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Northern Westchester Hospital 2018 Annual Benefit Raises over $1.5 Million

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More than 750 supporters of Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) attended the 2018 Annual Benefit Gala, raising over $1.5 million, which will support the Bruce and Andrea Yablon Cancer Health & Wellness Program, the hospital’s music therapy program, and professional development for clinicians and nurses. The event honored philanthropists Ellen and Kamran Hakim, and physicians Drs. Adina and Jeffrey Keller, and was co-chaired by Jennifer and Jon Klein, Luba and Steve Seidman and Cathy and Adam Brodsky.

“Thanks to the generosity of our community, NWH is able to offer innovative practices, treatments and therapies that move us all toward a healthier future,” said NWH President and CEO Joel Seligman. “We are delighted to honor the Hakims for their long-term, generous support of Northern Westchester Hospital, and the Kellers for their clinical excellence and leadership roles. These couples exemplify the community support, commitment and dedication that enables NWH to provide high quality, patient-centered care to all members of our community.”

The gala’s underwriter was longtime NWH supporter and philanthropist Seema Boesky and the event was sponsored by The Durst Organization, Diamond Properties, Polaner Selections and Intuitive®, maker of the da Vinci® Surgical System.

Longtime supporters of NWH, the Hakims have hosted two fundraising galas for the hospital at their Old Salem Farm. The couple are married for 53 years and have lived in Westchester for just as long. They have four children, 12 grandchildren and reside in Chappaqua.

Adina Keller, MD, FACOG, a community-based physician, has dedicated her professional life to women’s health and cancer prevention. Jeffrey Keller, MD, FACS, FAAP, is board certified in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and a Pediatric Otolaryngologist who has devoted his career to taking care of children. The Kellers live in Chappaqua with their two teenage sons.

The Hakim Family: Ellen and Kamran Hakim with 3 of their 12 grandchildren
The Keller Family: Tyler Keller, Dr. Jeffrey Keller, Dr. Adina Keller and Justin Keller

About Northern Westchester Hospital:

Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), a member of Northwell Health, provides quality, patient-centered care that is close to home through a unique combination of medical expertise, leading-edge technology, and a commitment to humanity. Over 650 highly-skilled physicians, state-of-the-art technology and professional staff of caregivers are all in place to ensure that you and your family receive treatment in a caring, respectful and nurturing environment. NWH has established extensive internal quality measurements that surpass the standards defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) National Hospital Quality Measures. Our high-quality standards help to ensure that the treatment you receive at NWH is among the best in the nation. For more information, please visit www.nwhc.net and connect with us on Facebook

About Northwell Health:
Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, nearly 700 outpatient facilities and more than 18,500 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 68,000 employees – 16,000-plus nurses and 4,000 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. We’re training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu.

Save the Date for Northern Westchester Hospital 2018 Gala: November 3 Honorees Noted Here!

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Ellen and Kamran Hakim

 Ellen and Kamran Hakim were Named Community Honorees and Dr. Adina Keller and Dr. Jeffrey Keller Named Physician Honorees

Mt. Kisco, New York— Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) will honor philanthropists Ellen and Kamran Hakim, and physicians Drs. Adina and Jeffrey Keller at the hospital’s annual gala on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at 333 North Bedford Road at 6:30 p.m. The event is co-chaired by Jennifer and Jon Klein, and Luba and Steve Seidman. The announcement was made by Keeva Young-Wright, President of the NWH Foundation and Vice President of External Affairs at NWH.

“We are delighted to honor the Hakims for their long-term, generous support of Northern Westchester Hospital and the Kellers for their clinical excellence and leadership roles at NWH,” she said.

“These couples exemplify the community support, commitment and dedication that enables NWH to provide high quality, patient-centered care to all members of our community.”

Mr. Hakim, a New York-based real estate investor and one of the city’s largest private landlords, immigrated to the United States from Iran in 1956 at the age of 14. Mrs. Hakim, born Ellen Manocherian, is in partnership with her sister Joan Cohen in the family’s real estate business.

Longtime supporters of NWH, the Hakims hosted two fundraising galas for the hospital at their Old Salem Farm. Their grandson Andrew was born at NWH, and Mr. Hakim, who has been a patient at NWH credits the hospital for saving his life. The couple are married for 53 years and have lived in Westchester for just as long. They have four children, 12 grandchildren, and reside in Chappaqua.

