New York, New York, February 18, 2021 – As part of its mission to materially and measurably improve the health of all New Yorkers, Empire BlueCross BlueShield, in partnership with Crain’s New York Business, custom division, is pleased to announce the 50 honorees of the 2020 Empire Whole Health Heroes Awards program. Empire and Crain’s created this program to honor and celebrate individuals and teams whose commitment, kindness and exceptional leadership have helped to improve the health, wellness and safety of the city during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

“COVID-19 hit New York early and hard, which meant that our communities were on the front lines of the response,” said Alan Murray president, CEO of Empire BlueCross BlueShield. “In true form, many New Yorkers stood up to these new and evolving challenges, demonstrating resilience and innovation as they worked to address emerging needs across our city. It was a true honor to learn about these stories as part of selecting our 50 honorees. Thank you to the honorees and all applicants for your service during this past year.”

“Crain’s is proud to be part of the 2020 Empire Whole Health Heroes Awards program to honor and celebrate 50 individuals, and teams, that demonstrated remarkable compassion, empathy and true leadership during the pandemic,” said Frederick P. Gabriel Jr., Publisher and Executive Editor of Crain’s New York Business. “It was a privilege to work in partnership with Empire BlueCross BlueShield in bringing these remarkable stories to light.”

The fifty (50) honorees were recognized in the following categories:

• Healthcare: Leaders in healthcare delivery or leaders in professional services/technologies supporting the health care sector
• Business: Leaders in the private sector
• Essential Workers: Leaders in essential services

The 50 honorees, listed in alphabetical order, are:

1. Aberg, Judith A., M.D., Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Mount Sinai Health System; director, infectious diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
2. Ackerman, Marra Gillian, M.D., Clinical associate director of psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine; director of consultation-liaison psychiatry, NYU Langone Health
3. Ames, Lori, National secretary treasurer, Home Healthcare Workers of America, International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades
4. Arias, Nancy, Chief nursing officer, Correctional Health Services
5. Astua, Alfredo, M.D., Chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
6. Barasch, Michael, Managing partner and 9/11 legal advocate, Barasch McGarry Salzman & Penson
7. Barzilay, Oren, President, FDNY EMS Local 2507
8. Bauer, Kristy, M.D., Pulmonologist and Critical Care Physician, Rockland Pulmonary and Medical Associates
9. Bedard, Rachael, M.D., Director of Geriatrics and Complex Care Services, Correctional Health Services
10. Boorshtein, Karen, President and CEO, Family Service League
11. Boulud, Daniel, Co-president, Citymeals on Wheels; founder, the Dinex Group; restaurateur and 2 Michelin-star chef
12. Boyce, Charles, President, Boyce Technologies
13. Castaldo, Erica, Nurse, Montefiore Children's Hospital
14. Charney, Dennis S., M.D., Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; president for Academic Affairs for the Mount Sinai Health System
15. Chiu, Winston, Chef Owner, Bonbite Events and Little Tong Noodle Shop; Founder, Feed Forward
16. Clarke, Kelly, Program director, NYC Well, Vibrant Emotional Health
17. Cocks, Patrick, M.D., Program Coordinator, NYU Langone
18. Cohen, James, CEO, Nevvon-Better Training, Better Care
19. Connelly, Jim, Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Eastern Region for Marriott International
20. Di Pietro, Isabella, Cofounder, Feed the Frontlines NYC
21. Dowling, Michael, President and CEO, Northwell Health
22. Dye, Thelma, Ph.D., Executive Director and CEO, The Hilde L. Mosse Northside Center for Child Development
23. Flannery, Marki, President and CEO, Visiting Nurse Service of New York
24. Gore, Robert, M.D., Emergency medicine physician and founder of the nonprofit Kings Against Violence
25. Grossman, Joyce, M.D., Chief of population health and research, Globex Health
26. Haberfeld, Jacqueline, Global director of pro bono and pro bono counsel, Kirkland & Ellis
27. Hochman, Katherine A., M.D., Associate professor, New York University Grossman School of Medicine; associate chair for Quality of Care; director of hospitalist program, NYU Langone Health-Tisch Hospital
28. Holliday, Marc, Co-founder, Food1st; chairman and CEO, SL Green Realty Corp.
29. Team Distinction: Hoplamazian, Mark, President and CEO, Hyatt Hotels; and Isom, Robert, President, American Airlines
30. Lasso, Morena, CHSP, CPSO, CHEP, Director of safety, SBH Health System
31. McCray, Chirlane, First Lady of New York City; chair of the board of directors, Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City
32. Meaders, LaToya M., Culinary Strategist/CEO, director of operations and co-founder, Collective Fare Catering
33. Memtsoudis, Stavros G., M.D., Ph.D., MBA, Director of Critical Care Services, Hospital for Special Surgery
34. Mraz, Joseph, Director of Building Service Operations, NYU Langone Health
35. Neumark, Liz, Founder, Great Performances
36. Team Distinction: NYC Healthcare Heroes
37. Ortiz, José “Tony”, Senior Mobile Markets Liaison, City Harvest
38. Paladino, Lorenzo, M.D., Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate and Kings County Medical Center
39. Ramirez, Julia M., Director of patient relations, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
40. Ramot, Daniel, CEO, Via
41. Rice, Arva R., President and CEO, New York Urban League
42. Rockwell, David, Founder and president, Rockwell Group; Founder DineOut NYC
43. Rothschild, Howard, Attorney and president, Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, Inc.
44. Russell, Davon, President, Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco)
45. Samuels, John M., Founder and CEO, Better Health Advisors
46. Schienberg, Mark, President, Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association
47. Shapiro, Marc J., M.S., M.D., FACS, FCCM, Professor of surgery, Stony Brook University; assistant chief medical quality officer program director–surgical critical care, Stony Brook University Hospital
48. Sridhar, Divya, M.D., Chief of interventional radiology, NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem
49. Stark, Wendy, Executive director, Callen-Lorde
50. Whiting, Jeff, Founder, Broadway Relief Project

Crain’s New York Business will honor these individuals and teams, and their organizations, at a virtual celebratory event on February 18, 2021 at 4 p.m. ET (www.crainsnewyork.com/meet-new-yorks-whole-health-heroes), which will feature remarks by Alan Murray, CEO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield, and Fred P. Gabriel, Publisher and Executive Editor of Crain’s New York Business. Event will also feature a panel discussion on the important roles companies and individuals play in NYC’s physical and financial health, moderated by Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO, Partnership of New York City, and featuring Linda Kirkpatrick, President of North America, Mastercard and Kevin Ryan, Founder and CEO, AlleyCorp as the panelists.

All honorees will receive a crystal award to commemorate their selection on this list and will be featured in a print and digital section in Crain’s New York Business and on https://www.crainsnewyork.com/crains-custom-content-empire-anthem on February 22, 2021. Empire will also make a donation to the Food Bank For New York City to honor this year’s heroes.

The Crain’s New York Business newsroom did not participate in the judging or selection of the honorees.