Empowering Women in Healthcare Leadership
Thursday, January 21, 2021
5:00 - 6:30 pm

Over 70 percent of those entering the healthcare industry are women. Despite that significant percentage, women, especially women of color, remain underrepresented in leadership positions.  

Please join us on Thursday, January 21, 2021 from 5:00-6:30 pm when the School of Health Technology and Management hosts "Empowering Women in Healthcare Leadership," a virtual panel of successful female leaders to provide insight and experience related to obtaining leadership positions in the healthcare field.  Topics of discussion may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Pathways to leadership;
  • Challenges faced when aspiring to leadership positions;
  • Strategies used to overcome barriers to advancement;
  • How COVID-19 may further present obstacles in leadership; 
  • Advice to women who seek to achieve positions in healthcare leadership.

This panel discussion is designed for women working in health care organizations of all types and for those entering healthcare professions who are interested in pursuing leadership opportunities.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Carol Gomes Carol Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ, MASCP, MT(ASCP)HTL,DLM

Chief Executive Officer, Stony Brook Hospital
Chief Operating Officer, Stony Brook Hospital

Carol Gomes is a member of the senior executive team, serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Stony Brook University Hospital.  Formerly, she was the Chief Quality Officer and Associate Director for Quality Management with administrative oversight for the departments of Continuous Quality Improvement, Decision Support Services, Clinical Pathways and Management Engineering. She was also the Associate Director for Neurosciences.

She earned two Master’s degrees from Stony Brook University in Management and Policy from the Harriman School for Management and Policy and Healthcare Management and Administration from the School of Allied Health Professions.  She has served on the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Program’s Board of Examiners for nearly ten years, most recently as a Senior Examiner and Alumni Examiner.  She teaches for the School of Health Technology and Management. She holds certifications as a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, Certified Practitioner of Healthcare from the National Association for Healthcare Quality and numerous certifications in laboratory sciences and management from the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Carol is the recipient of numerous leadership awards including the Long Island Business News Healthcare Heroes Award in Achievements in Healthcare, the Master Award and the Excellence in Management Award from the American Society of Clinical Pathology, and The Distinguished Alumna Award from Stony Brook University.  In 2018, she was the recipient for the Award of Distinction by the Healthcare Leaders of New York through the American College of Healthcare Executives.  She has served on the Stony Brook University Alumni Association Board, holding all of the executive level positions, including President.  She has also served as the Vice Chair of the Vizient Senior Operations Officer Network Steering Committee and as a board member on numerous boards associated with healthcare activities, including the Health Care Leaders of New York through the American College of Healthcare Executives.


Robin Hunter Buskey

Robin N. Hunter Buskey, DHSc, CPHQ, CCHP, CDCES, PA-C

CAPT, United States Public Health Service (USPHS)
Chief, Clinical Services Support Unit (CSSU)
ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC)
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)
U.S. Immigration & Custom Enforcement (ICE)

Dr. Robin Hunter Buskey is the Clinical Services Support Unit Chief for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC). She oversees and supervises the IHSC infectious disease and cardiology specialty consultants, the Medical Asset Support Team physician, the Telehealth, Academic Affiliation and, Emergency Response Training Program managers and other clinical innovative initiatives. She is a Senior Physician Assistant (PA), and Captain with the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). Prior to joining Immigration Health Services, she served as a management official for administrative and clinical support with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) South East Region Correctional Institutions. With more than 35 years of clinical experience in various primary care settings as a PA and physical therapist, she continues to serve target populations improving access to comprehensive health care. 

