St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital Gala Celebrates Past, Present and Future
October 7, 2015
Newburgh, NY – St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital hosted its annual gala on Saturday, Oct. 7 at West Point's Eisenhower Hall. Through the support of hospital donors, attendees and friends, this year's event, which celebrated Autumn on the Hudson, raised more than $255,000 in net proceeds which will be donated to support hospital programs and initiatives.
SLCH Interim President and CEO, Joan Cusack-McGuirk made an exciting and much anticipated announcement at the event: SLCH and Montefiore Health System had approved a partnership between the two organizations. Pending regulatory approval, the agreement would strengthen delivery of healthcare locally and enhance access to exceptional specialty care for Hudson Valley residents.
In addition the announcement, this year's gala also paid tribute to Outstanding Caregiver Award recipient Dr. Liza Antony, and Community Commitment Award winners Mr. and Mrs. John and Ruth Smith.
Dr. Antony joined the SLCH community in 1984, and in 1988 was promoted to Director of Laboratories in Newburgh. In 2000, she added the oversight of the Cornwall Hospital Laboratory to her list of duties, and was an integral part of unifying the labs during the 2002 merger of the campuses. A board certified Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist, Dr. Antony currently serves as the Medical Director of Laboratory Services.
"While Dr. Antony often works behind the scenes, she is a crucial part of our ability to provide the highest quality patient care," said Joan Cusack-McGuirk, SLCH Interim President and CEO. "Her attention to detail, high standards and commitment to excellence have earned the respect of her colleagues on the medical staff, her team in the laboratory and the entire hospital community. While a patient might never know her name, she has been a vital member of the team that has produced so many positive outcomes during her distinguished career."
John and Ruth Smith's involvement with the hospital dates back 40 years. John is a former Foundation Chairman and spent 20 years on the hospital board during which he was instrumental in the merger between St. Luke's Hospital and Cornwall Hospital. Both John and Ruth played key roles in the capital campaigns for the both the Littman Cancer Center and the Littman Emergency Department in Cornwall. They have passed on their dedication to service to their children. All three, Debra, Cathy and Jack, are involved in multiple civic groups, including the Foundation Board of Directors.
"The Smith Family is a shining example of the great things that can be accomplished when people give to others," said Cusack-McGuirk. "John and Ruth have been valued members of the SLCH family for more than four decades and have both played integral roles in the development of this organization. We are all grateful for their hard work and dedication to our community."
The event attracted close to 500 guest including hospital leadership, elected officials, and community members at large. Top sponsors included the St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital Medical Staff, Montefiore Medical Center, Kaplan Family Foundations, Eagle Insurance Agency, Greater New York Hospital Association, The Heart Center, the Littman Family, RestorixHealth and Unitex Textile Rental Services.
St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital (SLCH) is a not-for-profit community hospital with campuses in Newburgh and Cornwall, NY. The hospital is dedicated to serving the health care needs of the Hudson Valley and has achieved excellence in the delivery of compassionate and comprehensive health care services. SLCH has received the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for five consecutive years. The Joint Commission noted SLCH for excellence in Key Quality Measures in management of Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Stroke and Surgical Care. SLCH is also recognized as an industry leader in using information technology to improve patient care, by winning the Most Wired Award for the second year in a row.
