BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP MARCH 9 - MARCH 15, 2018 43
celebrations in Brooklyn
State Senator Marty Golden hosted the annual Lunar New Year celebration at New Utrecht
High School with traditional performances a-plenty.
Maimonides holds annual Lunar New Year celebration
BY JAIME DEJESUS
JDEJESUS@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
Maimonides Medical Center
held its 12th annual Lunar
New Year Celebration
with the help of hospital leaders and
performers from local schools.
The event, held at the Schreiber
Auditorium in the Eisenstadt Administration
Building on Wednesday,
February 28, featured
the Lion Dance and cultural
dances by students from New
Utrecht High School and P.S.
105, and the Chinese American
Planning Council (CPC)
Dance Team.
“The Lunar New Year Celebration
is a special moment
during the year for Chinese
people here and around the
world, but it’s also a special
moment for us here at Maimonides
and to celebrate with the Chinese
community is important for us as
we reflect on the diversity that we
represent and the importance of
culture, community and identity
as a part of who we are,” President
and CEO of Maimonides Kenneth
Gibbs said. “At this point in time,
it’s also important to celebrate
that sense of culture and diversity
that’s part of what defines the best
of America.
“The theme here at Maimonides
is partnering, supporting relationships
and respecting the culture,”
Gibbs went on. “In that spirit, I want
to turn to the fact that this is
the Year of the Dog."
Dogs, he stressed, "Speak to
what is necessary to true partnership
and connection: They
are honest, friendly, faithful,
loyal, smart, straightforward
and have a strong sense of
responsibility. These are all values
we aspire to. If we do, then we at
Maimonides are good partners for
this community and we will work
together to have better health care
outcomes.”
Gibbs added that 12 percent of the
patients that are admitted to Maimonides
speak a Chinese dialect. In
2017, 365 of the staff members were
Chinese-speaking, a nine percent
increase over the year before. In
addition, over 50 physicians who
attend at the hospital speak Chinese.
“We are committed to reach out
and try and meet the community
where it is,” Gibbs said. “In 2016, we
were thrilled to announce our partnership
with the Chinese American
Independent Practice Association
(CAIPA). It’s an incredibly well-run
organization of physicians, primarily
in the Chinese community, and
for many members of the health
care community, it’s recognized as
one of the most effective physician
associations in the city. In 2017, we
were delighted to welcome George
Liu, the CEO of CAIPA,to serve on the
Maimonides Board of Trustees, an
important step for us in embracing
the community.”
Eugene Keilin, chair of the Board
of Trustees, also spoke to attendees.
“As Ken said, dog people are
loyal but I understand they are
also stubborn,” he said. “I think
of Maimonides that way. We are
certainly loyal. We have been in
this community in one form or
another for over 100 years and are
thankful for it. As the community
has changed, we have changed.
We are also stubborn. In an era in
which many hospitals are shrinking,
we are expanding. In an era
where many of them are cutting
back, we are cutting ribbons. “
"It’s such an honor to stand up on
this stage to celebrate Chinese New
Year,” added Liu. “This is a great
opportunity for us to communicate
with the hospital and community.”
Following the performances,
there were raffles and awards were
given to those who helped organize
the performances.
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Jaime
DeJesus
Scenes from the Maimonides
Lunar New Year celebration.