Hospital Appoints New Board Member

Sister Mary Eileen O’Brien has been appointed to the Board of Visitors at Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, according to Magdalena Ramirez, Chief Executive Officer.

Sister Mary Eileen is President of Dominican College in Orangeburg, New York and a member of the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt. Under her aegis, Dominican College has grown from 1100 to almost 2000 students. Her dynamic educational vision has led to the creation of special graduate programs in nursing, occupational and physical therapy, as well as a popular Weekend College. Today, the College serves as a regional leader in the training of highly skilled healthcare professionals.

Sr. Mary Eileen began her educational career as a junior high school, and subsequently as a high school mathematics teacher. She went on to serve as principal of St. Luke School in the Bronx for five years before joining Dominican College in 1977. In 1978, she assumed the position of acting president of the College, before being appointed President by the Board of Trustees in 1979. Sr. Mary Eileen earned her doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision from Fordham University and holds Masters degrees from both Teachers College of Columbia University and Manhattan College.

Along with her educational accomplishments, Sr. Mary Eileen has dedicated herself to congregational and civic leadership. Her community of the Sisters of St. Dominic elected her President of the Congregation, a position she held for six years. In addition, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Rockland Business Association, Leadership Rockland, St. Dominic’s Home and has co-chaired Rockland County’s annual “Forty Under Forty” initiative. In 2006, the Helen Hayes Hospital Foundation presented Sr. Mary Eileen with its Helen Hayes MacArthur Award in recognition of her work in helping others reach their full potential in life.

Helen Hayes Hospital is the largest and most comprehensive physical rehabilitation hospital in New York State, helping to restore mobility and independence to individuals with physical disabilities and chronic disabling diseases. The hospital is operated by the New York State Department of Health and is affiliated with The New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System.

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