An initial selection committee of physician leaders chose finalists for each award category based on nomination stories submitted by Northwell Health team members, which had been read and scored by a panel of physicians. Following the Northwell Health team member voting period, a final selection committee of Northwell leaders reviewed the vote results and determined the award recipients. This year 948 nominations were submitted for 588 physicians.

The Truly Award-winning doctors are listed below.

• Francine Hippolyte, MD, vice chair of clinical operations, department of OBGYN, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, received The Truly Caring Touch Award for “taking the time to make patients know that they are important to her.”
• Joseph Basile, MD, MBA, associate chairperson of emergency medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, received The Truly Rising Star Award for “striving to always do his best and to do the right thing. For jumping into difficult situations, always with the greater good in mind.”
• Nina Vincoff, MD, chief of breast imaging, Northwell Health and vice-chair of patient experience with Northwell Health Imaging, received The Truly Leadership Award for “working tirelessly to improve patient care, physician engagement and community outreach, epitomizing the term #MADEFORTHIS.”
• Jean Cacciabaudo, MD, associate medical director, Huntington Hospital, received The Truly Mentorship Award for “lighting up any room she enters with her smile, infectious laughter, and passion, and for leading by example to inspire others to be the best version of themselves.”
• Isabella Park, DO, associate medical director and director of palliative medicine at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, received The Truly Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award for “acting as a true pioneer, bravely paving the way for others through unity and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at Northwell.”

This year a new lifetime achievement award was added to the program, and it was endowed through the generous contributions of physicians and administrators. Named for its first recipient, The Dr. Lawrence Smith Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes leaders who throughout their career have embodied a commitment to clinical excellence, education, mentorship and the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion.

• Lawrence G. Smith, MD, MACP, physician-in-chief, inspired The Dr. Lawrence Smith Lifetime Achievement Award by “leaving a significant mark on this organization and for deeply impacting his patients, colleagues and friends throughout his career.”

Northwell Health Physician Partners is committed to patient experience and applies patient feedback to propel the highest quality care possible. Our Patients' Choice Award recipients were celebrated at The Truly Award this year. Recipients are physicians of Northwell Health Physician Partners who receive the highest scores from their patients on post-visit surveys. Patients’ Choice Award winners were consistently rated five out of five stars during an 18-month period. The 2021 Patients’ Choice Award recognized 40 honorees beginning with the top five highest-rated physicians:

• Anthony Cahan, MD, Breast Surgery
• Louise Marie Castiglia, MD, Pediatrics
• Brenainn Flanagan, MD, Family Medicine
• Karen Kostroff, MD, Breast Surgery
• Roger Perrone, MD, Internal Medicine

• Alessandro G. Bellucci, MD, Nephrology
• Laura Bennett, MD, Pediatrics
• Erna Busch-Devereaux, MD, Breast Surgery
• Jane E. Carleton, MD, Medical Oncology
• Barry Cohen, MD, Cardiovascular Disease
• Bina Comes, MD, Pediatrics
• Joseph Diamond, MD, Cardiovascular Disease
• Marcia Epstein, MD, Infectious Diseases
• Robert Faigen, MD, Cardiovascular Disease
• Michael Feld, MD, Cardiovascular Disease
• Aaron Gindea, MD, Cardiovascular Disease
• Barry E. Goldberg, MD, Pediatric Cardiology
• Sara Kim, MD, Breast Surgery
• Yashodhara Kirtane, MD, Internal Medicine
• Hillary Kushner, MD, Internal Medicine
• Joel Laxer, MD, Internal Medicine
• Aaron Lipskar, MD, Pediatric Surgery
• Ines Muia-Chisena, MD, Pediatrics
• Ashwatha Narayana, MD, Radiation Oncology
• Howard Nathanson, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Christine O’Donoghue-Kitt, MD, Family Medicine
• Neeral Patel, MD, Cardiovascular Disease
• Robert Pitaro, MD, Pediatric
• George Raptis, MD, Medical Oncology
• Peter Richel, MD, Pediatrics
• Mitchell A. Robbins, MD, Cardiovascular Disease
• Marjorie Serotoff, MD, Pediatrics
• Shari Sheflin-Findling, DO, Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Elizabeth Sieczka, MD, Plastic Surgery
• Binoy Singh, MD, Cardiovascular Disease
• Mark L. Smith, MD, Plastic Surgery
• Joph Steckel, MD, Urology
• Loriann Stiuso, DO, Pediatrics
• Lewis Teperman, MD, Transplant Surgery
• Ageliki Valsamis, DO, Endocrinology/Diabetes/Metabolism

Winners achieved a five-star rating based on a mean score of 99 or above out of 100 on the patient experience survey care provider items.