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Stony Brook Medicine celebrated the grand opening of its brand new 170,000-square-foot multi-specialty care facility at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove on Wednesday.
Back in 2021, Stony Brook signed a 31-year lease with Steel Equities to open the outpatient care facility at the site of the former Sears department store in the mall.
As of this month, it began accepting its first patients.
Members of Stony Brook Medicine, local elected officials, and community members gathered in Lake Grove for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony to honor the opening of Stony Brook’s Advanced Specialty Care at Lake Grove.
“It has always been our goal to serve our community, from educating the next generation of nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers to providing world-class care to our patients,” said Maurie McInnis, PhD, president at Stony Brook University. “The opening of the Advanced Specialty Care at Lake Grove is another important step in that mission.”
The specialties currently being offered are the following:
- Family and Preventive Medicine
- Primary and Specialty Care
- Pediatrics
- Diabetes Education
- Genetic Counseling
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
- Pain Management
- Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program
The state-of-the-art facility will be adding more services in a multi-phased approach that should finish by 2027, as confirmed by a representative of Stony Brook to Greater Long Island.
The next phase, which is expected to be complete in 2024, will include orthopedic, OB/GYN, and imaging and radiology services.
Hal Paz, MD, the executive vice president of health sciences at Stony Brook University and chief executive officer of Stony Brook University Medicine, said an advanced urgent care facility is also in the plans for the future. However, there was no exact timeline for its opening.
Paz, who spoke in front of a packed crowd, mentioned that the location is ideal due to its easy access to Long Islanders, with its proximity to public transportation and highways. The facility is also located four miles from Stony Brook University.
“[It’s important to] ensure patients can easily reach us, regardless of their mode of transportation and social situations,” he said.
The Smith Haven Mall, which lies in both the towns of Brookhaven and Smithtown, had both of its town supervisors speak about Stony Brook’s expansion to the area.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Edward P. Romaine admired the facility and its capabilities, stating, “This facility will do so much good for so many years, and for so many people.”
Edward Wehrheim, Town Supervisor of Smithtown, pointed to the redevelopment efforts of Smithtown — including upgraded sewer districts and the addition of new luxury apartments to the area — and how this partnership will be a win-win for the town and Stony Brook.
“Smithtown is in the process of a renaissance,” said Wehrheim. “We believe that this is an excellent partnership and a huge benefit for both the new residents… and also for Stony Brook Medicine.”
Scroll down for photos of Advanced Specialty Care at Lake Grove. (Credit: Nicholas Esposito)
