HEMPSTEAD — Hofstra University’sand North Shore-LIJ Health System’sSchool of Medicine is officially openfor business — becoming the firstnew allopathic medical school inNew York State since 1963.

The medical school has receivedpreliminary accreditation from theLiaison Committee on MedicalEducation (LCME), as well as finalapproval of its education programfrom the New York State EducationDepartment’s Division of ProfessionalEducation.

The approvals have allowed themedical school to begin to recruit itsfirst class of 40 students, who willbegin studies next summer.

“Having our own medical schoolwill transform both North Shore-LIJ

and Hofstra University, elevat-ing us to an unprecedentedlevel of prominence,” saidMichael Dowling, the healthsystem’s president and CEO. “Itwill put the health system onpar with some of the nation’smost prestigious healthcareorganizations.”

The school’s curriculum willchange the face of medical edu-cation in this country by puttingstudents in patient-care settingsfrom Day One, including theambulances operated by NorthShore-LIJ’s Center forEmergency Medical Services.The health system’s PatientSafety Institute, The Feinstein

New School to Change Medicine on Long Island and Beyond

Urgent Care Centers to Open in Manhattan, Queens and LI

continued on page 30

The Employee Publication of North Shore-LIJ Health System

summer 2010

Alzheimer’sEducation8

A Passage to India18

New HealthSystemChairman19

PresidentsAwardscenter section

I N S I D E :

National QualityHealthcare Award

Winner 2010

The New York Jets’ former training facility has been transformed into thenew medical school.

NEW YORK CITY — To help ease theimpact of the April closing of St. Vincent’sHospital in lower Manhattan, North Shore-LIJ Health System is planning to open a newurgent care center in Greenwich Village laterthis year. The new urgicenter is one of threethat North Shore-LIJ plans to open in thecoming months. The others will be in RegoPark and Bethpage.

The urgicenter in lower Manhattan pres-ents the greatest challenge, considering thecommunity outcry that occurred followingthe closing of St. Vincent’s after 160 years.“The urgent care center will not replace thehospital by any means, but it will fill a vitalneed for thousands of people with less-severeinjuries and illnesses,” said Mark Solazzo,executive vice president and chief operatingofficer at North Shore-LIJ. Mr. Solazzo hasbeen spearheading the effort with officialsfrom Lenox Hill Hospital.

Governor Paterson awarded a $9.4 millionstate grant to establish the center. The urgicen-ter will provide 24/7 community-based accessfor patients with mild to moderate illnesses orinjuries, providing them with a more timelyalternative to emergency department care.

Immediate Outpatient Care“The goal is to treat patients who need

immediate care and can’t wait to schedule anoffice visit with their physician,” said RobertFemia, MD, chairman of emergency medicineat Lenox Hill. The urgicenter will offer primarycare, pediatric care and X-ray and ultrasoundservices — all on an outpatient basis. Thefacility will include exam, treatment andminor procedure rooms, an area for diag-nostic testing, non-clinical office space and awaiting room. It will be staffed by LenoxHill’s board-certified emergency physiciansand RNs certified in emergency nursing.

continued on page 30

See

Presidents Awards

section inside

MANHASSET — A new state Department ofHealth (DOH) report shows that NorthShore University Hospital (NSUH) had NewYork State’s best outcomes for patientsundergoing surgeries to repair or replaceheart valves and for those in need of surgeriesfor both valve and coronary artery bypassgraft (CABG) surgery. A separate DOH reportshowed that for the second consecutive year,NSUH had significantly better outcomes forpatients undergoing emergency angioplasty,the procedure to clear blocked arteries andimprove blood flow.

NSUH was one of three hospitals in thestate and the only one on Long Island toreceive a double-star ranking for angioplastyperformed on high-risk patients. The DOH’sopen-heart surgery and angioplasty reportsencompass data from 2005 to 2007.

Besides the hospital’s top ranking, twoNSUH surgeons — Alan Hartman, MD, chair-man of cardiothoracic surgery at North Shoreand Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center,and Rick Esposito, MD, associate chair ofcardiothoracic surgery at NSUH — had risk-adjusted mortality rates that were among thelowest in the state for CABG, earning themthe DOH’s coveted double-star rating for out-comes significantly better than the statewideaverage. That distinction was also earned byLIJ Medical Center surgeon Robert Palazzo,MD, who had zero mortality for his 258 car-

diac bypass surgery patients during the three-year period covered by the DOH report.

For angioplasty, the report reviews risk-adjusted outcomes for 53 hospitals andapproximately 350 cardiologists who per-form the procedure. NSUH cardiologistLawrence Ong, MD, had the state’s best out-comes for all types of angioplasty duringthat time frame and had zero mortalityamong his 793 patients.

“Cardiac services provided throughoutNorth Shore-LIJ Health System continue todemonstrate excellence,” said Stanley Katz,MD, senior vice president of cardiovascularservices for North Shore-LIJ Health System."It’s important for the public to have accessto this type of statistical medical informa-tion so they can make informed decisionsabout their healthcare providers and life-saving procedures.”

— Brian Mulligan

2

With the recent approval of our School ofMedicine, the addition of Lenox Hill as ourfirst Manhattan hospital and our acceptanceearlier this year of the National Quality ForumAward, North Shore-LIJ Health System is goingthrough a period of transformation unlike anyin our history. In addition to the milestonesnoted above, within the past year alone we:

q Broke ground on a new $120 millionpavilion that will distinguish the CohenChildren’s Medical Center of New Yorkas a world-class children’s hospital.

q Launched the nation’s largest elec-tronic health records initiative — a$400 million investment that willtransform the delivery of care in theNew York area.

q Began construction on the KatzWomen’s Hospital at North ShoreUniversity Hospital and made amazingprogress on the Katz Women’s Hospitaland Zuckerberg Pavilion at Long IslandJewish Medical Center — a totalinvestment of more than $300 million.

q Opened one of the largest patient simu-lation centers in the nation at our Centerfor Learning and Innovation.

q Invested $39 million in Staten IslandUniversity Hospital's new state-of-the-artEmergency Department and $20 millionin expanding Southside Hospital's car-diac services and capabilities.This progress continues in September

when we break ground on a new $90 millioninpatient pavilion at The Zucker HillsideHospital, and host an international conferenceon sepsis — the Merinoff Symposium —that will attract hundreds of scientists toThe Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

For everything we have accomplishedduring the health system’s 13-year history, weneed to develop the framework for what wewant to be in the year 2020. We laid thefoundation of a healthcare system that hasachieved extraordinary things. But are we asgood as we can be in terms of the quality ofcare we deliver?

To be a great healthcare organization,we must deliver superior performance everyday, continually transform and innovate, andnever be held hostage to precedent or the oldway of doing things. Great organizations havea strong, positive impact on the people theyserve and invest in their workforce, because

organizations areall about people,values and behav-iors. Great health-care organizationsnever lose sight oftheir core mission — in our case, improvingthe health of the more than seven millionpeople who live in our communities.

The years ahead will present challenges,particularly during this era of healthcarereform when hospital performance will bescrutinized like never before and our gov-ernment funding will continue to decline.We will be challenged in new ways to beentrepreneurial and innovative and to baseevery decision on what’s right for our patients.

Every patient should be regarded as aVIP who consistently receives high-quality,coordinated care. Electronic health recordsand other technologies offer us the oppor-tunity to significantly enhance care, but wemust never forget the human factor.

You’ll be hearing more in the monthsahead about what I call “Vision 2020” —our roadmap for the next 10 years.

North Shore is State’s Best for Open-Heart Surgery, Angioplasty

Message from the PresidentVision 2020

Michael Dowling

Rick Esposito, MD Lawrence Ong, MD Robert Palazzo, MD Alan Hartman, MD

Sepsis: A Matterof Life and Death

The Feinstein Institute for MedicalResearch has been breaking ground in sepsisresearch for years. This fall, the institute willassemble world leaders in sepsis, federalregulators and organizations drawn into thesepsis battle to brainstorm over the latestscience and put a face to this condition.The Merinoff Symposium 2010: Sepsiswill feature presentations from the bestminds in the field September 29 throughOctober 1 at the Feinstein’s GoldmanConference Center. Seating is limited; torequest an invitation, email ChristopherCzura, PhD, at cczura@nshs.edu.

3

In the SPOTLIGHT

How does your day start?My day starts at a 7 a.m. meeting withproject management staff. We discusscurrent and future projects and putour heads together to see if we cando anything to make those projectsmore sustainable.

What are some of your responsibilities?I am here to build safe, sustainableenvironments, which involves buildingto save energy, providing indoor envi-ronmental qualities (like ventilationand access to daylight), making thebuilding accessible by public trans-portation, choosing materials with a lotof recycled content that is manufac-tured within 500 miles and minimizingthe amount of waste materials that goto landfills by recycling or reusing.

What is the biggest obstacle you faceeach day?Dealing with the misperception that goinggreen costs more money. If you plan greenfrom the beginning, there is little costincrease up front, and it pays itself backtenfold over the life of the building.

What are your goals for North Shore-LIJgreen initiatives?In healthcare, as in no other industry,we have the ability to reduce ourimpact on the planet and make peoplehealthier at the same time. We need tomake it our culture to create environ-ments that accomplish that. I want tohelp repair some environmental harmby making the structures we build andrenovate as sustainable as possible. Ifour industry can do it, others can too,and we can help them realize that.

What do you consider to be a successful day?I want to be able to leave behind a placethat is cleaner and more efficient. A goodday is one in which we’ve left our environ-ment in better shape than it started.

— Kristen Longo

EAST MEADOW — One of Long Island’smost-utilized, comprehensive rehabilitationcenters recently underwent rehab itself.North Shore-LIJ Health System’s EastMeadow Ambulatory Center at 801Merrick Avenue now boasts 15 examrooms for orthopedists, neurologists,physiatrists and other specialists plus arenovated therapy gym for the 300-pluspatients it serves daily.

“The renovated Ambulatory Center offersan ideal environment for patients to receivecare for musculoskeletal disorders,” said NinaDePaola, PT, executive director of NorthShore-LIJ’s orthopedic and rehabilitation serv-ices. “This one location offers full service fromphysician evaluations to imaging and diagnos-tics, rehabilitation and after-care wellness.”

Long Island Jewish (LIJ) MedicalCenter’s Frank DiMaio, MD, Steven Rokito,MD, and Mark Drakos, MD, help patients atthe East Meadow Center who need jointreplacement, sports medicine and foot/anklecare, respectively, while Karen Blitz, DO,specializes in neurorehabilitation and multi-ple sclerosis. Physical and occupationaltherapists at STARS (Sports Therapy andRehabilitation Services), located at the samefacility, provide patients with evidenced-based treatment and individualized therapy.The healthcare team coordinates care sopatients are assured of optimal reduction ofpain and inflammation, regained mobilityand strength, and a return to the highestpossible functioning level.

The reconstruction optimizes the center’s15,000 square feet and maximizes patientflow by reconfiguring physician suites and

the gym area; reworked staff workspaceimproves communication and efficiency.“Our technological upgrades include diag-nostic imaging equipment and a user-friendlyphone system,” said Donald Simmons, assis-tant director of rehabilitation and orthopedicservices, adding that new electronic medicalrecords improve capability and allow staff tospend more time with patients.

LIJ Medical Center offers additionalorthopedic locations in Great Neck, whileSTARS facilities are also located in RoslynHeights, Manhasset and Forest Hills. Forinformation call 516-465-8611.

— Elaine Wohl

Ambulatory Center

Patient David Kaplowitz, seated, confers withphysical therapist Sal DiMatteo, PT, left, FrankDiMaio, MD, center, and Brian Krebs, PT, DPT, right.

A Day in theLIFE OF...

Neil Rosen,ProjectDirectorFacilities Services,North Shore-LIJ Health System

“If you plan green fromthe beginning, there is little cost increase up

front, and it pays itselfback tenfold. . .”

Tribute Caps 49-Year CareerLaundry and Linen Services staff members recently joined well-wishers from throughout NorthShore University Hospital to express their appreciation of director Larry Wade, rear/center in whitelab coat, at his surprise retirement party. Colleagues offered words of love, praise and respect fortheir friend, and for so many, a mentor. “I consider everyone I've worked with at North Shore tobe my family — from the members of the hospital's administration to all of the people I haveenjoyed working with in my department over the last 49 years. It's difficult to say goodbye,"said Mr. Wade. After a few rounds of golf, Mr. Wade plans to spend more time at the hospitalas a volunteer.

Franklin Welcomes New Associate Chief of OrthopedicsVALLEY STREAM — Franklin Hospitalhas named Gus Katsigiorgis, DO, as asso-ciate chief oforthopedics, spe-cializing in sportsmedicine, ortho-pedic surgery andjoint replacement.He joins NormanSveilic, DO, chiefof orthopedics, inleading thedepartment.

Dr. Katsigiorgis also has privileges atNorth Shore University Hospital and LongIsland Jewish Medical Center. He receivedhis osteopathic degree from the New YorkCollege of Osteopathic Medicine of theNew York Institute of Technology in OldWestbury and is board certified by theAmerican Osteopathic Board ofOrthopedic Surgery.

“Dr. Katsigiorgis thoroughly under-stands the goals and needs of the Franklinorthopedic team,” said Alex Hellinger, thehospital’s associate executive director. “Hewill help expand and improve the depart-ment, and continue to enhance its reputa-tion as a leading source of state-of-the-art,multidisciplinary orthopedic care.”

Chemo Goes to Yoga STATEN ISLAND — Mindy Roth wasdoing a yoga pose, taking deep breaths torelease tension and encourage relaxation.But she wasn’t in a fitness center or yogastudio. Ms. Roth and her certified yogatherapist, Christy Parlatore, werepracticing yoga in the Florina Rusi MarkeChemotherapy Treatment Room at theNorth Site of Staten Island University

Hospital (SIUH).“Most people don’t

look forward tochemotherapy,” saidKerry Gillespie, directorof SIUH’s Center forComplementaryMedicine. But thepatients in this programlook forward to the yogatherapy they take duringchemotherapy infusionsevery Thursday. “It takestheir minds off thechemo and offers otherbenefits,” Ms. Gillespiesaid in a recent articlethat appeared onABCNews.com.

A growing body ofmedical literature sug-gests the practice ofyoga poses, called asanas, can benefit mul-tiple health conditions. Study resultsreleased this spring indicate that yoga posi-tively affects cancer patients’ sleep quality,fatigue levels and overall quality of life.

“While working with ABCNews.com,we learned that our yoga therapy is aunique program,” said Frank Forte, MD,

director of medical oncology at SIUH. Ms.Roth couldn’t be more pleased. “My son is afitness expert and personal trainer, so I’vealways understood the value of yoga andexercise,” she said.— Arleen Ryback

4

The American Stroke Association hashonored Long Island Jewish (LIJ) MedicalCenter, Forest Hills Hospital andHuntington Hospital for their high treat-ment standards for stroke patients.

Huntington Hospital received the GoldPlus Performance Achievement Award for24 months of 75 percent or higher adher-ence on quality measures plus at least 24months of 85 percent or higher adherenceon all measures. The organization gave LIJand Forest Hills Gold PerformanceAchievement Awards for ensuring thatstroke patients receive treatment accordingto nationally accepted standards and recom-

mendations for at least 24 months.Time lost after the onset of stroke is

brain lost for patients. The institutions’quick and efficient treatment help minimizedamage to stroke patients’ brains.

IPRO Honors Forest HillsFurthermore, Forest

Hills Hospital was hon-ored for delivering high-quality patient-centeredcare by IPRO, a federallydesignated qualityimprovement associa-tion. The IPRO Quality

Award honored the team led by GeraldineKilanowski, RN, and Anne Morgan, RN, forcommitment and adherence to nationalpatient safety goals for medication adminis-tration and nursing compliance. The awardwas presented at IPRO’s annual membershipmeeting in early June.

Around theSYSTEM

Prominent Organizations Honor Three Hospitals

Christy Parlatore, right, certified yoga therapist,assists patient Mindy Roth in SIUH’s Florina RusiMarke Chemotherapy Treatment Room.

B. H

iggi

ns

Gus Katsigiorgis, DO

Grateful Patients Celebrate New Moves More than 140 orthopedic patients and their guests put on their dancingshoes at the recent Rehab Reunion Party held at the North Ritz Club inSyosset. The group celebrated their new active lifestyle made possible byjoint-replacement surgery performed by Eugene Krauss, MD, chairman oforthopedics at Glen Cove Hospital, and Ayal Segal, MD. Patients alsothanked rehabilitation specialists of the Glen Cove Center for Nursing andRehabilitation and the Marquis Nursing and Rehabilitation facility in GlenCove, sponsors of the dinner dance. Celebrants included, from left: JudyJacobs, Nassau County legislator; Hon. Frank Gulotta, Jr., Nassau CountySupreme Court Justice; Dr. Krauss and his wife, Carmel; Dr. Segal; and MarieMarzano, RN, manager of Glen Cove’s Total Joint Replacement Program.

Fran

klin

Hos

pita

l

Benefit ManagementHonor Roll

Business Insurance magazine recentlyplaced Joseph Molloy, North Shore-LIJHealth System’s cor-porate director ofbenefits, on theBenefit ManagementHonor Roll. Mr.Molloy accepted thehonor at the 2010Benefit Manager ofthe Year Forum thissummer in NewYork City.

Joseph Molloy

5

A New Era BeginsSteven and Alexandra Cohen, center, recently participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a $120million pavilion at the Cohen Children's Medical Center (CCMC) of New York, which was renamed intheir honor in recognition of a $50 million gift from the Cohen Foundation. Joining them were, fromleft: Saul Katz, former chairman of North Shore-LIJ Health System; Arthur Klein, MD, the health system’ssenior vice president of children’s services and CCMC’s executive director and chief of staff; and MichaelDowling, North Shore-LIJ's president and CEO.

Stern CECR Reaches the PinnacleMANHASSET — The HealthcareAssociation of New York State (HANYS) hasrecognized the Stern Family Center forExtended Care and Rehabilitation (CECR)for significantly reducing catheter-associatedurinary tract infections. The CECR receivedthe 2010 Pinnacle Award for Quality andPatient Safety at HANYS’ recent annual con-ference in Bolton Landing, NY.

Of more than 130 nominated projects,the CECR’s initiative to reduce catheter-asso-ciated urinary tract infections — a commonhealthcare-acquired bacterial infection —was judged among the best in the state. TheCECR created a multi-disciplinary task forceand implemented a facility-wide plan toaddress the problem. The effort resulted in a75 percent reduction in CECR’s number ofcatheter-associated urinary tract infectionsfrom 2006 to 2009.

“I applaud the diligence of our entiremedical, nursing, quality and infection con-trol staff in reducing and preventingcatheter-associated urinary tract infections,and improving the quality and safety of thecare that we deliver to patients,” saidMaureen McClusky, executive director of theStern CECR. “As a result of the initiative, wealso decreased patients’ length of stay,reduced the cost of treatment and increasedthe efficiency of our nursing staff.”

To reduce facility-acquired urinary tractinfections, the project included:

q revising policy and procedures;q creating a standard of practice to

remove catheters within 24 hours;q educating interdisciplinary staff;q adhering to strict infection control

protocols; and q continuously assessing long-term

catheter use.

NORC Supporters’ WalkThis spring, Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs, North Shore-LIJ’s director of community relations, joinedPlainview and Old Bethpage residents in a walk to support naturally occurring retirement communities(NORC). NORCs provide services to make staying in the home both feasible and enjoyable for senior citizens.Front, from left: Sue Tregermam, assistant executive director, Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center (JCC);Rebecca Alesia, Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman; Ruth Soffrin, advisory board member, Plainview/OldBethpage Neighborhood NORCs; Ms. Jacobs; Paul Soffrin, advisory board member, Plainview/Old BethpageNeighborhood NORCs; Dale Chaikin MS, RN, director of adult services for North Shore-LIJ ’s Home CareNetwork; and Joyce Ashkenazy, executive director, Mid-Island YJCC. Rear, from left: David Rosner, develop-ment director, Mid-Island YJCC; Elissa and Jake Friedman, and Mel Breshin, Plainview/Old Bethpage residents;Mark Meltzer, project director, Plainview-Old Bethpage Neighborhood NORCs; and Carol Frank, advisoryboard member, Plainview-Old Bethpage Neighborhood NORCs.

Southside, Staten Island Score Press Ganey AwardsStaten Island University Hospital and

Southside Hospital each recently receivedPress Ganey’s Hospital Value Index Award.The Value Index analyzes more than 4,500general acute-care hospitals to offer a compre-hensive picture of a hospital’s value.

“This is important recognition for our

hospitals,” said Winnie Mack, RN, executivedirector at Southside. “Rankings and awardsare additional tools consumers can usewhen making their healthcare decisions.The Value Index is a valuable resourcebecause it uses objective, verifiable andquantitative data that is consistent and com-

plete across the entire country, ensuringobjective measurement.”

The Hospital Value Index Award recog-nizes the top 25 percent of hospitals, asranked by the Hospital Value Index, by meas-uring a hospital’s success in quality, affordabil-ity, efficiency and patient satisfaction.

6

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7

Under theMICROSCOPE

The Subway Series to Fight LupusMANHASSET — Lisa Marcus lives inBrooklyn, and under ordinary circumstancesit’s very unlikely that she would havebefriended Marion Benjamin of the Bronx.But the 48-year-old Park Slope bluessinger/songwriter met the 57-year-oldretired traffic officer because of their sharedmedical history. They have systemic lupuserythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune dis-ease that has changed the trajectory of theirlives and has brought them to The FeinsteinInstitute for Medical Research with the samevision: To get better.

Diagnosed in the 1980s, Ms. Benjaminsaw her mother die of the disease and hastwo siblings with lupus. SLE is three timesmore common in women and AfricanAmericans are at even higher risk; no one isquite sure why. Ms. Marcus had no familyhistory but she developed her first symp-toms three years ago.

Fellowship FoundThe two patients bonded as soon as they

met last fall. Ms. Benjamin said she feels as ifshe is looking at herself three decades agowhen she was diagnosed with lupus. Shespent almost a decade at home because thelesions that erupted on her skin were sopainful and sunlight hurt her eyes. Ms.Marcus, who was diagnosed in 2007, has

been so exhausted by constant fevers that shetoo has stayed in her apartment most of thetime. Ms. Benjamin is playing mentor,encouraging Ms. Marcus to turn to things thatmake her happy, like her music. And Ms.Marcus is finally listening. She recently beganpicking up her guitar and singing again.

“This is where my life changed,” saidMs. Benjamin, who has been involved intwo research studies at The Feinstein’sGeneral Clinical Research Center, which ispart of the institute’s Center forAutoimmune Diseases and MusculoskeletalDisorders. Cynthia Aranow, MD, andMeggan Mackay, MD, codirectors of theClinical Research Unit, which is part of

the Feinstein’s Center for AutoimmuneDiseases, suggested that Ms. Benjamin andMs. Marcus would hit it off. They did.Now, they talk on the phone almost daily.Ms. Marcus said she is beginning to makethe best of her tiring days. She, too, par-ticipates in clinical treatment studies atThe Feinstein.

Ms. Benjamin said that she finally gother symptoms under control and continuesto benefit from monthly visits to theFeinstein to help track her symptoms andthe course of her disease. “I have beendoing so well that they now want to figureout why,” she said. Ms. Marcus felt betterwhen she spent a year on a study drug, butthe trial ended and her exhaustion hasreturned. She said she is plagued by feversand every day a new set of rashes appears.The Feinstein doctors are searching for aneffective treatment for her symptoms.

Active ParticipantsThe two friends have participated in the

design and active enrollment of subjects intostudies of new therapeutic agents that may beuseful for treating SLE and other autoimmunediseases. Their monthly blood samples go tolupus laboratories at the Feinstein where sci-entists correlate biologic markers in blood orurine samples with clinical information aboutthe patients. This information allowsresearchers to study abnormalities in theimmune system, discover how they contributeto autoimmune disease and identify targets forthe development of new therapies. Thesetypes of studies can also include genetictesting to help understand why some individ-

North Shore-LIJ Awards Three Endowed Professorships; Elmezzi Presents Honorary PhDs MANHASSET — North Shore-LIJHealth System recently awardedthree endowed professorships in theSchool of Medicine that NorthShore-LIJ is developing with HofstraUniversity.

The professorships have substantialendowments — funded by trustees ofNorth Shore-LIJ and other donors —that support research, education andpatient-care programs the recipients areinvolved in. They are:

q Vincent Bonagura, MD, chief ofallergy and immunology at theSteven and Alexandra CohenChildren’s Medical Center of NewYork, named the Jack HausmanProfessor of Pediatrics;

q Peter Davies, PhD, scientificdirector of the Litwin-ZuckerCenter for Research onAlzheimer’s Disease and MemoryDisorders of The Feinstein Institute forMedical Research, named the LeonardLitwin and Donald Zucker Professor ofGeriatric Psychiatry; and

q Ira Udell, MD, chairman of ophthalmology

at North Shore-LIJ Health System, namedthe Arlene and Arthur Levine Professor ofOphthalmology.

The awards were presented recently duringthe annual convocation ceremony at the ElmezziGraduate School of Molecular Medicine, a PhDprogram that trains physicians for careers in

medical research at The FeinsteinInstitute for Medical Research. Thisyear, two physician/scientists completedtheir course of research and study:Kiyokazu Koga, MD, who studies car-diovascular risk factors, and Chris Tang,MD, who studies brain networks thatbecome progressively abnormal inParkinson’s disease.

In addition, the Elmezzi GraduateSchool presented honorary degrees tothree outstanding scientists who haveworked tirelessly to answer questions inmany areas of medicine:

q William Paul, MD, chief of theLaboratory of Immunology atthe National Institute of Allergyand Infectious Disease;

q Masanobu Kawakami, MD,director of the Saitama MedicalCenter, Japan; and

q Jules Hirsch, MD, professoremeritus and physician-in-chiefemeritus at RockefellerUniversity in New York.

— Jamie Talan

From left, front: William Paul, MD, Masanobu Kawakami, MD, and JulesHirsch, MD. From left, rear: Kevin Tracey, MD, David Battinelli, MD, Michael

Dowling, Bettie Steinberg, PhD, and Lawrence Smith, MD.

“This is where mylife changed.”

continued on page 30

8

NursingMISSION

Glen Cove Spearheads Alzheimer’s EducationGLEN COVE — Recognizing that a hospitalstay for patients with dementia orAlzheimer’s disease can provoke anxietyand confusion, Glen Cove Hospital recent-ly collaborated with the Alzheimer’sFoundation of America (AFA) to trainGeriatric Unit nurses and other caregiversto enhance patient care.

“We are proud to become the first hos-pital in the country with the largest num-ber of staff members to complete special-ized training in dementiacare developed by theAlzheimer’s Foundationof America,” DennisConnors, executivedirector of Glen CoveHospital, said at a recentceremony honoringnurses and patient careassociates qualified bythe Dementia CareProfessionals of America(DCPA), a branch of theAFA. “This is a greatachievement, and I com-mend our dedicatednurses and caregivers fortheir vision and commit-ment to providing sensi-tive, quality care forpatients with dementia.”

Alzheimer’s on the RiseAccording to the

AFA, DCPA addresses anescalating problem in the United States: Asmany as 4.5 million Americans haveAlzheimer’s disease, and more than 16 mil-lion are expected to be affected by it within40 years. Yet, healthcare professionals’knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease and treat-ment options, and their capabilities relatedto cognitive stimulation therapies, commu-nication skills and practical issues, often fallshort of what is required to properly carefor patients and assist their family members.

“We applaud Glen Cove Hospital forrecognizing the importance of creating theproper environment for hospitalized indi-viduals with dementia, and going the extramile to provide its geriatric staff withdementia-specific training,” said Eric Hall,president and chief executive officer of theAFA. “By having the most AFA-qualifieddementia care providers and specialists ofany hospital in the nation, Glen Cove hasset a precedent. We challenge other hospi-tals to follow suit and bring to their com-munities the optimal care and compassionthat individuals with dementia and theirfamilies deserve.”

Twenty-seven nurses and 18 patientcare associates of Glen Cove’s Geriatric

Unit, known as 2 South, completedcoursework and training through theDCPA, which offers membership, trainingand education to all healthcare profession-als. Staff members who successfully com-pleted DCPA's training earned qualificationas AFA dementia care providers and spe-cialists. Patient care associates had eighthours of coursework, while registerednurses completed 16 hours of training.

The impetus for training staff through

DCPA began about three years ago, when theprogram was recommended to Glen CoveHospital by the Sid Jacobson JewishCommunity Center in East Hills, which isrecognized for its senior programs and servic-es for individuals with dementia and familiesneeding support, as well as patient advocacy.

Specialized SkillsOften, elderly patients admitted to a

hospital have a secondary diagnosis ofAlzheimer’s disease; these patients are gen-erally admitted with a primary diagnosis ofpneumonia, congestive heart failure or aninfection, said Elaine Evangelou Soto, RN,nurse manager of Glen Cove’s GeriatricUnit, who spearheaded the dementia train-ing at the hospital. “Caring for patientswith Alzheimer’s disease or dementiarequires a certain skill set,” she added. “Itrequires a clear understanding of the dis-ease process and its symptoms, so care-givers can communicate effectively andprovide the appropriate treatment.

“We’ve also implemented some changesto the Geriatric Unit to be more comforting topatients with Alzheimer’s,” said Ms. EvangelouSoto. For example, after consulting with

AFA experts, the unit’s patient rooms werepainted in a soothing pastel pink and softerlighting was installed. “Besides enhancingour clinical skills, the changes made in theoverall environment have helped staff mem-bers to provide the care that Alzheimer’spatients require.”

Established in 2004, DCPA has trainedmore than 4,000 dementia care profession-als nationwide, including home healthaides, certified nursing assistants, socialworkers, nurses and physicians. Its trainingprogram is based on the DementiaEducation and Training Program, the offi-cial statewide training program authorizedin Alabama. For more information, visitwww.careprofessionals.org.

— Betty Olt

Elaine Evangelou-Soto, RN, left, nurse manager for patient care services,presents Joan Clifford, NP, right, with a pin to signify completion of the AFA's

dementia care training program.

Nurse CertificationAll staff RNs in the Cohen Children’s

Medical Center (CCMC) of New York’sMedical/Surgical Unit have achieved profes-sional certification. Thirty-two nurses passedthe Pediatric Nursing Credentialing Boardexam, qualifying them for the RN-CPN des-ignation. This milestone increases the com-pliment of certified RN staff to more than 45percent throughout the hospital, and placesCCMC in the top quartile nationally.

