On Saturday, April 18, Dr. John Procaccino and Thomas Killeen are being honored by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s (CCFA) Laugh ’Til It Stops Hurting event at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury. Procaccino is receiving the Distinguished Physician Award. Killeen will receive the Community Champion, Friend and Advocate Award.
John Procaccino
Procaccino is chief of colon and rectal surgery and vice chairman of the department of surgery at the North Shore University-Long Island Jewish Health System. Procaccino also serves as director of the North Shore-LIJ fellowship program in colon and rectal surgery.
Procaccino moved to Long Island in 1984 and began his internship in general surgery at North Shore University Hospital. He completed his five-year training in general surgery at North Shore after finishing his chief resident year in June 1989. Procaccino graduated Summa Cum Laude from Manhattan College with a BS in biology and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He went on to receive his doctorate in Medicine from New York Medical College in Valhalla and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha in 1984.
Procaccino says he has lived in Manhasset since 1992.
“I’ve moved from Dover Lane to Aldershot Lane in the last 20 years. That’s about as far as I’ve gone. I’m a Manhasset guy. My children have attended Manhasset schools and
St. Mary’s. I’m an active member of St. Mary’s,” he said.
Procaccino has the honor of being elected by his peers for inclusion in Best Doctors in America in 2009 and from 2011 to 2015, and named to NY Metro Top Doctors by Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd. from 2000 to 2008 and from 2010 to 2015. This list is published annually in New York Magazine. Inclusion is limited to individuals who have demonstrated leadership and achievement in their profession. One of Procaccino’s most significant contributions is his training of the next generation of surgeons.
“People in Manhasset need to know we have very outstanding health care right here,” said Procaccino. “The problem is that people think they need to go 18 miles away, but we have great health care in our own backyard. Our people have been trained at world-class institutions.”
Edda Ramsdell, executive director of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, spoke effusively about Procaccino. “John is a fabulous doctor. He has been at North Shore-LIJ for 25 years. We’re thrilled to honor him. He’s an amazing physician and a warm and caring individual. At least a third of his practice is people who have Crohn’s disease and colitis. He takes care of the family when someone is being operated on. He’s so empathetic to both patient and family. He does education programs for Crohn’s and colitis, and he’s always great to listen to.”
Thomas Killeen
Thomas Killeen is being honored as well. Killeen will receive the Community Champion, Friend and Advocate Award. Killeen, a Manhasset resident, is a partner at Farrell Fritz, PC. His practice focuses on corporate law on behalf of public and private business organizations, not-for-profit organizations, financial institutions, hospitals, health care providers, school districts and municipalities. He is receiving the CCFA Award in recognition of his service to a number of organizations that benefit Long Islanders, including the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
“Tom Killeen understands the importance of giving back to the community,” said Paul Salerno, CCFA’s national treasurer and a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. “He serves on multiple not-for-profit boards and generously shares his time, talents and treasurers with many local organizations.”
Killeen serves on many boards including the Maurer Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Foundation, Long Island Community Chest and the Community Development Corporation of Long Island. Helping young people and mentoring is a passion that he demonstrates through involvement with the Children’s Sports Connection and Long Island Elite. Killeen earned his JD degree from St. John’s University School of Law and his BA degree from St. Francis College.
