The Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce recently announced that Dennis Connors, executive director of Glen Cove Hospital, will receive the 2008 Pinnacle Award for Corporate Excellence at the Chamber’s Gala Celebration on October 25, to be held at the Brookville Country Club.

Mr. Connors was appointed executive director of Glen Cove Hospital in 2004. His leadership and financial management skills have played a tremendous role in the hospital’s ability to deliver outstanding patient care. With his guidance, the hospital was recognized as a New York State-designated stroke center and the Emergency Department has been ranked by Press Ganey and Associates, Inc. as one of the best for patient satisfaction among hospitals nationwide.

“Within the North Shore-LIJ Health System and the healthcare industry, Dennis Connors is a proven leader with exemplary management skills who strives to deliver the highest level of patient care for community residents.” said Michael J. Dowling, North Shore-LIJ’s president and chief executive officer. “This Pinnacle award is a tremendous honor and is a testament to the work of the entire team that Dennis has assembled at Glen Cove Hospital.”

As part of his focus on quality patient care, Mr. Connors is continually involved in renovating and upgrading facilities and services at the hospital. This year, the hospital opened a new $13 million, state-of-the-art Critical Care Unit. The new unit has 18 private rooms for intensive care and coronary patients, and a 16-bed telemetry unit. The modern facility provides the latest advances in patient care and amenities for family members. Currently, Mr. Connors and members of the community are working on establishing a breast surgery center at the hospital that will provide a full range of services for women in Glen Cove and across Long Island, who are faced with diseases of the breast.

Mr. Connors, who has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare administration and financial management, began his career at the North Shore-LIJ Health System as Glen Cove Hospital’s assistant administrator from 1985 to 1990. In 1992, after serving as an assistant administrator at North Shore University Hospital for two years, he was named executive director of the Stern Family Center for Extended Care and Rehabilitation in Manhasset. Under his direction, the 256-bed nursing care facility had five consecutive years of deficiency-free inspections by the New York State Department of Health, a rare distinction in the field.

Mr. Connors works closely with the Chamber of Commerce, its members and residents of Glen Cove to find ways that the hospital can better serve the community. Mr. Connors holds a Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Health from Tulane University in New Orleans, and a Bachelor of Science from Ohio State University.

Media Contact: Betty Olt 516-465-2645