The new RN-CPNs are:Leela AbrahamSue BaileyAderet BlockCarly CohenChelise CameronColleen CreeganCamille CiprianoDebbie DaneseDiane DiverDiane DonatiGail DuengesLaura DunacKatie FredericksBeth FiggianiNancy FlinnTania LestageJane McmahonGaelle MoiseKristen OcutoSara PanellaPat Paalo-RossLaura PulisAmy RomeroSharon SachsColleen SavilleLynn SinnerMargaret TantilloKathy Zampieron

9

Institute for NursingLearning Programs

Learn in a collegial setting during con-ferences and continuing education coursesoffered by North Shore-LIJ Health System’sInstitute for Nursing. Upcoming classesinclude:

Aug.11-12Oncological Nursing SocietyChemo/Biotherapy Course420 Lakeville Road, Lake Success

Sept. 15Nursing Education ConferenceNorth Hills Country Club, Manhasset

Sept. 24Oncology Nursing ConferenceSwan Club, Glenwood Landing

Oct. 6Cardiac Nursing ConferenceSwan Club, Glenwood Landing

Oct. 6-7Oncological Nursing SocietyChemo/Biotherapy CourseSouthside Hospital, Bay Shore

Oct. 13Evidence-Based PracticeNorth Shore University Hospital

Oct. 15Pediatric Nursing ConferenceNorth Hills Country Club, Manhasset

Oct. 30Perioperative Nursing ConferenceNorth Hills Country Club, Manhasset

Nov. 3-4Oncological Nursing SocietyChemo/Biotherapy Course420 Lakeville Road, Lake Success

Nov. 10Diabetes ConferenceSwan Club, Glenwood Landing

Nov. 11Nursing Research 101420 Lakeville Road, Lake Success

Nov. 18Neonatal Nursing ConferenceNorth Hills Country Club, Manhasset

North Shore-LIJ Health System is anapproved provider of continuing nursingeducation by the New York State NursesAssociation, an accredited approver by theAmerican Nurses Credentialing Center’sCommission on Accreditation. Conferencesand programs are added regularly. Formore information, please call the Institutefor Nursing at 718-470-3890 or visitNorthShoreLIJ.com

Huntington Honors Nurse’s Wisdom in the WorkplaceHUNTINGTON — Doris Martinson, RN,recently received Huntington Hospital’s inau-gural Wisdom in the Workplace Award, anhonor recognizing the contributions of sea-soned nurses who continue toshare their knowledge andexpertise with their colleagues.

Ms. Martinson began hercareer as an LPN in 1957. Shejoined Huntington Hospital in1980 and worked the nightshift while attending schoolfull-time during the day tobecome a registered nurse.

She polished her clinicalskills in Huntington’s IntensiveCare Unit for several yearsbefore joining the EmergencyDepartment, which she callsher “home away from home.”

She retired as an assistant nurse manager in1996, but continues to work two overnightshifts each week as a nursing supervisor.

“Doris is respected as a belovedcoworker and leader — an honorreserved for select nurses whowill always be revered as a ‘nurse’snurse’ for their steadfast collegial-ity and the superb care they pro-vided to countless patients,” readone of two letters nominating Ms.Martinson for the award.

“Huntington Hospital hasalways been a place that I coulddepend on,” Ms. Martinson said.“I gain satisfaction and comfortas I share my nursing knowledgewith others and in return learnsomething new.”

Lenox Hill Hospital Nurses Contribute to Humanitarian Relief Effort in HaitiNEW YORK — FifteenLenox Hill Hospitalnurses traveled to Haitirecently to offer medicalassistance and supportto the victims of thedevastating earthquakethat struck the countryearlier this year. The 15staff members, who setup a mobile clinic amidthe rubble, worked 13-hour shifts and treat-ed 3,465 people within four days.

The traumas ranged from displaced frac-tures and burns to hypertension and post-traumatic stress syndrome. In addition, mostpatients were treated for skin rash — a conse-quence of the lack of sanitary water.

The volunteersalso donated food,water, medicine,clothes and tents toHaitian localsthrough the sup-port of corporatesponsors and various Roman Catholiccharities. The supplies were essential,since many who became homeless afterthe natural disaster were forced to sleepoutside in cardboard boxes.

The team also brought 750 crutches,which were collected by Lynbrook HighSchool students, as well as coloring booksand crayons for children, which were pro-vided by the Scarsdale Girl Scouts.

The trip was organizedby Dionne Riley, assistantdirector of nursing at LenoxHill Hospital, with supportfrom Haitian American Care,Inc. (HACI), a nonprofit thatMs. Riley discovered throughher church. Word about theimpending volunteer missionspread quickly throughout thehospital, and many employees

were eager to participate. In fact, to celebrate National Nurses

Week, held the second week of May, allLenox Hill Hospital nurses sacrificed theirannual breakfast and the gift they usuallyreceive from the hospital in order to donatethat money to HACI.

Motivation forparticipating in therelief effort was dif-ferent for eachnurse, but very closeto the heart for sev-

eral of them. ElsieBarthelemy, Yveline Calixle, GuerlineMarcelin and Linda Danda all originallycome from Haiti and many volunteers havefamily members still living there. Ms.Danda, who came to the US as a child, losta cousin and uncle during the earthquakeand felt she had a responsibility to help thesurvivors. “These are my people, my family,and it was my obligation to go,” she said.

— Barbara Osborn

Doris Martinson, RN

“Many who became homeless ...were forced to sleep outside

in cardboard boxes.”

J. B

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we

MANHASSET — Last year, considerablescrutiny was focused on North Shore-LIJHealth System’s Chiari Institute. Most of itwas fueled by lawsuits initiated by anattorney representing patients — many ofwhom had undergone previous surgeries atother hospitals — who claimed they did notbenefit from surgeries performed at NorthShore University Hospital.

The health system voluntarily hired anindependent, nationally recognized expert —James Ausman, MD, professor of neurosurgeryat UCLA and former chairman of neuro-surgery at the Henry Ford Hospital andUniversity of Illinois in Chicago — to evaluatethe Chiari program and its surgical practices.

Among other tasks, North Shore-LIJasked Dr. Ausman to assess the propriety of“occult tethered cord” surgeries performedon some Chiari patients, the criteria used bythe Chiari Institute (TCI) to select patientsfor surgery and whether the indications thatthe Chiari team relied on to determinewhether to perform surgeries were reason-able and consistently applied. Based on thefindings, North Shore-LIJ Health Systemreaffirms its support of the Chiari Instituteand its plans to continue and expand theprogram following the existing model.

Dr. Ausman’s key findings included:•TCI is the largest center in the world

devoted solely to studying and treatingChiari malformations, which are structuraldefects in the cerebellum, the part of thebrain that controls balance.

•Patients who come to the ChiariInstitute are “extensively screened and stud-

ied” by a multidisciplinary team of neuro-surgeons, neurologists and nurse practition-ers to select the appropriate medical or sur-gical therapy for their problems.

•The patients’ cases and records areevaluated at weekly multidisciplinary meet-ings, and treatment decisions are made“according to strict protocolsand criteria established bythe Chiari Institute.”

•Less than 30 percent ofpatients evaluated at the ChiariInstitute undergo surgery, sothere is no valid argument thatTCI attracts patients in orderto generate income.

•More than 80 percentof Chiari Institute patientsimprove after treatment.

•The Chiari Institute’sretired director, ThomasMilhorat, MD, who currentlyis continuing his research atNorth Shore-LIJ’s FeinsteinInstitute for MedicalResearch, has publishedmore Chiari-related researchstudies than any neurosur-geon in the world.

•TCI used published liter-ature and its own research toimprove patient outcomes —an approach called “evidence-based medicine” that is thebasis for many medical advances over the years.

•The Chiari Institute relies on “establishedtreatments used by others around the world.”

North Shore-LIJ was especially interest-ed in Dr. Ausman’s assessment of the ChiariInstitute’s process for evaluating and select-ing patients, considering the allegations bysome plaintiffs and their lawyer that patientswere pressured to have surgery. Afterobserving that only 30 percent of the

patients who came to the Chiari Institutewere operated on, Dr. Ausman wrote, “Inmy opinion, this is an outstanding exampleof a comprehensive, multidisciplinary [med-ical] approach … combined with transla-tional research information to achieve thebest possible decisions and care for patients.It is a model for other areas in medicine.”

Regarding surgical outcomes, Dr.Ausman wrote that more than “80 percent ofthe patients are improved after treatment….One cannot reasonably expect that a treat-ment of any medical condition has a 100percent good outcome, particularly theChiari malformation family of disorders inwhich the diagnosis and treatment course areso complex and variable. It is remarkable that50 percent of those patients seen at [theChiari Institute], who have failed previoustherapy, are improved after treatment there.”

In conclusion, Dr. Ausman wrote thatTCI “has a high volume of experience intreating Chiari malformations, excellentresults, low complication rates and interdis-ciplinary care, all consistent with thatexpected from a world-class medical center.This center is a model for the care and treat-ment.... It is the finest center of its kind inthe world treating Chiari deformities.”

— Terry Lynam

10

Physicians ROUNDS

Smith Institute for Urology Opens New CenterNorth Shore-LIJ Health System recently opened the Robert S. Waldbaum Center, a satellite office of the ArthurSmith Institute for Urology. The center is named for Robert Waldbaum, MD, North Shore University Hospital’s(NSUH) chairman emeritus of urology who has practiced in Manhasset for nearly 40 years. Sharing space withthe health system’s transplant center, the new facility is located at 1554 Northern Blvd. in Manhasset. Withcolleagues, friends and family members looking on, Dr. Waldbaum cut the ribbon on the new center, with hiswife, Ruth Waldbaum, MD. Sharing in the celebration were, from left: Susan Somerville, RN, NSUH’sexecutive director; Lawrence Smith, MD, North Shore-LIJ’s chief medical officer; Louis Kavoussi, MD, chairmanof urology for the health system; and Saul Katz, North Shore-LIJ’s former chairman.

Independent Analysis Supports Chiari Institute’s Treatment Approach

New Annual LectureArthur Beil, MD, second from left, recently greeted Robert Replogle,MD, center, professor of surgery at the University of Chicago’s Schoolof Medicine, when he presented “The Origins of the Culture ofSurgery” for the first Arthur R. Beil Lecture at North Shore UniversityHospital (NSUH). The Department of Surgery and Division ofCardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery will present the lecture annuallyto honor Dr. Beil, former chairman of surgery at North Shore. Also onhand were, from left, Gene Coppa, senior vice president of NorthShore-LIJ surgical services, Rick Esposito, MD, associate chairman ofcardiovascular and thoracic surgery at NSUH, and Alan Hartman, MD,chairman of thoracic surgery at North Shore.

11

Advances in Radiation MedicineIn a healthcare organization as large and

complex as North Shore-LIJ, it is vital to usetechnology that promotes streamlined, sys-tem-wide clinical information sharing. TheDepartment of Radiation Medicine has col-laborated with the Information ServicesDepartment to establish an electronic radia-tion oncology information system at NorthShore University Hospital, Long IslandJewish Medical Center, Glen Cove Hospitaland Southside Hospital.

The radiation oncology informationsystem encompasses two applications:

q MOSAIQ electronic medical recordsallow the sharing of patient informationacross hospitals and facilitate scheduling,documentation, chart rounding and qualityassurance.

q The Pinnacletreatment-planningtool helps centralizea large staff and candevelop and checktreatment plans forall patients, regardlessof location.

MOSAIQ and Pinnacleallow paperless operation. All clinical chart-ing, including faxes and consultation letters,is stored electronically. Electronic corre-spondence for referring physicians savesprinting and postage, and a quicker turn-around reduces the wait for results, diag-noses and treatment; housing clinical infor-mation in a main depository promotes con-sistency and quality of care.

Sandra Kaplan, MDPediatrician, child psychiatrist and

forensic psychiatrist Sandra Kaplan, MD, ofthe combined Department of Psychiatry atNorth Shore University Hospital and LongIsland Jewish Medical Center, recentlypassed away. Her33-year tenureincluded 25 yearsas director of childand adolescent psy-chiatry and vicechairperson. Mostrecently, Dr. Kaplanserved as directorof trauma psychia-try, caring for com-bat veterans andfamily members of9/11 victims. A nationally-recognized,award-winning pioneer, leader andresearch contributor in family violence andtrauma treatment and prevention, Dr.Kaplan was program director for a uniquechild abuse treatment program with theNassau County Department of SocialServices. As a spokesperson for a local ini-tiative of the National Child TraumaticStress Network (part of the US Departmentof Health and Human Service's SubstanceAbuse and Mental Health ServicesAdministration), Dr. Kaplan was an impor-tant voice in the national dialog advocatingfor vulnerable children.

Lucien Nochomovitz, MDFollowing a prolonged illness, Lucien

Nochomovitz, MD, died this spring. Amember of NorthShore-LIJ HealthSystem’s depart-ments of pathologyand laboratorymedicine and vicechair of anatomicpathology at NorthShore UniversityHospital (NSUH)from 2003 to 2009,Dr. Nochomovitzwas a highly accom-plished surgical pathologist, distinguishinghimself in uropathology and gastrointesti-nal pathology.

In his years with the health system,Dr. Nochomovitz was the "go to" patholo-gist for patient care at NSUH, serving as thesenior authority for pathology faculty andmedical staff alike, said James Crawford,MD, PhD, North Shore-LIJ’s chairman ofpathology and laboratory medicine. “Mostimportantly, Lucien was a wonderful, caringphysician and friend,” he said. “He will besorely missed.”

In Memoriam

Lucien Nochomovitz, MD

Diagnostic Imaging Center Renamed to Honor Mitchell A. Goldman, MD

North Shore-LIJ Health System hasrenamed its Diagnostic Imaging Center inLake Success as a tribute to the late MitchellGoldman, MD, former chairman of radiologyat North Shore UniversityHospital (NSUH) andLong Island Jewish (LIJ)Medical Center. The facil-ity was renamed theMitchell A. Goldman,MD, Diagnostic ImagingCenter in appreciation forhis many contributions tothe health system over thepast 34 years.

Dr. Goldman, whopassed away February16 after a long illness,served as chairman ofradiology for the past12 years. He was a gift-ed radiologist, specializ-ing in ultrasound, and abeloved physician andclinical leader known

for his engaging personality and kindnature. His career at North Shore-LIJ datesback to 1976, when he joined the NSUHRadiology Department.

At a ceremony to dedicate the Mitchell A. Goldman, MD, Diagnostic ImagingCenter were, from left: Dennis Dowling, North Shore-LIJ's regional executivedirector for physician and ambulatory network services; Barbara Goldman,

Dr. Goldman's wife; Michael Dowling, president and CEO of North Shore-LIJ;Laura Chasin, Dr. Goldman's sister, and his father, Leo Goldman.

Meeting of the MindsLawrence Smith, MD, right, chiefmedical officer of North Shore-LIJHealth System, recently greetedAlastair Buchan, left, dean of medi-cine at Oxford University, at a jointmeeting of the Osler Society and theOxford University Medical AlumniAssociation. The guest speaker at theWaldorf-Astoria event was MichaelBliss, MD, center, noted for his biog-raphies of medical pioneers WilliamOsler and Harvey Cushing.

Sandra Kaplan, MD

GREAT NECK — A record total of nearly100 physicians affiliated with North Shore-LIJ Health System were listed in New Yorkmagazine’s recent 13th edition of its annual“New York’s Best Doctors” issue. Of the 98North Shore-LIJ physicians listed in themagazine and online, 42 were selected fromLenox Hill Hospital, the newest addition toNorth Shore-LIJ Health System. The cumu-lative total represents the largest number ofNorth Shore-LIJ physicians selected by themagazine since it began publishing its “BestDoctors” edition. Of all the hospitals andhealth systems in the New York metropoli-tan area, only Mt. Sinai Medical Center hadmore representation than North Shore-LIJ.

The list is compiled based on peer-review surveys conducted by Castle ConnollyMedical Ltd., a New York-based research andinformation company. This year’s final listincluded 1,119 physicians with 66 differentspecialties from all five boroughs and sur-rounding areas.

Below is the breakdown of the 98 NorthShore-LIJ physicians by hospital affiliation.

