In a ceremony on Saturday, May 20, 2023, Dr. Richard Scriven, Pediatric Surgeon in Stony Brook's Department of Surgery, Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, and Pediatric Trauma Medical Director, Stony Brook Children's, was inducted into the Sachem Hall of Honor at Sachem North High School. Scriven, along with ten other inductees, was recognized as a Sachem alum who has demonstrated exceptional success in his field and has been a noteworthy contributor to the community.
"'Giving back' is life's greatest reward," said Scriven.
to Sachem students during mentor session
"It is a great honor to be inducted into this year's class of the Sachem Hall of Honor," Scriven said. "To be recognized among the graduates of Sachem High School, which has produced many military and first responder heroes, stellar athletes, and business and entertainment industry leaders is both flattering and humbling. I have been blessed to be able to practice where I grew up and treat many current Sachem students. I will always credit Sachem with giving me my start as a pediatric surgeon and the realization that 'giving back' is life's greatest reward," he said.
Scriven grew up in Lake Ronkonkoma and graduated from Sachem North High School in 1982. His father was a member of the Ronkonkoma Fire Department and when Scriven moved to Stony Brook in 2001, after his medical training, he joined the Stony Brook Fire Department (which his induction into the Sachem Hall of Honor also recognizes). He describes his fellow volunteers as a "wonderful group of people" with his same desire to give back to the community. It was also in 2001 that Scriven joined Stony Brook Children's.
President Chris R. Vaccaro,
Dr. Scriven &
Sachem Alumni Assoc. VP
Matthew J. Barbis (left to right)
The Sachem Hall of Honor was started in 2017 by the Sachem Alumni Association. It recognizes Sachem alumni who represent the community with pride and aims to promote the Sachem Central School District and act as a valuable resource for career advice and networking (Saturday's inductees also participated in mentor sessions with Sachem students on Friday, May 19th). The inductees are nominated by Sachem alumni and a committee of alumni makes the final selections. The Sachem Hall of Honor is funded and supported by the Sachem Alumni Association and is located in the central corridor of Sachem High School North.
"Dr. Scriven has dedicated his life to helping children through medicine and that's a noble and respected discipline. He is one of our finest alumni," said Vaccaro.
"Being inducted into the Sachem Hall of Honor is the highest achievement for our alumni. There have been 60,000 alumni to graduate from Sachem since 1959, so to be selected for this Hall means you have had a successful career and represented our school community on a very high level," said Chris R. Vaccaro, President/Founder, Sachem Alumni Association, Stony Brook University (SBU) alum (MA in Public Policy, 2011) and SBU 40 Under Forty Award recipient in 2017. "Dr. Scriven has dedicated his life to helping children through medicine and that's a noble and respected discipline. He is one of our finest alumni," he continued.
In addition to Dr. Scriven, this year's inductees were: Matt DiStefano, 1996: Teacher, Coach, and Founder of Dezy Strong Foundation; Walter C. Dunham: Founding Superintendent of Sachem Schools; Maria Grasso, 1982: Senior Executive Vice President & COO, Flushing Bank; Stephanie Lydecker, 1990: Television Executive; Cheryl Pedisich, 1978: Superintendent at Three Village Schools; Richard Prunty, 1961: FDNY Battalion Chief lost on 9/11; Charles Matranga, 1987: Senior Chief, U.S. Navy, and Security Executive; Danielle Moodie, 1997: Democratic Strategist and Political Podcaster; and Maureen Reidy, 1987: CEO of Paley Center for Media; Sean Rosario, 1990: U.S. Navy Seal. Past inductees have included: Dr. John Heymach, Chair of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; Lawrence Zacarese, VP for Enterprise Risk Management and Chief Security Officer at Stony Brook University; and Arthur Kropp, former President of People for the American Way.
The Stony Brook Department of Surgery congratulates Dr. Richard Scriven for this well-deserved, incredible honor. For more information about Dr. Scriven and Stony Brook's Pediatric Surgery division, please click here.
Thank you to Sachem Alumni Association President Chris R. Vaccaro for providing the photos for this story.