In the first award of its kind recognizing members of the medical profession in Westchester County, seven doctors will be honored at a ceremony Oct. 24 at The Bristal in White Plains.
Hosting this inaugural award, titled Doctors of Distinction, will be Robert Bazell, the multi-award-winning former chief health and science correspondent for NBC News and now adjunct professor of molecular biology at Yale University.
After considering more than 40 stellar nominees, the judges chose seven doctors as winners.
HUMANITARIAN AWARDÂ
Jeffrey Sherman, MD, of Westchester Anesthesiologists
In recognition of a physician or physicians for a project or service that impacts humanity by significantly improving or enhancing the quality of life for people in the region, nationwide or worldwide.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Tie: Argyrios Stampas, MD, of The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and Robert Raniolo, MD, of Phelps Memorial Hospital Center
In recognition of a physician for outstanding service to his or her community in providing free medical and patient care services for people in need ”“ the underserved, homeless, uninsured or indigent.
MEDICALÂ ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
Robert Amler, MD, of New York Medical College
In recognition of a physician whose ingenuity and “outside-the-traditional box” thinking and action have significantly contributed to the advancement of medical practice.
RESEARCHÂ EXCELLENCE AWARD
Jason Carmel, MD, Burke Medical Research Institute
In recognition of a physician whose clinical research in a particular area has caught the attention of his or her peers and deserves special acknowledgement.
LIFETIMEÂ ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Avraham Merav, MD, Phelps Memorial Hospital Center
In recognition of a physician who is respected by his or her peers for a lifetime career in medical service to the community.
LEADERSHIP INÂ MEDICAL ADVOCACY AWARD
Lawrence Faltz, MD, Phelps Memorial Hospital Center
In recognition of a physician who has provided exceptional leadership in the form of advocacy on behalf of the medical profession at the local, state or national level or has provided tireless volunteer time to help fellow physicians.
“Physicians have always been held in high regard, not only because of their professionalism but also because they have sworn the oath of Hippocrates and provide so much to the community,” said Dr. Robert Lerner, president of the Westchester County Medical Society. “Among all these fine physicians are those who have shown outstanding altruism, accomplishment or contributions to society.”
The Westchester Medical Society along with accounting and consulting firm Citrin Cooperman and the Westchester County Business Journal are the three founders of the award.
Alan G. Badey, managing partner, Citrin Cooperman”™s White Plains office, said: “The awards were created to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the leading physicians in Westchester County for their contribution to the profession and to the community. All the winners and nominees have represented the highest standards of excellence in the medical community and we congratulate them all.”
Dee DelBello, publisher of Westfair Communications, said, “We”™re delighted to partner with the Westchester County Medical Society and Citrin Cooperman in presenting this first Doctors of Distinction awards event. The winners are representatives of one of the finest professional groups in the region and they are being recognized by the business community for their enormous contribution to the health care industry. This is not a popularity competition; this is based on merit and impartial review.”
Hosting the event is a departure for Bazell who worked as a journalist for 30 years before leaving to join Yale University this past summer.
He received the George Foster Peabody Award for distinguished achievement and meritorious service in broadcasting. The citation stated that his reports “have exemplified the best reporting on science and medicine.”
His tracking of the AIDS epidemic, which began in 1982 when there were just a small number of cases, has included reports from all parts of the U.S., Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and South America.
Bazell won an Emmy in the Outstanding Informational or Cultural Programming Category for his in-depth report on experimental brain surgery, featured on the TV newsmagazine “Now with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric.” He won another Emmy for a three-part series on the brain, featured on “NBC Nightly News.”
Bazell is a 1967 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in biochemistry. He did graduate work in biology at the University of Sussex, England, in 1969, and was awarded a doctoral candidate degree in immunology at Berkeley.
For reservations to the awards event, please contact Holly DeBartolo at hdebartolo@westfairinc.com.
