The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick on Long Island have announced that Michael J. Dowling, President and CEO of Northwell Health, will be the recipient of their 2023 Favorite Son Award.
The award, according to a release, recognizes and honors individuals of Irish descent who have contributed greatly in both their professional and personal endeavors, made a difference in their local communities, as well as in the advancement of Irish culture and education.
Mr. Dowling, a native of County Limerick, will be recognized at the Society’s Emerald Ball taking place on Saturday, March 4, at the Garden City Hotel, Garden City, New York.
“I am honored to be recognized as the 2023 Favorite Son. FSSPLI mission of promoting the rich culture and economic development of Ireland while addressing local issues that transcend a person’s heritage aligns with my family’s personal beliefs,” stated Dowling.
“I look forward to working with the committee to ensure the success of the Emerald Ball and that the goals of the Long Island Chapter are realized.”
Added the release: "Michael Dowling is recognized as one of healthcare’s most influential voices, taking a stand on societal issues such as gun violence and immigration that many health system CEOs do not address.
"As president and CEO of Northwell Health, he leads a clinical, academic and research enterprise with a workforce of more than 83,000 and annual revenue of $16.5 billion. Northwell is the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State, caring for more than two million people annually through a vast network of more than 890 outpatient facilities, including 220 primary care practices, 52 urgent care centers, home care, rehabilitation and end-of-life programs, and 21 hospitals.
"Mr. Dowling’s leadership has been invaluable to Northwell’s consistent expansion and prominence. In 2020, he successfully navigated the health system through the first COVID-19 epicenter in the U.S., detailing his experiences in 'Leading Through a Pandemic: The Inside Story of Humanity, Innovation, and Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Crisis.'
Guns are the leading cause of death for kids, and 13 children die from guns every day nationwide. At @NorthwellHealth, we’re committed to taking meaningful action to curb the public health crisis of gun violence. It starts by asking the question. https://t.co/uWLoX8Cr0d #LockGuns pic.twitter.com/ikyIKiCTix
— Michael J. Dowling (@MichaelJDowling) September 28, 2022
"Overall, Northwell has treated more than 350,000 COVID patients, and the health system utilized a strong innovative culture to expand hospital bed capacity (adding 2,000 beds in two weeks), 3D-print nasal swabs for COVID testing, convert bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines into mechanical ventilators and take advantage of its large, integrated health system to 'load balance' and transport 810 patients from overrun hospitals to those that had bed capacity.
"Northwell also kept employees safe, investing in critical personal protective equipment to help those working the front lines, one of whom—Sandra Lindsay—was the first person in the US to receive the historic COVID vaccine in December 2020.
"Prior to becoming president and CEO in 2002, Mr. Dowling was the health system’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. Before joining Northwell Health in 1995, he worked in the health insurance business and spent 12 years in New York State government healthcare and social services.
"Before his public service career, Mr. Dowling was a professor of social policy and assistant dean at the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services, and director of the Fordham campus in Westchester County.
"Mr. Dowling has been honored with many awards over the years in healthcare, public service, and philanthropy and has been recognized as a top business executive by Modern Healthcare and Glassdoor among others. He has also received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad, presented by the President of Ireland; was the 2017 Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City, and was inducted to the Irish America Hall of Fame."
“We are humbled and honored that Mr. Dowling will be accepting the 2023 Favorite Son Award,” said William McDermott, current President of FSSPLI.
Breaking: A critical care nurse in Queens, Sandra Lindsay, is the first New Yorker to be vaccinated in a non-trial capacity after the first doses of Pfizer’s vial arrived at Northwell Health this morning. “It didn’t feel any different from taking any other vaccine,” Lindsay said. pic.twitter.com/KSaYEQUTHE
— Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) December 14, 2020
“His distinguished career in healthcare, public service, community involvement and his ability to honor his Irish roots exemplifies all that we wish to recognize with the Favorite Son Award. Michael’s participation this year as we rebound from the pandemic is especially meaningful.”
The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick on Long Island is an organization comprised of Sons of Erin and/or their descendants, who are business or professional people on Long Island.
The organization is interested in the promotion of the rich culture and history its members' ancestors.
"Our endeavors are also philanthropic and charitable, devoted to the betterment of our less fortunate brethren, both here and in Ireland. The membership meets four times each year in social surroundings and engages in other activities as sponsored by the Board of Governors."
For details on attending and supporting the 2023 FSSPLI EMERALD BALL on March 4 go to www.fsspli.org.
