Special Thanksgiving Edition of News Briefs!

There’s been so much happening across the organization these past few months! To catch up quickly on what teams and team members are doing — including our Turkey Giveaway in Washington Heights! — just click on any of the items below.

If you have any news or happenings that you’d like to submit for consideration in an upcoming edition, please click here.

Health Plans Hosts Annual Turkey Giveaway in Washington Heights!

Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Health Plans team hosted its annual turkey giveaway on November 20 in Washington Heights, collaborating with community partner Centro Médico Dominican. Members began lining up early in the morning, greeted with hot coffee, donuts, and lively music from a DJ that kept spirits high as people danced and caught up with neighbors.

The team, joined by NYS Senator Robert Jackson, distributed 400 turkeys to members, many of whom are older, isolated adults who might not otherwise enjoy a special holiday meal. See the photos!

VNS Health 2025 Gala Raises Over $1.1 Million for Our Charitable Care and Community Impact Programs. Photos! Videos! 

The VNS Health 2025 Benefit: “Here When You Need Us,” took place on Thursday, November 13, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. The event, attended by 520 guests and emceed by PIX 11 Anchor Kori Chambers, raised more than $1.1 million for our Charitable Care and Community Impact programs. In addition, Kori featured our event on his news broadcast that evening—click here to view.

Among the evening’s highlights was an award-winning video depicting a day in the life of a VNS Health Nurse Residency graduate that featured Nurse Residency RN graduate Alysson Arikian, her mom (a former VNS Health nurse!), and her daughter (perhaps a future VNS Health nurse!). All three were there to stand and be recognized.

Congratulations to our Development team for hosting such a successful gala! See the photos!

Terri Meldrum Starts as Chief Legal and Risk Officer

Our new Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Risk Officer Terri Meldrum officially started on Monday, November 10. Terri replaces Kerry Parker, who is retiring after more than 13 years of service to the organization. Kerry will remain with us as a special advisor to transition responsibilities to Terri over the next few months. As EVP and Chief Legal and Risk Officer, Terri, who brings 30 years of legal experience to VNS Health, will assume responsibility for the Legal, Compliance, Risk Management and Insurance, and Internal Audit Departments. 

Crain’s NY Business Publishes Dan Savitt Op-Ed on Home Care Cuts

Last week, Crain’s New York Business online published an op-ed CEO Dan Savitt wrote, “Home Health Care Is Vanishing—Your Grandmother Is Paying the Price” on the impact of proposed Medicare home care reimbursement rates. You can read it by clicking here.

Home Care Team Completes Successful CHAP Site Visit

In late October, CHAP made its triannual on-site visit, a key step in our accreditation process. While their formal report is still pending, the CHAP team praised the quality of care that our Home Care clinicians are providing to patients and also commended the compassion and dedication of all our team members.

Before departing, the CHAP inspectors verbally confirmed that, thanks to our strong showing, VNS Health Home Care will be approved for Deemed Status, which exempts us from separate tri-annual inspections by New York State’s Department of Health, and Age-Friendly Care at Home Certification—a designation indicating that our clinicians are consistently utilizing the Age-Friendly 4-Ms protocol in delivering care. Formal approval of both designations is expected in several weeks.

We Are the One! Health Plans Team Kicks off Annual Enrollment Period. Video!

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)—a crucial period for Medicare Advantage enrollment—kicked off on October 15. This period, which runs through December 7, is an opportunity for us to grow membership in our Medicare Advantage plans: VNS Health EasyCare and EasyCare Plus. To view the inspirational video that our Health Plans sales team members used to kick off the kickoff—and to learn why “We are the one!”—click here below!

31 Families Were Celebrated at Our Bronx Nurse-Family Partnership Graduation! Photos! 

On Tuesday, October 14, our Nurse-Family Partnership held a graduation ceremony for our latest graduating Bronx NFP moms and their families. This was the first time the graduation has been held in person since before the COVID pandemic—so it was a very special graduation! Five government officials also came to celebrate the grads: Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson; Assemblymember John Zaccarro Jr.; Senator Gustavo Rivera; Assemblymember Karines Reyes; and NYC Councilmember Kevin C. Riley. See the photos here! 

