Fundraiser for WMCHealth’s Heart and Vascular Institute draws more than 400

VALHALLA, NY (February, 24 2023) – Girls’ Night Out, a heartwarming evening featuring tributes to heart disease survivors and their caregivers, was held Feb. 9 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. WCBS-TV news anchor Mary Calvi emceed the event with proceeds benefiting the WMCHealth Heart & Vascular Institute, which offers comprehensive cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery services to patients of all ages, as well as a heart disease prevention program. A sellout crowd of over 400 attended.

The evening included dining, dancing and a fashion show featuring healthcare providers and patients modeling fashions from Macy’s at Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers, the event’s main sponsor. Other sponsors included Boston Children’s Health Physicians; Compass One; Garfunkel Wild, Heidell, Pittone, Murphy & Bach LLP; Martin Clearwater & Bell LLP; New York Medical College; The Premier Collection; ShopRite; TD Bank; Tompkins Bank; Unitex; Vizient; Vigorito, Barker, Patterson, Nichols & Porter, LLP and Wilson Elser.

February is Heart Health Awareness Month. Heart disease is still the number one killer of women in the United States, accounting for about one in every five female deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Julio Panza, MD, Director of the Department of Cardiology at Westchester Medical Center, said that the heart’s function affects many systems of the body. “Because there is truly a connection between our hearts and so many other systems in our bodies, interdisciplinary collaboration between all of our clinical specialists is so important,’ he said. “Our work to change and save lives is truly a collaboration that delivers miracles every day.’’

Gabbie Fried, RN, Vice President of Cardiovascular Services with the Heart & Vascular Institute said heart health awareness and prevention effort are key in reducing heart disease risks.

“Our new Cardiovascular Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program works to prevent coronary disease and save lives,’ she said. “Through education and screening and by developing a personal plan for exercise and healthy eating the prevention team works to head off potential heart problems.’’

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (January 24, 2023) — MidHudson Regional Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Health Network (WMCHealth), today held a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the new Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services inpatient pediatrics unit at the hospital. 

The new inpatient pediatrics unit or “neighborhood” at MidHudson Regional Hospital officially opened at the end of 2022 and now features 10 private rooms – double the amount of the hospital’s prior inpatient pediatrics unit – with private bathrooms, showers and sleeping accommodations for a child’s caregivers. 

The inpatient neighborhood also features a new infusion center and welcoming spaces for music and art therapy, and other child life activities promoting healing.

“We’ve experienced an incredible response from the community since Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital launched in 2020. This inpatient service expansion and environment upgrade will help us provide inpatient pediatric services to even more families in the Poughkeepsie area and surrounding communities,” said Michael Gewitz, MD, Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations for WMCHealth as well as the Executive Director and William Russell McCurdy Physician-in-Chief at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. “In many regions across the country, there is limited access to inpatient pediatric care, and this expansion demonstrates WMCHealth’s continued commitment to investing in specialized services that benefit our entire community.” 

“Ensuring accessible, quality care for children in Dutchess County is critical, and today’s dedication and unveiling of this expanded inpatient facility will go a long way toward strengthening our community health,” said Dutchess County Executive William F.X. O’Neil. “We thank the staff at WMCHealth, MidHudson Regional Hospital, and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital for their leadership and continued commitment to improving children’s healthcare in our area.” 

The Mid-Hudson Region’s Choice for Pediatric Hospital Care

The new and expanded inpatient pediatrics neighborhood at MidHudson Regional Hospital exemplifies WMCHealth’s continuing commitment to the health and wellbeing of children in the Mid-Hudson region and beyond. Since WMCHealth launched Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital a little over two years ago, the hospital has recorded more than 1,100 inpatient discharges and 10,000 pediatric emergency department visits. 

“The pediatric care team has always included nurses skilled in pediatric care and in response to the community’s trust in our service, WMCHealth recruited hospital-based pediatricians and allied professionals to the 24/7 MidHudson Regional Hospital staff, added a pediatric emergency medicine specialist, launched pediatric subspecialty telehealth consultative services, and debuted a pediatric ambulatory surgery program,” said Jenny Sung, MD, the onsite clinical director for Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital. 

A Continuum of Care, Close to Home

Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital supplies care under the auspices of WMCHealth’s Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, which is renowned locally and nationally as a provider of high-quality subspecialty pediatric care. If advanced pediatric care is necessary, an in-network patient transfer from MidHudson Regional Hospital to the nearby Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is seamless and ensures children continue to receive care as close to home as possible. 

“My family owes everything to the talented and dedicated staff at MidHudson Regional Hospital. Without them, my son might not be with us today,” said Jeanine Geiser, a Beacon, NY resident and mother of Chase Pultz, 8. “Chase’s care began at MidHudson Regional Hospital where he was diagnosed with a severe infection that needed immediate advanced care. Chase was transferred to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital where he spent a month in the pediatric intensive care unit. Today, Chase is doing well and enjoying life the way a boy his age should. 

“My son’s case shows the importance of specialized pediatric care here in Dutchess County and the Mid-Hudson region,” continued Geiser, “and the unit’s opening will enable more families to benefit from MidHudson Regional Hospital’s pediatric services.” 

Recognizing Local History

The expanded pediatric inpatient accommodations at MidHudson Regional Hospital were modeled after Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital where pediatric inpatient units are referred to as neighborhoods – Sailing, Heroes, Flight, Theater, Arts, Literature and Athletics – with themed décors for a welcoming and family-friendly healing environment. As an homage to the MidHudson Valley’s rich agricultural history the MidHudson Regional Hospital inpatient unit will carry a “Farming” theme and name. The Farming Neighborhood at MidHudson Regional Hospital is open for the care of children and their caregivers. 

The inpatient pediatric service is a component of Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital, which also includes pediatric emergency and outpatient services. Families interested in learning more about Maria Fareri Children’s Healthcare Services at MidHudson Regional Hospital should visit our website.

The holidays can be an especially difficult time for children and their families at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. Knowing that, first responders came to the rescue on December 20 by bringing Santa to the hospital escorted by more than 100 emergency vehicles. With lights flashing and sirens sounding, the vehicles surrounded the hospital putting on a spectacular holiday light show for children who waved back from their rooms. 

Children are often at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital for extended periods as they battle heart disease, cancer, traumatic injuries and other serious ailments. Events like Good Night Lights offer fun and a positive distraction for hospitalized children and their families.  

Thank you to Westchester County Police Department for coordinating Good Night Lights!

Girls’ Night Out, an annual fundraiser for the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) Heart and Vascular Institute, will be held on Feb. 9, 2023 at The Marriott in Tarrytown. 

The event will celebrate the triumphs of heart patients and recognize the physicians and healthcare professionals whose compassion and skill save lives. February is Heart Health Awareness Month. Heart disease remains the number one killer of women in the United States, causing 1 in 3 deaths or approximately one every minute. 

Girls’ Night Out will be emceed by award-winning, WCBS-TV news anchor Mary Calvi. Proceeds from the event will benefit the WMCHealth Heart and Vascular Institute, which offers a wide

range of cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery services – including heart failure and heart transplantation, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and more – to Hudson Valley residents. 

To learn more about sponsorships for the event or to purchase tickets or make a donation visit wmchealthgiving.org. 

Tickets can be purchased here.