A Gala of Excellence and Community Spirit at the 2023 Arthur Ashe SportsBall Gala

By Office of the President | Nov 13, 2023

Image courtesy of WorldLibertytv.org

The 2023 Arthur Ashe Institute of Institute of Urban Health Gala, SportsBall, known for its sporting excellence and community empowerment, was held at The Pierre Hotel in New York City. It brought together sports stars, community leaders, and enthusiasts in a vibrant celebration of the Institute’s enduring legacy and commitment to health advocacy. SportsBall, its flagship fundraising event, commemorates Ashe’s sporting achievements and his humanitarian efforts in education and health.

Hosted by WNBC-TV anchor David Ushery, the event brought together sports stars, including Mets Hall of Famer Dwight (Doc) Gooden. It honored Healthfirst chief executive officer and president Pat Wang, J.D., Department of Pathology chair and associate pathology and neurology professor Jenny Libien, M.D., Ph.D., and Downstate’s Café 101 owner Ernie Sgaglione.

Dr. Jenny Libien played a pivotal role during the pandemic as a member of Downstate’s COVID-19 Task Force and the COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Group. Dr. Libien oversaw the launch of COVID-19 testing methods on campus and focused her energies on the purchasing of new equipment, ensuring adequate supplies, and hiring and retaining staff to meet the needs of our most important communities. In addition to the many coats Dr. Libien serves on, she is the only representative on the New York State Laboratory Leadership Consortium, which was formed during the pandemic and provides guidance to governmental agencies on laboratory issues.

Healthfirst chief executive officer and president Pat Wang, JD, was honored for her work as head of one of the largest not-for-profit health insurers in the United States that provides more than 1.8 million New Yorkers with improved healthcare coverage, access, and quality. Ms. Wang was profiled at Downstate during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, where she also sat for an interview on the campus. 

Lastly, Ernie Sgaglione was honored for his more than three decades of on-campus service to Downstate through Café 101 and his commitment to the community.

I am proud to serve on the board of the Arthur Ashe Institute, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to its CEO and President, Marilyn A. Fraser, M.D., as well as to my fellow board members for their outstanding work.

 

See images from the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health 29^th SportsBall.

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