Meet the SeniorBridge White Plains Team
Ruth Farrago, CMC
Vice President of Operations
Ruth Farrago has over 20 years of experience in health care administration. She was the Administrator of an inpatient and outpatient comprehensive Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Division at Downstate Medical Centers in Brooklyn. She has an extensive background in home care marketing and management having worked for St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers as the Director of Intake and was then the Branch Manager/Administrator at New York Health Care. Ruth was also the Executive Director of Sunrise Assisted Living of East Meadow where she was responsible for the daily operations of the facility, client and family satisfaction, management of the sales and marketing team and coordinated community outreach and events. Ruth has a Bachelors of Science from SUNY College of Oneonta where she majored in Business Economics and she is currently completing a Masters Degree at Long Island University specializing in Gerontology. Ruth has received her certification in Geriatric Care Management (CMC). She is a current member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and the Case Management Society of America.
Jennifer Harrigan, RN
Director of Client Services
Jennifer brings more than 6 years of professional nursing experience in the homecare and hospital settings with particular expertise in acute patient care, staff development and education. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Jennifer served as Registered Nurse Liaison and Discharge Planner for North Shore-Long Island Jewish Homecare Network where she functioned as a liaison between the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Homecare Network and contracted facilities, implemented comprehensive homecare plans for patients, maintained knowledge of regulation standards and performed the responsibilities of an infusion home therapy consultant. Other career highlights include developing and conducting in-services and competencies for clinical staff as Education and Quality Management Manager for Selfhelp Special Family Homecare and providing direct nursing care to patients as a Field Nurse for Long Island Jewish Homecare. Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, New York and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing-Nursing Administration through Chamberlain College of Nursing based in Addison, Illinois. She holds licensure in the state of New York as a Registered Nurse and holds certification for Basic Cardiac Life Support.
Debbie Matystik, MSW
Professional Development Specialist
Debbie's rich previous executive experience includes positions as Director of Senior Life Care Planning/Geriatric Care Management at Family Home Health Care/Dominican Sisters Family Health Services for Westchester county and Director of Volunteer Services at The Jewish Home and Hospital Life Care System in the Bronx. She has also served as Director of the Senior Community Coalition at Dominican Sisters Family Health Services, Ossining, and Founder and Executive Director of Victims Assistance Services in Westchester. She has a Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University and a Master of Arts in Counseling degree and Professional Diploma in Counseling Psychology from Manhattan College. Debbie is a member of many professional and community organizations including the Westchester County Women's Advisory Board, National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and various geriatric committees throughout Westchester.
Adam Zeidler
Regional Director of Professional Relations
Adam brings more than 9 years of marketing and customer service experience throughout the New York area. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Adam held multiple positions at Sunrise Senior Living, and most recently served as Area Sales Manager and Regional Director of Sales and Marketing, responsible for all aspects of the hiring and training process. He also served as Executive Director responsible for overall leadership, management and community success as well as Director of Community Relations where he developed strong community relationships and educated residents and families on programs. Adam attended the University of Miami in Florida and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Motion Picture Production and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing.
Karen Gauvin
Director of Professional Relations
During 18 years in the health care field, Karen's primary focuses have been promoting services to seniors and families and community education. She was previously Director of Marketing for the Fieldhome Rehab/Skilled Nursing/ Assisted Living health care campus in northern Westchester. Previously, she also served as Director of Public Relations for Cambridge Healthcare Group of Boston and Public Affairs Manager for the North Shore Long Island Jewish Southside Hospital. Karen is active in numerous health organizations and committees and has volunteered for the Hospice of the South Shore and Children's Health Imagery Productions. She is presently completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Marketing from Plattsburgh State University and is pursuing further education in Gerontology Studies with Kansas State University.
Phyllis McEvoy, RN
Care Manager
Phyllis brings more than 20 years of nursing experience with particular expertise in rehabilitation and long-term patient support. She has a deep commitment for providing patient-centered care and advocating for families and experience in the hospital, home health and primary care environments. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Phyllis served as a long-term care nurse at Academy Manor in Andover, Massachusetts. She began her nursing career at Coley Dickinson Hospital as a staff nurse in Pediatrics and has a track record for advocating and providing excellent patient care throughout the Massachusetts and Maine areas. Phyllis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) from University of Southern Maine in Portland and received a diploma as a Registered Nurse from Lowell General Hospital in Massachusetts. Phyllis holds licensure as a Registered Nurse in the states of New York and Massachusetts. She is also affiliated with the National Gerontological Nursing Association (NGNA) and the Association for Practitioners of Infection Control (APIC).
Hector Pou, LCSW
Care Manager
With more than 20 years experience as a social worker and administrator serving older adults and their families, Hector has extensive expertise in helping families navigate elder care. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Hector served as Manager of Program Development for the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), where his responsibilities included identifying, developing, implementing and evaluating home care services in a variety of settings and developing staff education and training programs. He also served as a Social Work Home Care Coordinator with VNSNY facilitating discharges of complex cases transitioning back to the community at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Hector also worked as the Member Assistance Program Coordinator for the International Ladies Garment Worker's Union (ILGWU) among his other social work positions during his career. Hector earned a Bachelors of Arts degree from Lehman College, City University of New York and a Masters in Social Work from Fordham University. He is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) and was honored by the New York State Office of Aging in 1990 for outstanding contributions to the elderly of New York.
Leah Semmel, RN
Care Manager
Leah has a deep commitment to providing patient-centered care and advocating for families. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Leah served at Yedei Chessed of Monsey working with mentally and physically disabled children and assisting with daily living, physical and occupational exercises. Throughout her nursing program, Leah gained clinical experience in obstetrics, pediatrics and mental health. Among her accomplishments, Leah performed post-partum and neonatal assessments at Good Samaritan Hospital, provided health teaching at Nyack Hospital and employed therapeutic modalities for patients at Rockland Psychiatric Center and Summit Park Hospital. Leah earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, and holds certification in Basic Life Support.