Corporate Honoree

Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall 

&

Joan Cusack-McGuirk

Joan Cusack-McGuirk, a longtime resident of the community, has 40+ years of experience in the healthcare industry, serving more than 30 years at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital (SLCH).  She was instrumental in finalizing the partnership between SLCH and the Montefiore Health System (MHS) which was announced early 2016.  Since that time, Ms. Cusack-McGuirk has worked to integrate SLCH into the MHS, which is a robust academic health system and a national leader in transforming health care to improve access, quality and experience of care.

Earlier in her role as Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, she was responsible for the successful integration of two divergent patient care cultures into a singular care model.  Joan was promoted to Interim President and Chief Executive Officer and soon after was appointed to permanent President and Chief Executive Officer of SLCH.  For the last several years, Joan led transformational changes related across the themes of rapid change which require necessary prioritization and impact on major roles to keep pace with the changing healthcare delivery system.

Under Ms. Cusack-McGuirk’s leadership, SLCH has earned numerous awards and accreditations: Comprehensive Center for Metabolic Surgery Accreditation & Quality Improvement Program by the American College of Surgeons; The Gold Plus Award from the American Heart Association’s “Get with the Guidelines” for Stroke for 10 years in a row; Healthgrades Recipient for 3 successive years as a five-star recipient for natural childbirth; 2018 Clinical Excellence Award in General Surgery, rated among the top 10% in the nation by Healthgrades; Joint Commission recognized SLCH as a 2017 Pioneers in Quality TM Expert Contributor; and Hospitals & Health Network’s 2017 Most Wired Hospital. SLCH is also designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement as well as Maternity by Empire BlueCross BlueShield.  SLCH became verified as a Level III Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.  SLCH is partnered with Burke Rehabilitation, expanding and enhancing the already robust physical, cardiac and pulmonary services offered at SLCH.

Ms. Cusack-McGuirk graduated as an RN from St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York City, received her BS in Nursing from SUNY New Paltz, earned her graduate degree at NYU, and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton’s School of Business Fellows Program. 

Ms. Cusack-McGuirk is an active member of the community participating in numerous local, regional and state organizations including Healthcare Association of NYS (HANYS), Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), Northern Metropolitan Hospital Association (NorMet), Patterns for Progress, Orange County Chamber, Orange County Citizen’s Foundation, New York Organization of Nurse Executives & Leaders (NYONEL), SUNY Orange Bridges Program, Newburgh Armory and Rotary Club of Greater Newburgh.  Joan’s family is the highlight of her life.  Between Joan and her beloved, late husband John, they have 7 children and 11 grandchildren.  Joan’s brother Gerard was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 21. Gerard fought the fight for 37 years and eventually succumbed to the disease at the age of 56 in 2015, Joan has a very personal connection to Type 1 Diabetes. Gerard was not only her brother but also her best friend, after her late husband John McGuirk.

Honoree & Founders Award Recipients

Beta Sigma Phi Sorority

All ten sisters of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority of Kingston, NY will be honored with the first Honoree & Founders Award on May 31, 2019 at the JDRF Hudson Valley Hope Gala at the Powelton Club in Newburgh, NY.

Back in 1975 Beta Sigma Phi made its first donation of $500 to JDF (now known as JDRF). This donation sparked the creation of the Ulster County JDF Chapter which is now a part of the JDRF Westchester/Fairfield/Hudson Valley Chapter. The chapter was co-founded in 1975 by Donna and Charlie Lawrence (whose son Chad and daughter Melissa have T1D) and went on to raise $5,000 in its first year. For 44 years, the sorority has continued its annual support of the mission of JDRF through their participation in One Walk and the Ride to Cure Diabetes. Their combined organizational and personal donations have exceeded $60,000.