Jean Shafiroff, the chairwoman of the Southampton Hospital’s Summer Party in 2010, 2011, and 2013, interviews Robert Chaloner, the president of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital
What are the future plans for Stony Brook Hospital (SBSH)?
Our hospital is a proud member of the East End community, and like most organizations in the Hamptons, we are busiest during the summer months. Our hospital is located in the center of a popular and prestigious destination. We go to great lengths to ensure that we have the appropriate staff to care for all of our patients. We exceed the expectations of our full-time and part-time populations as well as the thousands of visitors and vacationers who come to the Hamptons. Now that we are part of Stony Brook Medicine, we are better prepared than ever before to provide high quality care for our communities.
Why did Southampton Hospital merge with Stony Brook Medicine?
As we approach the one-year anniversary of our relationship with Stony Brook, I am absolutely convinced that this was the right thing to do for our hospital and the communities we serve. As Stony Brook Hospital, we are now able to provide the best of academic and community medicine. Our mission has always been to provide the best possible care to our communities. This partnership enables us to provide a significantly higher and more accessible level of care to those who depend on us.
When will we see the benefits of this relationship?
We already have seen the benefits of this relationship. I can cite at least three vitally important clinical developments that have occurred as a result. The first visible benefit is The Phillips Family Cancer Center, which is currently under construction on County Road 39 in Southampton. Fueled by a very generous gift from the Phillips family, this beautiful new facility will be staffed by renowned Stony Brook physicians. It will provide treatment options, support services, and clinical trials in our community. Now cancer patients and their families will no longer have to travel great distances for chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
The second visible benefit following our partnership with Stony Brook was the establishment of a cardiac catheterization laboratory within our Audrey and Martin Gruss Heart & Stroke Center. This new cardiac program is the most dramatic example of exactly the sort of collaboration we hoped would result when Southampton Hospital joined with Stony Brook Medicine. This merger has allowed us to bring the region’s top medical services closer to our community. The cardiac catheterization laboratory has literally saved lives by enabling us to provide immediate intervention for critically ill cardiac patients.
And third, I am very proud to announce that as of July 2018 we will begin to offer electrophysiology services, including device implementation and treatment for people who require a pacemaker, defibrillator, or loop recorder. These are life-enhancing services that we can now offer in our local community.
That’s all very exciting. So what is your vision for the future of healthcare on the East End?
The people living on the East End of Long Island need and deserve accessible high-quality health care. Our partnership with Stony Brook Medicine provides us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will enable us to completely reimagine the healthcare system of the East End.
Our vision is a healthcare system with a brand new state-of-the-art community hospital on the college campus of Stony Brook Southampton, in Shinnecock Hills. This new hospital will serve as the centerpiece of a network of robust community-based primary, secondary, and ancillary services located throughout the South Fork from Westhampton to Montauk.
What are your plans for East Hampton?
A key component of our vision is the establishment of a free-standing satellite emergency department on Pantigo Place in East Hampton. Our goal is to improve and increase access to care for the East Hampton community, especially in the busy summer months. We anticipate engaging individuals, businesses, and foundations in helping us to fulfill this vision for both the new hospital and the satellite emergency department.
What would people be surprised to know about Stony Brook Southampton Hospital?
While we are situated in a region known for great wealth, we serve a wide and diverse population with a broad spectrum of needs and capabilities. We have a longstanding commitment to the healthcare needs of the Shinnecock Nation and have a visible presence on the reservation. Our David E. Rogers, MD Center provides important services to people with HIV and AIDS. Our Regional Tick Borne Disease Resource Center offers valuable education and information to schools, community organizations, physicians, elected officials, and the medical community. Our Ed & Phyllis Davis Wellness Institute offers innovative support programs for people with Parkinson’s disease and our Ellen Hermanson Breast Center provides vital clinical and support services for breast cancer patients and their families. Along with our colleagues at Stony Brook Medicine, we are more than just a hospital; we are the nucleus for healthcare planning and delivery on the East End.
How would you describe life at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital at the present time?
These are exciting times for all of us who work and volunteer at our hospital. Together with our colleagues at Stony Brook Medicine, we have the opportunity to provide our communities with the high-quality healthcare they deserve. We are committed to achieving this ambitious goal. This goes beyond new buildings and new clinical services. It includes a commitment to high-quality patient service and a welcoming environment of care that respects and values people from all walks of life. This is a journey that we have been embarking on for several years now, and we have never been more optimistic about our future.
About Robert Chaloner
Bob Chaloner joined Southampton Hospital as its president and CEO in late 2006, following a 25-year healthcare career in senior administrative posts at Lenox Hill Hospital, the Franciscan Health System of New Jersey, and Cabrini Medical Center. He was appointed as the chief administrative officer of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital when it merged with Stony Brook University Hospital, in August 2017. A graduate of Dartmouth College, he holds a Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; a Master of Science degree in urban planning from Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation; and an MBA in finance from New York University Stern School of Business. He is currently an adjunct lecturer of management information technology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and a clinical adjunct professor at Stony Brook University School of Health Technology and Management. Mr. Chaloner is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
About Jean Shafiroff
Jean Shafiroff, a philanthropist, humanitarian, activist, and author of the book Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give, is a volunteer leader of several charitable causes. She serves on the boards of eight charities: The NY Women’s Foundation, NYC Mission Society, French Heritage Society, Couture Council, Jewish Board, Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation Honorary Board, Global Strays, and Southampton Bath and Tennis Club Charitable Foundation. In addition, Jean is an ambassador for the American Humane Society and the ambassador for the Southampton Shelter. Jean is married to Martin D. Shafiroff, an investments advisor. Together they have two daughters. Jean and her family reside in Manhattan and Southampton.
