Six local physicians will receive a Doctor of Distinction award Oct. 30 at an event at The Bristal at Armonk.
Doctors of Distinction 2014 is presented by the Westchester County Business Journal, Citrin Cooperman and the Westchester County Medical Society. This will be the second annual Doctors of Distinction event for Westchester County, honoring outstanding physicians for their achievements in five categories.
“It”™s amazing that just one year after the inaugural Doctors of Distinction Awards in Westchester, the inspiring stories by the winners still resonate with the attendees and Business Journal readers. Now, this year”™s event is fervently anticipated because it”™s recognized that the doctors chosen are the best of the best, no easy task for the judges,” said Dee DelBello, publisher of the Westchester County Business Journal. “It”™s not a popularity contest. Selection is based on merit and accomplishment, and we are delighted to partner with the Westchester County Medical Society and Citrin Cooperman to bring the good work of Westchester County physicians to public view.”
“We are looking forward to the second annual Westchester Doctors of Distinction Awards honoring leading physicians in the Westchester medical community,” said Alan G. Badey, managing partner of Citrin Cooperman”™s White Plains office. “We at Citrin Cooperman thank all of the winners and nominees for their continued dedication to our community.”
“This event brings well-deserved recognition to some of our physicians who do great things that don”™t get the recognition that this event would bring,” said Brian Foy, executive director of the Westchester County Medical Society. “We didn”™t have this kind of an event where we could recognize outstanding physicians in different fields before. We”™re looking forward to another great event.”
The Humanitarian Award, presented 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, will be given to Martin E. Lederman of Lederman & Lederman LLP. As a pediatric ophthalmologist, Lederman has had a practice in Westchester since 1984, and has headed teaching and surgical missions to Panama, Kenya, Morocco, Dubai and Belize. He co-founded “One World, One Vision,” an organization devoted to bringing pediatric ophthalmologists to developing countries to treat children and adults with strabismus (misaligned eyes) and children with cataracts.
Kira Geraci-Ciardullo of Westchester Health Associates and Mary Beth Walsh of Burke Rehabilitation Hospital will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, given in recognition of a physician who is respected by his or her peers for a lifetime career in medical service to the community.
A graduate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Geraci-Ciardullo has served as chief of the allergy division of White Plains Hospital and president of the Westchester Allergy Society. Walsh is the executive medical director and CEO of Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains. She is also an associate dean and associate professor of clinical medicine at Burke”™s academic affiliate, Weill Cornell Medical College and an assistant attending physician at New York City”™s Hospital for Special Surgery.
Recognized with the Leadership in Medical Advocacy Award, given to 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, is Thomas Lee. A neurosurgeon who went to medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles, Lee”™s practice is based in Tarrytown.
Augustine Moscatello of Westchester Medical Center is this year”™s recipient of the Community Service Award, presented 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. Moscatello serves as director of the department of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. He is also an associate professor at New York Medical College.
This year”™s Excellence in Medical Research Award, given in recognition of a physician whose ingenuity or clinical research significantly contributed to the advancement of medical practice, is given to William Bauman of the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx. Earlier this year, Bauman, along with colleague Ann Spungen, received the Samuel J. Heyman Science and Environment Medal for their work in improving the health care and quality of life of paralyzed veterans.
