Rehabilitation Awards

November 9, 2010

Two members of the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation team at Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw were recently honored at the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation’s 25th Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Steven W. Lichtman, Ed.D., FAACVPR, Director of Outpatient Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services, received the AACVPR’s Distinguished Service Award. The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual whose ideas, committee work and leadership have benefited the AACVPR as an organization in a significant way. Along with recently being installed as the organization’s President-Elect, Dr. Lichtman has been a member of the Association for over 15 years, serving as: Secretary on the Board of Directors; Co-Editor of News & Views (the Association’s national newsletter); Co-Chair of the 2010 Annual Program Planning Committee; Chair of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Registry Taskforce; and has been the Chairperson of the National Research Committee from 2005-2009 and a Scientific Advisory Council member from 2003-2004.

Dr. Lichtman is a resident of Monroe, New York. Marjorie King, M.D., Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation Services at Helen Hayes Hospital, was the recipient of the same Award in 2003, and served as the President of organization from 2005-2006. At the annual meeting in Milwaukee, Dr. King was inducted into the first select group of Master Fellows of AACVPR, an honor bestowed on only 11 individuals nationwide.

A Master Fellow is a member of the organization who has demonstrated evidence of outstanding performance in cardiovascular and/or pulmonary rehabilitation, a high standard of professional development, and commitment to the goals and long-range activities of the Association over an extended period of time. Dr. King is a resident of Suffern, New York. “Dr. King and Dr. Lichtman are very deserving of these honors,” says John T. Pellicone, M.D., Medical Director. “Collaboratively, they have created outstanding cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs here at Helen Hayes Hospital which are nationally recognized for excellent patient outcomes.

These two professionals are dedicated to helping their patients lead healthy and active lives. I congratulate them both on their accomplishments and their commitment to ensuring that patients have access to exemplary rehabilitation care.” Founded in 1985, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation is dedicated to reducing morbidity, mortality and disability from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease through education, prevention, rehabilitation, research and disease management.

Central to its core mission is improvement in quality of life for patients and their families. AACVPR has approximately 3000 health care professionals as members, including cardiovascular and pulmonary physicians, nurses, exercise physiologists, physical and occupational therapists, behavioral scientists, respiratory therapists and nutritionists, among others. Helen Hayes Hospital is one of the country’s largest specialty physical rehabilitation facilities, helping individuals recover from catastrophic injuries and disabling illnesses, including traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries and stroke.

The hospital offers an inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program, as well as comprehensive outpatient cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and wellness programs. For additional information on cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation at Helen Hayes Hospital, call 845-786-4486.