RBJ announces 2024 Health Care Heroes winners

The Rochester Business Journal has selected 47 individuals and organizations as 2024 Health Care Heroes recipients.

The Rochester Business Journal created Health Care Heroes to recognize excellence, promote innovation and honor the efforts of individuals and organizations making a significant impact on the quality of health care in the Rochester area.

Health Care Heroes are presented in the following categories: Advanced Practice Provider, Chiropractor, Dental Specialist, Health Care Innovation, Health Care Staff, Lifetime Achievement, Management, Medical Professional, Mental Health, Nurse, Physician, Senior Care, Special Needs and Volunteer.

“The 2024 Health Care Heroes go above and beyond with compassion, honor and integrity. They are dedicated professionals who are making a significant impact on the quality of health care in Greater Rochester,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director, BridgeTower Media/Rochester Business Journal. “They are admirable leaders, and we at the Rochester Business Journal are pleased to celebrate them.”

The winners will be honored at a breakfast celebration on Feb. 29 at the Hyatt Regency Rochester, 125 East Main Street in Rochester. Registration, networking and a breakfast buffet begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by the awards presentation at 9:30 a.m. The event hashtag is #RBJevents.

Attendance is limited, with sponsors receiving priority access.

There are various sponsorship levels available, which include the right to use the event logo, multimedia marketing, a table to share with co-workers and guests at the event, and much more. If seats are available after the sponsorship deadline, a limited number of individual tickets will go on sale. Tables are only available with sponsorship. To secure a sponsorship to ensure you and your guests can celebrate together, contact Suzanne Fischer-Huettner at [email protected].

The Presenting Sponsor is Rochester Regional Health.

Honorees will be profiled in a special magazine that will be included in the March 1 issue of the Rochester Business Journal and will be available online at RBJ.net.

For more information about the event, including the most updated listing of sponsors, visit https://rbj.net/event/health-care-heroes/.

The 2024 Health Care Heroes are:

Advanced Practice Provider

• Jennifer Lingle, Rochester Regional Health, Sands Constellation Heart Institute
• Teresa O’Connor, Catholic Charities Family and Community Services
• Sue Ellen Staley, St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center
• Rosemarie Lanza Surowiec, Trillium Health

Chiropractor

• Larry Peshkin, IronChiro

Dental Specialist

• Jordan J. Antetomaso, Harborside Dental Team
• Matthew Wolfe, Harborside Dental Team

Health Care Innovation

• ED U-Turn, Rochester Regional Health Home Care & Hospice
• MyDay Energys, CooperVision
• Strategic Innovations to Advance Quality and Health Equity, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
• Treatment Court Team, Rochester Regional Health Chemical Dependency

Health Care Staff

• Thelica Diane Council, St. Ann’s Community
• Noemis Hernandez, Rochester Regional Health Home Care & Hospice
• Faith Ann Searls, M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center
• Michelle L. Walker, Monroe Community Hospital

Lifetime Achievement

• Susan Chalupa Breese, Rochester Regional Health
• Sevinc Ince, Edna Tina Wilson Living Center
• Patricia Pennella, Empowering People’s Independence
• Shelley D. Scott, Park Ridge Living Center

Management

• Shireen Bertino, Friendly Home
• Yvonne A. Butman, Jewish Senior Life
• Ahmed Farag, Rochester Regional Health
• Julie Owen, Heritage Christian Services

Medical Professional

• Andrew J. Post, HCR Home Care

Mental Health

• Deanna Ferguson, Rochester Mental Health Center/Rochester Regional Health
• Rebecca Kieffer, St. John Fisher University
• Tammy Piotter, Rochester Regional Genesee Mental Health PROS
• Kelly Wilmot, Villa of Hope

Nurse

• Morgan Deming, Rochester Regional Health, Unity Hospital
• Monica A. Epps, St. John’s Nursing Home
• Andrea Oser, Jewish Home of Rochester
• Angel L. Perez Jr., HCR Home Care
• Julia Schmeer, F.F. Thompson Hospital
• Rachelle Stevens, Rochester General Hospital

Physician

• Catherine Josephine Cantwell, Thompson Health Canandaigua Medical Group OB/GYN
• Amanda Coniglio, Rochester Regional Health
• Chirstine Coward, Flaum Eye Institute
• S. Izhar Mustafa, United Cerebral Palsy Association of the Rochester Area, Inc. dba CP Rochester

Senior Care

• Christy Lee Brewer, M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center
• Stephanie L. Gallo, M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center
• Doria Joyce-Rocchio, Jewish Senior Life
• Amy Marie Prindle, Rochester Regional Health, DeMay Living Center

Special Needs

• Shameka Gilbert, Person Centered Services
• Adela Guset, Rochester Regional Health
• Jennifer L. Levey, Empowering People’s Independence

Volunteer

• Cheryl A. DeMeyers, Newark Wayne Community Hospital
• Nancy Munson, St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center