Team Members in the Media: April and May Highlights!
This spring gave us much to celebrate, from Nurses Month and National Speech-Language-Hearing Month to major quality milestones. Across local, statewide, and national media outlets, VNS Health was recognized for our people, partnerships and programs that help New Yorkers live their best possible lives.
Together, these stories illustrate how VNS Health is a true health care leader and makes a difference every day in the lives of those we serve!
Team members featured in news stories this past April and May include:
- Jane Reilly, RN and Clinical Care Manager, Personal Care
- Dan Savitt, President & CEO
- David Rosales, EVP and Chief of Provider Services
- Esther Conteh, VP, Care Management, Health Plans
- Brenda Riordan, SVP, Home Health Care, Hospice and Care Management Solutions
- Asha Lyons, Gender Affirmation Program Social Worker
- Chinatown Community Center team
HuntingtonNow and The Northport Journal Celebrate VNS Health Nurse of the Year Jane Reilly
In stories tied to Nurses Month, HuntingtonNow and The Northport Journal featured Jane Reilly, RN, Clinical Care Manager, celebrating her recognition as VNS Health’s 2026 Nurse of the Year and her decades of experience helping people stay healthy at home, where they are most comfortable. The coverage highlighted Jane’s compassion, teamwork, and dedication to her community. As she notes in the article, “Nurses Month is a time to thank America’s nurses, but it’s also a time to recognize what nursing care makes possible. In homes across Long Island, nurses and caregivers are helping older adults stay safe, connected, and a part of the communities they worked their lives to build. This may happen quietly behind front doors, but its impact reaches us all.”
Read the full pieces on Frontline here and here.
Dan Savitt Named to Crain’s “Notables in Health Care” List
President & CEO Dan Savitt was named to Crain’s 2026 “Notables in Health Care” list, recognizing leaders shaping New York’s health care sector. His profile highlights his leadership of VNS Health’s continued growth and commitment to quality, including the achievement of five-star New York State quality ratings for its Medicaid Advantage Plus and Managed Long Term Care plans. Dan’s recognition also underscores VNS Health’s broader impact, including advancing care in underserved communities. Read more on Frontline here.
VNS Health Brings AI Innovation to Home-Based Care
National and local outlets, including The Associated Press, shared news of VNS Health’s exciting new partnership with AI-powered clinical documentation platform Nestmed to deploy ambient AI that automatically generates clinical documentation during home visits—reducing the time clinicians spend on paperwork and allowing them to focus more on patient care. The announcement also includes perspective from David Rosales, EVP and Chief of Provider Services, on how this technology will help improve patient and clinician well-being. Read more on Frontline here.
Dan Savitt Speaks to VNS Health’s Leadership in Caring for New Yorkers Across the State
New York Public News Network, Politico and “The Capitol Pressroom” radio show covered efforts to strengthen New York’s Managed Long Term Care funding formula. Their coverage featured quotes from President & CEO Dan Savitt, highlighting VNS Health’s leadership in caring for New Yorkers with complex needs and helping them remain independent at home. New York Public News Network—a collaboration of NPR and PBS stations across New York State—helped bring the issue to public media audiences statewide, while Politico and “The Capitol Pressroom” reached key policy and government audiences. This coverage underscored the value of home-based care and supported advocacy that helped secure additional New York State support for this important work.
Buffalo Healthy Living and The Queens Times Showcase VNS Health Home Care Nurses
Buffalo Healthy Living and The Queens Times recognized VNS Health nurses during Nurses Month, highlighting the impact of home-based care across New York State. Buffalo Healthy Living connected VNS Health’s work in Western New York to Lillian Wald’s public health nursing legacy, with Esther Conteh, VP, Care Management sharing reflections from her 25-year career in home care.The Queens Times also featured VNS Health’s Nurses Month celebration in Queens, including a fun group photo of nurses with NYC Councilmember Sandra Ung.
National, Local Media Cover VNS Health’s Quality Achievements
The Associated Press, HomeCare Magazine, and hundreds of additional local and national outlets reported on two major quality milestones achieved by VNS Health: a 5-Star CMS quality rating for its Home Care program and the American Heart Association’s Home Health Heart Failure certification. The coverage of the two milestones highlighted VNS Health’s commitment to rigorous, evidence-based, patient-centered care for older adults and people managing complex conditions at home. Brenda Riordan, SVP, Home Health Care, Hospice and Care Management Solutions, credited the achievements to VNS Health’s skilled clinical teams and their dedication to delivering high-quality care, one patient at a time.
The Bronx Times Highlights GAP Social Worker Asha Lyons at Trans Day of Visibility Panel
The Bronx Times reported on a special Trans Day of Visibility event at Hostos Community College. The event, which was hosted by Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, highlighted the importance of inclusion and support for transgender and non-binary communities. Asha Lyons, a Social Worker in VNS Health’s Gender Affirmation Program (GAP), participated as an expert panelist in a discussion on access to gender-affirming care, contributing her perspective on the importance of providing culturally sensitive, nonjudgmental care to all. Read more on Frontline here.
VNS Health and Partners Promote Early Cancer Screening in Chinatown
Local Chinese-language media, including World Journal, Sing Tao Daily, and The Epoch Times, highlighted VNS Health’s partnership with Northwell Health and Lenox Hill Hospital to host a free head and neck cancer screening at VNS Health’s Chinatown Community Center. The event offered Mandarin, Cantonese and Fuzhou interpreters and was attended by local community members. The article also emphasized the importance of early detection, especially for immigrant and Chinese-speaking communities that may face language or access barriers to preventive care.