Dr. Hunter Buskey earned two Bachelor of Science degrees from Stony Brook University, a Master’s degree from the University of Nebraska and a Doctor of Health Science Degree from A. T. Still University. She obtained Certification as a Correctional Health Professional, Quality Health Professional and Diabetes Care and Educator Specialist.                                      

Dr. Hunter Buskey has participated in the leadership of the PA profession since 1983 serving as president of the New York State Society of Physician Assistants, president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), Physician Assistant Foundation and the Public Health Service Academy of PAs. With the Commissioned Corps, she has responded to international and domestic emergencies in leadership roles including the United States response to the West Africa Ebola crisis and the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2000, Dr. Hunter Buskey was appointed to the North Carolina Medical Board and served six years. She served on the New York Board for Professional Medical Conduct for nine years. She is the first and only PA to be elected to the Federation of State Medical Boards, Board of Directors. In January 2013, continuing her important service and commitment for public protection through regulation, Dr. Hunter Buskey began service on the Board of Directors with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants and served as the 2019 Board Chair.

Dr. Hunter Buskey serves as mentor and provides didactic and clinical education. She has authored publications in peer-reviewed journals. She regularly volunteers with community groups. For her achievements, she has received many honors and awards including the 2009  Outstanding PA of the year by the AAPA. She received the first Senior Physician Assistant award that honors the achievements of USPHS Retired Rear Admiral Epi Elizondo, the first PA two-star Flag Officer of any uniformed service. She is the first Physician Assistant Distinguished Alumnus for the Stony Brook University School of Allied Health Professions. Her many professional achievements, awards, honors, and recognitions are a testament of her excellence as a health care provider, and effectiveness as a health care leader. 


Kelly Miterko Kelly Miterko, BS

Director of Policy, City of Rochester

Kelly Miterko serves as Director of Policy for the City of Rochester, New York. She spearheads research and analysis of policies across several issues, including food, housing, transportation, and other public health issues. She collaborates with the Mayor, City Councilmembers, leadership and staff across City departments, and community stakeholders in order to develop and implement policies that meet the needs of Rochester residents. Before going back to her hometown to work for the City of Rochester, she served as Senior Associate for Public Health and Public Policy at Burness, a global communications firm in the Washington, D.C. area. Prior to Burness, Kelly worked in First Lady Michelle Obama's office at the White House for several years, culminating as Deputy Director of Let's Move!, Michelle Obama's national public health initiative. 

Kelly graduated from Stony Brook University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a concentration in Public Health and minor in Business Management. Kelly received the School of Health Technology and Management Outstanding Alumni Award in 2015.


Kate Parkin

Kate Parkin, PT, DPT

Senior Director of Therapy Services, NYU Langone Health
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University

Dr. Kate Parkin is the Senior Director of Therapy Services at NYU Langone Health, and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU.  She has been with NYU for over 18 years in progressive leadership positions, and has been a leader in the re-design and expansion of rehabilitation services as the health system has expanded. 

Dr. Parkin serves on many hospital committees that support Strategic Planning for Rusk Rehabilitation and Hospital operations. She has been committed to education, training and building evidence-based practice within Rehabilitation Therapy.  She has also been instrumental in Value Based Medicine (VBM) initiatives for many areas.

Dr. Parkin holds two Bachelor’s degrees, a B. Sc. from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada), and a Bachelor’s in Physical Therapy from SUNY Downstate, in NYC. Her graduate work includes an MA in PT from New York University and a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) Stony Brook University.

In 2020, Dr. Parkin led all Rusk therapy initiatives with their teams through COVID-19. Some highlights include:

  • Running 2 IRF units, 1 all COVID+ and the other all COVID – for 4 months at 100% occupancy;
  • 24 x 7 proning teams with ICU and Hospital leadership for 4 months;
  • Initiating Therapy Telehealth services for PT/OT/SLP/Psychology within a 10 day window.  This included IT, state regulations, and documentation.  From April 6th – Aug 31st there were over 35,000 Telehealth visits.  Services continue to be offered;
  • Restarting ambulatory services for all areas of care ensuring all COVID precautions were in place (social distancing, face masks and shields, hand hygiene).

Over the last 20 years, Dr Parkin has grown Allied Health services by over 200%.  She has successfully developed and grown PT and OT Residency and Fellowship programs within her institution, starting with 1 and now 6.  In her career, Dr. Parkin has only officially applied for 2 jobs, and has been very fortunate to have opportunities come her way!