May 1, 2014

(New York, NY) - The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) honored seven Manhattan physicians with Doctors’ Day awards for their leadership and commitment to advancing the mission of the public hospital system and providing the highest quality healthcare to New Yorkers. Overall, HHC honored 23 physicians with Doctors’ Day awards.

Read message from Dr. Nate Link, Bellevue Medical Director

“Today’s physician must be an innovative leader who knows how to connect the dots on behalf of patients and use proven new models of collaborative care delivery,” said HHC President Dr. Ram Raju. “At every point across the continuum of care, this year’s Doctors’ Day honorees – and all the HHC physicians they represent – are at the forefront of collaborative care delivery. We are proud of their leadership, their innovation, and their consistent provision of efficient, high-quality health services.”

The awards were presented at the annual HHC National Doctors’ Day Ceremony, held at Baruch College in Manhattan. The award-winning physicians represent every borough and New York City residents’ diverse ethnicity, and vary in age, education, specialties and years of service. Together they bring several hundred years of medical experience to bear on the expert care they provide to New Yorkers.

The 2014 HHC Doctors’ Day honorees are:
Doctors’ Day Awards – Manhattan

• Ravindra Amin, MD, Chief of Psychiatry, Coler Nursing Facility/The Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility
• Mark Baesher, MD, Pediatrics, Center for Community Health and Wellness, Gouverneur Health
• Roseanne Cousins, MD, Associate Director of Medicine, Chief Hospitalist, Harlem Hospital Center
• Laura Evans, MD, Medical Director, Critical Care, Bellevue Hospital Center
• Alexander Kolessa, MD, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, The Residence at Gouverneur Court, Gouverneur Health
• Beata Popis-Matejak, MD, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Metropolitan Hospital Center
• Carlton Trotman, DDS, Dentist, Renaissance Health Care Network Diagnostic & Treatment Center

National Doctors' Day, officially observed on March 30, dates back to 1933 and marks the anniversary of the first use of general anesthesia in surgery. In 1991, National Doctors' Day was established by Congress to show appreciation for the contributions of physicians to increase scientific knowledge of treating disease, and for the work they do to apply modern and patient-centered methods to improve healthcare and patient well-being.

About Bellevue
Bellevue is a member of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) and is America's oldest hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with the NYU School of Medicine, Bellevue is a major referral center for highly complex cases. The 828-bed hospital has more than 4,000 employees and works closely with interdisciplinary staff throughout the hospital. Its emergency room sees more than 125,000 visits every year. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Cardiovascular Services; Designated Regional Perinatal Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU); Comprehensive Children's Psychiatric Emergency Program; and Cancer Services.

About HHC
The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system, the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country, and one of the New York area's largest  providers of government-sponsored health insurance, MetroPlus Health Plan, the plan of choice for nearly half a million New Yorkers. HHC serves 1.4 million New Yorkers every year and more than 475,000 are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, five skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community based clinics. HHC Health and Home Care also provides in-home services for New Yorkers. HHC was the 2008 recipient of the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission's John M. Eisenberg Award for Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc or find us on facebook.com/nycHHC  or twitter.com/HHCnyc.

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Contact: Bellevue Public Relations, 212-562-4516