Staten Island’s Health Heroes, Community Servants to be Honored at SIEDC Health & Wellness Expo
On November 2, join the borough’s health systems, leaders, and community to applaud five individuals that go above and beyond the call to duty
Staten Island, NY, October 20, 2023 – Bridging the gaps in healthcare access and community well-being is no small task – it’s a heroic calling. The Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) today announced the recipients of the 2023 Health Hero Awards. These five honorees embody selflessness through their valuable contributions and demonstrated dedication to the health and well-being of Staten Islanders. The Health Hero awards ceremony will take place during the SIEDC’s annual Health & Wellness Expo on Thursday, November 2 from 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at the College of Staten Island: Center for the Arts Building 1P, Recital Hall. The ceremony is FREE and open to the public.
“In our fast-paced world, it’s easy for us to overlook our overall health and well-being,” said Diane Arneth, SIEDC Health & Wellness Expo Ambassador and Executive Director of Community Health Action of Staten Island. “I applaud SIEDC for bringing us together to recognize these five honorees - who not only exemplify compassion, expertise, and leadership in their respective fields, but are helping to shape a healthier and more-informed future for our borough.”
The recipients of the 2023 Health Hero awards are:
Carmelo Defranco: Owner, NYC Business Group
Receiving the Community Health Hero Award
Carmelo Defranco grew up on Staten Island and has grown both his family and his business here. Following a collegiate career at St. John’s University, Carmelo launched a finance career on Wall Street where he worked his way up through various well known investment houses securing Series 7, 63, 24, and 65 licenses. The stock market crash in 2000 made him realize the need for a more stable career, and that set the wheels in motion for him to create his own business in a different field. After his 2006 wedding, he and his wife Rosa launched NYC Business Group, a full-service insurance agency offering property insurance, general liability, workers compensation, and group medical insurance.
Today, the Better Business Bureau-recognized firm is celebrating their 20th year in business, 13 of which have been at their current location in Travis. They have a full staff of insurance professionals and a growing list of individual and commercial clients.
One of Carmelo’s largest books of business is focused on Medicare and insurance policies for seniors and the disabled. When asked about the secret to his success, Carmelo says simply, “I answer the phone. I always answer the phone to help!”
Kevin M. Medefindt: Detective First Grade, Patrol Borough Staten Island Community Affairs
Receiving the Philip Matteo Community & Civil Service Award
Kevin Medefindt has been a member of the NYPD since July 1999, and is currently a Detective First Grade at Patrol Borough Staten Island Community Affairs. During his distinguished career, he has spent much of his time on the ground serving the Staten Island community in Community Affairs roles. In these positions, he has served many commanding officers helping to build bridges with the community, local civic organizations, and elected officials. Kevin was assigned to the 122 Precinct’s Community Affairs Unit in 2004, a position he served in until 2021 when he was transferred to Patrol Borough Staten Island’s Community Affairs Unit.
In good times and in challenging times, Kevin has been a trusted figure who has come up with creative solutions on behalf of all Staten Islanders. Kevin’s focus throughout his career has been on ensuring the partnership between the NYPD, the community, and elected officials always remains strong.
Kevin is a graduate of Sacred Heart Grammar School, St. Peter’s Boys High School, and earned an associate degree from Kingsborough Community College.
Dr. Mitchell Weinberg: Chair of Cardiology, Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell Health
Receiving the Health Hero Award
Dr. Mitchell Weinberg is the Chair of Cardiology at Staten Island University Hospital. He received his BA and MD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He did his internal medicine residency at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, his cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowships at Mount Sinai Hospital, and an advanced fellowship in vascular medicine and vascular intervention at Massachusetts General Hospital. Most recently, Dr. Weinberg obtained an MBA from the Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University.
In 2013, Dr. Weinberg joined North Shore University Hospital as the Director of Peripheral Vascular Intervention within the Department of Cardiology. In his initial two years, he rapidly expanded North Shore’s vascular medicine and interventional program across Long Island. Shortly thereafter, his responsibilities were extended to Lenox Hill Hospital and the surrounding Western region of the health system. In more recent years, he advanced vascular medicine and intervention broadly throughout the health system in his position as System Director of Peripheral Intervention within the Department of Cardiology.
Dr. Weinberg is advancing his field at the societal level in his role as a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and Society of Vascular Medicine. Most recently, he was elected to the Society of Vascular Medicine’s Board of Trustees.
Isangozi Shoneyin: Registered Nurse, Emergency Department, Richmond University Medical Center
Receiving the Health Hero Award
Isangozi “Isa” Shoneyin is a registered nurse of the Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) Emergency Department. Since 2008, RUMC has been designated by the New York State Department of Health as a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner, or SAFE, Center of Excellence. The experienced, compassionate team of specially trained nurses in the center provide sensitive care and support to victims of all ages, including children, who are victims of sexual assault.
Leading this team of nurses is Isa. She migrated from Nigeria and has worked as a nurse in the Emergency Department at RUMC for the past 15 years. She was appointed Forensic Nurse Coordinator for the Department in 2019 and has personally examined thousands of children, adolescents, and adults who have been victims of sexual assault. Isa’s team uses a patient centered care approach, helping restore the person’s sense of control and personal safety, and work closely with partners such as the NYPD, Staten Island Child Advocacy Center, and the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office.
Isa holds a Master’s Qualification in Nursing with a special concentration in Women's Health from Rutgers School of Nursing; and holds certification as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for Adults and Adolescents as well as Pediatrics. She is a member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses; the Emergency Nurses Association; and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
Dr. John Reilly: Chair of Orthopedics, Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell Health
Receiving the Health Hero Award
John P. Reilly, M.D. is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and trauma specialist. He is also a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation at SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine and a consultant for several organizations, including the Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Eger Health Care Center, and Golden Gate Rehabilitation Center.
As a leader in his field, Dr. Reilly is Chair of Orthopedics at Staten Island University Hospital, his focus on the team approach to orthopedic surgery, from evaluation to treatment. Dr. Reilly has lectured, presented, and published on a variety of topics, including trends in spine surgery, management of orthopedic trauma, total joint arthroplasty, and injection therapy. Combined with his tenure at Healthcare Associates in Medicine, a division of Orlin & Cohen Medical Specialists Group, Dr. Reilly served as a delegate for the NYS Society of Orthopedic Surgeons and former President of Medical and Dental staff at Staten Island University Hospital.
Dr. Reilly earned his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York and obtained sub-specialty training in Orthopedic Traumatology at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Health Hero awards will be presented by the Expo’s co-sponsors: NYC Council Member David Carr, Richmond University Medical Center, and Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell Health. Steve Matteo, CEO of United Activities Unlimited and former NYC council member, will present the Philip Matteo Community & Civil Service Award, named in honor of his late father.
Last month, SIEDC announced a call for nominations from the public for the Community Health Hero award, given to a compassionate individual with a demonstrated record of contributing to the health and well-being of residents. Nearly 200 nominations were submitted for this category.
The SIEDC’s annual Health & Wellness Expo is one of the borough’s largest health and wellness events designed to tend to the community’s body, mind, and well-being. The Expo is slated from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the College of Staten Island and will feature 20+ medical screenings, educational seminars, hands-on trainings, fitness demonstrations, and a vendor exhibition that are free and open to the public. View the full schedule of the Expo and learn about the honorees here.
The Keynote Breakfast, the only ticketed portion of the day, will kick off the Expo from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and include a discussion highlighting today’s emerging issues in healthcare alongside the borough’s healthcare stakeholders. To purchase a $50 ticket for the breakfast, contact lisa@siedc.org.