By: Robert Remler
South Nassau Communities Hospital will sponsor a platelet apheresis drive on Friday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the hospital located at One Healthy Way in Oceanside. Apheresis is a procedure in which a small volume of whole blood is removed from the donor, a component such as plasma, white blood cells or platelets is separated out and the remainder is transfused back to the donor. This procedure allows for the collection of enough platelets from one donor. The donation takes approximately 75 minutes, but allow two hours. A donor must be at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health and avoid aspirin 72 hours prior to donation. For more information call 632-3919.
Franklin set to tee off
Valley Stream's Franklin Hospital Medical Center's Annual Invitational Golf Tournament will be held at the Middle Bay Country Club in Oceanside, on Monday, Aug. 19. The tourney is scheduled for a 11 a.m. tee off time, with all players enjoying brunch, a full round of golf, cocktails and an awards dinner. The tourney will also mark the hospital's presentation of the first ever "President's Service Award." Information about the $375 per player benefit can be had by calling the hospital at 256-6360.
A Duchess in Nassau County
More than 400 women gathered at the "Generations Luncheon" at the Garden City Hotel recently in an effort to raise the necessary funding and awareness to battle cancer on Long Island. Sarah, The Duchess of York discussed the Long Island Cancer Campaign's efforts to raise money for a new ambulatory cancer facility to treat patients from Queens, Nassau and Suffolk at the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System with Roy Zuckerberg, left, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Health System and Michael Dowling, president and CEO.
'Sharps' disposal program
Anyone with residential "sharps," such as needles or syringes, who does not know how to properly dispose of them, can bring them to New Island Hospital for safe disposal. The hospital participates in the New York State Department of Health Regulated Medical Waste SHARPS Program. The Housekeeping Department at New Island Hospital will accept residential "sharps" from the community on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., except on holidays. The hospital is located at 4295 Hempstead Turnpike in Bethpage. Call the Housekeeping Department for an appointment and more information at 520-2305.
Nassau's doc is golden
David Annunziato, MD, FAAP, Director of Pediatric Education at Nassau University Medical Center celebrated 50 years of dedicated service to the hospital last month.To commemorate the achievement, Annunziato received a plaque from the hospital's board of directors at a June ceremony.Beginning as a junior attending physician at Meadowbrook Hospital, the former name of NUMC, Annunziato received staff privileges in June 1952 in the Infectious Disease Division, just prior to the start of the major polio epidemic of the time. He continued on staff as a volunteer until 1973 when he joined the full-time staff as director of Pediatric Ambulatory Services at NUMC and SUNY Health Sciences Center, College of Medicine at Stonybrook. Annunziato still enjoys coming in daily to participate in the many educational programs at NUMC.
South Nassau doc a 'hometown hero'
Sept. 11, 2001 will forever be remembered in memory of the thousands of innocent lives lost in the terrorist attacks. That day will also be remembered for the many great acts of selflessness that have sparked nation-wide healing and solidarity among the people, such as volunteer crisis counseling at numerous schools and religious organizations. South Nassau Community Hospital's Thomas Demaria, Ph.D., is one of the many who volunteered his time since Sept. 11. To date he has provided services to over 3,000 members of the Long Island community and beyond.Within hours of the attack, Demaria, administrative director of Behavioral Health Services at the Oceanside hospital, was called in by schools to provide interventions and preventative behavioral health care to help teachers and students cope with grief, stress, anxiety and shock.In recognition of his dedication and commitment to leading Long Island through a challenging time in its history, Demaria was presented the New York State Senate Liberty Award by State Sen. Kemp Hannon, at a ceremony held at Hofstra University.Founded in 2000, the award is given to those who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic or humanitarian acts and achievements on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers.
