Bon Secours Community Hospital

11/05/2025

🩺 Stop the Falls 2025 – Join Us for a Day of Health and Prevention!

Falls are preventable — and education is the first step. Join the WMCHealth Trauma Consortium for a free, interactive event focused on awareness, education, and fall prevention for all ages.

📅 Tuesday, November 18, 2025
🕐 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
📍 Westchester Medical Center, Taylor Conference Room

Enjoy presentations and services from expert teams in Cardiology, Orthopedics, Neurology, Physical Therapy, Wound Care, and more!

✅ Neurology and Orthopedic Screening
✅ Blood pressure & glucose monitoring
✅ Hearing & vision screenings
✅ Medication & nutrition education
✅ “Matter of Balance” training
✅ Pediatric & adult fall prevention

Refreshments will be served.
📲 Register today https://bit.ly/4nWuVvl
or emailing Kate.Maguire@wmchealth.org

Let’s work together to keep our community safe, strong, and standing tall! 💙

Registration Form

11/05/2025

☀November is Epilepsy Awareness Month☀

☀️Congratulations to Westchester Medical Center's Section Chief of Epilepsy, Manisha Holmes, MD published in JAMA ☀️New Study Offers Hope for People with Newly Diagnosed Focal Epilepsy ☀️

The results of a large-scale study of people with epilepsy were just published in a paper in JAMA Neurology, offering new hope and clearer expectations for people newly diagnosed with focal epilepsy. The study was authored by Sarah N. Barnard, MD, MIPH; Zhibin Chen, PhD; and Manisha Holmes, MD, Epilepsy Section Chief at Westchester Medical Center, et al, on behalf of Human Epilepsy Project (HEP) study investigators.

Key findings include:
🔵 Most patients (60%) became seizure-free, but only 27% achieved this with their first anti-seizure medication (ASM).
🔵 Seizure control usually takes more than one year—the median time to seizure freedom was 12 months.
🔵 One in four patients developed treatment-resistant epilepsy, continuing to have seizures despite multiple adequate medications.
🔵 The first year after diagnosis is the most challenging—63% still had seizures during that time, including subtle episodes that may be overlooked.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/46sZsuV

11/01/2025

Early detection of lung cancer saves lives!

The WMCHealth Lung Cancer Screening Program offers high-quality imaging and a dedicated team to guide you through the process. Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can detect early stages of the disease, leading to better outcomes. The program is offered at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, as well as several other locations.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends yearly lung cancer screening with LDCT for high-risk patients who meet the following criteria:
✅ Age between 50 and 80 years
✅Current cigarette smoker or quit smoking in the last 15 years
✅Cigarette smoking history of 20 pack-years or more (pack-years is calculated by multiplying the number of cigarette-packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked)
✅No symptoms of lung cancer

📞 If you think you might qualify for lung cancer screening or would like to learn more, schedule an appointment with the WMCHealth Lung Cancer Screening Program by calling
833.WMC.LUNG.

10/30/2025

🧠 Yesterday was World Stroke Day

At WMCHealth, we’ve been committed to advancing stroke and neuroscience care for more than a century. From becoming the first-and-only Comprehensive Stroke Center in the Hudson Valley, to launching one of the state’s earliest Telestroke networks, to deploying AI-enabled diagnostics across our network — our mission remains the same: save lives, restore hope, and transform outcomes.

On this day of global awareness, we reaffirm our pledge to combine compassion and cutting-edge science. Because when every minute counts, every tool — every dedicated team member — matters.

Learn the signs. Seek care early. Together, we build a smarter, stronger future in stroke care.

Learn more about our Stroke program: https://www.wmchealth.org/service-line/neurosciences/stroke

10/20/2025

We’re experiencing temporary call center and scheduling issues due to a global AWS outage.

Our physician practice call center and outpatient scheduling system are currently down because of a worldwide Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage. We’re monitoring the issue closely and will update you as soon as service is restored. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

10/19/2025

🎉 Celebrating National Pharmacy Week & Welcoming a New Era in Pharmacy at WMCHealth! 💊🌟

As we celebrate National Pharmacy Week (Oct. 19–25), we want to take a moment to recognize and thank our incredible pharmacy professionals across the Westchester Medical Center Health Network. Their dedication, expertise, and compassion makes a difference for our patients and communities every single day. 💙

🌟 This year is extra special as we welcomed Urshila Shah, PharmD, BCPS, CPEL, our very first Senior Vice President & Chief Pharmacy Officer! Dr. Shah is leading our pharmacy enterprise across inpatient, ambulatory, and specialty services — driving innovation, improving access, and enhancing patient care throughout the Hudson Valley.

We’re also excited to announce that we will be launching a specialty pharmacy, expanding access to comprehensive, patient-centered care for those who need it most. Stay Tuned for future announcements. 📢

👏 Join us in celebrating National Pharmacy Week, recognizing our outstanding pharmacy teams, and welcoming Dr. Shah to the WMCHealth family! 💙

10/16/2025

A new era of care is rising at Westchester Medical Center Health Network.
The Brenda Fareri Pavilion, our new state-of-the-art Critical Care Tower, is now under construction, marking a historic step forward in lifesaving medicine for the Hudson Valley.

