Sunday, November 15, 2026
Mount Sinai South Nassau celebrated the people helping shape the future of health care on the South Shore during its annual “Soiree Under the Stars” on Nov. 7, bringing together nearly 400 hospital supporters, medical professionals and community leaders to raise funds for an expansion of cardiovascular services.
Held at The Lannin in Eisenhower Park, the gala benefited the Oceanside hospital’s “Bringing Heart Home” campaign, which supports the introduction of advanced cardiac surgical services, including adult open-heart surgery, and expanded cardiac care closer to home.
The hospital held its first annual gala in 1958 as the Carnation Ball, which has remained a signature fundraiser for decades and was rebranded as “Soiree Under the Stars” in 2017.
Tony Cancellieri, co-chair of the hospital’s Advisory Board and co-chair of this year’s Soiree, said the initiative was among the hospital’s largest fundraisers and represents a significant step in its efforts to provide South Shore residents with access to specialized cardiovascular treatment without needing to travel to Manhattan or other medical centers.
“This is a dream that we had 12 years ago,” Cancellieri said. “We wanted to take this community hospital — that’s going to be 100 years old in two years — and turn it into a regional medical center.”
The expansion includes plans for a Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Lab and a new CT-Angiography Lab, strengthening the hospital’s ability to diagnose and treat complex heart conditions.
Cancellieri said the hospital has invested significantly in its infrastructure over the past decade, adding operating rooms, critical care beds and an expanded emergency department while strengthening its trauma and stroke services.
The evening also honored individuals whose leadership, generosity and dedication have helped advance the hospital’s mission.
Steven Gold, a Hewlett Harbor resident and longtime hospital benefactor, was recognized for his decades of service and philanthropic support.
Gold has served on Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Advisory Board since 2011, holding leadership positions including Development Committee chair and co-chair of the Soiree.
“Steven Gold is one of our longest serving volunteer board members, and he has been a supporter of the hospital for decades,” Dr. Joshua Kugler, the hospital’s interim president, said. “Anytime we need something, he is there. He embodies the South Nassau spirit.”
Gold is known for his leadership of Gold Pure Food Products, commonly known as Gold’s Horseradish, a family business founded by his grandparents. He served as president until the company was sold in 2015.
He also serves on the board of SIBSPlace, a Mount Sinai South Nassau program supporting children whose siblings face serious illnesses.
Two members of the hospital’s medical and nursing teams were also recognized for their contributions to patient care.
Dr. Aaron E. Glatt, chair of the Department of Medicine, chief of Infectious Diseases and hospital epidemiologist, received the Mary Pearson Award, named for the hospital’s founding administrator. The honor recognizes individuals whose contributions significantly advance the hospital’s commitment to the community.
Glatt, who has held his leadership positions since 2015, oversees the department’s clinical, academic and administrative operations and the hospital’s nationally recognized antimicrobial stewardship program.
During the pandemic, he served as a leading medical expert, helping guide the hospital’s response, including monoclonal antibody treatments, vaccine distribution and the launch of Mount Sinai’s Vaxmobile.
He is also a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and an ordained rabbi.
“Dr. Glatt’s clinical acumen has been key to Mount Sinai South Nassau’s advancements in patient safety, quality, infection prevention, and antibiotic administration and the multiple awards the hospital has received for patient safety and the quality of care,” Dr. Alan Wong, the hospital’s chief medical officer, said. “We are grateful for his leadership.”
Nydia White, a registered nurse and director of Nursing in the Department of Medicine, received the Cupola Award, which recognizes employees who demonstrate exceptional dedication to the hospital’s mission.
White has spent her entire 22-year nursing career at Mount Sinai South Nassau, much of it in critical care. During the pandemic, she helped lead nursing teams through the extraordinary demands of caring for critically ill patients.
She now oversees nursing operations in the surgical and intensive care units, emphasizing patient-centered care, quality improvement and professional development.
“As the hospital launches its advanced cardiac surgery program, we will rely on Ms. White’s leadership in critical care so that our patients achieve optimal outcomes,” Margaret Pfeiffer, senior vice president and chief nursing officer, said. “We are grateful that she has been a member of our team for more than 20 years and are so proud of her work.”
The hospital also paid tribute to the late Wayne Lipton, a longtime board member who co-chaired the Soiree for many years, presenting a special posthumous award to his family.
Beyond celebrating the honorees, the evening demonstrated the community’s commitment to expanding access to lifesaving medical care.
Cancellieri said the gala generated more than $900,000 in gross proceeds through sponsorships, raffles, pledges and donations, including an anonymous $100,000 contribution made in honor of Glatt. The final net fundraising total has not yet been determined.
The funds will help offset the substantial costs associated with launching an advanced cardiac surgery program, including specialized equipment, expanded operating rooms and staffing.
The new program, expected to launch later this year, will be overseen by surgeons and clinical leaders from Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in Manhattan, with specialists traveling to Oceanside to perform advanced procedures.
The hospital already provides emergency balloon angioplasty, reporting an average door-to-balloon time of 58 minutes, compared with the national benchmark of 90 minutes. Its Cardiac Catheterization Lab has also earned the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence.
For Cancellieri, the significance of the expansion extends beyond medical technology, as having advanced emergency and cardiovascular services close to home can make a critical difference for South Shore residents, particularly when minutes matter.
“We have grateful patients that become people whose lives have been saved because of that visit to South Nassau,” Cancellieri said. “That means everything to us.”
Cancellieri credited the hospital’s development staff and the 40 volunteers that spend months planning the gala, describing the staff as “the driving force behind its success.”
As Mount Sinai South Nassau prepares to introduce open-heart surgery, the “Bringing Heart Home” campaign represents another step toward ensuring South Shore residents can receive advanced medical treatment without traveling far from their families and communities.
“We educated a bit, raised some money and celebrated a lot,” Cancellieri said. “It was such a wonderful night.”
