On Tuesday evening, Lakewood governmental, philanthropic and healthcare leaders joined for a special “Thriving Together” dinner at the Eagle Ridge Golf Club. The evening celebrated the substantial strides made by Lakewood’s historic and only hospital, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (MMCSC), in recent years – in both the quality of medical care and relationships with Lakewood’s diverse communities.

Two members of the MMCSC Board of Trustees – Attorney Adam Pfeffer; and Former Lakewood Police Chief Robert Lawson, along with his wife Janet – were honored at the event for their unique dedication to the hospital’s success and their overall service to the Lakewood community. In addition, the event highlighted the poignant “Tree of Life” tribute in the MMCSC Emergency Room waiting area in memory of Craig Robert Lawson, the Lawsons’ son and a Lakewood police officer, who tragically passed away in 2016.

Lakewood Deputy Mayor Menashe Miller – a MMCSC Board Member – spoke of the unique lifesaving role that the hospital has in meeting the medical needs of the population in Lakewood and surrounding towns. Deputy Mayor Miller presented the honorees with their awards, highlighting the longstanding personal and public service relationship that the Lawsons and the Pfeffers have with Lakewood. “They are part of the Lakewood ‘family’ and have spent decades giving of themselves to make Lakewood such a great place to live in,” says Deputy Mayor Miller. “It is an honor to recognize their service tonight, on behalf of this great hospital and the Lakewood community as a whole.”

Dr. Philip Passes, Chief Administrative Officer of MMC and MMCSC, spoke of the marked improvement in healthcare quality that MMCSC has seen in recent years, which has earned the hospital prestigious independent accolades from the Leapfrog Group and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). Dr. Robert Bell, the Yale trained Director of Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery at MMCSC, spoke of the stellar quality of care at the hospital, as well as the clean, bright facilities and private rooms that greatly enhance the patient experience. Robert Sickel, MMCSC Board Chairman and Owner of Pine Belt Enterprises, lauded the hospital leadership, and the evening’s honorees in particular, for helping achieve these incredible milestones.

Senator Robert Singer presented the honorees with Proclamations from the New Jersey State Legislature. Lakewood Township Committeeman and Emergency Services Liaison Meir Lichtenstein presented the awardees with Lakewood Township Proclamations.

Committeeman Lichtenstein, a longtime volunteer EMT, shared his firsthand experiences of MMCSC’s marked improvements in medical care and community relations. He also spoke warmly of his decades-long relationship with the Lawson and Pfeffer families, and the myriad contributions they’ve made to Lakewood public health and safety. “Anyone who walks through the hospital’s doors can clearly recognize the strides in quality and community integration that MMCSC has made in recent years,” says Committeeman Lichtenstein. “We would like to thank the hospital’s leaders, medical team and tonight’s honorees for making this happen, and look forward to work together to make continued strides in the years ahead.”