The 65th Annual Columbus Day Parade in New York City featured a familiar Italian-American from Greenwich Hospital this year.

Frank A. Corvino, president and chief executive officer of Greenwich Hospital, 2009 Columbus Citizens Foundation honoree

Honorees Ronald J. Ferrelli, managing director, Smith Barney; (Grand Marshal) Kenneth G. Langone, co-founder, Home Depot and chairman, NYU Langone Medical Center; Frank A. Corvino, president and chief executive officer, Greenwich Hospital

Columbus Day Parade, New York, NY, October 12, 2009

Frank A. Corvino, president and chief executive officer of Greenwich Hospital, was selected as a 2009 honoree by the Columbus Citizens Foundation for his contributions to society as an Italian-American.

As part of the tribute, Corvino marched in the Columbus Day Parade in New York City on Monday, October 12, along with the grand marshal and other honorees.

On October 10, Corvino was honored at the Foundation’s Gala Dinner in the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The evening brought together leaders from the United States and Italy to celebrate Italian-American heritage while raising funds to provide educational opportunities for hundreds of students.

Corvino says growing up as an Italian-American in the Arthur Avenue section of the Bronx shaped his personal and professional life. His first job at 14 was at the corner Italian pharmacy to help pay for high school and college.

“My experiences working in the neighborhood drug store—recognizing the importance of communicating with customers and treating them with courtesy and respect—stayed with me throughout my career,” he said. “The values I learned throughout my upbringing helped me professionally because possessing strong interpersonal skills is key to becoming a successful executive.”

Trained as pharmacist, Corvino was an executive vice president at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center in the Bronx, NY, before joining Greenwich Hospital in 1988.

During his tenure, Greenwich Hospital has evolved into a regional premier healthcare facility, earning nationwide recognition for clinical excellence, patient safety and customer satisfaction. Corvino also serves as executive vice president of the Yale New Haven Health System.

Joining Corvino in the Columbus Celebration were Grand Marshal Kenneth G. Langone, co-founder of Home Depot, Inc. and chairman of the New York University Langone Medical Center; honoree Ronald J. Ferrelli of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; and a special honored guest from Italy, Federica Pellegrini, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist and 2009 world champion swimmer.

The Columbus Citizens Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian-American heritage that raises funds to provide scholarships and grant programs to deserving students.

####