MIDDLETOWN — On April 20, Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties will host its Annual Gala, Honoring Dr. Susan Jensen, Horizon Family Medical Group, and Mr. Michael J. Gilfeather, President and CEO of Orange Bank & Trust Company, for their commitment and dedication to Hospice and the community. The event will occur on Saturday, April 20, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at West Hills Country Club in Middletown, NY. Every year, Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties relies on the generosity of its communities to close a $1.5 million gap between its expenses and what it is reimbursed for services. Proceeds from the event support Hospice’s mission of providing quality end-of-life care to patients and their loved ones by offsetting the cost of medical supplies, medical equipment, pharmaceutical services, bereavement resources for grieving loved ones, and the cost of our Thriving Families Grief Support Group for children.

Dr. Susan Jensen was the first woman from Pace University to be accepted into New York Medical College, formerly Flower Fifth Avenue, where she received the “Cor et Manus Award.” She interned at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in Staten Island and did her residency at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in San Francisco. She served in the military as a physician with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the US Public Health Service and remained on call for 20 years. Locally, Dr. Jensen worked at Newburgh Internal Medicine, St. Luke’s Hospital, and Cornwall Hospital. She served as President of the Medical Staff at Cornwall Hospital and in several other elected positions at St. Luke’s and Cornwall Hospitals. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and certified by the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Care. Dr. Jensen has been involved with Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties since 1982. She served on the Board of Directors for many years and continues promoting hospice care to her patients. She was a Partner with Horizon Family Medical Group, where she still sees patients part-time. Dr. Jensen continues to volunteer for many local organizations, including, most recently, Hospice.

Michael J. Gilfeather graduated from Union College and received an MBA from Pace University. He began his career with The Bank of New York and later became Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Hudson Valley Bank. Since joining Orange Bank & Trust as President and CEO in 2014, Mr. Gilfeather has transformed the company into a $2.5 Billion asset bank. He positioned Orange Bank & Trust as a premier business and wealth management financial institution and expanded its footprint from Orange County into Westchester, Rockland, and Bronx counties. In 2021, the Bank went public with an IPO and a listing on the NASDAQ. Michael also serves as CEO of Orange County Bancorp Inc., a holding company that includes Hudson Valley Investment Associates, an asset management company. Michael served as Chairman of the New York Bankers Association and is currently serving on its executive committee. He was also Chairman of the Orange County Partnership for three years and remains on the Partnership’s executive committee. He is a former Board Member of the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region and Garnet Health Foundation.

Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties would like to thank this year’s sponsors: Horizon Family Medical Group, Orange Bank & Trust Company, Tom and Janet Sullivan, Dr. Robert Dinsmore, Lakeland Bank, Summer Set Properties, LLC, A. Vincent Mazzie & Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., and Kiewit Companies Foundation. Only through the community’s generosity and its continued support can Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties continue to provide its services.

Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties has provided compassionate end-of-life care to patients and their families since 1981. The organization, incorporated in 1988, serves both Orange and Sullivan counties and is certified by the NYS Department of Health and The Joint Commission. Its mission is to be the leading community resource for providing patients and their families with compassionate physical, emotional, and spiritual end-of-life care with comfort, dignity, and respect.

If you or someone you know could benefit from hospice care, don’t hesitate to contact Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties at (845) 561-6111 or visit their website at www.hospiceoforange.com.