Renovated Floating Hospital Opens

At the grand opening of the renovated Floating Hospital Community Health Center of Long Island City on October 26, Citigroup Volunteers were presented with an award for their outstanding contributions to the Floating Hospital. Citigroup Volunteer Co-Chairs for Long Island City Karen Burke and Sloane Lisa accepted the award. (L. to r.): Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, Burke, Floating Hospital Board Chair Sonia Col, Lisa and Floating Hospital President Sean Granahan. The Floating Hospital Community Health Center of Long Island City celebrated the grand opening of its newly renovated clinic on October 26. The 6,000-square-foot facility provides full primary medical, dental and mental health care.

Expansion of the hospital comes after the announcement by Congressmember Carolyn B. Maloney (D-Queens-Manhattan), in March of this year of a significant new federal grant which helped the hospital expand services to Long Island City residents, particularly those who live in the Queensbridge and Ravenswood housing developments.

“It’s a great honor to be here today,” Maloney declared at the ribbon cutting ceremony as staff and board members looked on. “When I get back to Washington, I will write to the president and tell him that this was a result of his stimulus package.”

Also present were President and General Counsel Sean T. Granahan, Esq. and Chairperson of the Board Sonia Col, Esq., who commented: “This hospital exists because of its wonderful and caring staff.”

The Floating Hospital was originally established as part of St. John’s Guild of Trinity Church in 1866 as the city’s first notfor profit clinic to help orphans and poor immigrant families. On July 3, 1872, the New York Times issued an appeal to wealthy New Yorkers, asking them to help poor children, including their own newsboys, who lived in filthy and unhygienic areas of the city’s slums. In that first year, more than 18,000 impoverished children and caretakers enjoyed free-chartered ferry rides, which took them on picnic excursions. The Floating Hospital was launched on July 19, 1875 and housed on the ferry Emma Abbot, named after a famous opera star and benefactor of the hospital.

For 126 years the clinic was located on a series of ferries anchored near Wall Street. It was moved onto dry land after 9/11 to its present location at 41-20 27th St. in Long Island City.

Sarajane Brittis, Ph. D, a consultant for the hospital, who asks patients how they have been treated. “The majority response from our patients is very positive; however, we do want them to be honest about where we might need improvement,” Brittis explained. “This is a special place because we actually care about our patients. You’re not just another name or another face.” —Jason D. Antos