Contact: Steven Vulpis
(631) 548-6891
svulpis@northwell.edu
Riverhead, NY — Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) announced today that it has graciously received a $50,000 donation from the Mattituck Lions Club to support the hospital’s Mattituck Lions’ Nursing Education Fund. The fund uniquely empowers Peconic Bay Medical Center nurses to enroll in continuing education programs that can help them move forward in their careers by covering tuition, certifications, and other ancillary expenses.
“Nurses are the backbone of Peconic Bay Medical Center. The Mattituck Lions’ Nursing Education Fund enables us to provide our nurses with extra resources to expand their careers, and, in turn, continue advancing our ability to care for and provide this community with compassionate, high-quality medical care,” said Dr. Amy E. Loeb, Executive Director of Peconic Bay Medical Center and former Chief Nursing Officer. “Investing in our nurses is of vital importance as our hospital continues to grow both in size and capabilities. This contribution will give our nurses the resources to pursue higher education opportunities and achieve advanced certifications. We are grateful to the Mattituck Lions for their continued support and their dedication to empowering this community.”
The Mattituck Lions’ Nursing Education Fund offers a series of academic grants to Peconic Bay Medical Center nurses that can be used toward any expenses related to continuing education, from technology and books to tuition and certification costs. There was a total of 7 recipients this year.
“It was a great feeling to know that the Lions wanted to invest in us and that they thought we were important enough to give their hard-earned money,” said Peconic Bay Medical Center nurse Terrial Buhner, who is a rising leader at PBMC and received an Education Fund grant to pursue higher education.
Over the past 20 years, the Mattituck Lions have been a strong supporter of Peconic Bay Medical Center. The Club has committed over $190,000 to the hospital throughout its history. The organization’s donations and its partnership with the Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation team also made it possible to implement the physical fitness curriculum “Project Fit America” in the Mattituck School District, in addition to starting and growing the Nursing Education Fund.
“Peconic Bay Medical Center is our community hospital, and we recognize that our community is better when our hospital has the resources it needs,” said Tim Bialeski, Past President and Board Member of the Mattituck Lions Club. “There are so many barriers in pursuing higher education. We’re proud to advance the Nursing Education Fund so Peconic Bay Medical Center nurses have the support they need to excel— personally and for the hospital. The Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation team understands the present and future needs of our community, and we are thrilled to help support their efforts and vision.”
Since the inception of the Mattituck Lions’ Nursing Education Fund in 2016, Peconic Bay Medical Center has increased the percentage of nurses who have a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from 38 percent to more than 70 percent. With this new installment, PBMC is poised to reach its goal of having 80 percent of its nurses hold higher education degrees.
For more information about Peconic Bay Medical Center, visit www.pbmchealth.org.
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About Peconic Bay Medical Center
Located in Riverhead, NY, Peconic Bay Medical Center is a 200-bed nonprofit hospital committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves. Peconic Bay Medical Center offers wide-ranging, full-scope services and programs, including advanced surgical, cardiac, orthopedic and women’s health care, comprehensive inpatient medical care, palliative care and an extensive range of outpatient services, along with state-of-the-art technology. Peconic Bay Medical Center joined Northwell Health in 2016. For more information, visitPBMCHealth.org and follow us @PeconicBayMedicalCenter on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.