Forest Hills Hospital:Clifford Gervitz, MD

Lenox Hill Hospital:Michael Aronoff, MDSherrell Aston, MDDaniel Baker, MDFabien Bitan, MDKevin Cahill, MDLauren Cassell, MDHoward Cohen, MDAllen Collins, MDJack Dodick, MDDavid Edelstein, MDPhillip Felig, MDRichard Gibralter, MDRichard Green, MDGady Har-El, MDEliott Hershman, MDHerbert Hochman, MDJordan Josephson, MDArnold Komisar, MDAlan Matarasso, MDJeffrey Matos, MD

Barton Nisonson, MDStephen Obstbaum, MDStuart Orsher, MDGerald Pitman, MDDavid Posner, MDElizabeth Poynor, MDSalvatore Presti, MDMario Romagnoli, MDRobert Rosen, MD Gary Roubin, MDStephen Scharf, MDMark Schiffer, MDWilliam Schwartz, MD Norman Scott, MDJohn Siebert, MDJonathan Silver, MDMichael Starr, MDNicolas Tabbal, MDStanley Turecki, MDFrancisca Velcek, MDLon Weiner, MDBruce Yaffe, MD

Long Island Jewish Medical Center:Maurice Cerulli, MDDavid Dines, MDL Michael Graver, MDHarly Greenberg, MDLeonard Kahn, MDLouis Kavoussi, MDAlex Keller, MDMark Rosen, MDIra Udell, MDMichael Ziegelbaum, MD

North Shore University Hospital:Steven Allen, MDRichard Furie, MDVictor Klein, MDRoger Kula, MDLyle Leipziger, MDJohn Lovecchio, MDSharon Markovics, MDMichael Nimaroff, MDMichael Setzen, MDMarc Sicklick, MD

Staten Island University Hospital:Neil Cohen, MDJordan Glaser, MDMark Jarrett, MD

Morton Kleiner, MDJeffrey Lessing, MDJames Malpeso, MDTheodore Maniatis, MDJoseph McGinn, MDSouhel Najjar, MDPhilip Roth, MD, PhDDonna Seminara, MDMark Sherman, MDThomas Vazzana, MDJeffrey Weinberg, MDTheodore Strange, MD

Cohen Children’s Medical Center:Andrew Adesman, MDMartha Arden, MDMartin Bialer, MD, PhDFredrick Bierman, MDVincent Bonagura, MDDennis Carey, MDRubin Cooper, MDStephen Dolgin, MDMartin Fisher, MDCarmel Foley, MDBeth Gottlieb, MDEric Gould, MDJeremiah Levine, MDJeffrey Lipton, MD, PhDJames Markowitz, MDJoseph Maytal, MDLorry Rubin, MDPhyllis Speiser, MDHoward Trachtman, MD

The Zucker-Hillside Hospital:Victor Fornari, MD

12

Physicians ROUNDS

New York Magazine Lists 98 “Best Docs” from North Shore-LIJ

Scholarly Efforts HonoredInterns, residents and fellows from North Shore UniversityHospital’s Department of Medicine recently received recogni-tion for their commitment to scientific and scholarly pursuit withLawrence Scherr, MD, Scholarly Activity Awards. Dr. Scherr, left,North Shore-LIJ Health System's recently retired academic deanand historian emeritus, presented the awards along with AmgadMakaryus, MD, second from left, director of cardiac computedtomography and magnetic resonance imaging at North ShoreUniversity Hospital (NSUH) and head of the Scherr AwardsProgram Committee, and Alessandro Bellucci, MD, extreme right,interim chair of medicine at NSUH. Scherr Award recipients were,from left: Anne Madhurima, MD, Priyal Amin, DO, JohnCatanzaro, MD, John Makaryus, MD, and Jana Cohen, MD.

13

North Shore-LIJ Introduces New Cancer-Fighting Technology NEW HYDE PARK — In a promising devel-opment for cancer patients in the New Yorkmetropolitan area, Long Island Jewish (LIJ)Medical Center’s Department of RadiationMedicine has acquired an innovative newsystem called TrueBeam that offers a radical-ly different approach to treating cancer withimage-guided radiotherapy.

The TrueBeam system, produced byVarian Medical Systems, was engineered todeliver more powerful cancer treatmentswith pinpoint accuracy and precision. Ituniquely integrates new imaging andmotion management technologies within asophisticated new architecture that makes itpossible to deliver treatments more quicklywhile monitoring and compensating fortumor motion. The technology opens thedoor to new possibilities for the treatment oflung, breast, prostate, head, neck and othercancers that are treatable with radiotherapy.The system is now operational at LIJ.

“TrueBeam is a real game-changer thatenables us to treat even the most challengingcases with unprecedented speed and preci-sion,” said Louis Potters, MD, chairman ofradiation medicine at LIJ Medical Center andNorth Shore University Hospital. “With abroad spectrum of new capabilities, TrueBeambreaks the mold in just about every dimen-sion, making it possible for us to offer faster,more targeted treatments to tumors even asthey move and change over time.”

Treatment Time ReducedWith dose delivery rates that are 40 to

140 percent higher than earlier generationsof linear accelerator technology, theTrueBeam system can complete a treatmentcommensurately faster. This makes it possi-ble to offer greater patient comfort by short-ening treatments and to improve precisionby leaving less time for tumor motion dur-ing dose delivery. “Intelligent” automationfurther speeds treatments with an up to five-fold reduction in the number of steps neededfor image guidance anddose delivery.

Simple treatmentsthat once took 15 min-utes or more can be com-pleted in less than twominutes, once the patientis in position. “These aresignificant reductions intreatment time,” said Dr.Potters. “Patients willspend a whole lot lesstime lying still, immobi-lized on a hard surface.”

Enhanced Quality and Precision

Being an early adopter ofthis technology requires rigor-ous quality assurance testing.The North Shore-LIJDepartment of RadiationMedicine is putting thismachine “through its paces”to ensure a smooth integra-tion of treatment planningand delivery with the greatestof accuracy, Dr. Potters said.“This tool offers us capabili-ties never before considered,”he said, “but along with thatpotential comes the responsi-bility to prove the clinicalbenefits of this technology.”

The precision of theTrueBeam system is measured in incrementsof less than a millimeter. This accuracy ismade possible by the system’s sophisticatedarchitecture, which synchronizes imaging,patient positioning, motion management,beam shaping and dose delivery, performingaccuracy checks every 10 millisecondsthroughout the entire treatment. More than100,000 data points are measured every 10seconds as a treatment progresses, ensuringthat the system maintains a “true isocenter,”or focal point of treatment.

For lung and other tumors subject torespiratory motion, TrueBeam offers gatedRapidArc radiotherapy, which makes it possi-ble to monitor patient breathing and com-pensate for tumor motion, while quicklydelivering the appropriate dose during a con-tinuous rotation around the patient. “Duringthe last decade, lung cancer became the lead-ing cause of cancer death for both men andwomen in the United States,” said Dr. Potters.“With TrueBeam, we can treat a moving lungtumor as if it were standing still. We expectthis to make a meaningful difference for lungcancer patients in the area.”

Faster Imaging at Lower DosesTrueBeam imaging technology can

produce the three-dimensional imagesused to fine-tune tumor targeting in 60percent less time. Additional functionalitymakes it possible to create images using25 percent less X-ray doses. “Imaging is anessential part of modern-day, targetedradiotherapy,” explained Dr. Potters. “Thisunit allows us to choose an imaging modethat minimizes the amount of X-rays need-ed to generate an image — and that’s goodfor our patients.”

TrueBeam can be used for radiotherapytreatments, including image-guided radio-therapy and radiosurgery (IGRT and IGRS),intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT),RapidArc radiotherapy and gated RapidArc.

“With TrueBeam, we can select the opti-mal treatment for every type of cancer,” saidDr. Potters. “This is a breakthrough that letsus bring a wider spectrum of advancedradiotherapy treatment options to manymore patients. It represents a quantum leapin our ability to help people fight cancer.”

The TrueBeam’s precision is measured in increments of less than amillimeter. The system measures more than 100,000 data points every

10 seconds as a treatment progresses.

In Good TasteThe Stony Brook and Syosset chapters ofSupport for People with Oral and Head andNeck Cancer (SPOHNC) recently hosted atasting event at the Knights of ColumbusHall in Farmingdale. The inaugural occasionattracted more than 125 survivors andguests, including representatives fromNorth Shore-LIJ Health System. From leftare: Edward Gabalski, MD, otolaryngologist;Douglas Frank, MD, head of otolaryngologyfor North Shore University Hospital (NSUH)and Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center;Nancy Leupold, Dennis Staropoli, Mary AnnCaputo and Chris Lantier of SPOHNC; DavidSchwartz, MD, vice chair of radiation oncol-ogy for North Shore-LIJ; and Josephine Rini,MD, radiologist at NSUH and LIJ.

Varia

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After 43 years, Lawrence Scherr, MD,has retired from North Shore-LIJ HealthSystem. Most recently the Betsey CushingWhitney academic dean emeritus andhistorian, Dr. Scherr made an indeliblemark as an exceptional administrator,clinician and educator.

“Those looking for a model of a ded-icated hard-working physician, a masterclinician and educator should look to Dr.Lawrence Scherr. He has left a legacy ofleadership and service of the higheststandard,” said Lawrence Smith, MD, NorthShore-LIJ Health System’s executive vice pres-ident and chief medical officer, and dean ofthe School of Medicine that North Shore-LIJis developing with Hofstra University. “Hisclinical expertise and dedication to medicaleducation have contributed to North ShoreUniversity Hospital’s reputation for excellenceas well as the health system’s reputation as adestination for training new physicians.”

There at the BeginningDr. Scherr played a major role during

North Shore University Hospital’s (NSUH)formative years, as it evolved from a com-munity hospital into the renowned tertiaryfacility it is today. From 1967 to 2001, heserved as the David J. Greene chairman ofmedicine there. Dr. Scherr built andexpanded the department’s programs andservices, implemented initiatives to improvequality of care and developed strong depart-mental leadership. In addition, his guidanceduring the merger that created North Shore-

LIJ Health System helpedtransition the depart-ments of medicine atNSUH and Long IslandJewish Medical Centerinto one operating unit.

Serving in a numberof other positions atNorth Shore-LIJ, Dr.Scherr was chairman ofthe Medical AdvisoryGroup (the health sys-

tem’s medical executive committee) from1991 to 2000. In 1998, he served as chiefmedical officer and chief academic officer.He was later named executive vice presidentfor medical and academic affairs.

Beginning in 2000, Dr. Scherr served assenior vice president, community health andpublic policy. In this role, he oversaw NorthShore-LIJ’s community education programs.Dr. Scherr worked with department staff tocentralize these programs, making healthinformation available to nearby communitiesand serving residents’ needs.

Dr. Scherr played key roles in severalmajor initiatives, including the healthsystem’s affiliation with Cornell UniversityMedical College. In addition, he played akey role in creating North Shore-LIJ’sresearch facility, now The Feinstein Institutefor Medical Research.

In recent years, Dr. Scherr devotedhimself to preparing a history of the healthsystem, addressing improved access tohealthcare and health outcomes, and

chairing the NSUH Ethics Committee.Recognizing the need to serve veterans andlaw enforcement officers, he worked withRear Admiral Robert A. Rosen to establishthe Rosen Family Wellness Center in 2007.Dr. Scherr remained a senior advisor tothe center, which serves more than 1,600individuals afflicted with work- and com-bat-related illnesses.

Roles in the Medical CommunityDr. Scherr held many academic

appointments throughout his career. He isthe Betsey Cushing Whitney ProfessorEmeritus of Medicine, Weill MedicalCollege of Cornell University, and professorof medicine, New York University Schoolof Medicine. Dr. Scherr also served on theBoard of Overseers of the Albert EinsteinCollege of Medicine.

In line with his interests in internal medi-cine and education, Dr. Scherr was activelyinvolved and held leadership positions inmany medical organizations on the state andnational level. He is a master and formerchairman of the New York State Board ofRegents; president emeritus of the AmericanCollege of Physicians; a past officer of theAmerican Board of Internal Medicine andthe American Board of Medical Specialties;chairman of the Accreditation Council forGraduate Medical Education; and the chair-man of Residency Review Committee inInternal Medicine. Dr. Scherr served on theNew York State Health Commissioner’s TaskForce on Health Reform as well as the

14

Physicians ROUNDS

Lawrence Scherr, MD Retires After 43 Years with Health System

Left: Dr. Scherr at a pediatric clinic with Helen Mellor, North Shore Hospital trustee,and Jack Gallagher, North Shore Hospital president and CEO.

Above: Dr. Scherr instructing residents, circa 1970.

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Association of American Medical Colleges’Committee on Health Care Reform.

In addition, Dr. Scherr was chairmanof the New York State Board for Medicineand the New York State Council onGraduate Medical Education. He servedwith President Clinton’s White HouseReview Group on healthcare reform as wellas numerous other national committeesconcerning ethics, health policy, medicalpractice and strategic planning for health-care, graduate medical education, physicianmanpower and efficacy of clinical practice.

Dr. Scherr received numerous accoladesfor his many accomplishments and longservice to NSUH and the health system. TheLawrence Scherr, MD, Chief Medical Officerand Professor of Medicine Chair was createdin 2007 through the benevolence of Dr.Scherr’s longtime friends, patients and col-leagues. This professorship honors 40 years

of dedicated service to NSUH and thehealth system. Also, the Departmentof Medicine dedicated its AnnualAcademic and Scholarly AwardsCompetition to Dr. Scherr in recog-nition of his contributions.

In 2000, Dr. Scherr became amember of North Shore-LIJ’s Board ofTrustees. He and his wife, Peggy, havebeen generous supporters of thehealth system, demonstrating theirbelief in and commitment to theorganization’s growth and success.Their support has made possiblecritical improvements and prioritiesat North Shore-LIJ’s hospitals.

“Dr. Scherr’s strong leadership,medical expertise and dedication toNorth Shore-LIJ have been incompa-rable,” said Michael Dowling, NorthShore-LIJ’s president and chief exec-utive officer. “His loyalty, uniqueadministrative talents and clinicalskills are legendary. The health systemwould not be the organization it istoday without Dr. Scherr’s extraordi-nary contributions over the years.We are all in his debt.”

— Irene Peake

MANHASSET — For more than 20 years,Andrew Mongiardo lived with the some-times fatal disease called hepatitis C, whichaffects over 3.9 million Americans and 170million people worldwide. Over the pasttwo decades he participated in many clinicaltrials, not knowing what the outcomewould be, always trying to maintain a posi-tive attitude. Recently, he was offered anopportunity to take part in yet another newclinical trial — and it changed his life.

“This was the most difficult clinical trial byfar, as it took a toll on me physically, mentallyand emotionally,” said Mr. Mongiardo, a LongIsland resident. “It was a very rough therapy,with many side-effects lasting for a year. Afterwaiting six months for the results, it was worthall of the pain and suffering, as I was told thatmy viral count was so low that it was undetect-ed and I was virtually cured, a word I thoughtI would never hear. I am now hepatitis C-free.”

North Shore University Hospital wasone of only 53 hospitals worldwide invitedto take part in a clinical trial studydesigned to treat patients with hepatitis C,genotype 1 (the type of hepatitis mostprevalent in the United States) who hadfailed previous treatments.

“These two studies of triple drug thera-pies, recently published in the New EnglandJournal of Medicine, have recently beenshown to be more effective in obtaining a

sustained viral response. These medicationswere pegylated interferon, ribavirin and anew agent called a protease inhibitor,” saidDavid Bernstein, MD, chief of the DigestiveDisease Institute at North Shore UniversityHospital and LIJ Medical Center, and princi-pal investigator of the study.

