(January 30, 2008 - Rockville Centre, NY) - Rob Bossart has been installed as the 2008 President of The Friends of Mercy Medical Center. The long-time resident of Rockville Centre accepted a small bust of Theodore Roosevelt that signifies leadership of the organization in a January 23rd ceremony at Frank’s Steaks. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead a group that supports an institution which is so vital to Rockville Centre and the surrounding communities,” said Mr. Bossart in accepting his new position.

Mr. Bossart is an international tax attorney and CPA. A devoted supporter of Mercy Medical Center, he has been a member of the Friends since 2000 and has served in many leadership roles including Master of Ceremonies of the 2007 Mercy Ball, a member of the Honor Guard Floor Committee for the 2005 and 2006 galas, and co-chair of the 2004 Mercy Luau with his wife, Mary W. Bossart, the Mayor of Rockville Centre.

The Friends of Mercy was founded in 1935 as an organization of men dedicated to volunteering their time and efforts to raise funds for the advancement of medical and surgical care for the patients of Mercy Medical Center as well as construction at Mercy. The Friends raise funds for Mercy by sponsoring a St. Patrick’s Dinner in March, a Golf Outing in September. and The Mercy Ball in December each year.

The Friends have raised over $1 million in the past three years, which supported the medical center’s Emergency, Trauma and Express Care facilities, including a new Express Care radiology suite, and the 2006 completion of the North Pavilion that allowed Mercy to transfer 160 of its patient beds into a facility housing state-of-the-art technology and the latest features in hospital design to promote patient safety and comfort.

Founded nearly a century ago by the Sisters of the Congregation of the Infant Jesus, Mercy provides 24-hour Emergency, Trauma and Express Care for both adults and children, including a unique Center For Geriatric Excellence program to meet the many complex needs of patients from skilled nursing facilities. The hospital is also a state-designated Stroke Center, as well as home to the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on the south shore of Nassau County. Mercy is a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence designated by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and a four-time recipient of the annual Orthopedic Care Excellence™ Award from HealthGrades©, the highest ranking from the nation’s leading healthcare ratings company.

With nearly 800 physicians, the latest technology, and one of Long Island’s newest hospital facilities, Mercy Medical Center offers outstanding medical expertise in an environment dedicated to compassionate care.

Mercy Medical Center is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island.

For information and physician referrals call (516) 62-MERCY or visit Mercy on line at
http://mercymedicalcenter.chsli.org

Contact: Mel Granick
Phone: (516) 705-2618
e-Mail: Mel.Granick@chsli.org