NYMC Celebrates Visionary Public Health Leaders at Annual Founder’s Dinner

The proceeds of the evening will directly benefit NYMC students through scholarships and important initiatives, and further NYMC’s mission to educate the next generation of physicians and health care providers, and support life-saving biomedical research. 

“At our annual Founder’s Dinner, the NYMC community comes together to honor the College’s accomplishments over the past year and acknowledge leaders who have had a positive influence on our students and the medical community,” said Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer of NYMC. “The immense support from all the gala’s attendees is highly valued and appreciated. Together we are nourishing trailblazing biomedical research as well as sustaining the next generation of graduates through the scholarship funds raised.” 

The evening’s honorees included Robert W. Amler, M.D., M.M.S., M.B.A., FAAP, FACPM, vice president for government affairs, dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice, and professor of public health, pediatrics, and of environmental health sciences; and Sherlita Amler, M.D., M.S., Ed.S., RN, FAAP, CEM, commissioner of health for Westchester County, clinical associate professor of pediatrics, adjunct professor of public health, and senior fellow in the Center for Disaster Medicine, who received the William Cullen Bryant Award, the most prestigious honor awarded by the College. The award was established to recognize those remarkable individuals who, in the tradition of the College’s founder, William Cullen Bryant, demonstrate seminal leadership in health care, science, education, business or the arts. Edward Chew, M.D. ’03, FACEP, chief executive officer for Physician Affiliate Group of New York, chief of emergency medicine and deputy chief medical officer of Harlem Hospital, assistant clinical professor of emergency medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, a member of NYMC Board of Advisors and honorary surgeon for the New York Police Department, received the Jackson E. Spears Community Service Award, which recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to serving their communities. He is the first NYMC alumnus to be awarded this prestigious honor.

The event was emceed by Vilma E. Bordonaro, M.B.A., chief of staff, and Michael J. Crupain, M.D. ’06, M.P.H., FACPM, board certified preventative medicine physician and best-selling author.

“As always, it was a pleasure to credit and commemorate our distinguished award recipients,” said Bess J. Chazhur, M.S., chief development officer and executive director of alumni relations. "This year’s event raised more than $400,000 toward the endowment and other important student initiatives at NYMC. We recognize and thank our more than generous donors for their contributions.”

Videos from Founder's Dinner and other NYMC events are available on the NYMC YouTube Channel.

Presenting sponsors of this year’s Founder’s Dinner include:

• Presenting: Regeneron
• Premier: Tamar and Avi Retter, M.D.
• Gold: Robert W. Amler, M.D., M.B.A., and Sherlita Amler, M.D.; Edward Chew, M.D. ’03, NYMC Board of Advisors, and Westchester Medical Center
• Silver: Boston Children’s Health Physicians and Saint Joseph’s Medical Cenrer
• Bronze: Andrew and Sarah Levy, Dr. Meryl and Mr. Joseph Mark, PAGNY, Phelps Hospital Northwell Health, Ronald and Peggy Poe, Stifel, Nicolaus and Company; and Webster Bank
• Dessert: CFI Office, Ellen and Mitchell S. Cairo, M.D.; DIGroup, KPMG, and Pavarini Construction Company
• Music: ABM Janitorial Service
• Flowers: Ben Chouake, M.D.

About the Honorees

Robert W. Amler, M.D., M.M.S., M.B.A., FAAP, FACPM

Dr. Robert Amler has been a dedicated public health physician, pediatrician, and epidemiologist for more than 45 years. He has held key positions, including regional health administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), commanding officer of federal emergency response assets in the Northeast and Caribbean Region, and chief medical officer of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during his tenure as a commissioned officer of the U.S. Public Health Service. His expertise has been sought by advisory councils to the U.S. Surgeon General, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and former President Jimmy Carter. Dr. Amler played a pivotal role in conceptualizing, launching, and securing Congressional and multi-agency funding for the national network of Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units.

As dean, Dr. Amler launched new career-enhancing offerings in health education, industrial hygiene, and other specialties as well as M.S. and Dr.P.H. degrees. He expanded teaching faculty and facilities in physical therapy and speech-language pathology. He launched the interdisciplinary Institute of Public Health, including the Center for Disaster Medicine (CDM), which conducted the CDC’s analysis of Superstorm Sandy’s adverse health effects in 2012. Dr. Amler led an emergency medical flight mission to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria’s devastating landfall in 2017. He co-founded the Children’s Environmental Health Center of Hudson Valley. He instituted NYMC’s collaborative research data support program and secured government funding for the Women’s Institute for Science Entrepreneurship, Touro College of Dental Medicine, Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, and BioInc@NYMC, the region’s first biotechnology incubator. 

Dr. Amler addressed tens of millions in the news media on protecting coworkers, friends, and loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a practicing pediatrician at Boston Children’s Health Physicians and former chapter president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has authored and co-authored many peer-reviewed publications in pediatrics, public health, and environmental toxicology. He has received numerous awards, including New York State Senate Leader’s “Dr. Robert W. Amler Day,” and serves on the boards of directors of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation, the Business Council of Westchester, and Westchester County Association.

Sherlita Amler, M.D., M.S, Ed.S., R.N., FAAP, CEM

Dr. Sherlita Amler is a dedicated public health physician and pediatrician with nearly 40 years of experience at the federal, state, and local levels. Over her extensive career, she has served in various roles, including microbiologist, communicable disease investigator, ER nurse, state district nursing services specialist, general pediatrician, CDC physician, and county health commissioner. Currently, she is the longest-serving commissioner of health in New York, having held this position for nearly 20 years, where she has consistently addressed critical community health issues and enhanced the quality of life for residents. She became Westchester County’s commissioner of health in 2011 after serving in the same capacity in Putnam County and is a past president and current board member of the New York State Association of County Health Officers.

While at CDC, Dr. Amler focused on large-scale disaster mitigation and hospital surge capacity as well as prevention of mercury and lead poisoning in children. She served in CDC’s Emergency Operations Center during the post 9/11 anthrax attack and deployed to the AMI Building as medical support to the FBI-CDC investigation in Boca Raton, Florida. She was recognized with the HHS Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service.

Dr. Amler has been an energetic leader in the control of numerous communicable diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, influenza H1N1, hepatitis, rabies, Lyme disease, Legionnaire’s disease, West Nile virus, Ebola, Zika virus, and COVID-19. She led Westchester’s public health response to some of the first COVID cases in New York, and she played a significant role in the campaign to stem the rising death toll. Dr. Amler has led other life-saving initiatives, including a county-wide campaign to train the public and professionals in law enforcement, health care, and education in the use of naloxone to rescue victims of opiate overdoses.

Dr. Amler helped launch the CDM at NYMC. She serves on Westchester’s Child Fatality Review Team, Board of Managers for Laboratories and Research, and the American Heart Association’s Westchester Board of Directors. In addition, she is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the New York Academy of Medicine. 

Edward Chew, M.D. ’03, FACEP

Dr. Edward Chew is a seasoned physician with a strong background in emergency medicine and medical leadership. He serves as the interim chief executive officer of PAGNY, following his tenure as interim chief medical officer. In these roles, Dr. Chew has successfully led the restructuring of a billion-dollar medical staffing organization, aligning its strategic plan with its mission, goals, and key performance indicators to ensure optimal operational and financial performance. He has also provided executive leadership in transforming the PAGNY Faculty Provider Practice into an integrated multi-specialty physician organization. Dr. Chew’s effective collaboration with clinical teams on physician recruitment, faculty development, and budget management, along with his focus on accountability and aligning clinical and financial results, has been crucial to PAGNY’s growth and success.

Additionally, Dr. Chew is the deputy chief medical officer and chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, as well as assistant clinical professor at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. An accomplished leader in emergency medicine, Dr. Chew is a member of the Emergency Department Benchmarking Alliance and has extensive experience in reorganizing and restructuring emergency departments to improve operational efficiency and elevate patient and staff satisfaction.

His career includes notable roles such as vice chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at The Brooklyn Hospital Center, associate director of emergency medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi and North Central Bronx, and assistant clinical professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Dr. Chew is an active board member and advisor for several organizations, including PAGNY and his alma mater NYMC. His dedication to advancing emergency medicine is evident through his involvement in key committees, including the Sepsis Committee, Trauma Committee, and the NYC Health + Hospitals Emergency Department Directors Council. Dr. Chew has also published several clinical studies in medical journals and has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions for his leadership and commitment to patient safety and quality care, including being appointed to be an honorary surgeon for the New York Police Department.