Maimonides Health officials gathered on June 5 to honor the extraordinary contributions of 1,600 diverse volunteers who have collectively devoted 200,000 hours of service to the institution.
Recognized as one of the largest volunteer departments in New York, Maimonides celebrated nearly 300 of its current volunteers with a luncheon, where leaders acknowledged their unwavering dedication to patients and staff alike.
“It’s a privilege to celebrate the contributions our volunteers make to our hospital and our community,” said Ken Gibbs, president and CEO of Maimonides Health. “All of the Maimonides staff who work with our volunteers have great respect and appreciation for their presence and patient advocacy.”
Held in The New Ballroom in Borough Park, the annual luncheon gathered leadership from 150 community, school, and city organizations that collaborate with the Maimonides Volunteer Department. The volunteer cohort spans working adults, retirees, high school and college students, business school students and more.
Maimonides Health leaders were present to express their gratitude, including President Gibbs, Executive VP of Community Relations Douglas Jablon, Interim Chief Nursing Officer Carol Kidney, NYSNA President and long-time Maimonides nurse Nancy Hagans, and Boris Molchanskiy, VP and Chief Nursing Officer of Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital.
During the event, key speakers highlighted the importance of volunteer contributions. A moment of special recognition was given to Erminia Rivera, vice chair of the Maimonides Board of Trustees and a notable community leader. The healthcare system commemorated Rivera with the naming of the Erminia Rivera Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, Brooklyn’s only award-winning, fully-accredited breast center.
The event also honored longtime volunteer Mordechai Meisles, who notably tended to approximately 30 bodies a day at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. His selfless service exemplifies the spirit of the Maimonides volunteer community, officials said.
