Distinguished Service Award
The HEC Distinguished Service Award is presented to a member of the Healthcare Executives’ Club in New York who exemplifies exceptional dedication, leadership, and commitment to advancing the mission of the organization. This award recognizes individuals whose contributions extend far beyond routine participation – those who demonstrate consistent service, professional integrity, and a deep commitment to supporting the growth, engagement, and advancement of healthcare leaders across New York.
- Sustained Contributions To HEC initiatives, events, or committees
- Leadership that elevates the club’s mission and reputation
- Active Support of fellow healthcare professionals through mentorship or guidance
- A Spirit of service that reflects the highest standards for the healthcare leadership profession
2025 Distinguished Service Awardees
Helen Arteaga-Landaverde, PhD, MPH,
Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, New York City; CEO NYC Health and Hospitals, Elmhurst
Dr. Helen Arteaga-Landaverde has served as CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, a 545-bed Level 1 Trauma and Academic Medical Center with over a million patient visits a year, since February 2021. She is the first woman of color and the first Latina to lead the hospital’s executive team. Under Helen’s leadership, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has been recognized as one of U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Regional Hospitals” and one of the nation’s “High Performing” hospitals in 9 individual service areas, including Heart Failure, Heart Attack, Stroke, Hip Fracture, Kidney Failure, Orthopedics, Pneumonia, and COPD.
In September 2023, The Joint Commission recognized Elmhurst as the first hospital in New York State to achieve a Health Equity Gold standard certification, based on the facility’s dedication to reducing disparities in healthcare access, outcomes, and experiences. Helen has proven to be a visionary leader in terms of planning for the hospital’s future, lobbying local elected officials to secure funds for major renovations such as improving the main entrance, operating suites, intensive care units, HIV Clinic, Labor and Delivery Suite and Women’s Pavilion. Helen has also strongly recognized the critical need to provide extra support to hospital healthcare workers by overseeing the implementation of NYC Health + Hospitals first comprehensive Wellness program.
She has a bachelor’s degree from New York University and a Master’s of Public Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. In June 2023, she received her Ph.D. from the City University of New York’s School of Public Health in Community Health and Health Policy. Helen completed a fellowship with the National Hispana Leadership Institute and Harvard Kennedy School of Government in September 2010. In both 2021, 2022, and 2023, she was named as one of City and State’s Queens Power 100 and has been named one of Crain’s New York Business’s Notable Hispanic Leaders and Executives, a Crain’s Notable Leader in Healthcare, and a Crain’s Women of Influence Finalist.
Wendy D. Darwell, MBA
Deputy President & CEO, Suburban Hospital Alliance of New York State
The Suburban Hospital Alliance represents the interests of public and not- for-profit hospitals on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley, New York State. In this role, she advocates for hospitals before the state and federal governments, provides expertise on a broad range of health policy issues and oversees membership and education services. She also directs grant programs that assist uninsured consumers in enrolling in health insurance, provide regional coordination of population health activities and organize emergency preparedness efforts.
Prior to joining the Hospital Council in 2007, Ms. Darwell served for seven years as chief of staff to the late U.S. Representative Maurice Hinchey, who represented portions of New York’s Hudson Valley, Southern Tier, and Finger Lakes regions. In that capacity, she directed the congressman’s legislative, media, and political operations. From 1994 to 2000, she served in several legislative and communications positions on Congressman Hinchey’s staff, specializing in health care, appropriations, and community development policy.
Ms. Darwell is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Financial Management Association. She sits on advisory committee for the Stony Brook University Master of Health Administration Program, as well as on the boards of the Healthcare Executives Club and the Jefferson’s Ferry Life Plan Community. Previously she served on the advisory board for the Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University. In 2011, she was appointed to Governor Cuomo’s Medicaid Redesign Team workgroup on Program Streamlining and State/Local Responsibilities, which focused on reforming the state’s Medicaid enrollment and eligibility processes and bringing the system into compliance with federal regulations.
Ms. Darwell earned a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in health services management from the Zarb
School of Business at Hofstra University in 2014 and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from American University in 1996.
2024 Distinguished Service Awardees
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