From myhudsoncounty.com: Gala Fundraising Record; $375,000 for Palisades Medical Center Foundation

Dec. 4, 2011 - PRLog -- On November 19, 2011, the Palisades Medical Center Foundation presented its prestigious Star Stream Awards to Weehawken resident John C. Meditz, Chairman of the Board of Palisades Health System, and Anca Popa, MD, PMC Medical Staff President, for their tireless work in supporting the health and well being of residents throughout Hudson and southern Bergen Counties.

The awards were presented to Meditz and Dr. Popa during Palisades’ 2011 Star Stream Ball in front of nearly 450 business leaders, public officials and local residents who were in attendance.

The black-tie fundraising gala was held at The Venetian in Garfield, and the theme for the event paid tribute to the rich musical and artistic cultural heritage of old-world Venice. The 2011 Star Stream Ball shattered all of the Palisades Medical center Foundation’s previous fundraising records.

The event generated more than $375,000 to support the expansion and renovation of Palisades’ inpatient Pediatric Unit.

“We are delighted that so many of our friends and supporters came together to recognize John Meditz and Dr. Anca Popa for their years of extraordinary service and support for Palisades and our community,” said Bruce J. Markowitz, President and CEO of Palisades Medical Center. “John and Anca have each played a vital role in helping Palisades continue to grow and evolve to meet the changing healthcare needs of our communities.”

Top sponsors for the Ball included Horizon - Kinetics, LLC, John C. Meditz, Eastwick College, Mary Bardes, The Lauricella Family and Sodexo Corporation. “We are extremely fortunate to be surrounded by residents, businesses and community leaders who truly care about Palisades and support our efforts to provide high-quality care for our neighbors,” said Markowitz. “The success of this year’s Star Stream Ball during challenging economic times underscores Palisades’ strong connection to the communities and residents that we serve.”

Like other philanthropists, John C. Meditz plays a key role in supporting several worthy organizations through his tireless volunteer efforts and generous donations. But at his core, John is a true visionary and leader who has put these intangibles to work in creating a brighter future for Palisades Medical Center and our local community. John is widely recognized as the driving force that helped establish the PMC Foundation in 1999. John’s philanthropic background and his strong knowledge of the healthcare industry allowed him to truly understand the vital role that fundraising plays within a hospital setting. Armed with this knowledge, John has guided the Foundation’s efforts to raise more than $8 million since its inception. John is also committed to serving his community of Weehawken, N.J., where he has been a lifelong resident. He has been chairman of the Weehawken Planning Board for the past 28 years - a timeframe he claims may be a State record - and treasurer of the Weehawken Library. He serves as vice chairman of the Board of Trustees for Xavier High School, where he became a member of the Hall of Fame in 2008. In recent years, John has served as a trustee of HSBC family of mutual funds and on the Fairfield University board of trustees, where he was the 2011 Alumni Service Awardee. After completing his degree in economics at Fairfield University, John earned an MBA in finance from Rutgers University. Starting his career as an instructor in economics at William Patterson College, he later worked at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, followed by a position at Bankers Trust Company, where he eventually became vice president and senior investment officer in the Private Clients Group. In 1994, he co-founded Horizon Asset Management, Inc., where he has been vice chairman and now Managing Director of the recently formed Horizon - Kinetics, LLC.

During the past two years as Medical Staff President, Anca Popa, MD, has played a key role in helping Palisades continue to expand its programs and services to meet the needs of our growing communities. Her leadership and expertise helped Palisades complete the implementation of electronic health records and other advanced technologies that have improved patient safety. A native of Romania, Dr. Popa received her medical degree from Bucuresti Medical School in Bucuresti, Romania. She fondly recalls her accomplishments as a member of the Gymnastics Team that distinguished itself in national level competition. After immigrating to the United States, Dr. Popa became the first woman to ever graduate from the Albert Einstein Orthopedic Program in New York. She completed her fellowship at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and became Board Certified. Prior to joining Palisades at the Chairwoman of the Orthopedics Department, Dr. Popa was affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) and she led the Orthopedics Department at St. Mary’s Hospital in Hoboken. Dr. Popa is currently a member of the Eastern Orthopedic Society and a member of the New Jersey Orthopedic Society. When she is away from Palisades, she enjoys sports, ballet and opera.

Palisades Medical Center is located in North Bergen, NJ, and serves a population of 400,000 in Hudson and Southern Bergen Counties. The non-profit Medical Center is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, and features a 202-bed hospital and The Harborage, a 245-bed nursing home and rehabilitation center. Palisades is the largest employer in its service area with more than 1,300 employees and it has an annual operating budget of approximately $150 million. The State of New Jersey’s annual healthcare report card ranked Palisades as one of the top hospitals in the state and #1 in Hudson County. Palisades was also one of only two hospitals in New Jersey to receive a perfect 100% score in treating heart attack patients. The State’s annual evaluation showed that The Harborage at Palisades has “Zero Deficiencies” for the third consecutive year. For more information, call 201-854-5000 or visit www.palisadesmedical.org.

 The New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) recently recognized Palisades Medical Center with its 2011 Community Outreach Award for its positive impact in our local communities. Palisades Medical Center’s community outreach and education programs are generously funded in part by Abbott Nutrition, the Aetna Foundation, The Provident Bank Foundation, Schering-Plough Corporation, TD Charitable Foundation, and Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

For more NJ hospital or healthy living information, visit http://www.myhudsoncounty.com.

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