John Tsunis Joins Development Council

JOHN TSUNIS JOINS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AT STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER 

STONY BROOK, N.Y., April 2, 2009 -John Tsunis has been appointed as a member of the Stony Brook University Medical Center Development Council, a group of civic-minded community leaders established in 2008 with a mission to further the Medical Center's vision of becoming a world-class organization through philanthropy and community support. Mr. Tsunis joins Council Chair Charles Ryan and fellow Development Council members: Michael Ardolino, Olga Belleau, Robert Coughlan, Leah Dunaief, Duffy Mich, Scott Neher, and Gloria Snyder in its mission to support the priorities of the Medical Center leadership.

Mr. Tsunis, of Tsunis & Gasparis LLP, is Vice Chairman of Gold Coast Bank (Islandia, NY) and serves on its board of directors, executive, investment and loan committees. He is President and Chief Executive Officer of Long Island Hotels LLC, which develops and manages four hotel properties in the New York metropolitan area. A dedicated volunteer, John is past chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Long Island Museum, past president of the Three Village Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Touro Law School Board of Visitors, Member of the Board of Directors of New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association, and is active in other philanthropic endeavors. He and his family reside in Poquott.

As the need for community representation and private funding became a priority, Richard N. Fine, M.D., Dean of Stony Brook University School of Medicine, and Steven L. Strongwater, M.D., Hospital CEO sought to establish the Development Council in 2008. Through corporate, private and civic connections, the Development Council is working to raise awareness and strengthen relationships throughout the region.

Stony Brook University Medical Center is the only academic medical center on Long Island. It comprises Stony Brook University School of Medicine and Stony Brook University Hospital, which is the only tertiary care hospital and Level 1 trauma center in Suffolk County. With 540 beds and 5,100 employees, it is the largest hospital in Suffolk County. The Heart Center performs the only open-heart surgery in Suffolk and the Cancer Center and Cerebrovascular Center attract patients from throughout the region with cutting edge diagnostic and treatment facilities. Stony Brook is home to Long Island's first kidney transplantation program which has performed over 1,000 transplants, and initiated the nation's first Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center. The hospital is also the regional referral center for trauma, perinatal and neonatal intensive care, burns, bone marrow and stem cell transplantation, cystic fibrosis, pediatric/adult AIDS, and is the regional resource center for emergency management. Stony Brook's Stroke program is certified by the Joint Commission and the NYS Department of Health; and, Stony Brook is home to the Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities and Long Island's first comprehensive ALS Center.

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