The currently accepted two-drug (dual)therapy, a combination of weekly alpha inter-feron injections and twice-daily oral ribavirin,has so many difficult side-effects that manypeople drop out of the therapy that lasts from24 to 48 weeks, depending upon the patient’stype of hepatitis C. The overall sustained viralresponse rates for people who failed initialtreatments and are retreated with the sameregimen are less than 15 percent and the sideeffects are considerable, including flu-likesymptoms, anemia and depression.

“The new three-drug regimen was welltolerated by patients,” said Dr. Bernstein.“This combination led to a greater than 50percent sustained viral response rate in previ-ous non-responders like Mr. Mongiardo — adramatic improvement over the previousresponse rates of around 10 to 15 percentwith the previous therapies.”

Many patients show no obvious symp-toms or warning signs of the disease.Hepatitis C, one of five known hepatitisviruses that affect humans, and the onewith the highest rates of progression to

chronic disease, can cause scarring of theliver, cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is trans-mitted by blood, and patients may havecontracted the disease from blood or bloodproduct transfusions they received prior to1992 when there was no reliable, standardprescreening of blood, or from injected orintranasal recreational drug use.

The new therapies are targeted forapproval in the United States by the end of2011. Dr Bernstein emphasizes that admin-istering these therapies, when approved bythe Federal Drug Administration (FDA), willrequire significant experience on the part ofphysicians and their staffs. Until then, herecommends that people with hepatitis Cpractice a liver-safe way of life by avoidingalcohol and marijuana, maintaining ahealthy diet and exercising. Patients withcirrhosis need to be screened every sixmonths for liver cancer.

Mr. Mongiardo credits North Shore’sLiver Support Group, Dr. Bernstein, thedepartment’s nurses and staff and theAmerican Liver Foundation for helping himand others get through the ordeal. ”Withouttheir constant encouragement and care, Imay not have had the perseverance to con-tinue with the trial which proved to be socritically important to my life. I still go to mysupport group, hoping to encourage others.”

— Elaine Wohl

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North Shore University Hospital Participates in Highly Effective Hepatitis C Trial

Dr. Scherr has held many academic and leadership positions.

Dr. Scherr has encouraged scientific inquiry through hisannual Scholarly Activity Awards.

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Physicians ROUNDS

Honors, Awards and AppointmentsJAMES CRAWFORD, MD, PhD, chairmanof pathology and laboratory medicine andsenior vice presi-dent for laboratoryservices for NorthShore-Long IslandJewish HealthSystem, recentlyreceived the 2010F.K. MostofiDistinguishedService Award atthe 99th United States and CanadianAcademy of Pathology conference inWashington, DC. The organization honoredDr. Crawford for his outstanding service tothe International Academy of Pathology andits US-Canadian Division.

MAJIDA GAFFAR, MD, recentlyjoined North Shore-LIJ’s Department ofOphthalmology. Dr. Gaffar received hermedical degree from the State Universityof New York, Downstate Medical Center.She subsequentlycompleted her resi-dency at Downstateand then was apediatric ophthal-mology fellow atthe Children’sNational MedicalCenter inWashington, DC.Dr. Gaffar specializes in comprehensivepediatric ophthalmology including strabis-mus, cataract and other lens abnormalities,ptosis and other eyelid abnormalities,amblyopia (lazy eye), retinopathy of prema-turity cranial nerve palsies, orbital and ocu-lar tumors, pediatric retinal disorders andchildhood glaucoma.

ANDREW JACONO, MD, head of facialplastic and reconstructive surgery at NorthShore University Hospital (NSUH), presentedseveral lectures at the 10th InternationalSymposium of Facial Plastic Surgery of theAmerican Academyof Facial Plastic andReconstructiveSurgery held recent-ly in Hollywood, FL.His topics included“CustomizedGraduated Approachto Face Lifting,”“Optimizing LipRejuvenation,” “Transtemporal Midface LiftingCombined with Transconjunctival ScarRelease for Post-Blepharoplasty Ectropion”and “Effect of Perioperative HyperbaricOxygen on Bruising in Face Lifts.”

SEYMOUR KATZ, MD, gastroenterologistat North Shore University Hospital (NSUH),recently contributed a chapter to Ulcerative

Colitis: The CompleteGuide to MedicalManagement. Also,Inflammatory BowelDisease published“Teduglutide, aNovel MucosallyActive Analog ofGlucagon-LikePeptide-2 for theTreatment of Moderate to Severe Crohn’sDisease,” which Dr. Katz cowrote.Furthermore, Dr. Katz was recently an invitedspeaker at Keio University in Tokyo andserved as the keynote speaker at theJapan/America Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseConference in Osaka.

DAVID LANGER, MD, has beenappointed director of cerebrovascularresearch at the health system’s HarveyCushing Institutesof Neuroscienceand associate pro-fessor of neuro-surgery for HofstraUniversity’s andNorth Shore-LIJ’sSchool of Medicine.His areas of expert-ise include newtechnologies like laser-assisted cerebralbypass surgery.

Dr. Langer earned his medical degreefrom the University of Pennsylvania, wherehe also completed his neurosurgical training.Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Langerserved as a neurovascular fellow at Beth IsraelMedical Center in Manhattan and its Institutefor Neurology and Neurosurgery. While a vis-iting attending at Academisch ZeikenhuisUtrecht in the Netherlands, Dr. Langer stud-ied laser-assisted cerebral bypass surgerybefore bringing the technique to the UnitedStates. He also recently completed a neuro-interventional fellowship at the StateUniversity of New York at Buffalo, one ofonly three open vascular neurosurgeons tohave done so mid-career.

JEFFREY LIPTON, MD, PhD, director,pediatric hematology/oncology and stemcell transplantation at Cohen Children’sMedical Center ofNew York (CCMC),was recently recog-nized by the St.Baldrick’s Foundationas an OutstandingVolunteer for 2010.Dr. Lipton played akey role in settingup the St. Baldrick’sfunding program, the largest of any privategrant-making foundation for pediatriccancer research.

AMGAD MAKARYUS, MD, director ofechocardiography and cardiac computedtomography andmagnetic resonanceimaging at NSUH,cowrote “QuantitativeThree-DimensionalWall MotionAnalysis PredictsIschemic RegionSize and Location”in the Annals ofBiomedical Engineering and “Sudden CardiacDeath in a 20-Year-Old Male Swimmer” inthe Southern Medical Journal.

JACQUELINE MOLINE, MD, chair ofpopulation health, recently received theAmerican College of Occupational andEnvironmentalMedicine’s KehoeAward of Merit. Dr.Moline’s researchinto the effects ofheavy metal toxicityand her work with-in the World TradeCenter MedicalMonitoring andTreatment Program has led to the detectionof multiple myeloma in a number of WorldTrade Center responders.

MICHAEL OPPENHEIM, MD, vicepresident and chief medical informationofficer for NorthShore-LIJ HealthSystem, recentlywon a 2010 AMDISAward from theAssociation ofMedical Directors ofInformationSystems, for excel-lence in appliedmedical informatics. He was one of ninewinners chosen from 63 applicants.

SHAHEDAQURAISHI, MD,was honored thisspring at NewYork’s City Hallwith a proclamationfor her service tothe community as aBangladeshi-American.

TULIKA RANJAN, MD, has joined NorthShore-LIJ’s Harvey Cushing Brain TumorInstitute. Board certified in neurology, she spe-cializes in astrocytomas, brainstem gliomas,benign and malignant brain tumors, ependy-momas, glioblastoma multiforme, menin-giomas, medulloblastoma, metastatic braintumors, oligodendrogliomas and schwanno-mas. After receiving her MD from Sri Krishna

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Medical College inIndia, Dr. Ranjanwas an internalmedicine internand neurology resi-dent at theUniversity ofMedicine andDentistry in NewJersey and a neuro-oncology fellow at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

DAVID ROSENTHAL, DO, an allergist/immunologistenrolled in theElmezzi GraduateSchool for MolecularMedicine, hasreceived a one-yearfellowship awardfrom the ClinicalImmunologySociety. The$30,000 award goes to an individual in thethird or fourth year of a immunodeficiency-focused fellowship program.

NEETA SHAH, MD, vice president ofwomen’s health services, was invited to par-ticipate in the “Evolve Existing Services forWomen into a ‘Total Care,’ Wellness andPrevention Model” panel at the WorldCongress Leadership Summit on the

Business ofWomen’s Health inJune. Furthermore,she recentlyreceived the Makinga Difference forWomen Award fromSoroptimistInternational ofNassau County atthe organization’s recent annual gala inWestbury.

PHYLLIS SPEISER, MD, chief of pediatricendocrinology atCCMC, has receivedthe H. Jack Baskin,MD, EndocrineTeaching Award fromthe AmericanAssociation of ClinicalEndocrinologists andthe American Collegeof Endocrinology.

ANNE STEINER, MD, recently joinedthe North Shore-LIJ Department ofOphthalmology. Dr. Steiner earned her med-ical degree from the Albert Einstein Collegeof Medicine. After completing her residencywithin North Shore-LIJ, Dr. Steiner was acorneal and external disease fellow atColumbia University’s College of Physiciansand Surgeons. She specializes in corneal and

external diseasesthat affect vision.Some of the majortherapies she pro-vides include: pene-trating keratoplasty,Descemet’s strippingendothelial kerato-plasty, phacoemulsi-fication (suturelesscataract surgery), anterior segment recon-struction (including sutured intraocularlenses) and LASIK. She also treats uncom-mong ocular surface disorders.

ROBERT WALDBAUM, MD, vice pres-ident of physician relations for the healthsystem and chairman emeritus of urology atNorth Shore University Hospital, recentlyjoined the American Urological AssociationFoundation’sDevelopmentCouncil as vicechair. Furthermore,the Michael S.Zarin Rounds inRadiation Medicineand Urology havebeen renamed theRobert Waldbaum,MD, Rounds in honor of Dr. Waldbaum.Mr. Zarin, a North Shore-LIJ supporter, rec-ommended the change.

State Grant HelpsHIV/Hep C PatientsMANHASSET — North Shore UniversityHospital’s Center for AIDS Research andTreatment (CART) has received $132,000from the New York State Department ofHealth to reduce the impact hepatitis C hason HIV-positive patients.

Hepatitis C is an infectious virus thatcauses inflammation of the liver. Of theestimated 240,000 New Yorkers infectedwith hepatitis C, a third are co-infectedwith HIV. The New York State grant willhelp improve the quality of care andtreatment of such patients.

“These funds will enable us to furtherour research in the HIV field and continueto offer some of the best HIV services inNew York State,” said Joseph McGowan,MD, head of CART.

This latest grant is one of many awardedCART in 2010. This year, funding for HIVservices at CART has totaled nearly$800,000, including a $280,000 grant fromthe Ryan White Foundation.

Celebrating PartnershipMembers of North Shore-LIJ Health System and the Queens-Long Island Medical Group (QLIMG) recentlyheld a reception to honor their long-standing partnership and mutual goal of providing the highest qualitycare to patients in our region. The event, held at the Smith Institute for Urology, part of North Shore-LIJ’sCenter for Advanced Medicine in Lake Success, reaffirmed each group’s commitment to extend their nearly20-year relationship. From left: Howard Gold, senior vice president, managed care and business develop-ment, North Shore-LIJ; Michael Dowling, president and chief executive officer, North Shore-LIJ; LawrenceSmith, MD, chief medical officer, North Shore-LIJ, and dean of Hofstra University’s and North Shore-LIJ’sMedical School; Carlos Hleap, MD, president, QLIMG; Reza Sabet, MD, former president, QLIMG; SumanReejsinghani, MD, former president, QLIMG; and Nicholas Vogiatzis, MD, former president, QLIMG.

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The Buzz About North Shore-LIJ Public Relations

North Shore-LIJ Health System’s PublicRelations Department often fields inquiriesfrom news reporters. Recently, the team itselfmade news when it received several awards.

North Shore-LIJ’s Facebook and Twittercampaign garnered a Buzz-Worthy Awardfrom the Fair Media Council at the organi-zation’s recent annual Folio Luncheon.Maxwell the bird, the social media cam-paign’s mascot, was not at the gathering, butwas chirping about his win afterward.

The Association of Marketing andCommunication Professionals recently hon-ored Vitality, the magazine that coversNorth Shore University Hospital and LongIsland Jewish Medical Center, with a PlatinumHermes Creative Award. The Hermes Awardsis an international competition judging thecontent and design of communications

vehicles. Furthermore, Kids First, theCohen Children’s Medical Center newsletter,recently won a Gold Healthcare AdvertisingAward from Healthcare Marketing Reportfor its creativity, quality, message effective-ness, consumer appeal, graphic design andoverall impact.

Practice Makes PerfectPediatric critical care nurses JacquelineColombraro, RN, left, and Ronit Schwartz, NP, ofthe Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York,insert a breathing tube and check airways on acomputerized infant mannequin during a simulat-ed medical emergency and demonstration at therecent opening of North Shore-LIJ's newlyexpanded Patient Safety Institute in Lake Success.Encompassing more than 20,000 square feet, theinstitute — one of the largest medical simulationcenters in the country — helps doctors, nursesand other clinicians learn how to avoid medicalerrors without harm to real patients.

Two Slices of the Big Apple

The Public Relations Society ofAmerica/New York recently gave NorthShore-LIJ Health System two Big AppleAwards for excellence in public relationsand communications: North Shore-LIJ beat51 other finalists for the Best Use ofResearch, Measurement and EvaluationAward and the "It's About Choices" 2010open-enrollment promotion won for bestinternal communications campaign. AllisonBunin, the health system’s corporate directorof employee communications, who devel-oped the campaign, accepted the award onbehalf of the benefits open enrollment team.

The awards are New York State’s mostprominent recognition for public relationsand communica-tions. North Shore-LIJ was the onlyhealth system toreceive Big AppleAwards. Otherhonorees includedFedEx, Medco,Bank of America,1-800-Flowers.comand Volkswagen.

A Passage to IndiaA. Todd Schaeffer, MD, associate chair of otolaryngology/communicationsdisorders at North Shore University Hospital, was recently invited to per-form three minimally invasive sinus surgeries at an international nasal andsinus conference at the Royal Pearl Hospital in the Indian city of Trischy.More than 200 sinus surgeons from Asia, Africa and the Middle Eastwatched the procedures live via teleconference. The procedures includedballoon sinuplasty to unblock sinuses; removal of a sinus polyp and bilateralchonanal atresia repair; and drainage of an infection inside the sinuses. Thebilateral chonanal atresia repair involved removal of the complete bony wallin the back of both nostrils, which prevented nasal breathing and drainage.Dr. Schaeffer, shown here with his surgical team, said the latter procedure isextremely rare — with fewer than five cases reported in medical literature.

Continuing Medical Education

North Shore-LIJ Health System’s award-winning Department ofProfessional and Public Health Education will offer numerous learningopportunities this fall, including:

Sept. 8 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Spotlight on Lymphocytes.The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (call 516-562-1137 to register)

Sept. 24 and 25 Emergency Medicine Oral Board Review Course LaGuardia Airport MarriottSept. 30-Oct. 1 Merinoff Symposium 2010: Sepsis. The Feinstein Institute for Medical ResearchOct. 13-15 5th Annual Emergency Medicine Written Board Review. Crowne Plaza

LaGuardiaOct. 17 Endoscopic Transnasal Treatment of Pituitary and Skull Based Surgery for

Non-Surgeons. Bioskills Education CenterOct. 23 The Sam Stein Memorial Conference: Multidisciplinary Treatment of Sleep

Apnea. North Shore University Hospital Oct. 30 Management of the Cardiac Patient. North Shore University HospitalNov. 3 Current Topics in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology: What Practitioners

Need to Know. North Shore University HospitalNov. 13-14 Regional Anesthesia Conference. Bioskills Education Center

Online infection-control training is available any time at NorthShoreLIJ.edu/ict. Conference information is updated weekly. Get updated conference information at

NorthShoreLIJ.edu/cme or call 516-465-3CME (516-465-3263). North Shore-LIJ is accreditedby the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuingmedical education for physicians.

