About Us

Who We Are

Elizabeth Seton Children’s is a pioneering provider of care, education and hope for children with some of the most challenging medical conditions any person can face. Featuring the largest residential medical center of its kind in the United States, we change lives, one child at a time.

With more than 30 years of success, we are a national leader in serving children with deeply complex medical conditions because we provide the entire around-the-clock continuum of medical, educational and therapeutic services. This means these children can do more than survive – they thrive and can pursue a full life. They have the right to safely become adults.

Elizabeth Seton Children’s serves more than 3,000 children each year across our united organizations. We also help their families with travel, places to gather and peace of mind. We create possibilities like no other place. And we are forever inspired by the children we serve.

What We Do

Elizabeth Seton Children’s encompasses Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center, the largest and most proficient non-profit, long-term care center for children with severe medical complexity; Elizabeth Seton Children’s School, which provides individualized educational experiences in both our residential center and in community settings for children with medically complex conditions; and Elizabeth Seton Children’s Rehabilitation Center, which offers physical, occupational and speech therapies along with medical specialties and care coordination services. Philanthropic support for the entire network of Elizabeth Seton Children’s organizations is driven by Elizabeth Seton Children’s Foundation.

Based north of New York City with campuses in both Yonkers and White Plains, NY, Elizabeth Seton Children’s is sponsored by the Sisters of Charity Ministry Network and named after St. Elizabeth Seton, the first American-born saint, whose legacy of love and compassion guides us. Elizabeth Seton Children’s is open to children of all faiths, as nearly a dozen religions are celebrated at the children’s center. In our care, all are welcome.

Who We Help

The infants, children and teens of Elizabeth Seton Children’s have multiple challenges that require them to have an extensive array of medical, emotional and rehabilitative services each day.

Children with medical complexity need help with the most basic daily functions. Virtually all are unable to walk and many require feeding tubes, ventilators and devices to help them communicate. Broadly speaking, the conditions these children have can include genetic disorders, traumatic brain injuries and childhood diseases.

We understand the reality of our children’s conditions, but we do not focus on their limits. We give them a chance to learn, grow, change, laugh, be joyful and experience a child’s life.

Most of our children and families are economically disadvantaged (99 percent qualify for Medicaid assistance at the children’s center and 98 percent at the rehabilitation center). Most of the children we serve come from New York City, with the rest from Westchester, the Hudson Valley and Long Island.

How We Are Different

Elizabeth Seton Children’s is a pioneer in pediatric health care in America. Our scale, success and approach to helping children with medical complexity make us like no other organization.

The distinctiveness begins with the children we serve, who may be severely limited in their abilities, but not in their grace, courage and spirit. We stand out by providing the full continuum of care: teaching, rehabilitation, medical care, social services, daily activities and a true sense of home at the largest center of its kind in the United States.

Yet what also makes Elizabeth Seton Children’s different is how we help. Our school is tailored to the needs of our children, a place of teaching and Early Intervention that is regularly honored for its excellence. In our long-term medical center, children live in bright and colorful “neighborhoods,” not units, with play, fun and social interaction built into each day. They have easy access to fresh air, playgrounds, gardens, art, music, a pool and even a space voyage room. They have traditions – from spring proms to holiday parties – to celebrate their role in the community. Our residents deserve to experience life as children. Our singular purpose is to help them to do that, with dignity.

Our devotion extends to the families. They are our partners in addressing the emotional, spiritual and educational needs of the children. And they experience our caring sense of place. As one child’s mother put it: “It’s the feeling that we’re in a home, not a hospital.”

elizabeth-seton

Our Foundress: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Mission Statement

Inspired by the love of St. Elizabeth Seton, we join with families to create possibilities for children and young adults with medical complexity.

Vision Statement

Pursuing leadership and excellence by advancing innovative, loving care with transformational outcomes for children with medical complexities and their families.

Core Values

We CARE:
Compassion
Adaptability
Respect
Excellence

Our History

Elizabeth Seton Children’s has a long legacy of serving the children and families of New York – both in health care and education. Our history is rooted in the story of the Sisters of Charity Ministry Network, our sponsors, who began their work over 200 years ago in 1817, and in The New York Foundling, whose doors were opened in 1869 by three Sisters of Charity in an effort to save babies being abandoned on the streets of New York.

