Carol Gomes Earns National Recognition on Becker’s Healthcare’s 2026 Women CEOs to Know List

STONY BROOK, NY, July 24, 2026 - Carol A. Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH), has been named to Becker's Healthcare's prestigious "Women Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know" list for 2026. This honor recognizes influential women leaders whose vision and dedication are shaping the future of healthcare through expanding access to care, advancing equity and inclusion, and driving meaningful improvements in care.

"Carol's leadership has transformed Stony Brook University Hospital into one of the nation's leading academic medical centers, driven by an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional patient care, advancing innovation and improving the health of the communities we serve," said William A. Wertheim, MD, MBA, Executive Vice President at Stony Brook Medicine. "This recognition reflects the extraordinary impact she has had on our institution, our patients and the healthcare industry."

Becker's Healthcare recognized Gomes for establishing SBUH as a national leader in sustainability, clinical quality and innovation. During her tenure, Gomes has led transformative initiatives that have enhanced patient care and expanded access to advanced healthcare services. She spearheaded the construction of the hospital's 150-bed children's tower, launched new intensive care units, expanded cancer care services and established a hospice program. She also created a centralized patient throughput office that significantly reduced emergency department wait times and hospital length of stay, improving the patient experience while increasing operational efficiency.

Under Gomes' leadership, SBUH has earned numerous national distinctions for quality, safety and patient care. The hospital was named among Healthgrades' America's 50 Best Hospitals for 2026 - marking the fourth consecutive year the health system has achieved this distinction. This year, SBUH also earned a prestigious five-star overall hospital quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and was ranked the No. 1 hospital in New York State for pediatric care by Money magazine. SBUH was also recognized as a 2025-26 Best Hospital by U.S. News & World Report, ranking in the top 10 in the state. SBUH climbed to a No. 10 ranking overall in New York State out of more than 203 hospitals statewide.

"I am deeply honored to be recognized alongside so many exceptional women leaders who are helping shape the future of healthcare," said Gomes. "This recognition belongs to the remarkable physicians, nurses, staff and leaders across Stony Brook Medicine whose dedication, compassion and commitment to excellence make achievements like this possible every day."

Gomes has also championed sustainability and environmental stewardship across the health system. Her leadership helped earn Stony Brook the 2024 Vizient Sustainability Award and recognition as one of Practice Greenhealth's Top 25 Hospitals for Environmental Excellence, reflecting the hospital's national leadership in environmental sustainability.

In addition to this latest honor from Becker's Healthcare, Gomes has received numerous individual recognitions for her leadership, including the 2024 Power Women of Long Island Icon Award, the New York State Senate Woman of Distinction Award and the 2026 New York Grassroots Champion Award from the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) and the American Hospital Association.

About Stony Brook University Hospital:

Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH), part of the State University of New York, is Long Island's premier academic health center. With 628 beds, SBUH serves as the region's only tertiary care center and Regional Trauma Center, and is home to the Stony Brook University Heart Institute, Stony Brook University Cancer Center, Stony Brook Children's Hospital and Stony Brook University Neurosciences Institute. SBUH also encompasses Suffolk County's only Level 4 Regional Perinatal Center, state-designated AIDS Center, state-designated Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, state-designated Burn Center, the Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence, and Kidney Transplant Center. It is home of the nation's first Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center. To learn more, visit stonybrookmedicine.edu/sbuh.