RIVERHEAD, NY — Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) recently announced that the 2023 Annual Gala hosted by the PBMC Foundation will honor longtime board member Joan Levan, who started the Benefit in Black and White Gala in 2006 and spearheaded the annual event until its final year in 2019. In that time, Ms. Levan and her team of supporters have successfully raised more than $5,000,000 to help promote PBMC's Emergency Department. These funds have been instrumental in the growth and modernization of PBMC, providing critical resources to improve patient care, expand facilities and provide quality medical services to the community.
“Ms. Levan has been a tremendous supporter of Peconic Bay Medical Center, and we are incredibly excited to pay tribute to her and all that her efforts have made possible,” said Amy Loeb, EdD, MBA, RN, PBMC executive director. Her passion for community well-being and healthcare excellence has inspired us all, and it's only right that we come together to celebrate her remarkable impact while continuing the work she holds dear.”
The gala will be held at Westhampton Country Club on Friday, September 8, and all proceeds will benefit PBMC's emergency department expansion. This year's event has special significance as PBMC unveils its $92 million expansion plans, which include a 6,600-square-foot addition to the newly named Poole Family Trauma and Emergency Center. In addition to increasing patient capacity, this will also provide more space to implement life-saving technology, a dual bay trauma unit, additional cardiac response technology, comprehensive radiology capabilities and improved patient privacy. This expansion will save lives and make high-quality care more accessible to all.
“Joan is a true visionary, a beacon of philanthropy in our community and a wonderful friend,” said Thomas and Mary Jane Poole, co-chairs of this year's event and for whom the expanded Emergency Department will be named. “Her dedication to the Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation gala over the years has demonstrated her unwavering commitment to health care excellence and has transformed the lives of countless individuals. This year's gala recognizes all of her past contributions by directing proceeds toward expanding the hospital's Emergency Department. We celebrate Joan's outstanding work and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our community for generations to come.”
Ms. Levan has had a successful career in the fashion and retail industry as a buyer, department head and marketing executive. She began her career as an executive intern for the Higbee Company in Cleveland, Ohio, and was quickly promoted to assistant buyer, branch manager, and department buyer—serving as a mentor and paving the way for women to navigate the male-dominated industry. Ms. Levan then joined Associated Dry Goods, where she became president and chief marketing officer and vice president of the $2 billion company – the only woman to serve at that level. Ms. Levan retired to Westhampton Beach with her late husband, Marvin in 1999.
Her relationship with PBMC began in 2005, as she and Marvin strongly believed that nearby emergency care was a necessity. In addition, Marvin suffered from heart problems and required cardiac care and monitoring. Ms. Levan used her tenacity and business acumen to lead a team of six highly skilled friends in organizing the gala that would help make PBMC what it is today. The original goal was to raise money and awareness of the emergency room's capabilities, and a new emergency room was built in the first five years.
Today, as the eastern hub of Northwell Health and Eastern Suffolk County's largest healthcare provider, PBMC brings over 250,000 Eastern Suffolk residents the closest access to advanced cardiac catheterization suites, a State-designated stroke center of New York, Level III trauma services and Eastern Suffolk County's largest – and busiest – emergency department. He has also been celebrated by the American Heart Association and several other medical review boards for patient care.
The 2023 Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation Gala promises to be an evening of reflection, gratitude and inspiration as the community comes together to honor Joan Levan and continue the mission she began. Peconic Bay Medical Center encourages anyone who would like to support the gala in Ms. Levan's honor to donate by visiting pbmcfoundation.thankyou4caring.org or by calling the Foundation Office at (631) 548-6080.
About Peconic Bay Medical Center
Located in Riverhead, New York, Peconic Bay Medical Center is a 144-bed not-for-profit hospital committed to providing excellent care and improving the health of the communities it serves. Peconic Bay Medical Center offers broad-spectrum, full-scope services and programs, including advanced surgical, cardiac, orthopedic and women's health care, comprehensive inpatient medical care, palliative care and a wide range of outpatient services, along with state-of-the-art technology. Peconic Bay Medical Center joined Northwell Health in 2016. For more information, visit PBMCHealth.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
