NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health Recognized for Highest Quality Stroke Care by the Joint Commission
The hospital is now a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center, meeting rigorous standards for providing the highest level of stroke care
Dec 12, 2025
NYC Health + Hospital’s/South Brooklyn Health announced its designation as a Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. This recognition confirms the hospital meets rigorous standards for performing endovascular thrombectomy, the procedure to remove a blood clot from an artery in order to restore blood flow to vital organs. When completed within 24 hours of a stroke, a thrombectomy can save patient from permanent organ damage or death.
Today’s designation follows 18 months of milestones that highlight both clinical innovation and operational excellence in the hospital’s stroke care. South Brooklyn Health treated its first thrombectomy case in May, 2024, and in December, 2024 the hospital conducted its first endovascular aneurysm repair.
In January, 2024 the hospital opened a Neuro-critical Care Unit to enhance its ability to care for patients with complex neurological challenges. In March, the hospital launched 24/7 thrombectomy operations, ensuring life-saving stroke care around the clock. In October, the hospital launched its first Stroke Support Group, providing survivors and their families with vital education, connection, and healing.
Svetlana Lipyanskaya, the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health recognizes the Joint Commission Thrombectomy Certification as, “not only a tremendous achievement, but as a transformative and life-changing advancement for the communities we serve.”
“Stroke is not a one person show. It takes a village. And at SBH, we rise to the challenge – today and tomorrow,” said Ambooj Tiwari, MD, MPH, Chief of Neurology & Stroke Medical Director at NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health. “SBH Neurosciences brings an advanced stroke program to you where diverse teams work together to bring the future to you – a future of brain health where we expect excellence for all.”
“South Brooklyn Health’s stroke chain is stronger and faster than ever,” said Ketevan Berekashvili, MD, MPH, Director of Neurointerventional Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health. “This milestone is not just an achievement, it’s a promise. South Brooklyn Health will continue to elevate the standard of stroke care, innovate, and put patient outcomes at the forefront of everything we do.”
“From educating high school students and seniors about stroke to partnering with EMS, clinical teams, and our quality and regulatory departments, the focus has always been on empowering our community with knowledge and delivering safer, higher level stroke care,” said Arielle Archibald, MD, MPH, Stroke Coordinator at NYC Health + Hospital’s/South Brooklyn Health.
Beyond mechanical thrombectomy, the Neurointerventional team offers a wide range of advanced capabilities, including carotid and intracranial angioplasty/stenting, flow diversion, aneurysm coiling, MMA embolization, vessel reconstruction, and intrathecal therapies.
###
MEDIA CONTACT: South Brooklyn Health Public Affairs
#222-25
About NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health
A member of NYC Health + Hospitals, NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health is a major health care provider in the borough of Brooklyn. Its foremost mission is to provide quality, comprehensive care to all members of the public regardless of their ability to pay. 2025 marks its 150th anniversary of serving the communities of Brooklyn. South Brooklyn Health’s modern campus features the new Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital and full Ambulatory Care Services. Its range of services, include emergency care, surgery, maternity, and specialized outpatient care, and holds designations for its stroke and maternal care centers. NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health is a joint commission accredited thrombectomy stroke center, providing immediate access to the highest level of stroke care. South Brooklyn Health is also a certified Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Center, providing the highest level of neurology and cardiology care. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/southbrooklynhealth.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
