Sanneman joined South Nassau

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Dana Sanneman always had a personal connection to South Nassau Communities Hospital. Both of her children were born there, she was once a patient in its emergency room, and she always drove by it on her way to work.

Now, the Rockville Centre resident is the newest member of its family.

Sanneman is the Oceanside hospital’s new executive director of public affairs after spending the last 15 years working for former Senator Alfonse D’Amato.

“This is my community hospital,” she said. “After my kids were born here, I became personally invested in it. I first reached out to them a few years ago for a community event. I wanted to give back. That’s how the whole thing got started.”

Joe Calderone, the senior vice president of corporate communications and development for South Nassau, was especially impressed with Sanneman’s experience.

“She has tremendous expertise in fundraising, government affairs and media, and we’re very excited to have her with us,” he said. “We’re going to put all of that talent to use on behalf of South Nassau.”

Calderone said the hospital combined other vacant positions and created a new one “to fit her unique talents.”

“Her experience is not something you normally find in one individual,” he said. “She is very well respected across Long Island and accomplished in all of these key areas. We are excited to have her on board the South Nassau team.”

Sanneman will be a member of both the external affairs and development teams. Her responsibilities will include cultivating new relationships in the community, government affairs, corporate communications and media relations.

Sanneman, 36, grew up in upstate Orange County and graduated from Siena College in 2002 with a degree in political science. She received her master’s degree from New York University in public and non-profit management.

Her first and only job before joining South Nassau was working for D’Amato. She worked in media relations and special events for his Park Strategies LLC company, a public policy and business development lobbying firm.

“Every single day that I walked into work, I never knew what was going to happen,” said Sanneman. “I will always be so grateful for everything that he taught me. I couldn’t have learned from a better leader. It was an honor to work for him.”

She has lived in Rockville Centre since 2002 with her husband, Jon, and children Tessa, 5, and Kate, 3.