The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recognizing the work of Michael Devery, Chief Quality Officer at Brunswick Hospital Center and naming him a recipient of the annual OMH Commissioner’s Community Care Awards for 2021.

These awards are given during May – Mental Health Awareness Month – to recognize the extraordinary achievements of individuals and organizations who have furthered the OMH mission and made a positive contribution to the mental health system in their communities.

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan, said, “OMH is fortunate to have many great partners across the State who are helping us reshape state and local mental health systems by enhancing community-based services and improving the delivery of care and health outcomes for consumers.  Michael Devery, and his colleagues at Brunswick Hospital Center have been wonderful collaborators with OMH and have worked very closely with our Long Island Field Office to secure treatment for vulnerable and challenging patients. As Chief Quality Officer, Michael has focused on initiating innovative services, being responsive to patient concerns and improving the quality of care provided at Brunswick.”

Michael Devery said, “It is an absolute honor to receive this type of recognition which must be shared with the entire dedicated team at Brunswick Hospital Center. From the President and CEO to the front-line staff and service departments.  This recognition also belongs to the President and CEO, Dr Amar Jit Singh, who graciously opened his heart and his wallet to allow us to build a unit to help the community and other area hospitals as they were closing and drowning in the midst of a pandemic.”

Mr. Devery said “out-of-the-box” thinking and commitment to patient care and safety has helped Brunswick Hospital rise to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital received a rating of 100 percent on a validation survey focused on infection control thanks to a “strong and non-deviating mitigation plan and our proactive procurement of supplies, PPE and all necessary cleaning products to ensure the health safety and well-being of staff, patients, family and visitors.”

Mr. Devery and Brunswick Hospital Center take a patient centered care approach that treats the whole person and has initiated diverse cultural programs addressing racial bias, LGBTQ issues, and disparities in the health care system. He credits Medical Director Dr. Abid Khan and Executive Vice President Dr.Mini Singh with helping to create an environment that ensures the best outcome for patients.

Mr. Devery has worked in the mental health field for 32 years, in the NYC school system and as a nurse in the late 1980’s and early 1990's. He said the experience “…has allowed me the privilege to always learn, educate, advocate and go the extra mile for a patient.”  

The Community Care Awards were created in 2019 to highlight OMH’s partners and stakeholders in local communities across the State that are helping to identify and eliminate gaps in services, and are working to build strong community-based behavioral healthcare systems.  Input from these local partners helps OMH better understand regional needs and implement programs that will help people on the road to recovery from mental illness live their lives with a greater degree of independence and dignity.

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