Business Briefs

Diane Elkhatib, R.N., B.S.N., Lincroft section of Middletown, received a Nursing Excellence Award for contributions to the pediatric critical care center at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. The award was presented to Elkhatib during a celebration of National Nurses Day in June.

Patricia Aguirre, Middletown, a cardiopulmonary nurse at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, received the center’s Dr. Lester A. Barnett Nurse of the Month Award for April. Prior to joining Monmouth, Aguirre worked at Cortland Memorial Hospital, New York, John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Edison, and South Amboy Memorial Hospital. She received her associate’s degree in nursing at Cayuga Community College, Auburn, N.Y.

Joseph Fennell, of Middletown, a radiation therapist at Monmouth Medical Center, was selected as Employee of the Month for February. He received his certification in radiation therapy at New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, and spent two years there as a radiation therapist prior to joining Monmouth. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in medical billing at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft.

Laura Dolan Taddeo, Middletown, assistant director of the department of food services and nutritional care at the Monmouth Medical Center, was honored with New Jersey’s 2004 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award by the New Jersey Dietetic Association. She was among 35 dietitians nationwide chosen for the award, which recognizes leadership ability and professional commitment. Taddeo also serves as a preceptor for dietetic interns from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey who complete their food services administration rotation at Monmouth. She received her bachelor of science degree in dietetics at The Ohio State University, Columbus. Prior to joining Monmouth, she was clinical nutrition manager at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel, has announced the opening of its new breast care center, located in the Ganz Imaging Pavilion adjacent the John Boyd & Kathryn Roberta Mitchell Pavilion. The 1,364-square-foot center offers mammography, ultrasound, bone densitometry, and stereotactic and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. It also offers patients free valet parking, and separate waiting and locker rooms. The center will be led by co-medical directors Stacey Longo, M.D., a board-certified pathologist, and Said A. Samra, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon. For more information, call the center at (732) 962-7230.

Stephen Parks, West End section of Long Branch, was also made a trustee of Monmouth Medical Center. He is president of the consulting firm of Parks & Associates, LLC, Woodbridge. The medical center’s hospital board also reelected Judith Stanley Coleman, Middletown, as vice chair; and installed Fair Haven attorney Alan E. Davis, as its new chair.

Fe Babbitt, R.N., Hazlet, and Pa­tricia Mancini, L.P.N., Long Branch, were both recently honored for profes­sional excellence by Monmouth. Babbitt is employed in a managerial role in the center’s surgical services, and received the Angela Gilvary Nurse Millennium Award for individuals in management and supervisory roles at the medical cen­ter. Mancini, along with Zora Railey, L.P.N., received an Ocean Primary Care Excellence in Care L.P.N. Award given to nurses that promote patient satisfaction, clinical excellence and teamwork. Both work in the medical/surgical units for hospitalized patients.

Monmouth Mall, in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County, both Eatontown, will hold its annual school supply drive to collect supplies and financial support for children in need July 6 through Aug. 19. Dona­tions may be dropped at the mall’s cus­tomer service center during regular mall hours. Needed are notebooks, pens, pen­cils, markers, erasers, staplers, calcu­la­tors and other school supplies. Donors will also be eligible to receive a $200 mall gift certificate. Donations will be dis­tributed at a private pizza party for the children Aug. 25. For mall hours or more information, call (732) 542-0333.

The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has announced the county’s 23-foot pump-out boat, the Royal Flush began operation June 10, and will con­tinue to flush raw sewage from pleasure craft in the area of the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. During its first two weeks of operation, the boat pumped 5,500 gallons of sewage servicing 147 boats on the two rivers. At the urging of the freeholders, the Environmental Pro­tection Agency has de­clared the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers to be "no dis­charge zones," mean­ing it is illegal to dump even treated boat sewage into the rivers. The Royal Flush was purchased in 2001 for $50,000.