Ray of Light Awards

Celebrating the achievements of Stony Brook students, faculty, and staff who exemplify the spirit of giving, the Ray of Light Awards were presented on November 7, 2006. The honorees are listed below.

Larissa Figari, D.D.S.
Dental student
For her volunteer work on behalf of the families of Berivotra, Madagascar.

Larissa was one of four dental students selected in 2005 to travel to Madagascar as part of the Stony Brook University dental/medical team accompanying Dr. David Krause. Prepped by predecessors about the harsh working conditions-lack of running water and electricity-Larissa found portable dental units that could run off generators and did not require water. Although these units were expensive, Larissa launched into a series of fundraising efforts-house parties, tasting dinners-and motivated other dental students to do the same. In the end, she and her collaborators raised enough to buy two portable units that enabled the dental team to save more teeth with fillings and other treatments. Larissa also noticed how children waiting in line to receive dental care were often barefoot. She once again sought to fill a need by launching a shoe-collection effort that was cited in Newsday and Suffolk Life. The result? More than 4,000 pairs of shoes collected and ultimately shipped to Madagascar.


David Krause, Ph.D.
Distinguished Service Professor, Anatomical Sciences
For creating the Madagascar Ankizy Fund, to provide education and health care for the children of Madagascar and their families.

In 1993 Dr. David Krause led a paleontologic expedition to Madagascar.
He was overcome by the poverty and wretched living conditions of the indigenous people near his field site in the village of Berivotra. With a desire to repay them for the many kindnesses they showed the Stony Brook scientists, he asked what he could do. They requested a school for their children. His crew gave them $500 to hire a teacher for one year, but more importantly, when Dr. Krause returned to Stony Brook, he established the Madagascar Ankizy Fund (www.ankizy.org) and he and his colleagues embarked on an ambitious fundraising campaign. Traveling to elementary and middle schools on Long Island and elsewhere, giving talks, and holding events ranging from read-a-thons to dinosaur exhibitions, he managed to raise the needed $15,000 to build and staff Berivotra's first school. Since then, Dr. Krause returns to Madagascar every year to continue scientific work and to supervise activities paid for by the Ankizy Fund. These include the building of two elementary schools; the establishment of annual health-care clinics in remote areas, staffed largely by Stony Brook University personnel; the drilling of several wells; and the initiation of a water disinfection program.


Sarah Schlegel, M.D.
Resident, Department of Pediatrics
For bringing a national early literacy program to three Stony Brook University pediatric satellite clinics, for creating the Pediatric Resident Educators, and for co-founding the Smile Network.

As a pediatric resident, Dr. Schlegel helped bring a national early literacy program to three Stony Brook pediatric satellite clinics, and personally oversaw the program's implementation at the Patchogue clinic where she has worked with patients during the past three years. The program consists of a three-pronged approach of providing new developmentally appropriate books to young children at their well visits; educating parents about early literacy; and having volunteers read to children in the waiting rooms. Dr. Schlegel also created Pediatric Resident Educators, an organization of health education opportunities for Stony Brook's pediatric residents in the Suffolk County school systems. Her creativity and hard work in organizing this opportunity now provides several seminars and workshops to students, faculty/staff, and parents, allowing trainees in pediatrics to fine-tune their teaching skills and participate in relevant community service within several school districts in our community. Dr. Schlegel also co-founded Stony Brook's Smile Network, which channels young children from their pediatrician's offices to the University dental clinic, and compiled a current directory of Suffolk County's pediatric dentists for distribution to parents of children of all ages. In addition, Dr. Schlegel has arranged oral health education for pediatric residents and faculty in the dental clinic and is currently designing a parent guide on oral health care for distribution throughout every pediatric office at Stony Brook University Medical Center and its satellite pediatric offices.


Chris Summers, RPAC
Physician Assistant (Class of 2006)
For his international relief efforts, including providing emergency medical treatment to earthquake victims in Pakistan.

In October 2005 Pakistan experienced a devastating earthquake that claimed the lives of countless people and left some 2 million homeless. In November Christopher requested leave from the Physician Assistant program to travel to Northern Pakistan as part of a team that would provide medical relief for earthquake survivors. Chris and other members of the team treated more than 2,000 patients, and they also established two medical clinics in Sawan and Kathai to ensure that care could continue to be provided once they departed. Compelled by this experience, Chris requested another leave from the PA program and returned to Kashmir, Pakistan, working with a group to secure 1,000 winter shelters for homeless Pakistanis. In addition, Chris, a former New York City paramedic, worked with a team to refurbish an abandoned Iranian field hospital and assisted in the treatment of some 10,000 patients during that mission. He also helped develop an EMS system in another town and established a 24-hour emergency room.  Chris and his group were profiled on CBS' 60 Minutes, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, and featured in People magazine, Men's Journal, and the New York Daily News. Chris and his group are forming a not-for-profit entity dedicated to providing an extremely mobile and expeditionary style of emergency medical care to disasters around the world, and returning to teach medical providers in the areas they work in.


Stony Brook Volunteer Ambulance Corps
For providing the highest standard of emergency care to Stony Brook University and the surrounding communities, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

For nearly 40 years SBVAC has been serving the Stony Brook University population and surrounding community. Founded by a small group of students in 1970, SBVAC has grown into a University-wide EMS agency that provides the highest standards of emergency response care in New York State. Employing the services of 70 to 90 dedicated volunteers-most of whom are students-and three operational ambulances, SBVAC also provides mutual aid to neighboring fire and EMS services. SBVAC services are available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. In addition, SBVAC offers "stand-by" ambulances, for Stony Brook sports and other major events. SBVAC has been honored by both the county and the state for the level of care it provides. In 2003 the organization was chosen by the New York State Department of Health's Bureau of Emergency Services as the EMS Agency of the Year, the only collegiate EMS agency to be so honored. This recognition is even more impressive in light of the fact that, while most agencies boast decades of experience and a substantial budget to purchase new and sophisticated equipment, SBVAC, whose funding is divided among state funds, undergraduate student activity fees voted on by students, a small graduate student allotment, and donations from Athletics, loses approximately one-quarter of its membership every year as students graduate.