Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital celebrated its designation as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this month in Greenport.
The designation means patients experiencing stroke symptoms can receive rapid evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and stabilization at the Greenport hospital, expanding access to advanced stroke care for residents of the North Fork and Shelter Island, the hospital said in a press release.
“Time is brain,” said Paul J. Connor III, chief administrative officer at Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, as he welcomed guests to the June 3 ceremony. Connor said a team at the hospital began working with Stony Brook University Hospital and Stony Brook Southampton Hospital two years ago to make the Primary Stroke Center designation a reality.
“The impetus for becoming a Primary Stroke Center was to improve outcomes and save lives here on the North Fork,” Connor said.
William Wertheim, executive vice president of Stony Brook Medicine, said the designation represents “access, equity, quality, and lifesaving care close to home.”
“In stroke care, the time between the beginning of symptoms and treatment is everything. Every minute matters — to life, to brain function, and to recovery,” Wertheim said. “While the residents of the North Fork and Shelter Island are blessed with beautiful geography, that can also present challenges to timely healthcare, particularly during an emergency.”
Stroke affects nearly 800,000 Americans each year and remains the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States, Wertheim said.
Edward Boyd, president of the North Fork Volunteer Rescue Squad Association and chair of the Suffolk Regional Emergency Medical Services Council, also emphasized the need for fast treatment.
“Time is not something a stroke victim has to spare,” Boyd said. “As we are constantly reminded, ‘Time is brain,’ meaning the longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the damage to the brain and the lower the chance of recovery.”
North Fork resident and stroke survivor Juan Ibanez spoke at the ceremony about his experience as a patient at the hospital.
Ibanez said a nurse quickly brought him to a bed after he arrived at the hospital and told him staff were going to run a stroke code as a precaution based on his symptoms.
“Within seconds, my shirt was off, and what felt like 30 people were suddenly in the emergency room, all calmly and professionally doing their jobs,” Ibanez said. “Nurses and doctors were examining me, attaching heart monitor pads, asking questions, and moving quickly with purpose.”
Ibanez, a retired Marine who served 20 years and completed four combat deployments, said the staff’s professionalism helped keep him calm during one of the scariest moments of his life.
“The medical professionals at Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital are some of the finest healthcare professionals I could have ever hoped for,” Ibanez said. “Their professionalism, teamwork, compassion, and urgency made one of the scariest moments of my life feel manageable, and for that, I will always be grateful.”
Suffolk County Legislator Greg Doroski presented Connor with a Certificate of Merit recognizing the hospital’s designation.
“Time is everything,” Doroski said. “This designation is vital for our community.”
Southold Town Board Members Anne Smith, Jill Doherty and Brian Mealy presented a Certificate of Recognition to Connor on behalf of Supervisor Albert Krupski. Smith said the designation “already strengthens our community.” Doherty thanked Eastern Long Island Hospital Auxiliary volunteers and emergency medical technicians for their continued service to the hospital.
The ceremony also included the presentation of the 2026 Krystal Clear Award to Nancy Williams, director of physical therapy at the hospital. The award recognizes a member of the hospital team for exceptional clinical intuition and swift action in patient care.
Susan Apicello, vice president of administration and director of laboratory services, said Williams’ quick recognition that something was wrong with a patient helped ensure rapid action could be taken at a critical moment.
“Nancy exemplifies the calm professionalism and attentiveness that are so critical in stroke care,” Apicello said.
Williams accepted the award by saying, “Thank you for allowing me to do my job. It’s a privilege.”
The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of the hospital’s official Primary Stroke Center designation sign in the lobby, followed by a ribbon-cutting on the hospital lawn. Guests and hospital staff also toured the Stony Brook Medicine Mobile Stroke Unit during the day.
Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, part of Stony Brook Medicine, is a 70-bed hospital serving the North Fork and Shelter Island. The hospital was founded in 1905 and provides care to about 25,000 year-round residents, with the population expanding to more than 60,000 during the summer.
Source: Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital press release.
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