It was those children, with the greatest medical needs, who became the genesis for Elizabeth Seton Children’s as it commenced its evolution from a program of The Foundling to what it is today: a nationally recognized champion of medically complex children needing specialized medical, nursing, rehabilitative and educational services both living in residence and in the community.

For over 30 years we have been inspired to serve children and their families with loving care and transformational outcomes. Our journey continues today.

 

Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center (now Elizabeth Seton Children's Center) originated at 590 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan as a program affiliate of The New York Foundling to care for 136 medically complex children with multiple physical and neurological conditions and increasing medical acuity; this included babies with AIDS and suffering from the effects of drug-addicted mothers

Elizabeth Seton Children's Center became fully independent from the programs of The New York Foundling with separate governance and remained a sponsored work or the Sisters of Charity Ministry Network.

Elizabeth Seton Children's Center assumed operating responsibility from The New York Foundling for the John A. Coleman School in New York City (now Elizabeth Seton Children's School).

Elizabeth Seton Children's Center expanded operations by opening Elizabeth Seton Children's School at 317 North Street in white Plains.

Elizabeth Seton Children's Center develops the first long-term care program in New York State for ventilator-dependent children.

Elizabeth Seton Children's Center assumed operating responsibility for the Children's Rehabilitation Center (now Elizabeth Seton Children's Rehabilitation Center) at 317 North Street in White Plains.
Elizabeth Seton Children's Center and School relocated from New York City to a newly constructed 165,000-square-foot, LEED Gold certified "green" building on 6.5 acres in Yonkers for 137 medically complex children.
Elizabeth Seton Children's Center welcomed 32 additional medically complex and technology-dependent children with a three story expansion. With 169 children, the Center is now the largest provider of pediatric post-acute care nationwide.
Elizabeth Seton Children's celebrates 30 years of service.
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Our Leadership

Elizabeth Seton Children’s Board of Directors

 

Steven R. Korf, Chairperson
Sr. Margaret O’Brien, SC, Vice Chairperson
Gregory Mancini, Treasurer
Peter T. McKeever, Secretary
Rachel Amar
John F. Caruso
Michael J. Daly, III
Catherine Franzetti
Michael F. Gallagher, Esq.
William P. Harrington, Esq.
Michael Hegarty
David G. Ingber
John Morgan
Sr. Marie Morris, SC
Frank A. Oswald, Esq.
Sr. Dominica Rocchio, SC
Bishop Gerald T. Walsh
Cynthia Weiss Antonucci, Esq.
 
Sr. Carol A. Barnes, SC – Emeritus
Elizabeth Seton Children’s Foundation Board of Directors

 

Frank A. Oswald, Esq., Chairperson
Peter T. McKeever, Vice Chairperson
Michael Hegarty, Treasurer
Colleen Griffin Wagner, Ph.D., Secretary
Benny Caiola
Sr. Donna Dodge, SC
William P. Harrington, Esq.
Michael Van De Loo

Elizabeth Seton Children's
Leadership Team

Pat Tursi, Chief Executive Officer

Carla Perruccio, Chief Financial Officer

Florin Berevoescu, Chief Information Officer

Brian Harrington, Senior Vice President of Advancement

Paul Mackey, Vice President of Engineering and Facilities

Adriene Rosell, Vice President of Operations

Carolyn Ryan, Vice President of Quality

Frances Sequeira, Vice President of Talent Management

Lisa Poskanzer, Corporate Compliance Officer

Sarra McGinnis, Vice President of Communications and Grants

Carmela Senese, Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center Chief Rehabilitation Officer

Dr. Alvin Moyer, Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center Chief Medical Officer

Erica Badillo-Pagan, Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center Director of Nursing

Sharon Herl, Elizabeth Seton Children’s School Principal (Yonkers)

Stephanie Harris, Elizabeth Seton Children’s School Principal (White Plains)

Dr. Maria Pici, Elizabeth Seton Children’s Rehabilitation Center Chief Medical Officer

pat-tursi

About Pat Tursi

Do you have any questions?
Please contact us at 1 (833) 63-SETON