SNCH honors Ratner, nets 700G at gala

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum developer Bruce Ratner was hailed as a visionary last week, as South Nassau Communities Hospital raised more than $700,000 at its annual Carnation Ball.

The hospital also honored Dr. Joshua Kugler, chair of the department of emergency medicine, with its Mary Pearson Award. And Yondeibi Espinal, lead environmental services aide at South Nassau, was surprised with the new Cupola Award. The cupola, which sits atop the hospital’s original building, represents its tradition of caring. 

Funds raised will be added to a five-year, $10 million campaign to help pay for a $60 million renovation and expansion of the Oceanside Emergency Department.

The Oceanside ER will increase its square footage from 16,000 to 30,000 and its overall size by 87 percent, to give it room necessary to accommodate in excess of 80,000 patient visits each year. It will also establish dedicated areas for behavioral health and pediatric emergencies. The ER currently sees some 65,000 patients a year but was designed to handle 35,000 annually.