Adina Keller, M.D., FACOG

Adina Keller, MD, FACOG, is a community-based physician who has dedicated her professional life to women’s health and cancer prevention. As a board certified OB/GYN with CareMount Medical Group and associate chief of OB/GYN at NWH, Dr. Keller is a champion of cancer prevention. In addition to her practice, which includes minimally invasive robotic surgery, Dr. Keller has made it a mission to educate the community about health, wellness and cancer prevention.

She is on the Board of Trustees at NWH, and is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s (AGOG) Cervical Cancer Prevention Task Force and served as section chair of its Hudson Valley District. She also served as Medical Director of the American Cancer Society, Westchester Branch, and was on its Board of Advisors from 2007-2015. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including The American Cancer Society Leadership and Humanitarian award, US News and World Report Top Doctor; New York Magazine’s Best Doctor Award (2017); and has received Top Doctor awards from Castle Connolly (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018) and Westchester Magazine (2013, 2015 and 2017).

Jeffrey Keller, M.D., FACS, FAAP

Jeffrey Keller, MD, FACS, FAAP, is board certified in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and a Pediatric Otolaryngologist who has devoted his career to taking care of children. Dr. Keller began working at Northern Westchester Hospital in 2005 and is currently the Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology for the Mount Sinai Health System at CareMount Medical. Dr. Keller practices at CareMount Medical’s Mount Kisco and Carmel offices, and has privileges at Northern Westchester Hospital, the Ambulatory Surgery Center of Westchester and Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Dr. Keller has authored numerous chapters on Pediatric Otolaryngology, and has received many awards. He is the recipient of New York Magazine’s Best Doctor Award (2006-2008 & 2014-2016); Best Doctors in America (2013 and 2015); and top doctor awards from Castle Connolly (2013-2018), Westchester Magazine (2013-2017), Hudson Valley Magazine (2017), and Hudson Valley Parent Favorite Docs (2016 and 2017).

Dr. Adina Keller and Dr. Jeffrey Keller live in Chappaqua with their two teenage sons.

The NWH Gala begins with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., a program and dinner at 8 p.m., and dancing at 9:30 p.m. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit www.nwhconnect.org/2018gala.  

This news: courtesy of Northwell and Northern Westchester Hospital

Northern Westchester Hospital Wins Gold in Patient Safe Handling Olympics

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Team members from Northern Westchester Hospital who participated in the Northwell Olympics. From left to right: Lorraine Owens, RN, BSN, Administrative Supervisor, Co-Chair of Safe Patient Handling; Abigail O’Brien PCA-IV Co- Chair of Safe Patient Handling Team; Laura Longbard RN, Mixed Medical/ Oncology; Larry Reo PCA-IV, ED Tech, Co-Chair of Safe Patient Handling team; Thomas Addai PCA- IV, Mixed Medical/Oncology.

Northern Westchester Hospital brought home the gold recently as the Northwell Health Center for Learning and Innovation and Patient Safety Institute (CLI) was turned into an Olympics of sorts, pitting health system hospitals against one another in their quest for a medal in safe patient handling.

Teams from Staten Island University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Forest Hills brought home silver and bronze medals respectively.

The event in Lake Success, NY, was designed to be a fun and creative way to demonstrate safe and proper patient handling techniques that benefit both patients and healthcare workers.

“People don’t realize how dangerous it is to work in a hospital because we’re always moving patients,” said Paul M. Power, director of workforce safety for Northwell. According to statistics, one in three injuries to healthcare workers are caused by moving patients, and the majority of those injuries involve the back.

In fact, nursing staff sustains approximately 73 percent of musculoskeletal disorders (injuries that affect the human body’s movement and can involve muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and discs)..

“The average healthcare worker manually lifts 1.8 tons per eight-hour shift,” explained Power. “That’s equal to lifting one sedan per shift.”

To that end, hospital teams of five members competed in four events using motorized lifts and others devices to safely transition Northwell employees acting as patients in the following scenarios: laterally from a gurney to a bed; from a chair to a bed; from a bed to a chair; and off of the floor.

The teams were comprised of nurses, nurses’ assistants, occupational and physical therapists.

As the teams competed, they were judged by a nurse and occupational therapist, as well as the patient actor who scored them on their transport and interpersonal skills.