GREAT NECK — North Shore-LIJHealth System has elected RichardGoldstein as chairman. Mr. Goldsteinwas formally named to the post at theannual meeting of North Shore-LIJ’sBoard of Trustees.

He succeeds Saul Katz, whoconcluded four years as chairmanafter previously serving as thehealth system’s first chairman from1997 to 2000.

Mr. Goldstein, an attorney,joined the Board of Trustees in1995, after serving for three years asan associate trustee. He has servedas the board’s vice chairman for thepast four years.

“I am honored to serve as North Shore-LIJ Health System’s fourth chairman,” saidMr. Goldstein. “It’s an enormous challengethat brings with it enormous responsibilities,but I know I have the benefit of being able

to rely on the knowledge and experience ofmy predecessors, most notably Saul Katz,who leaves an incredible legacy of unparal-leled leadership, energy, dedication anddevotion to our health system.”

Mr. Goldstein ischairman and chief exec-utive officer of AEPCapital LLC, a special-ized investment/mer-chant banking firmlocated in New York. Heis also a senior managingdirector of Alpine EquityPartners LP.

“We are thrilled tohave Richard Goldsteinas chairman of theboard,” said MichaelDowling, president andchief executive officer

of North Shore-LIJ Health System. “He hasbeen an instrumental member of the boardand its Executive Committee for manyyears, serving most recently as chairman ofthe Government and Legal AffairsCommittee. I know that his expertise and

commitment will beinvaluable during theyears ahead as wemove forward withNew York State’s firstallopathic medical

school in more than 35 years and otherexciting new initiatives that are enhancingNorth Shore-LIJ’s national reputation fordelivering high-quality healthcare.”

— Terry Lynam

Richard Goldstein Elected Chairman of North Shore-LIJ Health System

Richard Goldstein

Deborah Johnson-Schiff, RN,recently joined North Shore-LIJHealth System’s Physicians’Ambulatory Network Services asvice president of strategy and busi-ness development. Ms. Johnson-Schiff comes from WinthropUniversity Hospital, where sheserved for more than 20 years inpositions of increasing responsibili-ty in nursing and administration.While there, she led the womenand children’s service lines, theprimary care and nephrology/dialy-sis networks, patient safety andquality management, physicianacquisition and integration, mar-keting, public affairs, home care,the referral channel developmentwellness programs, radiology andemergency medicine.

Annette Zilka Roth has beenappointed vice president of theHarvey Cushing Institutes ofNeuroscience. In this role shereports to Dennis Dowling, regionalexecutive director of North Shore-LIJ HealthSystem for physician and ambulatory network

services. The position was pre-viously held by ElizabethSellman, who is now associateexecutive director of home careat Long Island Jewish (LIJ)Medical Center.

In partnership with hos-pital leadership, Raj Narayan,MD, chair of neurosurgery, andRon Kanner, MD, chair of neu-rology, Ms. Zilka Roth overseesthe growth and maturation ofthe neuroscience service line.Additionally, she oversees day-to-day operational and finan-cial management of the NorthShore University Hospital andLIJ Medical Center depart-ments of neurology and neuro-surgery.

Ms. Zilka Roth was previ-ously administrator for thedepartments of anesthesiology,endoscopy, neurology, neuro-surgery, orthopedicsurgery/podiatry, perioperative

services and rehabilitation medicine at St.Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan.

Deborah Johnson-Schiff, RN

Annette Zilka Roth

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Executive AppointmentsAd CampaignRacks ‘Em Up

North Shore-LIJ Health System’s“Hope Lives Here” advertising campaignrecently won five Healthcare AdvertisingAwards, including Best of Show for a TVcampaign; gold awards for television seriesand radio single ad; bronze for radio series;and merit for newspaper single ad. Thecampaign also won gold, silver and bronzeAster Awards for a radio series, TV singlead and newspaper ad, respectively.

See, Be Seen —or Drive AwayMANHASSET — Mark your calendar forthree favorite North Shore UniversityHospital’s Auxiliary promotions:

m This year’s raffle offers great prizes, likea 2010 Honda Civic VP four-doorsedan (donated by P.S. Honda, inManhasset), $1,000 or $500. Purchasetickets ($5 each, three for $10 or 10for $25) through August 26 in theMonti Lobby on weekdays from 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. Proceeds will benefit theKatz Women's Hospital at North ShoreUniversity Hospital.

m Submit your photographic artwork for achance at prominent display in the mainhall through the 2010 Auxiliary photocontest. Information and entry forms areavailable from the Volunteer/ AuxiliaryOffice in 1 Tower near the hospitalentrance. The contest ends September 24.

m Tee off Monday, October 4, for the32nd Annual Golf Tournament at theCreek in Locust Valley. Proceeds willbenefit the Katz Women's Hospital atNorth Shore University Hospital. Spaceis limited — reserve your spot soon.Call the Volunteer/Auxiliary Office at516-562-4947 for information.

Mr. Goldstein has served as the board’s vice chairman for the past four years.

Ensuring the highest level ofsafety for each patient is part ofNorth Shore-LIJ Health System’s mis-sion of providing exceptional care.That’s why the health system hasinstituted patient safety rounds, anew program that helps leadershipand direct caregivers collaborate toestablish a culture of safety through-out North Shore-LIJ and promotebest practices in the healthcare envi-ronment. The rounds utilize a teamapproach and new processes to con-tinually make strides in patient safety

“Safety is paramount in health-care. Standardizing and promotingbest practices to reduce variations incare at all levels is essential,” saidKenneth Abrams, MD, senior vicepresident of clinical operations atNorth Shore-LIJ. “We want to demonstrateour commitment to safety for patients, fam-ilies and staff and to have these standardsafety measures become second nature forall North Shore-LIJ employees.”

As part of the program, hospital andfacility managers and senior leadership meet

each Friday to focus on one patient-safetytopic. Subjects might include medicationsafety, patient falls, fire safety or hand hygieneto prevent infection. Managers review the spe-cific implementation steps necessary, thencommunicate the information to staff.

After meeting to discuss a new topic,managers from all areas (not just clinical

domains) and senior leadership con-duct team rounds throughout thehospital. The rounds ensure that staffmembers understand and are imple-menting the previous week’s safetyfocus. The rounds also allow staff toprovide feedback directly to man-agers so managers know how to bet-ter help staff perform their work atthe highest possible level of safety.

If fall prevention is the safetyfocus of the week, for example, staffmembers can discuss with manage-ment any issues that may hinder theirability to best achieve the safety goal(e.g., perhaps housekeeping staff isscheduled to clean at the same timethat nurses help patients walk in thehallways). Many important improve-ments that staff members have sug-

gested have already been addressed andimplemented. By their communication,management can make changes to ensurethe safest environment possible for patients.

— Betty Olt

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New Patient Safety Rounds Increase Excellence in Care

Fire safety was recently the topic of patient safety rounds at Glen Cove Hospital.

Charitable Gift Rates Are Up North Shore-LIJ Health System charitable gift annuity rates are increasing. If you are 55-

plus, you can receive a fixed income for the rest of your life. By making a gift of $10,000 ormore you will receive a steady income, part of which is tax-free. The amount of the gift thatremains is used to benefit North Shore-LIJ. For example, if you are 72 years old and donate$10,000 cash, you can lock into a fixed rate of 6.5 percent and receive $650 of guaranteedannual income, $440 of which is tax-free for about 14 years. You would also be eligible toclaim a charitable income tax deduction of about $3,560.

SAMPLE RATES as of July 1, 2010*

One-life rates Two-life rates

Age %Rate Ages %Rate

55 5.5 55/55 5.1

60 5.7 60/60 5.4

65 6.0 65/65 5.6

70 6.3 70/70 5.9

75 6.9 75/75 6.2

80 7.7 80/80 6.8

90 10 90/90 8

*Rates may change.

For more information and a no-obligation personalized illustration of benefits, contactAlexandra Brovey, senior director of gift planning, at 516-465-2610 or abrovey@nshs.edu.

Honored for OutreachAdela Langley Kahn, outreach worker atNorth Shore University Hospital, was theguest of honor at the Hispanic Communityof Great Neck’s recent annual dinner. Alongtime community activist, Ms. Kahn hashelped the poor and underserved in thePort Washington/Great Neck area accesshealthcare since beginning her career at thehospital in 1998.

Many Players, One Goal North Shore-LIJ Health System’s 2009 Annual Report, Many Players,

One Goal, celebrates the health system’s commitment to enhancing thepatient experience via quality and teamwork. This year's report featuresthe National Quality Forum Healthcare Award on its cover. Inside you'llfind statistical information, highlights from 2009 and a photo essay onthe various teams working together to provide the very best patient expe-rience. The annual report can be accessed by employees via Healthportand was distributed at the annual meeting in June.

ErratumOur last issue included an article

about the treatment of Justin Olivares’sblocked airway. The story credited theincorrect facility for the diagnosis. Staffmembers at Huntington Hospital’sWomen's Health Center spotted theunborn boy’s condition.

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Latest Gift from Roy Zuckerberg Inspires LIJ Pavilion NameNEW HYDE PARK — It’s fitting that thenew pavilion being constructed in front ofLong Island Jewsih (LIJ) Medical Center willbear Roy Zuckerberg’s name. After all, Mr.Zuckerberg is a longstanding trustee of thehospital and has been instrumental in steer-ing LIJ — and the entire North Shore-LIJHealth System — down the path of success.

The Zuckerberg Pavilion at LIJ is madepossible by the latest gift from Mr.Zuckerberg, who has been providing sup-port to the health system, its hospitals andprograms for more than 30 years. Once

completed in 2012,the pavilion willserve as the new faceof LIJ, remindingpatients and familymembers that they’reentering a state-of-the-art facility andputting their healthin the most capablehands. The pavilionwill add more than57,000 square feet to the hospital, including a7,300-square-foot lobby, a two-story inter-faith chapel and meditation room and 60medical/surgical beds.

As chairman of the Board of Trustees atLIJ during the 1990s, Mr. Zuckerberghelped to negotiate the successful merger of

LIJ with the NorthShore Health System.He later chaired NorthShore-LIJ’s Board ofTrustees from 2000 to2004 and todayremains an activemember of the healthsystem’s ExecutiveCommittee. Mr.Zuckerberg, who alsoserves on several boardsoutside of the healthsystem, is currently asenior director with theGoldman Sachs Groupand was formerly vice

chairman of the firm.“Roy Zuckerberg has made enormous

contributions to the health system as evi-denced by his leadership, dedication andpassion for doing what’s right,” said MichaelDowling, president and chief executive offi-cer of North Shore-LIJ. “His stewardship aschairman during a key period in the sys-tem’s evolution was just extraordinary, and Ihave personally learned and benefited fromhis counsel. His recent gift is further testa-ment to his commitment and his confidencein the system’s future.”

North Shore-LIJ remains deeply gratefulto Mr. Zuckerberg for his many contribu-tions over the years as a guiding force and afriend to all.

To learn more or make a gift to LIJMedical Center, visit http://support.northshorelij.com/LIJ.

— Marisa Fedele

“Once completed in 2012,the pavilion will serve as

the new face of LIJ.”

New Employee Benefit Battles Childhood Obesity

For YourBENEFIT

Nearly one in three children in theUnited States is overweight or obese, andchildhood obesity rates have tripled overthe past 30 years. The number of affectedchildren is expected to grow. North Shore-LIJ Health System is offering employees anew benefit to help combat this nationalepidemic and create healthier lifestyles,through a partnership with the Alliance fora Healthier Generation.

The benefit, which is expected to beavailable starting in January to all employees,is offered to dependent children diagnosedas overweight or obese by a primary careprovider. Under the new program, NorthShore-LIJ will cover — at no charge to theemployee — four follow-up visits with aprimary care provider specifically for obesityand four visits with a registered dietitian peryear. North Shore-LIJ expects to roll out thisbenefit in the near future.

“This new benefit and our partnership

with the Alliance for a Healthier Generationrepresent a landmark decision in the pre-vention and treatment of childhood obesity,”said Joe Molloy, corporate director of bene-fits. “This is the first time children and fami-lies have had access to these types of med-ical benefits. As the first health system tosign-up with the Alliance, we’re thrilled tobe able to offer this to our employees andtheir dependents,” he said.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generationis a partnership between the AmericanHeart Association and the William J.Clinton Foundation. Information about thebenefit and more details about qualificationswill be available on HealthPort in theHuman Resources Department section, andposted on the employee benefits blog atnslijbenefits. blogspot.com. Contact theHuman Resources Service Center with ques-tions at: 516-734-7000.

— Allison Bunin

The Center for the Women of New Yorkrecently honored Rosemary Kelly, NorthShore-LIJ’s director of government relations,for her community service. Ms. Kellyaccepted the Community Leadership Awardfrom Ann Juliano Jawin, chairwoman of thecenter’s board, at A Celebration of Womenin Leadership, the organization’s 23rdAnnual Luncheon.

Community Leadership Award

Frankie Valli and the FourSeasons Star at Benefit “Oh, what a night” it was in mid-July atPlanting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park inOyster Bay. That’s when vocalist Frankie Valliand a new generation of Four Seasons broughtthe crowd to its feet with such classics as “BigGirls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Sherry”and, of course, “December 1963 (Oh, What aNight).” The North Shore-LIJ Health System’sfifth annual benefit concert, attended by morethan 950 people, raised a record-setting $1.1million for The Feinstein Institute for MedicalResearch. Lawrence Gottesman, owner andpresident of Hicksville-based Lawrence ScottEvents and a generous supporter of NorthShore-LIJ, provided décor, drinks and dinner toround out the memorable evening.

Roy Zuckerberg

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NEW YORK CITY — Sol Wachtler had agrim statistic to share with his audience:“After the Vietnam conflict, over 200,000veterans went to prison.” He added,“We’re determined to see that this doesn’thappen again.”

Judge Wachtler, former chief judge ofthe New York State Court of Appeals, spokeduring a panel discussion, where speakersdetailed efforts to steer nonviolent veteranoffenders away from imprisonment andinstead offer them support services andmental health treatment. One such pro-gram drew a good deal of attention: theVeterans Program, a groundbreakingNorth Shore-LIJ Health System initia-tive developed by Judge Wachtler, alifetime North Shore-LIJ trustee.

The Veterans Program is a collabo-ration between North Shore-LIJ’s Law andPsychiatry Institute, the New York Statecourts, the Brooklyn, Queens and Nassaudistrict attorneys’ offices and the USDepartment of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) NewYork Harbor Health Care, Bronx andNorthport VA medical centers. It is the firstin the state — and the largest in thenation — to standardize an approach toproviding services and treatment to veteransinvolved with the criminal justice system, toprevent veterans who land in court or jailfor minor offenses from getting into deepertrouble with the law. At a time when manyveterans are suffering from post-traumaticstress disorder (PTSD) and depression — atleast 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war

veterans nationwide (300,000 men andwomen) have been diagnosed with those ill-nesses — there is an urgent need to steerthem toward treatment rather than jail time.

Overcoming Obstacles for Treatment During the panel discussion, held at

Hunter College’s School of Social Work andsponsored by the Veterans Mental HealthCoalition of New York City, several peopleinvolved in the Veterans Program — includ-ing Brooklyn District Attorney Charles

Hynes, First Assistant DA Anne Swern andveterans outreach specialists from the VA’smedical centers — spoke in detail about theirwork. They noted that a frequent challengethey face is convincing veterans to seek treat-ment; too many fail to do so, either fromembarrassment (they may worry about look-ing “weak” in front of their comrades) or fearthat they will lose their benefits.

