GREENPORT, NY — Healthcare heroes who showed courage and dedication during the pandemic to ensure vaccinations were administered were honored recently.
On Tuesday, the Greenport and Southold Rotary Clubs presented the Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital COVID-19 "Vax Squad" with the Laura Goodale Award.
Every year, the Laura Goodale Award is given to a Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital employee who embodies her legacy, ELIH said.
The Laura Goodale award was established in 1986 by Carl E. Vail, Sr. and the Southold-Greenport Rotary and is given in honor of Goodale, a former ELIH nurse, who served for 42 years and was known as the "Florence Nightingale" of the North Fork. Goodale began her career at ELIH in 1918 when the hospital was a three-story Victorian mansion donated by the Wood sisters.
"Although Laura had no formal training as a nurse, her service record of 42 years was so extraordinary that her memory still lives on in the hearts and minds of the community as both an unforgettable nurse and caregiver," ELIH said.
The SBELIH Vax Squad earned the honor after their tireless work to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to East End residents, ELIH said.
"Doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and volunteers have taken time from their everyday work to ensure that the vaccine pods run smoothly. Since March, The SBELIH Vax Squad has worked diligently to set up the location and provide vaccines to the community in a safe environment. Their continued hard work and dedication is commendable," ELIH said.