In 2014, New York State passed the Safe Patient Handling Law that requires healthcare facilities to establish safe patient handling programs. The law recognizes that safe patient handling programs can reduce the risk of injury, protect patient dignity, improve quality of care, increase patient satisfaction and enhance caregiver morale.

For Susana Dealmida, RN, BSN, MHA, assistant director of inpatient services at Northern Westchester Hospital and a nurse there, the Olympics is the perfect way to showcase the importance of proper body mechanics and using technology for safety sake.

“Northern Westchester was able to take home the gold because our front-line staff is used to being engaged as unit champions,” said Ms. Dealmida. “This has created a culture that promotes peer-to-peer accountability to practice safety protocols. A simple action, such as relocating the lift equipment from equipment rooms onto units, has improved accessibility and increased usage of the equipment.

Being Grateful & Giving Back: The Wonderful Volunteers of Northern Westchester Hospital

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In the spirit of giving thanks and giving back, it’s only appropriate to shine a spotlight on volunteers who give their time, personal experience, and expertise. We turned to Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) and their volunteer programs and met with six of these inspirational volunteers serving NWH and our community.

Director of Volunteer Services Ellen Muentener oversees approximately 250 volunteers at the hospital. From high school and college students to senior citizens, NWH volunteers are passionate about what they do. Volunteers enhance the lives of others without the need for fanfare. Yet with each individual I met, the overwhelming consensus was that volunteering gives them much more than they give. However, volunteering is not for the faint of heart. You have to be tough while being kind, emotionally strong while being compassionate, and tireless while being tested.

Aside from the obvious benefits, what makes an individual want to volunteer?

In an article in Psychology Today, Dawn Carr, MGS, PhD, lists five benefits to volunteering. One benefit, in particular, stands out–volunteering gives you a sense of purpose. Volunteers live longer too. Volunteering also helps you to step outside yourself and your own life challenges and gives you a fresh, new perspective.

Let’s meet just a few of these impressive NWH volunteers:

PHOTO BY CHAD KRAUS

Judy McGrath

Judy McGrath, is a 12-year volunteer and former president of Twigs-Thriftree Shop located at 449 Lexington Avenue in Mt. Kisco. Judy is a Chappaqua resident and an active member in the community including being involved with the New Castle Historical Society, the Chappaqua School Foundation, the PTA, and the Girl Scouts.

“I believe it’s so important to give back to the community,” says Judy.

Twigs of NWH was formed in 1945 and, currently, has 160 members split up into nine groups. However, its humble roots date back to 1887, where a small group would get together to hem hospital table napkins for Rochester City Hospital. The group started to grow, and Twigs groups began to crop up in hospitals all around the country.

Twigs is a not-for-profit organization set up exclusively to support Northern Westchester Hospital. “We are so fortunate to have such a great hospital right here in our community,” says Judy. Over the last 12 months, Twigs donated 78,500 volunteer hours. It’s impressive that a little thrift shop in Mt. Kisco could make such an impact benefiting the hospital. To date, Twigs has donated $3,300,000 to NWH. The shop offers a variety of items for sale like clothing, books, jewelry, household items, etc. In addition, Twigs volunteers put together layettes for the Prenatal Care Clinic that provides comprehensive care to underinsured and uninsured pregnant women in Westchester and Putnam Counties, helping to ensure healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Twigs also provides unique items such as cough pillows and tray favors to patients during the holidays.

This year, Twigs presented a check to NWH for $100,000. Each of the following NWH programs will receive $25,000: The Ken Hamilton Caregivers Center (KHCC), where family caregivers find respite and support; The Bruce and Andrea Yablon Cancer Health and Wellness Program, created to empower patients diagnosed with cancer to live a healthy lifestyle in ways that powerfully touch mind, body and spirit; the Community Health Education and Outreach Program, which partners with schools and local groups to build a healthier community; and the Integrative Medicine Program, dedicated to enhancing patients’ health and wellness.

You can find a Twigs Serenity Garden inside the Cancer Health and Wellness Center and the Twigs Healing Garden outside the Emergency Department.

Each year, Twigs members get together and decide which areas and/or programs Twigs would like to support. Whether you volunteer, donate items to the shop, or shop at Twigs-Thriftree, you will be making your own generous contribution to NWH.

