The Town of Hempstead honored nine outstanding women during their recent Pathfinder Award ceremony, including lifetime Garden City resident Donna O'Brien, the executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Catholic Health Services of Long Island, who "shape the policy and define the character of Hempstead Town in a progressive and meaningful way."

O'Brien received the award in the Health Services category. She has helped build an organization that now consists of five hospitals, three nursing homes, a regional home care and hospice network, a community-based agency that serves those with special needs and an ambulance service. She is currently the highest-ranking woman in the healthcare industry on Long Island.

Supervisor Rich Guardino said, "We're so fortunate to have leaders who have chosen to live, work and raise their families right here in the Town of Hempstead. We're honoring people who are really serving as superlative role models for our young people."

The town received over 100 nominations for this year's awards. "The Pathfinders who are being recognized today represent the epitome of success in nine different categories. They have confronted obstacles, broken down barriers and have evidenced that women are truly shaping and defining the course of history in our country and throughout the world," Guardino said.

Keynote speaker Angela Susan Anton, publisher of Anton Community Newspapers and a Pathfinder in her own right, said, "You can find accomplished women in high schools, executive suites, elected office and wherever else you choose to look. Hundreds of Pathfinder Award nominations landed on Supervisor Richard Guardino's desk in recent weeks yet only your nine names emerged in the end," she said.

"The Town of Hempstead's Pathfinder Awards program gives your friends, neighbors and colleagues the chance to tell us about you. We heard what they had to say and we're impressed."

As many know, Anton publishes a chain of 18 weekly newspapers here in Nassau and is also editor of the acclaimed monthly style magazine, Boulevard, Guardino said. "She's a leader in an industry that has been traditionally male-dominated and she's created opportunity within that industry for women journalists."

Prior to joining Catholic Health Services, O'Brien served as executive director of the Catholic Healthcare Network of Long Island, director of Health Services for Catholic Charities and associate director of the Alliance for Catholic Health and Human Services of the Archdiocese of New York.

She has served with distinction on many healthcare committees and boards and currently serves as a member of the board of directors of New Island Hospital in Bethpage. She is chairperson of the board of directors of the Long Island Home, which operates South Oaks Hospital and Broadlawn Manor in Amityville.

O'Brien holds a fellowship with the American College of Health Care Executives and has served as a fellow and senior fellow with the Accrediting Commission on Education for Health Services. Continuing a long family history with Rockville Centre's Mercy Medical Center, she has been a member of the board of trustees.

O'Brien was raised in Garden City where she lives today with her husband, Tom and children, Mary Beth and Patrick.

Another Pathfinder Award recipient is Dr. Rose Mary Auteri, a member of the Nassau Community College board of trustees. She has supported the expansion of services for students and faculty and has been a strong and articulate voice for academic freedom. Remaining loyal to the college's mission, Dr. Auteri received the award in the education category.