January 30, 2012

Health Care Network to Success for Youth in Foster Care

Administration for Children’s Services Commissioner Ronald E. Richter on January 12th joined New Yorkers For Children (NYFC) for a health care Network to Success event at Lenox Hill Hospital, part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System (NSLIJ). Network to Success events are hosted several times a year by NYFC to provide young people in foster care with the opportunity to learn more about industries they may be considering as career choices. The event featured a discussion led by a diverse panel of professionals from the health care industry.

Commissioner Richter thanked the organizers for hosting the event, adding that “I am hopeful that this event will lead to training and employment opportunities for our youth.” To the young people the Commissioner said “We hope that besides hearing about the wide range of careers in health care, you will have the opportunity to make lasting connections that will serve you in the future.”

On the panel were Heather Philippe Butler, ASA, RCA, Senior Echocardiogram Technologist, Long Island Jewish Hospital; Adam Aponte, M.D., Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Hofstra North-Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Sandra Lindsay, RN, MSN, CCRN, Nurse Manager, NSLIJ- Lenox Hill Hospital, June E. Scarlett, MSc, MPH, Senior Associate Dean for Administration and Assistant Professor of Science Education, Hofstra North-Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Camille A. Pearte, MD, MPH, FACC, Cardiologist, NSLIJ - Lenox Hill Hospital, Erika Faust, Orthodontist, Elite Orthodontics, Theresa Williamson, Medical Student, Yale University, and Henry Engleka, Founder and CEO, P4 Strategy Group and Zibbel, Inc. a healthcare marketing and communications consultancy group. Nearly 100 young people in foster care listened as the panelists shared their experiences and inspired the young people to pursue their interests.

Following the presentations, panelists joined the youth in round table discussions where the young people asked direct questions and engaged in conversations with each of them. NYFC Board and Friends Committee members Nicholas Scoppetta, Susan Burden, Scott Posner, Susan Gilroy, Marisa Brown, Clare McKeon, Amy McFarland, Allison Aston, and Susan Shin were on hand to show their support along with Commissioner Ronald E. Richter and Michael Dowling, President and CEO of North Shore-LIJ Health System. Prior to the panel discussion, youth participated in a professional skills workshop led by Year Up, a intensive one-year program that provides high school graduates and GED recipients between the ages of 18-24 with a combination of hands-on skill development and corporate internship opportunities.

ACS OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Contact: pressoffice@acs.nyc.gov, (212) 341-0999