'Dancing On The Dock' Event Benefits Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital

NORTH FORK, NY — The night was alive with music as guests gathered for a "Dancing on the Dock" celebration in Greenport recently.

The Eastern Long Island Hospital Foundation, in partnership with Porto Bello Restaurant, hosted the event on Thursday, June 26, at Porto Bello.

Proceeds from the event directly benefitted SBELIH, "supporting vital enhancements to patient care, technology, and services. The ELIHF extends its heartfelt thanks to the gala committee, sponsors, and attendees whose generosity and enthusiasm make a meaningful difference for the hospital and the community it serves," organizers said.

"Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital is a proud member of the Stony Brook Medicine family, and a cornerstone of compassionate, community-focused care," said Dr. William Wertheim, executive vice [resident of Stony Brook Medicine. "With a 120-year legacy and a team of deeply committed staff and physicians, SBELIH continues to lead the way in delivering personalized, high-quality care to the East End."

Dr. Wertheim highlighted several key milestones, including the hospital’s continued expansion of behavioral health services, record-setting community support, and advancements in clinical care.

"We are especially proud to be in the final stages of becoming a primary stroke center, a designation that will elevate the emergency care available right here on the North Fork. It means faster diagnosis, faster treatment, and better outcomes for patients experiencing a stroke, all without leaving their community," he said.

He also announced that Quannacut remains the only program on Long Island staffed by addiction medicine specialists and will soon be home to a new addiction medicine fellowship, launching in July, "a vital investment in training the next generation of experts in substance use disorder treatment."

In addition, he said, SBELIH will welcome a new chief medical officer, Dr. Alison Madden, in July, a board-certified gynecologic specialist who will begin seeing patients in Mattituck and the soon-to-be-completed medical offices in Greenport.

In September, a new addiction and family medicine physician will also join the team, practicing alongside Dr. Jarid Pachter in Southold.

Dr. Wertheim also applauded the "unwavering dedication" of the ELIH Auxiliary, including the vast array of basket prizes guests bid on, during the evening,

"This year, the Auxiliary raised a record-breaking $600,000 in support of the hospital, and they are well on their way to surpassing that milestone again. Their impact is remarkable and deeply appreciated," he said.

"Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital is a community hospital in the truest sense," said Paul Connor III, chief administrative officer of SBELIH. "We’re here for you because of you. Tonight is a celebration of that bond between the hospital and the community, between caregivers and patients, between neighbors who care about one another."