Page 9 - QT Edition #2 01-08-26

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 9

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Names Governor Kathy Hochul Announces

(Continued from page 3) Dr. Phillip Fairweather “2025 Physician of The Year” Nation-Leading Proposals To Protect
he is receiving this well-earned triculated to Weill Cornell Univer- Kids Online, Restrict Ai Chatbots And
recognition.” sity, where he laid the foundation Combat The Youth Mental Health Crisis
“Dr. Phillip Fairweather em- for a successful medical career.
bodies the very best of what it After completing his internship at (Continued from page 4) youth mental health also led to the
means to be a physician and a St. Vincent’s Hospital, he entered creation of new Youth Assertive
leader,” said NYC Health + Hos- a residency in Emergency Medi- which set first-in-the-nation safe- Community Treatment teams to
pitals/Elmhurst Chief Medical cine at NYC Health + Hospitals/ guards, diverting user conversa- support young people with seri-
Officer Laura Iavicoli and Senior Jacobi. Following his residency, tions about self-harm to mental ous emotional disturbances who
Associate Dean, Icahn School of Dr. Fairweather worked at Beth health resources and interrupting are either at risk of entering, or
Medicine at Mount Sinai, MD, Israel Medical Center, gaining in- unhealthy addictive behaviors. are returning home from high in-
MBA, FACEP, CHEP. “His career valuable experience before being The Governor also outlawed AI- tensity services, such as inpatient
reflects an extraordinary com- recruited to serve as the Residency Generated Child Sexual Abuse settings or residential services.
mitment to patient-centered care, Site Director at NYC Health + Material. New York funds 42 new Youth
academic excellence, and service Hospitals/Elmhurst. He held this • The Unplug and Play Agen- ACT teams — 23 now operational
to our diverse Elmhurst commu- role for several years, shaping the da which helps encourage the -- in 31 counties, providing youth
nity. As Chief Medical Informa- training of the next generation of healthy socialization and child and family therapy, medication
Dr. Phillip Fairweather tion Officer, Dr. Fairweather has emergency medicine physicians. development by funding social management, family and peer
been instrumental in advancing Dr. Fairweather’s academic infrastructure, physical sites like support, and skill-building.
Honors his over three decades clinical informatics, strengthen- contributions extended to his playgrounds, community centers, • There are also now 65 Home
of outstanding service as an ing data-driven care, and ensuring role as an Assistant Professor of and pools, and expanded youth Based Crisis Intervention Teams
Emergency Medicine physician, that technology meaningfully sup- Emergency Medicine at the Mount programming. - including 60 that are now accept-
clinical leader, educator, and ports our clinicians and patients. Sinai School of Medicine, where • New York’s Distraction Free ing referrals - which serve youth
contributions to the Elmhurst This recognition as ‘Physician of he mentored medical students and Learning Policy which is already between the ages of 5 and 20 and
community the Year’ is richly deserved, and residents. His career took a sig- resulting in greater academic provide intensive individualized
we are deeply grateful for his nificant turn when he transitioned achievement, improved student services to help families support
NYC Health + Hospitals/El- unwavering dedication, integrity, to an administrative role in the wellbeing, and safer school envi- young people recovering from
mhurst and the Icahn School of and impact.” Emergency Department, where he ronments for students. mental illness in their own homes.
Medicine at Mount Sinai are proud “I am deeply appreciative of contributed to numerous hospital- • The recently signed Warning • Governor Hochul also estab-
to announce that Chief Medical this honor,” said NYC Health + wide and system-wide initiatives, Labels bill that will require social lished the Youth Mental Health
Information Officer Dr. Phillip Hospitals/Elmhurst Chief Medical including leading efforts during media companies post warnings Advisory Board, a 30-member
Fairweather has been named El- Information Officer Dr. Phillip the COVID-19 pandemic. He about the platform’s potential advisory board which includes
mhurst’s “2025 Physician of the Fairweather. “I feel incredibly played a crucial role in educating impact on mental health. youth between the ages of 11 and
Year”. Dr. Fairweather’s recogni- privileged to work with the pa- the hospital staff and community Governor Hochul’s nation- 17. The advisory board convenes
tion honors his more than three tients, colleagues, and community on the importance of COVID-19 leading $1 billion mental health quarterly and is designed to ensure
decades of outstanding service as I have at Elmhurst Hospital.” vaccination. initiative and hundreds of millions that youth-informed best prac-
an Emergency Medicine physi- Dr. Phillip Fairweather’s path In August 2022, Dr. Fair- of dollars in funding in subsequent tices continue to be incorporated
cian, clinical leader, and educator, to medicine began at an early age, weather was recruited to serve budgets is significantly expand- in developing behavioral health
as well as his contributions to the inspired by the compassionate as the Chief Medical Informa- ing access to care for young programs and policies.
Elmhurst community. care provided in his family home tion Officer (CMIO) at Elmhurst people and their families –from • Governor Hochul also expand-
“Dr. Fairweather has a deep in Jamaica. This formative experi- Hospital, where he oversees Epic increasing inpatient and residen- ed Youth Safe Spaces programs,
commitment to our patients and ence ignited a lifelong passion for operations, data analytics ser- tial treatment capacity to build- which provide a place for young
has made a lasting impact in our healthcare and a commitment to vices, and reports directly to the ing community-based services people between the ages of 12 and
community,” said NYC Health becoming a physician. Dr. Fair- CEO as a member of the executive designed to help youth remain at 24 to access behavioral health and
+ Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Dr. weather pursued his academic leadership team. His leadership is home and in their community. wellness resources, foster positive
Helen Arteaga. “He has spent a interests at Wesleyan Univer- central to several key initiatives, • Governor Hochul also expand- relationships with their peers, and
large part of his career providing sity, where he majored in Biology including Health Information ed school-based mental health receive support in a comfortable
care in one of the busiest Emer- while also nurturing his interest Management, the Elmhurst Hos- clinics, which help students get a setting. To support the initiative
gency Departments in the nation, in dance. During a gap year, he pital Downtime Committee, and licensed mental health care pro- developed with input from the
and is now leading our efforts to earned a prestigious two-year the CMIO Council. vider in a familiar stigma-free set- Governor’s Youth Mental Health
bring Elmhurst into the future dance scholarship at the Alvin For more information pro- ting on their school campus. The Advisory Board, the Office of
through better, more efficient Ailey School, an experience that grams and services at NYC Health state now supports 1,300 clinic Mental Health awarded $7.5 mil-
analysis of medical data so that would broaden his perspective on + Hospitals/Elmhurst, please satellites, up from 872 in 2020, lion to establish four sites this
we can improve the care we pro- movement and wellness. call 718-334-4000. Follow us on covering 25 percent of all NYS fall and is soliciting proposals for
vide. I am enormously proud that In 1985, Dr. Fairweather ma- Facebook. public schools. additional locations to be awarded
• Governor Hochul’s focus on early next year.
New Waste-Reduction Laws Take Effect in New York Julie Menin Elected Speaker of
on Jan. 1 New York City Council