At our Campaign Kickoff and Beam Signing Ceremony, community leaders, physicians, donors, and staff came together to leave their mark on the future of healthcare by literally signing the steel beam that will soon become part of the Pavilion itself.

🎥 Watch highlights featuring:
• Dr. David Lubarsky, President & CEO, WMCHealth
• Zubeen Shroff, Board Chair, Westchester County Health Care Corporation
• Dr. David Asprinio, Director of Orthopedic Surgery
• Julie Fareri, Foundation Trustee whose mother, Brenda (a pioneering critical care nurse), is honored in the Pavilion’s name

🏗️ The future is being built, one signature, one gift, one act of generosity at a time.

10/15/2025

👏 Congratulations to Anthony Costello on being named one of Becker’s “70 Academic Medical Center COOs to Know” for 2025!

This recognition highlights Anthony’s exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing the mission of WMCHealth.

As Senior Executive Vice President and System Chief Operating Officer for WMCHealth, Anthony oversees professional and ancillary services, clinical service lines, supply chain, support services, design and architecture, construction, capital planning, real estate, and WMCHealth Physicians (APS) with close to 900 providers.

With more than 25 years of service, Anthony has played a pivotal role in shaping WMCHealth’s growth and operational excellence across the Hudson Valley and beyond.

Read the full Becker’s list here: https://bit.ly/4mGzTM4

10/14/2025

🎉 Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Leo Bodden, MBA, CHCIO, CDH-E, CCIE is WMCHealth's Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer (CIO). Born in Puerto Rico to a Spanish mother and Dominican father, and raised across the Dominican Republic, Spain, and the United States, embraces a rich Hispanic heritage that shapes who he is today. Moving to the U.S. at age 11, he learned the value of mentorship, perseverance, and community support, lessons that continue to guide his life and career.

At WMCHealth, Leo leads digital transformation with empathy, inclusivity, and a commitment to equity. His heritage inspires him to build inclusive teams, champion equitable technology solutions, and foster innovation that serves the diverse needs of our community.

💬 “Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the legacy of those who came before us, celebrate cultural strength, and inspire future generations to lead with integrity, compassion, and purpose,” says Leo.

🙏 This month, join us in celebrating Leo and thanking him for his continued dedication and hard work!

10/13/2025

🎉 Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Dr. Veronica Galaviz is a gynecologic surgeon at Westchester Medical Center. For Dr. Galaviz, Hispanic heritage is rooted in resilience, family, and community. Raised along the Texas-Mexico border, she became the first in her family to leave home for education, supported by loved ones who valued perseverance and uplifting others.

Today, these values shape how she connects with patients and mentors the next generation of medical professionals. Her ability to speak Spanish brings comfort during vulnerable moments, helping patients feel seen, understood, and cared for.

Dr. Galaviz extends these principles to mentorship, ensuring residents and trainees feel they belong, their voices matter, and their diversity strengthens the field of medicine.

💬 "This year’s theme, Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future, resonates deeply with me. I honor my roots by remembering the strength of my family and culture, and I inspire the future through intentional mentorship and inclusive care."

🙏 This Hispanic Heritage Month, join us in celebrating Dr. Galaviz and all who bring compassion, leadership, and cultural pride to healthcare.

10/12/2025

🌟 PA Week Spotlight: Meet Calvin Dymond, PA-C! 🌟

It's National PA Week (October 6-Oct 12), and we're thrilled to celebrate the dedication and compassion of our amazing Physician Assistants!

Calvin has been a Surgical PA for 21 years—16 of those years right here at WMCHealth! His passion is orthopedics, and he's a key player in everything from complex orthopedic cases to robotic general surgery.

Calvin loves the hands-on clinical involvement the PA role offers: "I get to apply technical skills, suturing, closing, harvesting grafts, placing lines... I have a direct impact on patient outcomes."

He says: "PAs in surgery are integral members of the surgical team."

Thank you, Calvin, for your expertise and dedication to our surgical patients!

Show your appreciation for PAs and drop a comment to thank Calvin and all our PAs! 👇

10/11/2025

🌟 PA Week Spotlight: Meet Ruchi Mehta, PA-C! 🌟

It's National PA Week (October 6-Oct 12), and we're thrilled to celebrate the dedication and compassion of our amazing Physician Assistants!

Today, we're spotlighting Ruchi Mehta, PA-C, a truly vital part of the team at the Ally Care Center since 2016. The Ally Care Center is an LGBTQ+ friendly clinic that offers essential services for adults and adolescents living with HIV. 🏳️‍🌈

For Ruchi, the best part of her work is the connection she builds: "I truly love my specialty. Working in primary care allows me to build long-term relationships with my patients... Many have been coming to our clinic for over 20 years." ❤️

For anyone considering this career, Ruchi says: "Being a PA is a very rewarding career with a lot of flexibility. I began my career in the emergency room and now specialize in HIV primary care—showing just how diverse and impactful this profession can be."

Thank you, Ruchi, for your incredible commitment and the amazing care you provide to our patients at the Ally Care Center!

Show Ruchi and all of our dedicated PAs some love in the comments below! 👇