SBU News
SBU News > Newsroom > Press Release > Medicine > Governor Cuomo Proclaims May 7 as Health Care Auxilian Day

Governor Cuomo Proclaims May 7 as Health Care Auxilian Day

Auxilary 600

placeholder
Board members of the 2014 Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary: (
Left to Right) Lynn Autz, Karen Villanueva-Walsh, Janet Hovnanian, Caroline Gassner-Levine Uta Dee, Barbara Delfyett, Patricia Macarchuk, Linda Shamash, Panayiota Doering, Gloria Snyder, Loraine Sommer, and Elena Middleton. Janice Rohlf (missing)

Governor Cuomo Proclaims May 7 as Health Care Auxilian Day

CEO Praises Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary’s dedication to the institution

STONY BROOK, NY, MAY 7, 2014 — Governor Andrew Cuomo has proclaimed May 7, 2014 as Health Care Auxilian Day in New York State to recognize the dedicated Auxilians who annually donate more than five million hours of service to their health care facilities and to their communities.

New York State has more than 75,000 health care Auxilians who initiate, fund, and volunteer for a wide variety of patient and family care services—from outpatient clinics to intensive care units.  They sponsor community health fairs, health screenings, blood banks, and wellness lecture series; raise funds for hospital and nursing home equipment; and organize and underwrite outreach programs in their communities.

Since its formation in 1981, Stony Brook University Hospital’s Auxiliary have exceeded their commitment to raise $6 million for hospital projects, services and equipment.

Over the years the Auxiliary at SBUH has made contributions such as ambulances for the Department of Emergency Medical Services, a noninvasive blood flow monitoring device called Cardio Q for the hospital’s surgical intensive care unit, as well as infant pulmonary function testing (iPFT) equipment for the Cystic Fibrosis Center.

“Stony Brook University Hospital is very fortunate to have the support of the many dedicated individuals who make up this great organization” said L. Reuven Pasternak, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Stony Brook University Hospital, and Vice President for Health. “Their commitment to this institution is a true benefit to so many people.”  

The Auxiliary sponsors and supports patient driven programs and services such as the Hope Program for underserved communities, and the SNAC Program for underprivileged families.

The Auxiliary has a network of knitters—women from the local area—who get together and knit baby hats and blankets for families to take home with them when their babies leave the hospital. They also knit blankets for oncology patients. Most recently they started participating in crafting “Giving Dolls” for children and patients who are in need of a toy or something to help them cope with a procedure, a diagnosis, or the loss of a loved-one.

The Auxiliary derives its funding from the Auxiliary Gift Shop located in the Hospital lobby, in-house vendor sales, new and used sales, fundraising events, and of course donations from appreciative patients.

About Stony Brook University Hospital:

Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) is Long Island’s premier academic medical center. With 603 beds, SBUH serves as the region’s only tertiary care center and Level 1 Trauma Center, and is home to the Stony Brook Heart Institute, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook Long Island Children’s Hospital, Stony Brook Neurosciences Institute, and Stony Brook Digestive Disorders Institute. SBUH also encompasses Suffolk County’s only Level 4 Regional Perinatal Center, state-designated AIDS Center, state-designated Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, state-designated Burn Center, the Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence, and Kidney Transplant Center. It is home of the nation’s first Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center. To learn more, visit www.stonybrookmedicine.edu.

Related Posts

Subscribe to News

Get the latest word on Stony Brook news, discoveries and people.

Archives

Get the latest word on Stony Brook news,
discoveries and people.