New Yorkers will see ex- persists in the environment and end up in landfills, where they (Continued from page 8) ery, will soon be made available,
panded waste-reduction rules often becomes microplastic pol- degrade slowly and can release in addition to images from the
take effect this week as the state lution. Most recycling programs microplastics and product resi- waste, fraud, and abuse from city Charter Meeting. Prior to the vote,
broadens its ban on polystyrene in New York do not accept foam due into the environment. government. Speaker Menin was nominated by
foam products and tightens re- containers due to their low value Starting Jan. 1, hotels, motels, Speaker Menin is a three-time seven Council Members: Kevin
strictions on single-use plastic and difficulty to process. apartment hotels, and board- City Commissioner and former C. Riley (Bronx), Shaun Abreu
hospitality bottles. The New Beginning Jan. 1, food ser- ing houses with fewer than 50 regulatory attorney. The daughter (Manhattan), Farah N. Louis
York State Department of Envi- vice providers, manufacturers, rooms will no longer be allowed and granddaughter of Holocaust (Brooklyn), Linda Lee (Queens),
ronmental Conservation (DEC) and retailers will be prohibited to provide plastic personal-care survivors, she is the first Jewish Kamillah Hanks (Staten Island),
issued the reminder ahead of the from selling or distributing bottles under 12 ounces. Larger Speaker to lead the City’s legis- Shekar Krishnan (Queens), and
Jan. 1 rollout, noting that the expanded polystyrene foam hotels have already been subject lative body. Speaker Menin will Eric Dinowitz (Bronx).
changes aim to curb pollution containers designed for cold to similar restrictions under preside over a continuing women- “Council Member Julie Menin
and encourage more sustainable storage unless the foam is fully earlier phases of the law. majority City Council. brings deep experience, steady
packaging. encased in a more durable outer The rule applies to any “I am deeply honored and leadership, and a strong under-
DEC Commissioner Amanda shell. The rule covers items such product intended for cleansing, humbled that my City Council standing of how this city works
Lefton said the state’s ongoing as coolers and ice chests. conditioning, or moisturizing colleagues have elected me as and how our decisions impact
efforts to reduce plastic waste New York’s original foam the body. Speaker,” said Speaker Julie Me- New Yorkers’ daily lives,” said
“continue to be success stories ban, which took effect in 2022, More Information nin. “New York has a long history Council Member Kevin C. Riley.
for preventing plastic pollution already prohibits disposable Businesses and consumers of turning moments of challenge “She is a proven bridge builder
and improving recycling,” add- foam cups, plates, bowls, can find details about exemp- into moments of opportunity. To- who leads with fairness, transpar-
ing that the new requirements trays, and packing peanuts. tions, compliance, and com- gether, we will forge a new City ency, and equity, and understands
will “further benefit New York New York City continues to plaint procedures on DEC’s Council that takes a more forceful the responsibility this Council
State residents and the environ- enforce its own separate foam website: and proactive approach to New has to step up during moments
ment.” restrictions. • Polystyrene Foam Ban: foam- York’s shared goals. That includes of uncertainty. I’m confident she
Foam Ban Now Includes Hotels Face New Limits on ban@dec.ny.gov enacting universal child care, will lead this body with integrity,
Cold-Storage Containers Small Plastic Bottles • Hospitality Bottle Restric- lowering skyrocketing health care collaboration, and a clear sense of
Polystyrene foam—common- The state is also expanding its tions: recycling@dec.ny.gov costs, building more affordable purpose, and I’m proud to support
ly known as Styrofoam—has ban on small plastic hospitality The DEC encourages New housing, and slashing fines and her nomination as Speaker of the
long been identified as a major bottles—such as the miniature Yorkers to continue reducing bureaucratic red tape for small New York City Council.”
source of environmental litter. shampoos and conditioners waste through reuse, recycling, businesses.” “Congratulations to Julie Me-
Lightweight and easily broken commonly found in hotel rooms. and choosing more sustainable Julie Menin’s first speech as
into small pieces, the material These single-use bottles often packaging options. Speaker, as prepared for deliv- (Continued on page 11)