2023 Commissioner’s Award to Michael Palumbo, MD, FACPMichael Palumbo MD

Michael Palumbo, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President at White Plains Hospital, is the 2023 recipient of the Commissioner’s Award.

Dr. Palumbo is board-certified in internal medicine. He has served as Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President for more than 13 years. Joining White Plains Hospital in 2005, he was previously the founding Medical Director of the adult hospitalist program there. Prior to joining White Plains Hospital, Dr. Palumbo practiced primary care at NYU.  He earned his medical degree at the Boston University School of Medicine.

Dr. Palumbo was selected for the Commissioner’s Award for his leadership and collaboration in vaccinating, testing and compassionately caring for Westchester residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Westchester County Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD, said she especially appreciated his wise counsel during difficult times, and for the way he went above and beyond to heal and protect our community.

 

2023 Special Recognition Award to Yonkers Public Library’s Riverfront LibraryJesse Montero

Jesse Montero is the Director of Yonkers Public Library, the largest public library in Westchester County. One of its three locations is the Riverfront Library. Opened in 2002, Riverfront Library is a four-story, 70,000 square-foot facility that houses nearly 150,000 books and DVDS, the Library hosts a wide range of programs and services, a 450-seat auditorium, a learning and media lab, an art gallery, a local history room and a literacy solutions office. 

Yonkers Riverfront Library is being honored with a Special Recognition Award for collaborating with the Westchester County Department of Health to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yonkers Riverfront Library hosted six pop-up COVID-19 clinics in 2021 and 11 more in 2022. By providing a safe space where residents are at ease, the Library enabled the Westchester County Department of Health to deliver 1,715 COVID-19 vaccines to adults and children.

 

2023 Special Recognition Award to The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community CenterJudy Troilo

Judy Troilo is the executive director of The LOFT, Westchester’s first LGBTQ+ community
services center. Formed in 1983, The LOFT provides support groups, social groups, activities,
assistance, advocacy and health and wellness education.

The LOFT is being honored with a 2023 Special Recognition Award for its partnership with the Westchester County Department of Health in responding to the Mpox outbreak. The LOFT's staff quickly mobilized volunteers and hosted vaccine clinics over a nine-week period from July 28 through Sept. 22, 2022. The LOFT helped to promote these clinics to the LGBTQ+ community, assuring the Department’s response was effective and efficient.

The LOFT opened its White Plains Center early, provided refreshments for staff and volunteers, and tidied up after the clinics. In all, in partnership with the Westchester County Department of Health, the LOFT  hosted five clinics at which more than 700 inoculations were administered from July through September 2022.