PHOTO BY CHAD KRAUS

Jo Cherubini

Jo Cherubini, at 83 years old and a 50-year Mt. Kisco resident, is a vibrant, tireless volunteer in the Westchester community. In addition to being a 20-year volunteer at NWH, Jo volunteers twice a week at the Rosary Hill Home, an end-of-life facility based in Hawthorne. She is also involved with the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry.

At NWH, you can usually find her on Wednesdays at the front desk of the Wallace Pavilion, but she also takes on other roles. “I feel a volunteer should go where they are needed,” says Jo. Whether it’s helping with blood drives, stuffing envelopes, delivering greeting cards to patients, or making sure wheelchairs are accessible at the front entrance–Jo is on it. Working at the front desk is not without its challenges. “Typically when people walk into the hospital, it’s not on the best of circumstances…unless they’re visiting the maternity ward,” says Jo. “They need to be received and guided with patience,” she adds.

Jo with Ellen Muentener  PHOTO BY JANINE CROWLEY HAYNES

Jo is the recipient of the 2017 Mary B. Robbins Beacon of Light Award which is given by NWH to the volunteer of the year. In lieu of the personal gifts she would have received from NWH, Jo asked if it could be in the form of a monetary donation to be split up between two of her charities—Rosary Hill Home and the Mount Kisco Food Pantry.

“I love this hospital and its mission to provide quality care to the community,” says Jo. “The people who work here are open and receptive. It’s a family atmosphere and that makes for a pleasant experience,” she adds.

In addition to all of her volunteer activities, Jo finds the time to knit and crochet blankets for children with cancer. She’s made over 1,000 blankets so far. Jo has also made hundreds of hats for infants that have been born at NWH.

If you would like to donate some yarn for her projects, please feel free to leave it at the front desk of the Wallace Pavilion. She would greatly appreciate it.

PHOTO BY CHAD KRAUS

Idelle Skriloff

Idelle Skriloff volunteers at the Ken Hamilton Caregivers Center (KHCC) located in the Wallace Pavilion of the hospital. KHCC was founded by Armonk resident Marian Hamilton in loving memory of her husband, Ken Hamilton. Marian was the primary caregiver to her husband when he was sick. The experience was stressful and, at times, isolating. After her husband passed away, Marian founded the KHCC, the first in-hospital facility of its kind in the entire New York Metropolitan region. Named in memory of her husband and inspired by her experience caring for her husband through his illness, while juggling her role as a mother to two teenage daughters, gave her a firsthand understanding that hospitals are often not equipped to help caregivers in a meaningful way. With a vision to support family caregivers, Marian approached Northern Westchester Hospital. Since its inception, the KHCC has had over 60,000 family interactions, demonstrating the vast need for caregiver support.

For ten years, Idelle Skriloff has been one of over 30 volunteers at KHCC. “I wanted to do something meaningful to give back to the community,” she says. “At times, my husband and I have been patients at NWH, and we received such great care.” What makes Idelle well-suited for this particular type of volunteer work is her kind, compassionate spirit that comes along with being a retired special education teacher from Fox Lane. Idelle volunteers once a week seeking caregivers on the floor to engage in conversation and offer appropriate support as needed. “We let them know we are there for them if they have any questions or need information, and we invite them to the center to relax and unwind,” says Idelle. “Sometimes caregivers just need emotional support. Sometimes they need information and resources.”

KHCC’s volunteer training is intensive. Trainees will shadow a seasoned volunteer for three to six months and are also expected to make a long-term commitment to the center.

KHCC has extended their services with a ‘Stay in Touch’ program where volunteers reach out to caregivers after discharge via telephone. Idelle describes her volunteer experience as uniquely rewarding: “I am so grateful to have a hospital like NWH in our community. Volunteering gives me so much more than I give.”

PHOTO BY JANINE CROWLEY HAYNES

Joanna Cirasella

Joanna Cirasella, Briarcliff resident and a massage therapist at the Chappaqua Wellness Center, volunteers her time at NWH twice a week. She and her 10-year-old pet therapy Norfolk terrier, Mandy, make their rounds at the hospital. For Joanna, her mission is personal. She is a 5-year breast cancer survivor. Joanna wanted to give back to the hospital that took great care of her. “They’re like family to me,” says Joanna. Mandy and Joanna typically visit the Cancer Center, the Breast Institute, and the Women’s Imaging Center. They also make visits to the oncology inpatient units. “Mandy opens the door. Once you say to a patient ‘I sat in that same chair,’ a whole other dialogue happens.”

