The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) today recognized National Doctors' Day by honoring 22 physicians who represent the nearly 4,000 dedicated men and women who treat approximately 1.3 million New Yorkers in the city's public hospitals, health centers and long term care centers each year.

"Doctor's Day is our opportunity to say thank you to the dedicated, caring and remarkable physicians of the City's public hospitals," said HHC President Alan D. Aviles. "These individuals exemplify the expertise, compassion and collaborative spirit that are helping to drive performance improvements across our vast system and truly represent the exceptional talent among the several thousand physicians who treat the most vulnerable populations across our great city."

HHC recognized its doctors in two separate award categories, each representing the recipient's dedication, service and leadership. The Presidents Award for Outstanding Service was given to Dr. Arnold Saperstein, Executive Director, MetroPlus Health Plan, Inc. in recognition of his vision, commitment, passion and tireless pursuit of exceptional quality in the delivery of care to HHC patients. Under his leadership MetroPlus has been rated as the best Medicaid Managed Care health plan in New York City for the third year in a row by the New York State Department of Health. The MetroPlus #1 rating, ahead of the other 14 Medicaid Managed Care plans in the city, is for quality and overall patient satisfaction, and is included in the New York City Medicaid Consumer Guide, published by the New York State Department of Health. In addition, under Dr. Saperstein's leadership, MetroPlus achieved another impressive milestone of 300,000 members this year.

"The practice of medicine requires a great deal of self-sacrifice, beginning with years of study and training, and then later handling the competing demands of family and long, sometimes stressful hours," said HHC Chief Medical Officer Ramanathan Raju, M.D. "Today we recognize that our physicians' dedication, compassion and excellent medical skills are a intrinsic part of what makes HHC an excellent and caring system."

The HHC Doctors' Day Award was given to 21 gifted physicians from across our system who exemplified the commitment to providing HHC patients with the best medical care in the world.

Those honored from Manhattan facilities were:

• Lisa Park, M.D., Bellevue Hospital Center
• Josefina Hipolito, M.D., Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital & Nursing Facility
• Irwin Martin Kofsky, DPM, Gouverneur Healthcare Services
• Vincent Hutchinson, M.D., Harlem Hospital Center
• Swati Dave-Shama, M.D., Health and Home Care
• Alf Michael Tannenberg, M.D., Metropolitan Hospital Center
• Barbara Lanzara, M.D., Renaissance Health Care Network Diagnostic & Treatment Center.

Those honored from Brooklyn facilities were:

• Daniel Contractor, M.D., Coney Island Hospital
• Alter Kidd, M.D., Cumberland Diagnostic & Treatment Center
• Cristina Akid Bumatay, M.D., East New York Diagnostic & Treatment Center
• Benjamin A. Rosenberg , M.D., Kings County Hospital Center
• Edward S. Gregory , M.D., Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
• Orett Ogle, D.D.S., Woodhull Medical & Mental Health Center.

Those honored from the Bronx facilities were:

• Victor M. Badner, M.D., Jacobi Medical Center;
• Isaiarasi Gnanasekaran, M.D., Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center
• Angela Sanchez, M.D., Morrisania Diagnostic & Treatment Center
• Atiya Dhala, M.D., North Central Bronx Hospital
• Marie M. Alzi, M.D., Segundo Ruiz Belvis Diagnostic & Treatment Center.

Those honored from the Queens facilities were:

• Melvin Gertne, M.D., Elmhurst Hospital Center
• Bernard Shakter, D.D.S., Queens Hospital Center.

Joseph Amari, M.D., Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home in Staten Island was recognized.

Last year HHC physicians helped deliver over 22,000 babies, treated more than 1 million emergency room cases, and provided nearly 5 million routine clinic visits. These talented doctors reflect the diversity of the population they serve, and their dedication to their patients and their communities is second to none.

National Doctors' Day, officially observed on March 30, dates back to 1933. The day marks the anniversary of the first use of general anesthesia in surgery. In 1990, National Doctors' Day was established by Congress to show appreciation for the contributions of physicians to increase our scientific knowledge of treating disease, and for the work they do in ministering to the sick and alleviating human suffering.

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country, is a $5.4 billion public benefit corporation that serves 1.3 million New Yorkers and nearly 400,000 who are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 80 community based health centers. For more information about HHC, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc.