Maimonides Health Honors 254 Summer Youth Program Participants at Annual Recognition Event

By BoroPark24 Staff

Maimonides Health celebrated the achievements of hundreds of local students during its annual Summer Youth Recognition Ceremony on August 6, highlighting the role of youth employment programs in fostering future healthcare leaders.

Held at the Ateres Golda Ballroom in Brooklyn, the event brought together nearly 400 attendees to recognize 254 participants from the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), along with interns and students from other partner programs. Additional honorees included 14 students from the Department of Education, 16 Maimonides interns, and 14 participants from the 1199 Youth Mentoring Program.

Maimonides Health is the largest SYEP site among healthcare facilities in New York City and has participated in the initiative for more than 28 years, hosting over 5,000 youth in that time. The hospital system employs more summer youth than any other NYC DYCD-funded program.

Speakers included healthcare leaders, union representatives, and city officials, among them Nancy Hagans, RN, president of the New York State Nurses Association; Thomas McIntyre, 1199SEIU contract administrator at Maimonides; and Julia Breitman, assistant commissioner for youth workforce development at NYC DYCD.

The program also featured musical performances by SYEP participants Damian and Devon Headley, as well as remarks from student representative Reese Parascando.

Ken Gibbs, president and CEO of Maimonides Health, praised the participants for their contributions and enthusiasm. “We’re proud to create an environment for growth and learning for our students and youth as they build their own futures and envision themselves as part of the future of healthcare leadership in our city,” Gibbs said.

Fifteen students received Special Recognition Awards for exceptional service, including Shane Christian, Robert Rivero, Akeelah Alexander, and others.

The ceremony also highlighted the many community partners that make the programs possible, such as the Council of Jewish Organizations of Flatbush, Chinese-American Planning Council, CAMBA, and Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services.

In addition to SYEP, Maimonides offers placements through the 1199SEIU Youth Mentoring Program, NYC Department of Education’s District 75 Occupational Training Center, and the Industry Scholars Program.