One way to counter this is through out-reach from other veterans; the VeteransProgram offers peer counseling to guide trou-bled former soldiers into treatment programs.Another strategy is to contact veterans whohave been arrested for misdemeanors such assubway fare-jumping. “We want to use thearrest as the opportunity to get them the

services they need,” said Ms. Swern. Judge Wachtler and District Attorney

Hynes, both of whom are veterans, spokemovingly of their desire to avoid repeatingthe tragedy of the Vietnam era. “What thiscountry did to [Vietnam veterans],” said thedistrict attorney, “was an absolute disgrace —especially the criminal justice system.”

The Veterans Program is one of a num-ber of innovative programs run by NorthShore-LIJ’s Office of Military and Veterans’Liaison Services (OMVLS), whose director,

Army Lt. Col. (Ret.) Randy Howard,moderated the Hunter event. OtherOMVLS initiatives include a treatmentprogram for Iraq and Afghanistan warveterans suffering from PTSD and/ortraumatic brain injury and programsto help returning service members

find employment in the health system. District Attorney Hynes and the other

speakers touted the Veterans Program as amodel that can — and should — be repli-cated across the country.

“If you’re in a county other thanBrooklyn, Queens or Nassau, you have amoral imperative to demand from your dis-trict attorney why such services aren’t inplace,” said Mr. Hynes. “I believe that the daywill come when we have district attorneysacross the country committed to the proposi-tion that no one who served our country willever be criminalized again.”

— Philip Berroll

23

CEMS Honor Guard Visits AlbanyThe honor guard from North Shore-LIJ’s Centerfor Emergency Medical Services (CEMS) recentlytraveled to Albany to participate in the 2010New York State EMS Memorial Service. Honorguard members collaborated with the New YorkCity Fire Department/EMS Pipe and Drum Corps.This was the second year that the New YorkState Bureau of EMS invited the group to partic-ipate in the service — a unique distinction, saidBrian Washburn, EMT-P, paramedic supervisor atCEMS. Pictured, from left: Mr. Washburn andMichael Ozer, EMT, with ceremonial participantsLois Rabbit, EMT; Bernard Robinson, paramedic;Michael Sinnott, paramedic; Brian Landesman,paramedic; and Anthony Guido, EMT.

The Best Course for Troubled Veterans: Treatment, Not Jail

Davis Vision Gives $300,000 toOphthalmology Department

North Shore-LIJ Health System’sOphthalmology Department recentlyreceived a $300,000 gift from Davis Visionfor the purchase of ophthalmology equip-

ment, including a $150,000 cataract surgerysimulator used to teach residents. The gift ispart of a $2 million donation Davis Visionpledged to North Shore-LIJ in 1997. The

company’s support hasaided further developmentof department programsand services and the build-ing of a state-of-the-art EyeSurgery Center at SyossetHospital.

“The donation fromDavis Vision has beeninvaluable to ourOphthalmology Departmentby helping us invest in themost up-to-date facilities,equipment and treatmentsavailable,” said SamuelPacker, MD, ophthalmologychairman emeritus. “Theirassistance has also allowedus to perform specializedocular surgeries available infew other hospitals acrossthe country.”

Davis Vision representatives presented $300,000 to North Shore-LIJ. Fromleft: Vincent Deramo, MD, chief of ophthalmology, Syosset Hospital; Ira

Udell, MD, chairman of ophthalmology for North Shore-LIJ; Steve Holden,president of Davis Vision; Samuel Packer, MD, ophthalmology chairmanemeritus; Daniel Levy, DO, assistant vice president, professional affairs,

Davis Vision; and Michael Fener, executive director of Plainview andSyosset hospitals.

“The Veterans Program offers peercounseling to guide troubled former soldiers into treatment programs.”

24

the one thing we’ll never test is

your patience.

When you need a laboratory test, nothing is more frustrating than

using a facility that doesn’t accept your insurance, doesn’t

perform the test you need, or doesn’t have convenient hours.

Through our patient service centers conveniently located

throughout Long Island and Queens we perform the full range of

tests, from the simplest to the most specialized. Plus, all major

insurance plans are accepted including Oxford, United and Aetna.

North Shore-LIJ Laboratories. The tests you need.

The flexibility you want. The standard you expect.

Ask your physician about us or visit one of our patient centers. To find

a location near you, call 516.719.1100 or visit northshorelij.com/labs.

FULL-SERVICE MEDICAL LABORATORIESSTATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES • FASTER SERVICE

LAKE SUCCESS — More than 2,800cancer survivors and loved ones recentlycelebrated Cancer Survivors’ Day. ScottHamilton keynoted North Shore UniversityHospital’s and Long Island Jewish (LIJ)Medical Center’s fourth combined event atthe Monter Cancer Center in Lake Success.

The Olympic gold medal figure skater,Olympics commentator, best-selling author,Emmy Award nominee and testicular cancersurvivor was a highlight at the event, whichincluded music, dancing, toasts and fununder one of the biggest tents ever construct-ed in the New York Cityarea. Mr. Hamilton told thegathering about winning hisvery public battle with testic-ular cancer, and how, only afew years later, he overcamea benign brain tumor. Afterfighting and recovering fromthe tumor, he resumed skat-ing, speaking and overcom-ing obstacles. His motto?“The only disability in life is abad attitude.”

Kanti Rai, MD, chiefof hematology/ oncologyat LIJ, received specialrecognition at the event. Aworld-class medicalresearcher of chronic lym-phocytic leukemia (CLL),Dr. Rai was honored notonly for his many impor-tant scientific contribu-tions but also for his greatcompassion and care forpatients. Michael Dowling,president and chief execu-tive office of North Shore-LIJ Health System, pre-

sented Dr. Rai with a one-of-a-kindLalique sculpture.

Also on the program were two cancersurvivors who spoke about their battleswith the disease. Jennifer Wing of Mineolaspoke about fighting and overcomingHodgkin’s lymphoma during pregnancyand Elizabeth Nardone of East Norwichshared her journey of overcoming breastcancer for the third time. Furthermore,cancer survivor Jan Senecal was honoredfor her compassion and volunteerism formore than 20 years.

25

Cancer Survivors Go for the Gold

On Cancer Survivors’ Day, Richard Goldstein, North Shore-LIJ’s newchairman of the board, presented Scott Hamilton, left, Olympic gold

medalist and cancer survivor, with a personalized lab coat.

PSI OffersAdvanced TraumaLife Support CourseLAKE SUCCESS — The recent expansion ofNorth Shore-LIJ Health System's Patient SafetyInstitute (PSI) has allowed medicine and surgi-cal residents to train in emergency advancedtrauma life support. The two-day course isrequired for all surgical and emergency medi-cine residents within the combinedDepartment of Surgery at North ShoreUniversity Hospital and LIJ Medical Center.

Part of the health system’s Center forLearning and Innovation, PSI provides astate-of-the-art learning facility for healthcareprofessionals. PSI creates training scenarioswith computerized, anatomically accuratemannequins that look and feel real. Using acomputer, instructors in separate controlrooms manipulate the mannequins to repli-cate any medical scenario, such as a stroke,heart attack, small pox or traumatic injuries.

“From the control room, we observehow the resident is performing and cancontrol how the mannequin responds. Ifthe resident is performing well, we makethe ‘patient’ better. If the resident is notperforming well, we will make the ‘patient’sicker,” said Matthew Bank, MD, thedirector of trauma at North ShoreUniversity Hospital. “This technology isextremely realistic and it is better preparingour residents to treat real trauma patientsand react in a timely manner.”

Dr. Bank collaborated with BarbaraDeVoe, DNP, director of clinical educationprograms at the at Center for Learning andInnovation, to create the new program. Thecourse is adaptable to all clinical levels andhealth professions. PSI plans to offer it sev-eral times a year; call 516-562-2993 forinformation on future courses.

Transitions Clients with Traumatic Brain Injuries Celebrate LifeMANHASSET — Jeremy Riddle, 32, was afirefighter working out of Engine Company332 in East New York when he fell down astairwell and suffered a traumatic braininjury (TBI) in December 2009. As a resultof his injuries, Mr. Riddle (who has nomemory of the accident) came toTransitions® of Long Island in January forphysical therapy to help achieve balance,occupational therapy to help him relearnthe basic activities of daily life and speechand language therapy. Transitions, at 1554Northern Boulevard in Manhasset is a com-prehensive neuro-rehabilitation facility.

Mr. Riddle and other Transitions clientsrecently organized a prom to celebrate theirongoing recovery. Dressed in a tuxedo andplaying his guitar, he performed a medley ofhis favorite songs, including the Beatles’“Imagine” and Don McLean’s “American Pie.”

Theresa Manfre was injured in November2007, also as a result of a fall. Prior to her

accident, Ms. Manfre, a wife and mother, wasan award-winning teacher and writer (as wellas an avid fan of Harley-Davidson motorcy-cles). She came toTransitions this February,and has also been improvingher motor and cognitiveskills. Ms. Manfre originatedthe evening’s theme “SpringGarden of Light” because sheviews her journey atTransitions as a new begin-ning. “We need to rebuildour self-confidence,” shesaid. “Our will determinesour success.... We are deter-mined to get through thistogether. This is my callingin my new life,” she saidwhile accepting flowers fromher fellow prom-goers.

The event gave

Transitions clients an opportunity todemonstrate how much they’ve achieved ontheir journey, said Jean Elbaum, PhD,

Transitions’ clinical direc-tor. “It’s really a chance tohighlight people’sprogress and recovery; ithelps clients build theirself-confidence followingan injury, and gives hopeand inspiration,” she said.

— Michelle Pinto

Theresa Manfre and JeremyRiddle were the driving forcesbehind Transitions of LongIsland’s recent prom. WhileMs. Manfre took care of logis-tics and organizational details,Mr. Riddle served as the enter-tainment “committee" andplayed his guitar to thedelight of 50 attendees.

26

Employees Get to the Heart of the MatterMANHASSET — North Shore-LIJHealth System was recently recog-nized as the Outstanding TrainingCenter for 2009-10 by theAmerican Heart Association (AHA)for providing emergency cardiaccare training to over 14,000 staffand community members eachyear. The AHA recently presentedits regional New York City andLong Island annual recognitionand awards program at NorthShore University Hospital.

Three North Shore-LIJ staffmembers received awards in thecardiopulmonary resuscitation/automated external defibrillationcategory. The AHA honoredRosemarie Ennis, director of pub-lic health education, andCatherine Blotiau, basic life sup-port regional trainer, for actingquickly to save a colleague’s lifeat a meeting last fall, revivinghim from sudden cardiac death.Ellen Carroll, coordinator of basiclife support, advanced cardiovas-cular life support and pediatricadvanced life support programsat Long Island Jewish (LIJ)Medical Center, received an award for sav-ing a man who went into cardiac arrest ata Las Vegas convention last June.

Many attending the ceremony werefriends and colleagues of the late GeorgeBerry, a physician assistant at the CohenChildren’s Medical Center of New York, and

remembered him with enormous fondness.Known as the man behind the scenes, Mr.Berry passed away in April. His dedicationinspired all those who knew him.

Top, from left: Ellen Carroll, RN, LIJ’s Emergency Care Institute; Margaret Delaney, RN, Patient Safety Institute and AHAnational faculty for pediatric advanced life support; Joan Clifford, RN, Glen Cove Hospital; Karen Rosen-Junge, RN, Glen

Cove; and Catherine Blotiau, Department of Public Health Education. Bottom, from left: Sr. Linda Vdorick, RN, LIJ MedicalCenter; Maria Cotty, RN, [facility]; Christine Glaser, RN, Plainview and Syosset hospitals; Hattie Norman Robertson, RN,

PhD, Plainview and Syosset hospitals; Rosemarie Ennis, EMT, director of public health education and director of the AHATraining Center; Sheryl Epstein, RN, Glen Cove Hospital; Karen Langer, RN, director of education/staff development at Glen

Cove; and Michael Melcer, PhD, US Merchant Marine Academy.

Health and Wellness Meet the Mets Next time you attend a Mets home game at Citi Field, check out the Health and Wellness InformationCenter, located on field level in the right-field corner. The first of its kind in Major League Baseball, the400-square-foot center, called the Health Information Team or HIT, is staffed by healthcare professionalsfrom North Shore-LIJ Health System who can answer questions about such health-related topics as sportssafety, exercise, heart health and nutrition. One section, anticipating the opening of the Katz Women’sHospital at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset in 2011 and at Long Island Jewish MedicalCenter in New Hyde Park in 2012, offers an educational set-up that addresses the unique needs of womenand the healthcare referral needs of their families. The program is the brainchild of Mets co-owner SaulKatz, chairman of the board of North Shore-LIJ Health System from 2006 to this summer and previouslyfrom 1997 to 2000.

ORIGINS

After cofounding the German Dispensary sixyears earlier, Ernst Krackowitzer, MD, right,served as a special inspector of hospitals and asconsulting surgeon to the Union Army duringthe American Civil War in 1863. The GermanDispensary was renamed Lenox Hill Hospital in1918, toward the end of World War I.

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27

Manhasset Super Service1111 Northern Boulevard

Manhasset, NY 11030(516) 365-3400

(Across the street from Macy’s)

A new system is helping to accuratelyidentify patients and minimize the risk of errorfrom manual data entry in Franklin Hospital’sTransfusion Department. The computerizedsystem, one of the first of its kind implement-ed in the New York area, uses scanners tomatch patients’ wristband barcodes to thoseon individual blood units. Franklin is pilotingthe project in close conjunction with theNorth Shore-LIJ Laboratories.

When blood bank lab technologistsprepare a unit of blood for transfusion, theyprint a transfusion record that verifies thespecifics of that blood unit and the recipi-ent’s blood compatibility and health infor-mation. Upon receipt at the hospital, theunit nurse scans the barcode affixed to thetransfusion record and on the recipientpatient’s wristband. If the barcodes do notmatch, the computer denies access to pro-ceed and signals the unit RN to contact theblood bank to trace the discrepancy.

Once barcodes match, pre-transfusionidentification proceeds. The unit nurse

verbally and visually identifies transfusionpatients and their wristbands and a secondnurse approves the information. Upon elec-tronic authorization by the first nurse, bothRNs scan their employee ID card barcodes,linking them to the patient and transfusionevent in the shared computer system. Thesystem ensures that the time, date, locationand patient information are tracked on everytransfusion; all this information must bestored in order for the transfusion to begin.

“The barcoding system is a huge stridein patient safety,” said Ilya Shigol, laboratorysupervisor at Franklin. “We are reducing therisk that a patient could receive the wrongblood and using electronic capabilities tokeep detailed patient records that allow swift,accurate care.” Mr. Shigol developed the bed-side barcoding program at Franklin with staffmembers of North Shore-LIJ Laboratories,including Wayne Woodbury, senior projectmanager, and Hammad Rana, analyst.

— Kristen Longo

AlliedNATION

28

A new HealthPort page gives cliniciansa forum to submit comments about theproposed inpatient order sets to be adoptedthroughout North Shore-LIJ HealthSystem. Accessible via HealthPort’s “What’sNew” section, the EMR Order Sets Reviewpage allows caregivers to participate indeveloping order sets and to share theprocess itself with other staff members viaannouncements, a meeting calendar and adiscussion board.

