St. John’s ICARE Foundation to Honor Dr. Sheldon H. Genack at Second Annual Blue Phoenix Gala

Far Rockaway, New York, March 21, 2025 — St. John’s ICARE Foundation is pleased to announce that Sheldon H. Genack, MD, FACS, Chairman of the Department of Surgery at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, will be honored at the foundation’s second annual Blue Phoenix Gala on June 5 at the Garden City Hotel.

Dr. Genack will receive the inaugural CEO Distinguished Service Award, presented by Donald T. Morrish, MD, MMM, Chief Executive Officer at Episcopal Health Services, in recognition of his unwavering dedication and decades of service to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital.

“During his 30-year tenure at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, Dr. Genack has left an indelible mark on our health system. We are proud to honor him at this year’s Blue Phoenix Gala for his dedication to expanding access and delivering exceptional patient-centered care to the Far Rockaway and Five Towns communities,” said Dr. Morrish.

A fellowship-trained, double board-certified specialist in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Genack has been a leader at St. John’s for nearly three decades. Since 1995, he has served as the Division Chief of these specialties, and in 2021, he was appointed Chairman of Surgery. Under his leadership, the department has flourished, recruiting top-tier surgeons in vascular, colorectal, plastic, and orthopedic surgery, significantly enhancing the hospital’s surgical care capabilities and patient care standards.

Dr. Genack’s leadership extends beyond his clinical roles. He has been a pivotal member of the Medical Executive Committee, including serving as president, and is deeply involved in the education and training of residents and medical students.

Dr. Genack earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) with Alpha Omega Alpha honors from SUNY Upstate Medical University. He completed his General Surgery internship at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, followed by a residency in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Further advancing his expertise, Dr. Genack completed fellowships in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center and UPMC Shadyside in Pittsburgh, PA.

The St. John’s ICARE Foundation Blue Phoenix Gala is an annual celebration which supports the foundation’s mission to secure, manage and distribute gifts in support of the mission and vision of Episcopal Health Services/St. John’s Episcopal Hospital.

For more information on the gala, including ticket purchase or sponsorship opportunities, visit bluephoenixgala.org.