South Nassau Communities Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph A. Quagliata, of Roslyn Harbor, was recently appointed chairman of the board of directors of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council (NSHC), the advocacy association which represents Long Island's 23 not-for-profit and public hospitals. He will serve a two-year term that is effective immediately.

Quagliata has been a leading advocate for health care and hospital organizations on Long Island and in New York for more than 30 years and currently serves on the Long Island Regional Advisory Committee of the New York State Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st century. "Hospitals face enormous challenges today," said Mr. Quagliata, "and, more than ever, it is vital that we address the issues of quality, accessibility and financial stability. The Hospital Council allows us to share our concerns and ideas so that we can best serve the patients in our communities."

Notes Hospital Council President/CEO Kevin Dahill, "Joseph Quagliata is exceptionally knowledgeable when it comes to the many complex issues facing hospitals today. In this regard, I believe he's ideally suited to serve the Council at this critical time in the health care industry. Involved on both the county and state levels, he is always aware of the needs of his fellow Long Islanders."

Quagliata also serves on the board of the Healthcare Association of New York State and has served as the president of the Metropolitan New York Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. In the forefront of blood donations, he was Long Island Blood Services 2005 Annual Spirit of Giving Banquet guest of honor, cited for spearheading an effort that resulted in a 60 percent increase in blood donations from the hospital sector. Quagliata began his career at South Nassau in 1973, when he was appointed chief financial officer, and was named president and CEO in 1998. He is responsible for the launch of its "Renaissance Project," a growth initiative to provide communities convenient access to specialized, high-quality, efficient healthcare. As part of this program, South Nassau recently opened its 170,000 sq. ft., 174-bed North Addition.

Founded in 1955, the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council is an affiliate of the Healthcare Association of New York State. Its 23 member hospitals serve the 2.8 million people of Nassau and Suffolk counties. The Hospital Council exists to help its member hospitals provide quality health care efficiently to all patient populations. This is done through advocacy on the county, state and federal levels; through interpretation and monitoring of complex regulatory issues and public health mandates; through opportunities for professional education; and through the sharing of information and ideas that help member hospitals better serve their patients.

South Nassau Communities Hospital is one of the region's largest hospitals, with 435 beds, more than 820 physicians and 2,200 employees. Located in Oceanside, NY, it is an acute-care, not-for-profit teaching hospital that provides state-of-the-art care in cardiac, oncologic, orthopedic, bariatric, pain management, mental health and emergency services. In addition to its extensive outpatient specialty centers, South Nassau boasts Long Island's first gamma knife and New York State's first acute angioplasty program. Most recently South Nassau has been designated a Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health.