“But today, we’re not just building a building. What we really are creating is a place of hope, a place of compassion, a place of caring for our community.”

On Wednesday, Sept. 20, elected officials and members of the Northwell Health community met at a white tent near the construction site that afternoon. Outside the tent, there were canvases showing the projected appearance of the facility.

This pavilion, which will be part of the hospital campus, can accommodate up to 90 patient rooms, 10 additional operating rooms, and two procedure rooms. The six-floor bed tower will include a public space and a sky bridge to connect it to the existing building.

Northwell Health executive vice president and chief operating officer Mark Solazzo has lived in the community for 25 years. He has seen the hospital change and grow. Investing in this institution is an investment in the Bay Shore community. The growth of the South Shore University Hospital has contributed to the rebirth of the community.

“Now we find ourselves with a terribly good problem. This hospital has become the hospital of choice, and the demand for services is high,” Solazzo said. “We simply need more room, we need more beds, we need more operating tables, we need more space.” The Pavillion will provide that space.

Donna Moravick, executive director of South Shore University Hospital, also talked about how the hospital has become the hospital of choice throughout Long Island and the growth of South Shore University Hospital’s residency program.

“The residents are the future of this institution; they are the doctors that will be taking the lead, and when doctors teach doctors, you have an excellent clinical care team,” she said.

In her 12 years of experience, Moravick has learned that you cannot do this alone. It takes exemplary leadership and hiring the right people for a project like this to come to fruition.

Moravick then led everyone outside, where the groundbreaking took place. People were invited to take pictures, look around, and enjoy refreshments.