Shakespeare in “Twelfth Night” reminds us that “some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” At first glance, a hospital leader who repeatedly rose to the occasion when finding his community at the center of overwhelming tragedies would seem to fall into the latter category.
Yet the career and personal experiences of this year's winner of Modern Healthcare's Community Leadership Award, Anthony Ferreri, CEO of Staten Island University Hospital in New York City, suggests it's not just the moment that makes the leader. Read the accompanying story about his skill at providing comfort and reassurance to residents of the hard-hit borough through multiple catastrophes and I'm sure you will agree that it is an honor well-deserved.
We received nearly 50 nominations for this year's prestigious award, which honors leaders whose volunteer efforts go above and beyond the all-consuming task of running a major community institution. The nominees opened food banks, organized charitable events, raised money for rare or neglected diseases, and donated their skills to help meet pressing community needs.
All are worthy. Choosing the winner and three honorable mentions profiled here wasn't easy.
What every nominee had in common was their commitment to putting mission at the heart of their healthcare leadership responsibilities. It is a mindset we are proud to honor.