For her service, Joanna received the prestigious International Pet Therapy Team Planetree Award. In addition to visiting patients, Joanna is on the Cancer Patient Advisory Council, designed to be the voice of the patient by providing ongoing insight into actual patient and family experiences.

Joanna is also involved with NWH’s Living with Cancer Support Group. She’s held fundraising events at Le Jardin du Roi with proceeds going to the NWH Cancer Health & Wellness Program. Joanna is also an accomplished photographer. You can also find several of her photographs hanging in the Cancer Center.

PHOTO BY JANINE CROWLEY HAYNES

Sophie Peterfreund

Sophie Peterfreund, a Bedford Hills resident, has been volunteering in the Emergency Department at NWH for six years and was a member of the NWH President’s Junior Leadership Council during her sophomore, junior and senior years at Fox Lane. The President’s Junior Leadership Council is made up of high school students in Northern Westchester. PJLC members develop projects that are meaningful to them about health issues affecting their peers.

Whenever she is home, you can find her in the Emergency Department helping out at the security desk at NWH helping out at the security desk and checking in patients. She is passionate about the hospital and loves tapping into its spirit and energy. The fast-paced atmosphere of urgent care is well-suited to her particular skill set. “It may sound strange, but ever since I was young, I loved going to the doctor,” says Sophie.

Sophie is a junior at Stony Brook University and hopes to attend physician’s assistant school after she graduates. Sophie is also an EMT in her town.

If you’re interested in volunteering at NWH, please contact Ellen Muentener, Director, Volunteer Services emuentener@northwell.edu.

How Volunteering Enhances ‘Patient Centered Care’

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David Miller, M.D.                                PHOTO BY CHAD KRAUS

By Grace Bennett

The volunteer effort at Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) “dovetails perfectly with our focus which is patient-centered care. We don’t just say that here, we practice it,” says David Miller, M.D., chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at NWH. He stresses the key role volunteers serve at NWH and the vital impact they have every single day on patient care. “In the area of surgical services alone, we have a full time ‘navigator’ who arrives to help in the process of ambulatory care; there are many volunteers who show patients where to go and who, by the way, also help staff at different locations.”

It’s not too surprising then that Dr. Miller generously extends his own hand at the hospital wearing three vital volunteer hats. For over four years, he has been an active member of the Northern Westchester Hospital Foundation. He is also a member of the board of trustees and of the hospital’s medical board.

Playing a leadership role in critical, volunteer fundraising efforts for the hospital comes naturally for Dr. Miller.An Armonk resident for the last 30 years, Dr. Miller has two children, 31 and 28, both born at NWH. “Both my grandchildren were born here too. My wife had surgery here. Assuring great patient care here for everyone is personal for me and for many of us.” Other doctors who sit on the foundation board include plastic surgeon David Palaia, M.D., and obstetrician/gynecologist, Anita Grover, M.D., neurosurgeon Omar Syed, MD, and pediatrician Margaret Collins, MD.

The foundation’s success, he maintains, would not be possible without an extensive volunteer effort. “Our entire objective is to develop and maintain a strong relationship with our surrounding communities. Foundation Board members need to remain informed, and our volunteers act as Ambassadors to the community.” He called a recent presentation by Twigs volunteers to the board of trustees “tremendous” and “eye opening.” “They perfectly illustrated what volunteering really means to this hospital. The fundraising they do is phenomenal through their gift shop which has been in existence for almost 75 years.”

The foundation board plans a combination of educational programs and fundraising through hospital or community-based events, such as a walk benefiting cancer patients, golf outings, concerts with local bands, to the all-important annual gala. “It is our largest vehicle,” he explained, and this year, hopes are high to surpass the $1.4 million raised last year. This year, the ‘Imagine What’s Next’ gala date is November 18th. To attend or make a donation to the hospital, please visit www.nwhconnect.org/2017Gala.

Ultimately, said Dr. Miller, the foundation and all the hospital volunteers “send a very strong message to patients that our hospital is a community that takes a huge interest in the welfare of our patients and their families.”

 

Grace Bennett is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Inside Press, Inc.