Two members of the Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) leadership team, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer Carol Gomes and Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Regulatory Officer Carolyn Santora, received 2024 HERALD Excellence in Healthcare Awards. The awards were presented at the third annual ceremony on September 18 at the Heritage Club in Bethpage, NY.
The HERALD Excellence in Healthcare Awards recognize healthcare professionals for their impact in the Long Island community, innovative programs and services, and dedication to improving health and well-being. Honorees are chosen based on their strength and passion to lead both their organization and community.
Carol Gomes has worked in healthcare for over 30 years. She holds two master’s degrees from Stony Brook University and teaches at the School of Health Professions. Her certifications include Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Gomes has received several leadership awards such as the Long Island Business News Healthcare Heroes Award, the Master Award from the American Society of Clinical Pathology, and the Stony Brook Council Medal of Excellence. She is also board chair of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council.
In a Q&A with HERALD, Gomes highlighted her pride in being part of Stony Brook Medicine: “We continue to lead the way in our region and the country, with recognition for sustainability efforts, quality and patient safety outcomes and health equity. In the past year, Stony Brook Medicine has strengthened efforts to develop bonds within the community to foster health equity and address patient needs to support a healthier patient population.”
Carolyn Santora earned her master’s degree in critical care nursing at Stony Brook University. She is trained as a nurse practitioner in critical care and a clinical nurse specialist. Santora started at SBUH in 1979 as a clinician in the first surgery unit. She is known nationally for her expertise in emergency department overcrowding. Her certifications include American Nurses Credentialing Center certification as a nurse executive.
Santora expressed her admiration for nurses: “These crucial members of the healthcare team utilize their skills, their knowledge and their compassion to make a difference in the lives of others.”
Michelle Ballan was also honored at the event. Ballan is a professor and associate dean for research at Stony Brook School of Social Welfare. She was recognized for her work dedicated to individuals with disabilities and their families.