CATEGORY: BD Health Care Professional NO. D1701. NOMINEE: Dr. Ashok A. Patel Nominator: Dr. Tushar Patel

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1 NO. D1701 NOMINEE: Dr. Ashok A. Patel Nominator: Dr. Tushar Patel As a lead physician, DR. Ashok Patel has been actively involved planning and providing health fair activities in south Asian communities throughout the NJ through a non-profit organization Indian Health Camp of NJ - IHCNJ since As an expert in cardiology, he provide his services to more than 600 individuals every year without any monetary compensation. To date, IHCNJ screened more than 10,000 individuals who are uninsured or underinsured and detected more than 2,000 abnormalities to provide them early intervention and reduce long term complications and overall positive outcome. Dr. Patel has been a dedicated health care professional who sees a disconnect of early screening and prevention in south Asians and understands the need and importance of early detection and timely intervention. As a cardiologist, he believes to provide counseling and education to his patients for a better overall outcome. This motivated him to provide his free service as a volunteer in the community for this non-profit organization. Due to his more than 15 years of dedicated and self-less volunteer service in IHCNJ, Dr. Patel was able to provide free health screening and disease prevention and education services to more than 10,000 individuals in the communities throughout the NJ. More than 2,000 abnormalities have been detected and more than 500 cardiac abnormalities were detected for early interventions and overall better and positive outcome. These services greatly reduces financial burden on the family and society and reduces long term complications and reduce morbidity and mortality.

2 NO. D1702 NOMINEE: BVMI Clinical Volunteers Nominator: Amanda Missey BVMI is exceedingly fortunate to have 55 medical professionals who volunteer to make life better for our Bergen County neighbors in need. In 2016, they donated almost 4,900 hours to BVMI and our patients, who are amazed that these brilliant, respected professionals take time from their busy lives to care for them. Our clinical volunteers include doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers and dieticians who provide primary and specialty care to low-income, working Bergen County residents who do not have health insurance. Many of BVMI s clinical volunteers are retired or semi-retired and passionately believe that access to healthcare is a right, not a privilege. BVMI provides the perfect opportunity to keep their hand in medicine and practice the old-fashioned way. Some describe it as slow medicine ample time to listen to patients, getting to know them as a person first and then a patient. They know that helping patients become and stay healthy is about more than just numbers. In 2016, BVMI practitioners saw nearly 1,000 patients in 6,200 patient visits. In addition to providing primary care, they also: provided lifesaving care for 400 diabetic and pre-diabetic patients by diagnosing, monitoring and teaching medication management, nutrition, physical fitness and lifestyle modification; provided age-appropriate well-woman care to 650 patients, many of whom are single moms with small children, aging parents and two or three low-wage jobs; began designing an obesity program to provide education and support for almost 500 patients who are overweight or obese, especially those with other chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. But the true extent of the difference our volunteers make every day is best illustrated with a patient story: What do you do when your patient says he can t monitor his blood sugar levels because he can t see the numbers on the machine? This was the problem confronting volunteer diabetologist Dr. Charlotte Sokol. Her patient, 57-year- old Emilio, worked irregular hours at a deli, sometimes 12 hours at a time. His crazy schedule and his cataracts kept him from being able to manage his diabetes, which was dangerously uncontrolled. Knowing it was critical that Emilio monitor his blood sugar, Dr. Sokol contacted ARKAY USA, Inc. to ask about their talking glucometer, which speaks both Spanish and English. ARKAY USA generously donated three machines to BVMI, with one of them earmarked for Emilio, whose diabetes is now under control.

3 NO. D1703 NOMINEE: Eugene Gatti, MD Nominator: James J Lynch Dr. Gatti leaves his busy medical practice to serve as a volunteer physician in a Camden clinic and has done so for many years. He was born and raised in Camden and has never forgotten his roots and truly believes in fulfilling the needs of the underserved. Additionally he provides services to the less fortunate as part of his regular practice at a free or reduced rate. I have known Gene for many years and I do not believe anything truly motivated him to help the less fortunate as his character is such that just makes it a natural desire and occurrence. Just a truly magnificent individual who by nature believes in paying it forward and giving back to those less fortunate. If you were to ask Dr. Gatti what he achieved I would suspect he would say nothing other then that he had the opportunity to help someone who may have otherwise gone unhelped. That in essence is where he makes a difference because it's not about him but rather the people who he reaches out too and offers his time and expertise in their medical care. The true difference is that he serves as a role model to others through his service to others.

4 NO. D1704 NOMINEE: Eric A. Wurmser, M.D. Nominator: Fr. Gail Holian Dr. Wurmser created and lead the Northeast Medical Mission his charity which for more than 25 years provided Cleft Palate surgery and other medical services in the Phillipines and other third world countries. He also provided free medical services to many local members of religious orders. No one who needed his help was turned away. Dr. Wurmser was in medical school during the Vietnam War he was motivated to serve as a healer since he never served as a warrior. As a plastic surgeon he was aware of the devastating lifelong effects of the cleft deformity and its consequences so he choose to help those afflicted to lead healthy lives and overcome cultural ostracism. Dr. Wurmser's compassion and generosity changed the lives of thousands of individuals and families. Without the surgical treatment he and his mission brought these children and adults often would have faced devastating health consequences as well as social ostracism. The gift of his skill gave them back their normal lives.

5 NO. D1705 NOMINEE: Mrs. Lynn Barrall Nominator: Edith Conroy 1. Mrs. Lynn Barrall has made a huge impact on the Farmingdale School Community through initiating the establishment of the Farmingdale School Health Council. The Health Council provides numerous free activities, educational information, training and events that have supported their mission to improve overall health and fitness in our youth. Since the inception of the council in 2010, Mrs. Barrall s passion and enthusiasm in promoting healthy food choices, nutrition and exercise have motivated students and staff to have a healthier lifestyle. As a school nurse and health teacher, Mrs. Barrall has always been concerned about childhood nutrition and obesity. She sees firsthand the negative effects that this trend is having on today s youth. In addition to incorporating fun, nutritional activities in her teaching, she wanted to extend the learning beyond the classroom. Mrs. Barrall was able to secure a grant to support her endeavors. The Health Council was supported by the grant for the first two years. Since then, it has been able to sustain itself through the extraordinary efforts of Mrs. Barrall, enabling her to continue her work. Through the tireless efforts of Mrs. Barrall and the Health Council, students have been provided with a variety of resources and activities that are focused on improving their overall health and fitness. Working with a dedicated group of educators and parents, as well as such organizations as CentraState Student Health Awareness Center, Safe Routes to School, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County and the Monmouth County Health Department, the council has been able to offer a variety of free or low cost events such as: Walk to School Wednesday, Walking School Bus, Monthly Family Fun Nights/Events which include: skating, hiking, swimming and dancing, School Garden Initiative, Healthy Cooking Class, and Safe Biking Practices. The council has also worked hard to establish, implement and maintain healthy food guidelines which are followed for all school celebrations. Mrs. Barrall continues to implement new and exciting practices and events, recently adding student coaches to our monthly Family Fun Nights/Events. Our student coaches, wearing event staff shirts to identify them, enthusiastically assist our younger students with activities. In addition, they help with the organization and advertising of our Walk to School Wednesdays initiative. Mrs. Barrall uses many creative ways to advertise events, and recently began using social media/twitter to tweet out event happenings. Mrs. Barrall s dedication and volunteerism cannot be overstated. She consistently models her sense of community and passion for health and fitness thereby truly inspiring us all!