Honor Doctor Harshal Kirane

Senate Resolution No. 1352 BY: Senator MONTGOMERY COMMENDING Harshal Kirane, M.D. upon the occasion of his designation for special honor at Doctor's Recognition Day on March 29, 2017 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality of life in the communities across this great State of New York is enriched by the diligence and compassionate commitment of those individuals whose singular purpose is the care and welfare of others; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Harshal Kirane, M.D. upon the occasion of his designation for special honor by the Medical Society of the County of Kings, Inc., the Academy of Medicine of Brooklyn and the Richmond County Medical Society, to be celebrated at its Doctor's Recognition Day on Wednesday, March 29,

2017, at Gargiulo's Restaurant, Brooklyn, New York; and WHEREAS, Dr. Harshal Kirane is an addiction psychiatrist committed to fostering positive change for Staten Island; and WHEREAS, As the Director of Addiction Services at Northwell Health, Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), Dr. Harshal Kirane has led significant advancements in clinical practice, education and public awareness of addiction; and WHEREAS, Prior to focusing his professional interest in Staten Island, Dr. Harshal Kirane completed medical school and his psychiatric residency at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas; in addition, he completed a fellowship in brain imaging with emphasis on learning and memory in schizophrenia; and WHEREAS, From this foundation in clinical and basic science, Dr. Harshal Kirane pursued a fellowship in addiction psychiatry at New York University; he then sought a position at SIUH to be at the frontlines of New York City's drug epidemic; and WHEREAS, Dr. Harshal Kirane has led Staten Island University Hospital's Addiction Services since 2013; in this capacity he has been instrumental in driving a number of hospital-based initiatives to enhance patient care; and WHEREAS, With a focus on strategies to address Staten Island's opioid epidemic, Dr. Harshal Kirane led the expansion of the outpatient ancillary management program, which has engaged more than 300 new patients and continues to grow; he also developed an inpatient program to increase distribution of naloxone rescue kits; and WHEREAS, On a system-wide level, Dr. Harshal Kirane is co-chair of a workgroup developing new practice guidelines for the management of opioid prescribing to be implemented across the Northwell Health system; these efforts translate to meaningful improvements in overdose prevention in the community; and WHEREAS, Dr. Harshal Kirane tremendously values the role of educating clinicians and the public; he developed a curriculum for addiction education for SIUH's psychiatry residency and is in the process of expanding this process for internal medicine and surgery programs; and WHEREAS, A dynamic physician and passionate educator who champions positive change for all Staten Islanders, Dr. Harshal Kirane truly embodies the mission of service and innovation of SIUH; and WHEREAS, In the faithful performance of his duties and responsibilities, Dr. Harshal Kirane's ongoing efforts and notable achievements have significantly contributed to bettering the quality of life in his community; and WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure, Dr. Harshal Kirane has continuously displayed initiative and an unrelenting commitment when pursuing the highest of goals, and he has served as a role model of leadership to be emulated by all; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Harshal Kirane, M.D. upon the occasion of his designation for special honor at Doctor's Recognition Day on March 29, 2017; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Harshal Kirane, M.D.