SVAC High Honor Recognition

David Raizen may have received several accolades and proclamations during the 2024 Westchester County Public Health Awards Presentation Thursday, April 4, at Scarsdale Public Library, but he was quick to say he shares each and every one of them with each and every member of the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps who share his vision and put it into motion every day.

From handling strictly 911 calls and transports pre-COVID-19 pandemic to introducing PCR testing and vaccinations to the further expansion of a brand new community paramedicine program in partnership with White Plains Hospital, it’s never been a more rewarding time to be part of SVAC.

Raizen himself has been part of the organization for the last 40-plus years since he was 13 years old.

“If five years ago I had told you that this crazy group of volunteers would be testing and vaccinating 22,000 people in the SVAC building or their home during COVID-19, you would have told me I was nuts,” Raizen said. “What the Ambulance Corps pulled off was unimaginable and completely unique in New York State. Period. I received that award and I am honored and flattered to have received it, but the Ambulance Corps membership pulled together to do the unthinkable.”

During Public Health Week, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Deputy Executive Ken Jenkins, Commissioner of Health Dr. Sherlita Amler and Board of Health President Dr. Robert Baker honored three “very special Westchester residents who have given so much of themselves to improve the public health of our community,” according to Amler. Along with Raizen receiving the Dr. Harold Keltz Distinguished Public Health Service Award for his innovative leadership of a vital community resource, Ashley Madden, a student from Pleasantville was given the J.R. Tesone Youth Public Health Service Award for her persuasive advocacy on behalf of people with co-occurring mental health and substance misuse disorders, and the Commissioner Award went to Dr. Emil Nigro, Medical Director of Hoch Center for Emergency Education at Phelps Hospital Northwell Health for a career dedicated to emergency medicine and the pursuit of the finest continuing education for first responders.

“David Raizen is the embodiment of these ideals,” Baker said. “For 45 years he has lived and breathed the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps. This volunteer leader rarely takes a break from assuring basic and advanced life-saving coverage is in place around the clock. Not only does he respond to emergency calls and arrange for transport, but he led the successful effort to build the ambulance corps a new home at no cost to taxpayers, launched an EMT class for Scarsdale High School students and a pilot community paramedicine program that is helping to reduce hospital admissions.”

Honoree Nigro has worked closely with Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps and has also watched Scarsdale in action.

“Both Scarsdale and Ossining provided thousands of tests and thousands of vaccines, especially to our most vulnerable, the homebound seniors,” Nigro said. “Hospitals can’t do everything. It really does take a village. It takes all of us. And I must tell you without the Department of Health, without Dr. Amler’s leadership, I don’t think we would have pulled off the community paramedic program, which has been very, very valuable to our community.”

Latimer was in awe when he toured the new SVAC facility at 5 Weaver Street with Raizen. “It’s an exemplary service,” Latimer said. “When I’m in other communities they say, ‘How is Scarsdale doing that?’ because they know that Scarsdale is doing it at the top of their ability.”

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin has seen first-hand the positive work SVAC has done during her 40-plus years living in the Village.

“SVAC is made up of highly trained and skilled paramedics who live and breathe healthcare,” she said. “They are our beacons of light in life’s darkest moments. What SVAC did during COVID was Herculean — vaccinating and testing thousands, and providing high-quality at-home care for the elderly and immunocompromised — and they continue to valiantly serve our community. I congratulate them on receiving this well-deserved honor from Westchester County in honor of National Public Health Week. Most of all I thank them for their incredible service to the residents of Westchester County.”

From responses and transports to testing and vaccinating over 22,000 people — including at least one from every municipality in Westchester County, plus undocumented workers at the request of the DOH — to going into elderly and homebound County residents’ homes to perform routine medical actions like taking vitals or checking in on patients who had just been released from the hospital to avoid unnecessary trips back to the emergency room, SVAC has evolved over the last four years at a rapid pace.

“It was done in many other states, not in New York, which was unfortunate,” Raizen said. “COVID gave the opportunity for us to start the community paramedicine program here in New York and we are probably the most successful one in New York State. It was great for the Ambulance Corps membership to give them the opportunity to do something in helping residents during COVID. It wasn’t just 911 calls. It was doing something else to help prevent the spread of COVID. Sadly our ambulance call volume of people who passed away in town was huge, so it was also great for us to see the other side of doing something to help people.” Raizen is always thinking ahead and said “there’s plenty in the works.”“The goal is to continue to expand the community paramedicine program to bring medicine into the home,” he said. “We are working incredibly well with White Plains Hospital in expanding the program. As soon as the governor’s budget passes and I have the opportunity to go at it again my plan is to keep trying to expand.”

For an emergency call 911. To contact SVAC’s non-emergency number call 914-722-2288, email info@scarsdalevac.com or visit https://www.scarsdalevac.com/.

To learn more about the three award-winners, click here to watch a short video. “I hope their stories have inspired all of you and others to do great things on behalf of public health,” Amler said.