Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center's Mammography and Breast Diagnostic Center and the hospital's Chief of Surgery John W. Francfort, MD, were recently chosen as finalists at the third annual Heath Care Heroes' Awards Program. The Heath Care Heroes' Awards program was created by the Long Island Business News (LIBN) to honor individuals and organizations in the health care industry in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Major sponsor, Hofstra University and LIBN, recognize excellence, innovation, contributing to the enhancement of the value and quality of health care and applaud the men, women and organizations tireless work, contributions and dedication to healing and caring.

The nominees represent excellence, innovation and dedication in heath care. They have created new treatments and fostered professional growth to ensure that tomorrow's patients receive the level of care they deserve. According to one of the patients who nominated both Dr. Francfort and the Mammography and Breast Heath Center, "They helped me from the minute I was introduced to the facility and still do. From filling out the paperwork to walking with me to get my films, everyone was extremely supportive to my family. They held my hand through the many, and I mean many, procedures I had to go through, explaining every detail. On the day of my surgery, a nurse came in and checked on me many times, while I was waiting to go to surgery. The same nurse came with me to pre-surgery and stayed as my health care advocate, while Dr. Francfort spoke to me and prepped me for surgery. That same nurse came with me into the operating room and held my hand and introduced me to everyone and explained what was going on. She put me at ease, made me feel I was in good hands and that I had a support system that was going to help me through."

Shown, left to right, standing are Kelly Ann McLoughlin, director of HR, operations; Dominick Alese, vice president, administration; Christina Egan, RN; Anne Green, MD, radiology; Sean Flynn, administration director, radiology and Carolyn Tutino, clerical supervisor and seated are Virginia Agoglia, ultrasound technologist; Barbara Schenk, lead mammography technologist; Mary Casey, mammography supervisor; Bonnie Edsall, RN amd Karen Romeyk, secretary.