Brooklyn, NY, Dec. 4, 2024 – Nilar Thwin, MD, Director of Maimonides’ LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Clinic, and Michael Brincat, Director of Special Events and Corporate Sponsorships, were among dozens of New York City LGBTQIA+ community members and allies honored by Gay City News and Schneps Media in their 2024 Impact Awards.
The awards ceremony took place on Nov. 21 at Terrace on the Park in Queens. This is the 9th year of the event, which honors the work and achievements of individuals across various fields who have made a difference in the LGBTQIA+ community in New York City and beyond.
“We congratulate Dr. Thwin and Michael Brincat for this recognition,” said Ken Gibbs, CEO and President of Maimonides Health. “These two individuals enrich our team every day through their commitment to making Maimonides more inclusive and supportive for both patients and staff, and we are deeply grateful for that. As we continue to make strides in setting our organization apart as a provider of equitable care for all, their leadership has been instrumental to achieving milestones like our designation as an “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for the first time this year.”
Dr. Nilar Thwin directs Maimonides’ LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Clinic, leading a team that provides inclusive, multidisciplinary mental health care to LGBTQIA+ communities across Brooklyn and beyond. A board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist, Dr. Thwin’s journey began in Myanmar, followed by psychiatric residencies in the United Kingdom and the United States, and a fellowship at Zucker School of Medicine/Northwell. Her dedication to LGBTQIA+ mental health stems from her early experiences working with patients in crisis and is further inspired by family members and loved ones in the community.
Under her leadership, the clinic actively collaborates with Brooklyn-based LGBTQIA+ community organizations and recently participated in the Advancing Healthcare Excellence and Inclusion (AHEI) project, an initiative of the Healthcare Association of New York State. Through a newly awarded grant, the trainings in competency skills for supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals in healthcare settings were organized collaboratively by Maimonides’ DEI department and community partners, reinforcing Dr. Thwin’s commitment to an affirming and nonjudgmental care environment. Each year, the clinic provides vital services to over 250 LGBTQIA+ patients, with an emphasis on community outreach and support.
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from a community that has always been close to my heart and central to my work since my early days as a medical resident,” said Dr. Thwin. “For our team at the Maimonides LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Clinic, creating an affirming environment where LGBTQIA+ individuals of all ages can fully embrace their identities is not simply a job—it’s a commitment to serving this community in ways that we believe truly make a difference.”
Michael Brincat is a passionate healthcare professional and LGBTQIA+ advocate at Maimonides Health. In his more than 16 years with the organization, he has worked for accessible care for the community as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion for employees and staff at Maimonides. When Maimonides launched the first fully accredited, comprehensive cancer center in Brooklyn, Michael played a key role in creating now-renowned annual fundraising initiatives to support it, including the Battle for Brooklyn charity softball game and Pink Runway, Maimonides’ breast cancer survivor fashion show. Michael has played a critical role in creating a strong LGBTQIA+ employee support system at Maimonides, helping to launch Maimonides’ LGBTQIA+ employee resource group, expand Pride celebrations, and have Maimonides become a major supporter of Brooklyn Pride.
“I am honored to be recognized alongside such an inspiring group,” said Michael Brincat. “Recognition like this is one of many great reminders of how much our community has to be proud of, and the positive influence that we create when serving our communities while honoring our whole selves. I’m proud of the programs we’ve built here at Maimonides for both our patients and staff, and I’m grateful for everyone who has been beside me in working to make it the inclusive organization it is today.”
For the full list of award winners, visit https://www.schnepsmedia.com/events/gay-city-news-impact-awards/.
For photos of the event, visit https://maimo.pixieset.com/mediagaycitynewsimpactawards2024/. To download photos, use PIN 1263.
Maimonides Health is Brooklyn’s largest healthcare system, serving over 320,000 patients each year through the system’s 3 hospitals, 1,800+ physicians and more than 80 community-based practices and outpatient centers. The system is anchored by Maimonides Medical Center, one of the nation’s largest independent teaching hospitals and home to centers of excellence in numerous specialties and Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital (formerly New York Community Hospital), a 130-bed adult medical-surgical hospital; and Maimonides Children’s Hospital, Brooklyn’s only children’s hospital and only pediatric trauma center.
Maimonides’ clinical programs rank among the best in the country for patient outcomes, including its Heart and Vascular Institute, Neurosciences Institute, Bone and Joint Center, and Cancer Center. Maimonides is an affiliate of Northwell Health and a major clinical training site for SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. For additional information, please visit www.maimo.org and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.