DANBURY—Dr. John Murphy, M.D., chief executive officer of Nuvance Health, will discuss the “Community Response to COVID-19” at the Catholic Charities of Fairfield County Celebrity Breakfast on Thursday, October 28, 7-9 am at the Amber Room Colonnade, 5 Stacy Road in Danbury.
“We’re honored that Dr. Murphy will be our featured speaker and update us on the COVID crisis, which has had a major impact on our lives and on the lives of all those we serve,” said Mike Donoghue, executive director of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County. “His commitment to the poor, the medically underserved, and to the wellness of the community through his healthcare leadership and charitable commitments has been a resource for the entire region. We welcome his comments as we seek to move forward.”
Proceeds from the breakfast will support the many programs of Catholic Charities in the Danbury area including Behavioral Health, Homeless Outreach, Immigration Services, Morning Glory Breakfast Program, New Heights/Warmline, Disaster Case Management, Pregnancy Counseling and Adoption Services.
Donoghue said that the COVID-19 crisis has increased the need for Catholic Charities services across the board, and the celebrity breakfast will help the Danbury office in its outreach to area families, the homeless, mentally ill and food insecure helped by its programs.
“During COVID, Catholic Charities Homeless Outreach team expanded their efforts, despite the health risks, canvassing new sites, and providing PPE, coats, food and personal care items to over 60 individuals and families still living on the streets during COVID-19. The program also assisted in securing stable housing for 50 individuals and families during the pandemic period,” said Donoghue.
Likewise the agency’s Behavioral Health services have experienced a significant increase in domestic violence cases seeking clinical help, in chronic alcohol abuse among women, and in the number of adults and children seeking help for anxiety/panic and depression, he said.
The celebrity breakfast event is being chaired by Nancy Murphy of Newtown, chairman of the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, and Anthony Giobbi, a Ridgefield resident and member of St. Mary Parish, who also serves as vice chair of the CCFC corporate board and chair of the Danbury Catholic Charities board.
During the breakfast, Catholic Charities of Fairfield County will honor 80-year old Barbara Ina
Anderson, parishioner of St. Joseph Parish in Brookfield. A native of Newtown, where she grew up on a family farm, Dr. Anderson is a noted research scientist who worked at Schlumbrrger-Doll for over 40 years.
“Barbara has been a significant benefactor of her parish and of Catholic Charities in the Danbury area,” said Anthony Giobbi. She is a Dorothy Day Hospitality House volunteer and serves meals through Catholic Charities. During the coronavirus pandemic, she made sandwiches at home and dropped them off at the church. She also has assisted the Morning Glory program in Danbury and helped serve breakfast. At St. Joseph’s, she is active in the Respect for Life Ministry.
In a story on Barbara that appeared January issue of Fairfield County Catholic, Father George F. O’Neill, pastor of St. Joseph’s said, “Barbara is a blessing to our parish as someone we can count on when we need assistance to further many of our ministries. She is a woman of great faith whose life epitomizes Christian discipleship,” said Father O’Neill. “Her selfless offering of her time, talent and treasure is what makes St. Joseph Church such a welcoming and caring community. We are a better parish for her presence with us.”
About Dr. Murphy: A neurologist by training, Dr. John Murphy serves as chief executive officer of Nuvance Health, a new health system to provide communities across New York’s Hudson Valley and western Connecticut with more convenient, accessible and affordable care. The health system serves more than 1.5 million residents across the two states and includes seven hospitals, 2,600 aligned physicians and more than 13,000 employees and provides a full continuum of care.
Prior to leading Nuvance, Dr. John Murphy held a variety of positions at Danbury Hospital before becoming CEO in 2010. Prior to that, he served as chairman of the board of directors of the hospital and the health system for several years. He has practiced neurology in the Danbury community for more than 30 years.
During his tenure as a healthcare executive, he has overseen the affiliations with New Milford Hospital in 2010 and Norwalk Hospital in 2014, as well as the multiple subsidiaries that comprised Western Connecticut Health Network and now looks forward to leading Nuvance Health. At Nuvance, Murphy establishes the vision, strategy and priorities as the organization continues to grow in size, scope and capability.
Over the years, Murphy has received many honors, including the Melville G. Magida award for notable capability in patient care. He is frequently listed among the “Best Doctors” in New York and Connecticut as well as the “Best Doctors” in America. He was named the Entrepreneur of the Year by Western Connecticut State University in 2011 and received the Benjamin Rush award for lifetime achievement from the Fairfield County Medical Association. He was recently named one of the top 100 physician leaders of health systems in the United States.
Dr. Murphy serves on numerous boards including local, state and national healthcare organizations. In addition, he serves as a trustee for Union Savings Bank. He and his wife Nancy reside in Newtown, Conn. They are members of St. Rose of Lima Parish.
Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Inc. is one of the largest private social service providers in Connecticut. The agency puts Faith into Action by providing a wide variety of services to over 15,000 individuals in Fairfield County, Connecticut annually. It sponsors offices and programs throughout Fairfield County, and services are open to all.
The main Danbury office of Catholic Charities is located at 405 Main St. in Danbury. It offers mental health counseling office, Family Loan Program, Victims of a Crime Case manager and Homeless Outreach.
(For information, call: 203.743.4412. For a complete list of all Catholic Charities programs available throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport and Fairfield County, visit: www.ccfairfield.org. A limited number of seats and tables are still available for the Celebrity Breakfast. To reserve a seat or a table, visit online at www.ccfairfield.org/event/dcb2021)
