In celebration of National Nurses Week, the Rockland County Legislature presented its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award (DSA), to three local nurses for their outstanding professional contributions and selfless community service.
Legislature Vice Chair Dr. Aney Paul, a longtime nurse herself, awarded the honors to Glenn Albin, Gaelle Duvivier, and Mary Laiju Shine Kelanthara during a special ceremony recognizing their decades of dedication to healthcare and public service.
Dr. Paul highlighted the recipients’ commitment to both their patients and their communities, saying, “Our honorees have done incredible and selfless work in caring for our sick families, friends and neighbors while also finding time to volunteer in many capacities. They make a positive difference every day to Rockland County.”
Glenn Albin began his career in accounting before transitioning to healthcare. A longtime member of the South Orangetown Ambulance Corps since 1981, Albin became a certified paramedic in 1984 and a nurse in 2011. He currently works in the emergency department at Nyack Hospital and serves as the hospital’s Trauma Program Performance Improvement Coordinator. Albin also teaches lifesaving courses and mentors new nurses. He has been active in the Knights of Columbus and other civic efforts for over four decades.
Dr. Gaelle Duvivier, a Certified Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, works at New York Presbyterian while also serving as an Assistant Professor at Rockland Community College. With a focus on maternal and child health, Dr. Duvivier volunteers with the Haitian American Nurses Association of the Hudson Valley and actively organizes community health fairs and radio programs to promote wellness. She holds advanced nursing degrees from Frontier Nursing University and is recognized for her leadership in women’s healthcare.
Mary Laiju Shine Kelanthara has nearly three decades of nursing experience and currently serves as a Nurse Administrator and Infection Control Nurse at HVDDSO. Originally from Kerala, India, she has also worked at Nyack Hospital and addiction treatment centers. Deeply involved in her church and cultural community, Kelanthara has raised funds for elderly care and teaches catechism. She is also active in South Indian performing arts and credits her family and faith for her success.
National Nurses Week is held annually in May to honor the vital role nurses play in healthcare. The week includes May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