VNS Health Named to Crain’s Best Places to Work in NYC!

Crain’s New York Business has made official what we all already knew… VNS Health is a great place to work! In September, Crain’s announced that VNS Health made its prestigious “Best Places to Work in NYC” list. We were selected for this designation largely due to feedback from VNS Health team members via an independent survey on employee engagement, technology, and benefits.

Congratulations, everyone!

VNS Health Leadership Pledges $45,000 in Matching SFW Gifts to Our Charitable Care and Community Impact Programs. Here’s How You Can Donate.

Our 2025 Strength From Within employee giving campaign is off and running. The money raised from the campaign will go to support our Charitable Care and Community Impact programs such as the Nurse-Family Partnership, our Nurse Residency, Hospice, and LGBTQ outreach. Every gift, no matter the amount, goes directly to support these programs and VNS Health’s mission. We’re proud to share that the VNS Health leadership team has pledged $45,000 in matching gifts to the SFW campaign. To make a donation online and to see a complete list of our Charitable Care and Community Impact programs, click here.  

Also, don’t miss our annual Bingo Night on Thursday, December 4th at 5:30 p.m.! All are welcome to play, and it’s a great way to donate a few dollars and have a fun time with colleagues while you do. Registration is open now and the minimum donation is only $5.

HHA Team Member Giselle Roman Shines—and Dances—with Her 92-Year-Old Client on Fox 5

Earlier this month, Giselle Roman, one of our extraordinary Personal Care home health aides, was featured on Fox5’s Native New Yorker show, sharing a joyful dance with her 92-year-old patient Olivia. This isn’t just care—it’s connection, compassion, and pure NYC spirit. Watch the video clip here below.

VNS Health Attends SOMOS Conference Connecting with New York Lawmakers

Earlier this month, Dan Lowenstein, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs,and Asha Lyons, Gender Affirmation Program Social Worker, represented VNS Health at the SOMOS Conference in Puerto Rico. The conference is an annual gathering that brings together New York State’s elected officials, state agencies, labor leaders, community organizations and lobbyists to discuss policy priorities and begin shaping the agenda for the state’s legislative session that begins in January.

Asha was recognized as a community leader at a LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Reception that brought together numerous elected officials. In addition, Dan participated in a panel on the nursing shortage sponsored by Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman (D-Queens). Dan and Asha also met with numerous elected officials and others to help ensure that VNS Health enters the upcoming legislative cycle with strong relationships, clear lines of communication, and a visible presence in the policy spaces that shape our work.

Dr. Barbara Reigel Receives American Heart Association Research Prize Award

Congratulations to Dr. Barbara Riegel, Senior Research Scientist at our Center for Home Care Policy & Research and Professor of Gerontology at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing, for winning the American Heart Association’s 2025 Clinical Research Prize! Dr. Riegel’s research focuses on self-care by individuals with chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease. To read more about Dr. Reigel and her award, click here.

VNS Health Celebrates Rehab Month! See the Photos!

September was Rehabilitation Month here at VNS Health, when we celebrate our outstanding rehabilitation team of 375+ Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech-Language Pathologists. To see photos of all the events, click here.

In Case You Missed It, Here’s the Fall Episode of Up Close with Dan!

In this latest episode of Up Close with Dan!, CEO Dan Savitt visits a patient recovering at home from a fall and discusses the importance of preventing falls. Also in this episode: AI workforce transformation by our Health Plans Reauthorizations team… a special message from Health Plans Director Alex Diaz… plus some musical inspiration from Hospice RN Verlina Sylvester. Click here to watch!

And in Case You Missed Keith’s Latest Financial Update, Here It is!  

In his latest video, Chief Financial Officer Keith Patterson highlights VNS Health’s third quarter financial results and the forecast for the rest of 2025. Keith also travels to a South Asian community in Queens to talk with Malek Hossain, Community Liaison for our Health Plans, about how we’re connecting community residents with meaningful benefits. Click here to watch.

VNS Health Welcomes New Fellows at Hospice Fellowship Orientation

Back in August, our Hospice team hosted a Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship Training Program Orientation at our 220 East 42nd Street office. Over 40 physician fellows came together for a full-day program featuring nine speakers.

