Garnet Health Medical Center Honors Physicians

Garnet Health Medical Center, formerly Orange Regional Medical Center, has recognized Ronald Israelski, MD and Anjana Poonthota, MD, MPH, FAAP for their outstanding medical and leadership achievements.   

The 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Israelski. This award is given to physicians who have continually improved patient care, whose professional body of work elevates their profession and who, through personal example, have earned the respect of their peers and the community. 

Dr. Israelski received the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award for his role in establishing The Bone and Joint Center of Excellence at Garnet Health Medical Center and for his role as Department Chair of Orthopedics, as well as being an active member of Garnet Health Medical Center’s Medical Executive Committee. Dr. Israelski was a driving force behind bringing Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine to Middletown, NY. As the first Director of the Medical Education Program and first Designated Institutional Official at Garnet Health Medical Center, he was instrumental in creating a strong partnership between the Hospital and the Medical College. 

Dr. Israelski is also a true humanitarian. Following the devastating Haiti earthquake in 2010, he created the not-for-profit organization Orthopedic Relief Services International and, over the past 11 years, has led and deployed over 30 surgical teams and delivered over $1 million in life-saving medical equipment to Haitian people in need. He has also provided in-person and remote educational platforms to help train the next generation of orthopedic surgeons in Haiti. 

Dr. Poonthota is the recipient of the 2020 Leadership Award. This award recognizes involvement in the development of new or enhanced medical programs and promotion of staff education within the physician’s field and professional excellence. Dr. Poonthota received the 2020 Leadership Award for being a continuous advocate for Pediatrics and Women’s Health. As leader of Pediatric hospitalists at Garnet Health, she has been instrumental in standardizing a continuum of care for families utilizing the Pediatrics and Obstetrics departments across Garnet Health. 

Dr. Poonthota is also Medical Director and Chair of Pediatrics at Garnet Health and is working to further develop the outpatient and inpatient Pediatrics departments at both Hospital locations. She is a member of the Garnet Health Medical Center Medical Executive Committee and Physician Excellence Committee, which performs peer reviews of medical cases to ensure continuous quality. She is also the Director of Wellness for Garnet Health Doctors. 

Dr. Poonthota was the recipient of the Hospital’s 2016 Patient Choice Award for ‘Most Caring Physician’ and the 2018 Above and Beyond Award for her leadership within the Graduate Medical Education Program’s Traditional Rotating Internship. She is currently pursuing a Master’s of Business Administration degree. 

To find a physician at Garnet Health Medical Center, visit www.garnethealth.org/doctors

For more information on careers at Garnet Health Medical Center, visit www.garnethealth.org/careers