Suffolk Reporter

Carol Gomes and Carolyn Santora, both from Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH), have been honored with the 2024 HERALD Excellence in Healthcare Awards. The awards ceremony took place on September 18 at the Heritage Club in Bethpage, NY.

The HERALD Excellence in Healthcare Awards recognize healthcare professionals for their impact on the Long Island community through research, innovative programs, and services. Honorees are selected based on their dedication to improving health and well-being.

Gomes, CEO and COO of SBUH, has over 30 years of experience in healthcare. She holds two master’s degrees from Stony Brook University and various certifications, including Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Her accolades include a Long Island Business News Healthcare Heroes Award and the Master Award from the American Society of Clinical Pathology. Gomes also serves as board chair of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council.

In an interview with HERALD, Gomes expressed pride in her work at Stony Brook Medicine: “We continue to lead the way in our region and the country, with recognition for sustainability efforts, quality and patient safety outcomes and health equity.”

Santora, Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Regulatory Officer at SBUH, earned her master’s degree in critical care nursing at Stony Brook. She is trained as a nurse practitioner in critical care and a clinical nurse specialist. Santora has held management positions since joining SBUH in 1979. She is known for her expertise in emergency department overcrowding.

Santora acknowledged the nurses she works with: “These crucial members of the healthcare team utilize their skills, their knowledge and their compassion to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Michelle Ballan was also recognized at the event for her contributions to research, teaching, and service dedicated to individuals with disabilities.