The Fellowship Program integrates healthcare professionals into home hospice care teams, deepening participants’ expertise in the value and impact of home hospice care while also serving thousands of patients, many from minority communities. The day’s events underscored the program’s importance, not only to patients and families, but also to the professional development of those who dedicate their careers to end-of-life care.

Longtime program supporter Dennis Paoli of the Heidi Paoli Fund attended the orientation and shared his reflections. “When a program works, it works,” he noted. “I decided to support VNS Health’s Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship Training Program because I know the huge difference it makes to people in need.” See the photos here!

OKR Champions Help Keep Us Focused on Our Objectives and Key Results!

Our OKR Champions serve as invaluable resources across all areas of our organization. Working closely with VNS Health leadership and serving as a central point of contact for their teams, they help ensure that team members are focusing on the right Objectives and Key Results and also assess OKR progress throughout each quarter. This year was especially exciting for the OKR Champions, as they were invited to play an active role in VNS Health’s strategic plan refresh over the summer. To see a list of our 2025 OKR Champions click here.

New Documentary Highlights NORC Program and Aging Safely in Community

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) has released Aging in Community: A New York First Model, a new documentary that offers an in-depth look at New York’s innovative Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) program. The film features the powerful story of transformative friendship between VNS Health Personal Care NORC nurse Jana Kozlowski and her patient Bess Friedman, a widow who is navigating the challenges of losing her husband.

In the video, Bess credits the bond and friendship she shares with Jana for helping her regain her sense of worth. “Jana is everything you could dream of,” said Bess. “She really listens to you.” Through stories like that of Jana and Bess, the documentary showcases how NORCs provide a comprehensive network of social and health services that help older adults remain independent and age safely in the community of their choice.

To view the film, visit NYSOFA’s NORC Program webpage.

Dr. Shannon Whittington Receives Two Prestigious Awards!

Congratulations to Dr. Shannon Whittington, Clinical Director of our Gender Affirmation Program (GAP), for not one, but two amazing recognitions! She was recently honored with the Distinguished Career in Nursing Award from Chamberlain University and has also been named one of GLMA’s Annual Achievement Awardees for “Achievement in Practice” for making a significant impact on the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community.

Keshia Lewis, Behavioral Health Promise Zone Supervisor, Receives MIPO Honor!

On October 5, MIPO, Inc. (Making the Impossible Possible) recognized Keshia Lewis, Promise Zone Supervisor for VNS Health’s Behavioral Health team, as one of 15 honorees at their 2025 Annual Gala with an Outstanding Citizenship Hall of Fame Award. The organization is dedicated to promoting the quality of life of immigrant youth and their families residing in the New York metropolitan area.

Hundreds of Team Members Honored at Our 42nd Annual Personal Care Honor Awards and VNS Health 2nd Annual Awards. See Names, Photos and Videos!

On September 30, our 42nd Annual Personal Care Honor Awards Ceremony was held in midtown Manhattan. Honoring VNS Health Personal Care team members, the event spotlighted outstanding team members for helping provide exceptional care for our patients, members and clients, and also recognized milestone anniversaries for team members with 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service. To see names and photos of the honorees and a full list of the milestone anniversaries, click here.

A few weeks later, 38 team members from across the organization were honored on October 27 at the 2025 VNS Health Annual Awards Ceremony. For a full list of all the winners and to read more about their awards, please click here. To see photos and a recording of the event, click here. And to see a highlights video of the ceremony, click here below.

VNS Health Co-Hosts Bereavement Service at the Bristal Assisted Living Facility

In June, VNS Health co-hosted a Remembrance Service for recently deceased residents of The Bristal at York Avenue, an assisted living facility on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The facility needed bereavement care for their community, and VNS Health Hospice offered our support. John Asirvatham, VNS Health Hospice Care Spiritual Care Preceptor, Matt Newmark, Account Manager for Business Development, and Aisha Sadiqa, Volunteer Coordinator, helped organize the event, and Shaun Zilberberg, Spiritual Care Counselor, helped lead the service.