Winthrop Announces 2013 Gala Honorees

Two Garden City residents will be honored for their years of loyal service to Winthrop-University Hospital and its patients at the hospital's annual gala to be held in October, announced John F. Collins, hospital president and CEO.

“A Night in the Caribbean” is being held Saturday, Oct. 19 at RXR Plaza in Uniondale where Garden City residents John F. Aloia, MD, chief academic officer at Winthrop-University Hospital, and Veronica B. Renken, board of directors member and president of Winthrop-University Hospital’s Auxiliary, will each receive the Streaming Star Award 

“Dr. Aloia and Mrs. Renken are prime examples of individuals who continuously give of themselves for the good of others. Their service to the Winthrop community is truly admirable and for this reason, we are pleased to honor them at this year’s gala,” Collins said.

According to Winthrop-University Hospital:

Dr. Aloia has led the Hospital’s Medical Education and Research Program as Chief Academic Officer since 1999. His leadership was pivotal in facilitating Winthrop’s formal designation as a Clinical Campus of Stony Brook University’s School of Medicine in late 2011 – a major achievement that has greatly enriched the culture of the Hospital. Today, Dr. Aloia serves as Dean of the Winthrop campus.

An internationally recognized expert on osteoporosis, bone biology and calcium nutrition, Dr. Aloia has made numerous valuable contributions to the field including serving on the National Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for Vitamin D and Calcium for the Institute of Medicine – one of the most influential and prestigious health policy organizations in the country, and investigating vitamin D and osteoporosis prevention in elderly African American women in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health among other research projects.

Following graduation from Creighton University School of Medicine, Dr. Aloia completed a residency in Internal Medicine and served as an officer in the U.S. Army. He completed fellowship training in Diabetes and Metabolism at Jefferson Medical College and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology.

After completion of his fellowship, Dr. Aloia joined the staff at Meadowbrook Hospital, now Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC), where he became Director of the Metabolism Unit and eventually acting Chair of Medicine. During the decade at NUMC, Dr. Aloia served as a research collaborator at Brookhaven National Laboratory. He has been Professor of Medicine at Stony Brook since 1977. In 1978, he was named Chairman of the Department of Medicine and Director of Medical Education at Winthrop. Dr. Aloia established the Bone Mineral Research Center at Winthrop, which has been the recipient of multiple NIH and other investigator-initiated grants and has participated in nearly every pharmaceutical trial for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis over the course of the past several decades. A member of Winthrop’s Board of Directors, Dr. Aloia has published over 200 articles and book chapters. 

Veronica “Ronnie” Renken has dedicated her life to the service of others. Motivated by the Irish nun Catherine McAuley’s vision to give back and give forward, Mrs. Renken has devoted countless hours to volunteering and fundraising at Winthrop. 

Mrs. Renken’s tenure at Winthrop began in the 1970s when she made a decision to volunteer at what was then known as Nassau Hospital, feeding patients who were unable to feed themselves. Volunteering on patient care units alongside nurses enabled Mrs. Renken to experience firsthand the compassion of the staff as well as the healing that takes place at Winthrop. Wanting to become more involved, she soon joined the Hospital’s Auxiliary – a dedicated group of volunteers who collectively support the general welfare of the Hospital through their goodwill and fundraising.  

Twelve years ago, Mrs. Renken was elected President of Winthrop’s Auxiliary, which includes two volunteer fundraising groups, the Twigs and Wings of Winthrop. In addition to serving as the Auxiliary President, Mrs. Renken, is a valued long time member of the Hospital’s Board of Directors, as well as an asset to Winthrop’s Patient Relations Department, where she volunteers her time two days a week. Mrs. Renken also serves on the Boards of United Way of Long Island and Our Lady of Mercy Academy.

Mrs. Renken has received numerous accolades and honors from the community. In 1989, Newsday recognized her with its First Annual Volunteer Recognition Award and in 1991, she was honored by the National Society of Fundraising Executives LI Chapter as an Outstanding Volunteer. Additionally, in 1994 Mrs. Renken was named Garden City Citizen of the Year and in 2004, she received the Gilbert Tillis Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. United Way of Long Island has also recognized her with the MVP and Elena M. Perez Volunteer Leadership Awards, and in 2007, she was honored at Winthrop’s Annual Yuletide Ball. A graduate of Our Lady of Mercy Academy’s class of 1950, Mrs. Renken was also the Academy’s 15th Annual Golf Classic Honoree.

The annual gala raises support for Winthrop’s Research and Academic Center Building Campaign and provides an opportunity to honor individuals whose hard work and dedication to Winthrop go above and beyond in service to the community.

Guests will enjoy cocktails, fine dining and special entertainment. For more information call 663-3398.