12/08/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 12/08/2025 14:57
This prestigious recognition honors professionals who have made measurable environmental impacts, demonstrated exceptional leadership in sustainability and contributed meaningfully to professional organizations and community initiatives.
Under Gomes' leadership, Stony Brook University Hospital has become a destination for high-quality care in Suffolk County, supported by more than 8,000 staff members across four hospitals. By championing strategic operations, quality outcomes, and environmental stewardship, she has integrated sustainability into every facet of care delivery, from green building design to waste reduction. Her approach demonstrates that operational excellence and environmental responsibility can work cooperatively to improve community health.
Serving as both CEO and COO of Stony Brook University Hospital, Gomes is a longstanding member of its senior executive team. She holds dual master's degrees from Stony Brook University in management and policy, as well as healthcare management. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her service on the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Program's Board of Examiners since 1999, most recently as a senior and alumni examiner. In September 2024, she was reappointed as board chair of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council and continues to serve on the advisory board for Stony Brook University's Master of Health Administration program.
Gomes has distinguished herself by embedding sustainability into the core of healthcare operations, propelling Stony Brook University Hospital to national recognition. The hospital has been named one of the Top 25 hospitals in the country for environmental sustainability and has received several prestigious awards, including the Practice Greenhealth Emerald Award, the Greening the OR Award, and the Vizient Sustainability Award for Complex Academic Medical Centers.
"I am deeply honored to be named a 2025 Notable Leader in Sustainability by Crain's. This recognition reflects not just my efforts, but the unwavering commitment of our team that continually identifies innovative ways to strengthen our initiatives," Gomes said. "At Stony Brook University Hospital, we recognize that sustainability is essential to our mission, vision and values and I look forward to continuing this work and scaling its impact in the years to come.
"Carol's visionary leadership has been instrumental in transforming our approach to sustainability," said Executive Vice President of Stony Brook Medicine William Wertheim, MD. "Her ability to align environmental responsibility with clinical excellence has not only elevated our hospital's national standing but also deepened our impact on the community we serve. This recognition is a testament to her dedication and the culture of innovation she fosters every day."
Through her visionary leadership, Stony Brook University Hospital continues to lead the way in building climate resilience and creating a safer, healthier environment for patients, staff and the broader community.