From grassroots effort to regional anchor, a Riverhead hospital at 75

Before the outlets.

Before the big box stores.

Heck, before the little box stores — there was “the hospital.”

This stretch of road in Riverhead known as Route 58 was once quiet and rural. For generations of East End families, it was defined less by traffic snarl and more for the hospital built here by neighbors, for neighbors.

For three-quarters of a century, that hospital has quietly saved lives.

And to mark its 75th anniversary, Peconic Bay Medical Center hosted a gathering Tuesday that brought together hospital leaders past and present, donors, community figures and descendants of the founding families who helped bring the institution to life.

“Seventy-five years ago, community leaders here on the East End saw a need for care close to home and came together to build this hospital from the ground up,” said hospital president Dr. Amy Loeb.

“That same spirit of shared responsibility continues to guide us today,” she added.

Founded in 1951 as Central Suffolk Hospital by the Riverhead Hospital Association, what is now Peconic Bay Medical Center emerged from grassroots advocacy and philanthropy at a time when specialty and primary care were scarce throughout eastern Suffolk County.

The goal was straightforward: bring reliable, modern medical care closer to home for East End families.

That early community effort laid the groundwork for decades of growth.

Over the years, PBMC (as it’s also called) has introduced robotic surgery programs, opened the East End’s first cardiac catheterization lab, expanded academic training to attract specialized physicians, and created Long Island’s first hospital-based Caregivers Center to support patients and their families.

According to the anniversary announcement, donor support also helped make possible major expansions including the Kanas Center for Advanced Surgery, the Corey Critical Care Pavilion and the Kanas Regional Heart Center.

More recently, the hospital opened the Poole Family Trauma and Emergency Center following a $50 million capital fundraising campaign, aimed at meeting the needs of a growing and evolving East End population. Hospital officials say those investments have helped save thousands of lives while allowing patients to receive complex care closer to home.

The anniversary also marked ten years since PBMC joined the Northwell Health system, a partnership credited with accelerating clinical innovation and strengthening physician recruitment.

“Peconic Bay Medical Center represents the very best of what community-based healthcare can achieve when it is supported by a strong, mission-driven system,” said Dr. John D’Angelo, president and CEO of Northwell Health.

Since joining Northwell, the hospital has earned national recognition for cardiac, pulmonary and gastrointestinal care, along with repeated ‘A’ safety ratings from Leapfrog, hospital officials said.

The celebration also honored donors and community members whose support has helped shape the hospital over generations.

Looking ahead, Peconic Bay Medical Center is preparing to open the Bill and Ruth Ann Harnisch Neurosciences Center and the Emilie Roy Corey Center for Women and Infants. The hospital has already earned recognition for its neurological services, including stroke care, and officials say the new facilities will further expand access to specialized treatment for East End residents.