Of Public and External Affairs
(Rockville Centre, NY) Christine Hendriks has been promoted by Catholic Health Services (CHS) to serve as vice president of public and external affairs. In this newly created role, she will oversee public relations, marketing and communications for the multifaceted system, which includes six hospitals, three nursing homes, a home care and hospice network and an agency serving Long Islanders with special needs. Hendriks will also continue to serve as spokesperson for CHS.
Prior to this appointment, Hendriks was regional vice president of public and external affairs for Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center and St. Charles Hospital, all members of CHS. With responsibility for the overall communications efforts for all three hospitals, she was appointed to this position shortly after being recruited to serve as vice president of public and external affairs for Good Samaritan Hospital. Over the years, she has been the “voice” for Good Samaritan’s radio and TV spots and has coproduced “CHS: Long Island’s Health Source”, a Telecare TV series. Before joining CHS, Hendriks was vice president of external affairs at South Nassau Communities Hospital, where she also was the voice of the organization in radio commercials and hosted a weekly health care radio program.
Hendriks’s career in various facets of communication was grounded early on in local journalism, experience at two New York City book publishing companies and ghostwriting a children’s book. A former adjunct professor for both SUNY Stony Brook and Long Island University (LIU), she has an extensive background in the field of education. This has included coordinating publications for SUNY Stony Brook and later managing the public relations and marketing efforts for LIU’s six campuses.
Hendriks was formally recognized by the White House Medical Unit for coordinating Good Samaritan Hospital’s preparations for former President George W. Bush’s 2004 visit to Bay Shore. Named one of Long Island’s Top 50 Women by Long Island Business News, she is on the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council’s Communications Committee and a number of committees for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. In addition, Hendriks serves as public relations chair of the voluntary leadership team for Long Island Blood Services. She resides in Islip with her husband, Bill, and their three children, Patricia, Erin and Sean.
Catholic Health Services of Long Island is comprised of six hospitals, three nursing homes, a regional home care and hospice network, and a community based agency for persons with special needs. More than 17,500 employees and 3,300 credentialed physicians work within the CHS system.