These EMR (electronic medical record)order sets, which have been developed bycaregiver teams from throughout NorthShore-LIJ, are critical to best-practice andevidence-based treatment guidelines thatwill eventually be part of the inpatient/acutecare electronic health record, said LawrenceSmith, MD, chief medical officer of thehealth system. The teams leveraged theknowledge of national health experts, evi-dence-based order sets from ZynxHealthand the expertise of our own clinical profes-sionals. Through the cooperative work ofthese interdisciplinary groups, the healthsystem can advance clinical practice andprovide safe, effective, patient-centered care.

“I encourage all clinicians to visit thenew page, provide feedback on the order setsand utilize the online features,” said Dr.Smith. He added that special arrangementsfor access to the page allow Staten IslandUniversity Hospital and Huntington Hospitalcaregivers to participate in the process.

NetNEWS

EMR Order SetsReview Page Goes Live

Although doctors and nurses account for about 40 percent of the total healthcare workforce in theUnited States, allied health professionals are a growing force in hospitals and other healthcare set-tings. For instance, the North Shore-LIJ Health System employs more than 2,100 allied health profes-sionals. Who are they? They are emergency medical technicians, paramedics, sign-language inter-preters, child life specialists, research assistants, and other technicians and technologists who ful-fill key roles in a wide range of diagnostic, therapeutic and direct-patient care areas, includinganesthesia, radiology, phlebotomy, radiation medicine, imaging, echocardiography, electroen-cephalography, emergency medicine, hemodialysis, interventional radiology, infant care, labora-tory medicine, labor and delivery, nuclear medicine, operating rooms and surgery, pharmacy, oph-thalmology, telemetry, sonography, ultrasound and occupational, physical, radiation, respiratoryand recreational therapy.

To recognize the breadth and importance of these critical healthcare providers, we are introducing anew column that will explore the ways in which allied healthcare professionals help North Shore-LIJmeet its goals of providing the most advanced care in the safest possible setting.

Electronic ID Ensures Transfusion Patients’ Safety

Crowds converged on Jones BeachState Park recently — but not for a leisurelyday of sunbathing. Instead, these 4,000community members donned sneakers andtraversed the boardwalk as participants inEvery Woman Matters: A Walk for Womenand Their Families, which benefited NorthShore-LIJ Health System’s new KatzInstitute for Women’s Health and KatzWomen’s Hospital.

On a day so filled with inspiration, oneof the most rousing sights was the sea ofwhite hats bearing the Prudential DouglasElliman Real Estate logo. Inspired by theenthusiasm of Prudential President and CEODottie Herman, hundreds of New York-areaPrudential employees formed an impressivethree dozen walk teams and raised significant

funds in a variety of ways —from holding a wine tastingevent with an admission feeto distributing information attables set up outside of stores.

“Several years ago I wascontacted by Saul Katz, whoshared his vision for the firstwomen’s hospital in NewYork State as a way to ensurethat all women have access tothe care they deserve,” saidMs. Herman. “From thatmoment on I have beeninvolved in the wholeprocess, because I feel this isone of the most importantthings I can do in my life-time.” After learning of thehealth system’s plans to holda walk for this cause so closeto her heart, Ms. Hermanmade a generous gift fromPrudential to become theevent’s title sponsor.

The event raised more than $500,000for the Katz Institute for Women’s Healthand Katz Women’s Hospital, thanks todozens of corporate and individual spon-sors, thousands of people who walked orsupported other walkers and the dedica-tion of the Commerce and IndustryCouncil (CIC), a group of business profes-sionals and philanthropists who co-hostedthe walk with North Shore-LIJ.

“CIC got involved with the Every

Woman Matters Walk to celebrate women’shealth and wellness and to support a causethat promises to transform women’s health-care forever,” said Arthur Sanders, who co-chaired the walk with fellow CIC membersTeresa Breen and Cheryl Vanek. “It wasincredibly rewarding to be out there on theboardwalk and see so many families bond-ing as they walked in honor or memory ofthe women they love.”

To lend your support or learn more,go to support.NorthShoreLIJ.com/women.

29

LifeSAVER

Blood Drives Sept. 7 Regional Claims Recovery ServiceSept. 8 North Shore University Hospital

(NSUH)Sept. 8 SIUH South SiteSept. 9 NSUHSept. 9 Plainview HospitalSept. 10 Center for Emergency Medical

ServicesSept. 13 Dolan Family Health CenterSept. 13 Huntington HospitalSept. 14 Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical

CenterSept. 15 SIUH North SiteSept. 16 The Zucker Hillside HospitalSept. 21 North Shore-LIJ LaboratoriesSept. 23 Syosset HospitalSept. 23 LIJ Medical CenterSept. 27 The Feinstein Institute for Medical

ResearchSept. 29 Center for Advanced Medicine

Oct. 1 Admin Offices, Great NeckOct. 6 SIUH North SiteOct. 8 Southside HospitalOct. 13 Franklin HospitalOct. 13 SIUH South SiteOct. 14 Physicians’ Ambulatory Network

ServicesOct. 19 Corporate Offices, Westbury Oct. 19 SIUH Pouch Oct. 22 Corporate Human ResourcesOct. 25 Materials ManagementOct. 26 SIUH North SiteOct. 26 Southside Hospital

Nov. 3 Glen Cove HospitalNov. 4 SIUH South SiteNov. 11 SIUH North Site

Women’s CORNER

Good Walking AmericaRepresentatives from North Shore-LIJ Health System made a splash on Good Morning America recently.Invited as part of a VIP audience, the group promoted the Every Woman Matters: A Walk for Women andTheir Families on the show. During filming breaks, anchors George Stephanopoulos and Robin Robertswelcomed the employees and volunteers.

Making Strides for Women’s Healthcare

From left, Michael Dowling, president and CEO of North Shore-LIJ;Iris Katz, associate trustee; Dottie Herman, president and CEO of

Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate and title sponsor of the EveryWoman Matters Walk; Saul Katz, former North Shore-LIJ chairman;

and Neeta Shah, MD, the health system’s vice president of women'shealth services, opened the walk.

30

Institute for Medical Research and hospitalswill all serve as training sites, ensuring stu-dents will graduate as highly prepared youngdoctors five years from now.

The School of Medicine’s academichome was formerly the headquarters of the

New York Jets football training facility.Previously known as Weeb Ewbank Hall,the building has been converted into a state-of-the-art facility with a large lecture hallthat can hold more than 100 students.

New School to Change Medicine on Long Island and Beyondfrom page 1

Medical Update toEnter Season 8

Medical Update, North Shore-LIJ HealthSystem’s award-winning weekly TV series,will return for its eighth season on Saturday,October 9. Thirteen new programs will fea-ture health system physicians and scientistsin lively discussions about cutting-edgemedical treatments, patient interviews, hottopics, research and discoveries.

See Medical Update on Saturdays at 11a.m. on WLNY-TV on Channel 10 onCablevision and Verizon FiOS, and Channel55 on Time Warner Cable in New York City,plus DirecTV and DishTV. See reruns at 11a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Fridayon Verizon FiOS Channel 1, and at 12:30p.m. Sunday, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and 3 p.m.Friday on Great Neck Public Access TV(Channel 20 on Cablevision and Channel37 on Verizon FiOS) and any time atNorthShoreLIJ.com.

Though not staffed or equipped todeliver trauma care or treat those sufferingfrom heart attacks, stroke or other seriousillnesses, the urgicenter will be equippedwith ambulances from North Shore-LIJ’sCenter for Emergency Medical Services totransport patients to area hospitals,including Lenox Hill.

The urgicenter could receive approxi-mately 25,000 annual visits, helping to easethe demand on other nearby hospital emer-gency departments. “We anticipate that mostpatients will be able to be rapidly treated andreleased,” said Dr. Femia. “For the small per-centage of patients who need hospital care,we will have the capabilities to quickly identi-

fy, stabilize and transport them by ambulanceto an appropriate facility.”

Upon finalization of a lease and approvalof the urgicenter by bankruptcy court, Mr.Solazzo said, the health system can beginrenovating space within the former St.Vincent’s Emergency Department. If all goesas planned, the urgicenter will be ready toopen soon after Labor Day, he added.

“Once we’re operational, we’re confidentthat Greenwich Village residents will quicklyrecognize that the urgicenter is an importantresource that fills a vital community need,”Mr. Solazzo said.

North Shore-LIJ also received $8.2 mil-lion in state funding to open urgicenters this

fall at 4300 Hempstead Turnpike inBethpage and 2595 Queens Boulevard inRego Park. The Rego Park center, the site ofa clinic operated by St. John’s HospitalQueens before its 2009 closure, will occupy6,675 square feet and be renovated at a costof about $3.5 million. It will include eightexam rooms, two treatment areas and facili-ties for imaging and blood work. TheBethpage urgent care center, the formerhome of the health system’s autism and painmanagement programs, will occupy 5,470square feet of space that is being renovatedat a cost of $2.8 million.

— Lara Weiss

Urgent Care Centers to Open in Manhattan, Queens and LIfrom page 1

uals are at higher risk for developing autoim-mune disease than others.

Ms. Marcus first contacted the FeinsteinInstitute when she learned about a study oflupus and Vitamin D. But then she gotinvolved with another clinical trial. Andnow she returns every month for a medicalexam. There are many abnormalitiesinvolved in lupus, and identifying what canbe safely targeted with treatments will bekey in treating the disease.

— Jamie Talan

The Subway Seriesto Fight Lupusfrom page 7

“A” for EffortThanks to three emergency medical technicians (EMTs) from North Shore-LIJ's Center forEmergency Medical Services, Amityville High School senior Anthony Abizdad, center, wasable to attend his graduation ceremony — despite a severe head injury that impedes hismobility and breathing. EMTs Oneita Hooper and Karl Ryan, at the head of the stretcher,and Gary Stark, at the foot, picked up the Massapequa teen at home and escorted him tothe high school in an ambulance along with the specialized equipment he needs.

Andrew Jacono, MD, recently spenteight days in Colombia to perform recon-structive surgery on children with facialbirth defects. Dr. Jacono, the chief/sectionhead of facial plastic and reconstructive sur-gery at North Shore University Hospital,

worked with a team of 30 healthcare profes-sionals that included surgeons, pediatri-cians, anesthesiologist and others.

The pro bono reconstructive surgeriesperformed by Dr. Jacono and his colleagueschanged the lives of more than 70 children

with cleft lips, cleft palates and otherfacial deformities. The volunteerorganization Healing the Childrencoordinated the mission; the non-

profit arranges medical care for childrenwho lack medical and financial resources orhealth insurance.

Oral facial clefts, such as cleft lips andcleft palates, are birth defects in which thetissues of the mouth or lip do not formproperly during fetal development. In theUnited States alone, one in every 1,000children is born with clefts — making itone of the most common major birthdefects today. Treatable with reconstructivesurgery, unattended oral facial clefts cancause difficulty breathing and eating,recurring ear infections, potential hearingloss and speech defects.

“There’s no reason why these childrencan’t lead normal lives,” said Dr. Jacono. “It’sjust a matter of getting them access to prop-er medical care. That’s why a trip like this isso important. It gives these children achance for a normal, healthy life — achance they might otherwise miss.”

31

Doctors Give Surgery and Smiles to Colombian Children

MissionPOSSIBLE

Left: Dr. Jacono with a patient and fel-low clinician prior to surgery.

Right: Before and after the team’swork in Colombia.

Surgeon Performs First Pediatric Open-Heart Surgery in Guyana GREAT NECK — Sheel Vatsia, MD, a car-diac surgeon from the Cohen Children’sMedical Center of New York, performed thefirst pediatric open-heart surgery in Guyanarecently as part of a medical aid mission tothe poor South American nation. During hisweek-long visit, Dr. Vatsia performed thelife-saving surgery on eight children varyingin age from one to 11. The children present-ed with a variety of heart defects that, leftuntreated, would typically result in deathduring the first five to 12 years of life.

“All the children we treated desperatelyneeded surgery,” Dr. Vatsia explained.“Many needed these operations months oreven years ago. It is good that we got tothem when we did.”

One of those children, Shakiel Griffith,was born with ventricular septal defect (ahole between the left and right chambers ofthe heart). When Shakiel was an infant, hisfingers would turn blue. Plagued by con-stant breathing problems as he grew older,the boy contorted his body to relieve thetension in his chest. Since undergoing sur-gery, he is pain-free and his breathing prob-lems are mere memories.

“Our team made a huge difference inthe lives of those eight children,” Dr. Vatsiasaid, crediting the 14-member surgical teamfrom the United States that operated oncases designated by the Guyana governmentas ‘most severe.’ However, he was quick toadd that there are thousands more whoneed surgical intervention in a country thatlacks a single pediatric cardiac surgeon.“The goal is to have trained specialists andthe proper facilities within Guyana itself.”

A poor nation with a population of770,000 spread over 83,000 square miles(Long Island has 7.4 million people over1,400 square miles), Guyana has substandardhospital care and extremely limited capabilityfor major medical surgical procedures due toa low number of trained specialists. Theseconditions are heartbreaking and frustratingfor Dr. Vatsia, andhe hopes to helpchange them: “It’simpossible not tofeel for the chil-dren and individ-ual circum-stances, especiallyas a parentmyself. But toreally make a dif-ference, the goalshould be to haveindividualizedtraining for localclinicians —surgical, nursing,anesthesia — sothe countrydoesn’t need torely on special missions to treat sick children.”

He said that the medical team — whichincluded North Shore University Hospitalnurse Maureen Fitzpatrick and representa-tives from Mount Sinai, Montefiore andMaimonides Medical Centers in New York,plus Texas Children’s and Miami Children’sHospital — is looking to do just that. Oneidea is to work with individual governmentsand the medical community from a variety

of nations to create a regional hub of trainedspecialists so physicians from withinCaribbean and South American nationscould serve their own population.

“This medical mission was important tothe children we treated and it made a hugedifference in their lives and the lives of theirfamilies,” Dr. Vatsia said. “But it is a Band-

Aid for a veryserious situation.Ultimately, thegoal must be totrain local sur-geons, nursesand anesthesiolo-gists so that con-ditions like theones facing thesechildren can betreated morepromptly andeffectively.”

Dr. Vatsiasaid the next stepin that process isfurther coordina-tion withGuyanese and

Caribbean government officials and physi-cians to systematically train individuals thereas well as in specialized centers worldwide.“They can then invest in a local institution toaccommodate the appropriately trained per-sonnel. All this does of course, require signifi-cant funding and resources. We hope to beable to go down and jump-start this process.”

— Brian Mulligan

Dr. Vatsia joined a 14-member surgical team to change thelives of eight children in Guyana. The South American country

currently has no pediatric heart surgeons.

NON PROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDNSLIJHS

125 Community DriveGreat Neck, NY 11021

Editor in ChiefTerry Lynam

Managing EditorMaria Conforti

ContributorsSerena AhneIvy AlgazyPhil BerrollAlexandra BroveyAllison BuninLisa D’AmbruosoMarisa FedeleTheresa JacobellisKristen LongoBrian MulliganBetty OltBarbara OsbornIrene PeakeMichelle PintoArleen RybackJamie TalanDenise WeinerElaine Wohl

PhotographyNorth Shore-LIJ Studios,except as noted.

Art DirectionJames Kostolni

Graphic DesignReduzzi Design/North Shore-LIJ Art Dept.

Comments/Suggestions:Public Relations Dept.North Shore-LIJ Health System125 Community DriveGreat Neck, NY 11021(516) 465-2600NewStandard@nshs.edu

summer 2010

The Employee Publication of North Shore-LIJ Health System

13210-8-10

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, North Hills are not owned, developed or sold by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. An affiliate of RXR Realty LLC uses The Ritz-Carlton marks under license from The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. This is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy to residents in states where registration requirements have not been fulfilled. Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. MHBR No. 4096. An RXR Realty development.

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I’m Buzz-Worthy!See page 18.