pathology, neurosurgery and vascular surgery. The group offers on-site laboratory and radiology services, endoscopy and infusion suites and operates eight urgent-care centers. CareMount Medical delivers valuebased, high-quality care, with a focus on accessibility and affordability, for all patients in every stage of life. Innovative in its service delivery, the medical group is known for having the best-in-class providers and offers digital platforms such as online appointment scheduling, a comprehensive patient portal and virtual visits using telemedicine. CareMount Medical formed CareMount Health Solutions (CMHS), LLC, a physician-owned management services organization. CMHS offers practice management solutions that enable physicians, hospitals and health system partners to leverage data analytics and a world-class population health team that is focused on delivering value-based care with improved margins, lower costs and an enhanced patient experience. A model of clinical excellence throughout the country, CareMount Medical joined the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (NGACO) model; one of only two NGACOs in New York state. CareMount Medical is affiliated with world-class medical institutions, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Mount Sinai Health System and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Open Door Family Medical Center’s mission has remained consistent since it opened in 1972: to provide high-quality health care that is affordable, accessible and efficient. From prevention and wellness programs, to the treatment of diseases, Open Door keeps the families of Westchester, Putnam and Ulster counties healthy and strong, regardless of their ability to pay. A pioneer Federally Qualified Health Center, Open Door provides more than 300,000 patient visits annually, serving nearly 60,000 individual patients who might not otherwise have access to services. Open Door offers integrated services and takes a holistic approach to building healthier communities. Primary care, dental care, behavioral health care, clinical nutrition, wellness programs and chronic disease management are the foundation of Open Door’s clinical programs. For more than 48 years, Open Door has developed a proven model of costeffective, preventive care for patients that benefits the entire community. Open Door operates centers in Brewster, Mamaroneck, Mount Kisco, Ossining, Port Chester and Sleepy Hollow, in addition to eight SchoolBased Health Centers in the Port Chester and Ossining School Districts. Open Door is accredited by the Joint Commission, recognized by the National Committee on Quality Assurance as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, and recognized as the leading Health Disparities Reducer in New York state by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA). Open Door achieves clinical results that consistently surpass national benchmarks for patient outcomes related to diabetes management, blood pressure control, and asthma, among others.
2021 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HEALTH CARE PARTNERS:
Val’s Putnam Wines & Liquors specializes in international and domestic wines, liquors and craft beers. Family owned for more than 60 years, Val’s has been an integral part of the Greenwich community since 1957 serving local residents as well as supporting and partnering with local charity organizations, caterers, event planners and various businesses. Its primary goal for two generations has been to be the source for all beverage needs for any occasion in town. Striving to cater to each and every customer’s demands by listening intently and forming longstanding relationships, Val’s feels it is important that its customers have an opportunity to experience the multitude of products available today and to learn about them in the process. As a commitment to its clientele, Val’s has an on-going educational platform that is central to its goals. The many services Val’s provides include wine cellar-collection consultation, event planning, corporate gifting, free weekly wine tastings and full delivery service throughout the country. For more, visit us at our two locations: Greenwich, Connecticut: 125 W. Putnam Ave. (in Stop & Shop Plaza) 203-869-2299 Glenville, Connecticut: 21 Glenville St. (next to Shop & Stop) 203-813-3477 Or visit us at our website
NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital is a fully accredited not-for-profit 128-bed hospital offering a wide range of inpatient services and ambulatory care. It is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked No. 4 in the nation and No. 1 in New York state for 19 consecutive years, according to “U.S. News and World Report.” NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital’s medical staff is committed to providing compassionate care specifically tailored to meet each patient’s unique needs. The hospital’s physicians specialize in providing advanced care in more than 60 specialties.
Sarah Lawrence is a prestigious, residential, coeducational liberal arts college. Founded in 1926 and consistently ranked among the leading liberal arts colleges in the country, Sarah Lawrence is known for its pioneering approach to education, rich history of impassioned intellectual and civic engagement and vibrant, successful alumni. In close proximity to the unparalleled offerings of New York City, our historic campus is home to an inclusive, intellectually curious and diverse community. Talented, creative students choose Sarah Lawrence for the opportunity to take charge of their education. In close collaboration with our dedicated, distinguished faculty, students create a rigorous, personalized course of study and connect their passions across a wide array of disciplines. They graduate knowing how to apply the knowledge, skills and critical thinking necessary for life after college.
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JOIN US FOR A VIRTUAL EVENT! Thursday, October 14 • 5 p.m. CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR'S HONOREES: JENNIFER ANGELUCCI
JAMES KUDLA
CEO & President Paws Crossed Animal Rescue
President Tarrytech Computer Consultants
ANTHONY COSTELLO
BROTHER THOMAS LETO
Executive Vice President & COO Westchester Medical Center Health Network
MICHAEL J. FOSINA
President NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital
CHRISTOPHER B. FISHER Managing Partner Cuddy and Feder LLP
FRANK GAUDIO
CEO & President First Bank of Greenwich
SAM GAULT
President Gault Family Companies
CEO & President Iona Prep
RITA MABLI
CEO & President United Hebrew of New Rochelle
MARTIN MORGADO CEO & President Savings Bank of Danbury
BILL TOMMINS President Bank of America
CATHERINE WYNKOOP President WestFair Rides
JOSEPH GUARRACINO
Executive Vice President Chief Administrative Officer & CFO White Plains Hospital PRESENTED BY:
WestfairOnline SUPPORTER: