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New York Methodist Hospital (NYM) will host the 2011 Board of Trustees "Candlelight Gala," on Saturday, May 14, 2011, at the Brooklyn Museum. Proceeds from the gala will benefit the Hospital's Institute for Neurosciences; with a portion going towards the renovation of New York Methodist's inpatient rehabilitation gymnasium.

Madhu Gudavalli, MD, chief of neonatology, and her husband, Prasad Gudavalli, MD, will receive the Lewis S. Pilcher, MD, Award.

This year, the hospital will honor Madhu B. Gudavalli, MD, chief of neonatology, Prasad Gudavalli, MD, attending physician in surgery, and James Perkins, Esq., a Hospital trustee, for their generous commitment to New York Methodist.

The Gudavallis will receive the Lewis S. Pilcher, MD, Award, in recognition of their leadership and service to New York Methodist. The award is named for the Hospital's first medical director.

Born in Andhra Pradesh, South India, Prasad and Madhu Gudavalli both completed their medical education in Guntur Medical College, Andhra University, India. After they were married, they moved to New York in 1972.

Dr. Prasad Gudavalli is actively involved in teaching the surgical residents and medical students at New York Methodist. In addition, he serves on the Advisory Committee of the chairman of surgery at NYM and holds the title of clinical assistant professor of surgery at the Weill Cornell Medical College. He is a member of several surgical societies, including the American College of Surgeons, American Society of Breast Surgeons and Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons.

Dr. Madhu Gudavalli joined New York Methodist as chief of neonatology in 1992. She is a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at the Weill Cornell Medical College. During her career, Dr. Gudavalli has served as president of the New York Perinatal Society, the New York Methodist Hospital Physician's Alumni Association and the Brooklyn Pediatric Society. She serves on the advisory committee of the Department of Pediatrics and is actively involved in resident recruitment and training and in teaching medical students.

Always a team, the Gudavallis' are involved in several charitable activities, including the neonatal intensive care unit at NYM.

James Perkins, Esq., is the recipient of the James Monroe Buckley Award for Distinguished Trustee.

James Perkins, Esq., will receive the James Monroe Buckley Award for Distinguished Trustee in recognition of his dedication as a member of the Hospital's board of trustees. This award memorializes the Methodist minister who conceived the idea of founding the first Methodist Hospital, 130 years ago.

Mr. Perkins is a shareholder in the Litigation Practice Group of Greenberg Traurig LLP's New York office, an international law firm. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and arbitration with an emphasis on complex contracts, real estate, creditor's rights, commercial paper, securities, and intellectual property. A member of the New York bar since 1988, Mr. Perkins has over 23 years of practice experience and is a member of the American Bar Association, Litigation Section.

In addition to his service on the New York Methodist Hospital Board, Mr. Perkins is also involved in many other public service and community activities. He is the past president and member of the Board of Directors for the United Methodist City Society (where he had the opportunity to work closely with NYM board president John Carrington and the late William Kirkwood, a long-time NYM trustee), a trustee of the John Street Church Trust, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Darien Youth Hockey Association.

The son of a Methodist pastor, he received his J.D., cum laude, from American University Washington College of Law and his B.A., cum laude, in History and Political Science from Ohio Wesleyan University. Mr. Perkins resides in Connecticut with his wife Bridget and his children Lauren and Max.

The "Candlelight Gala" will begin with a cocktail hour at 7 p.m., followed by dinner and awards at 8 p.m. For tickets, or to place an advertisement in the souvenir journal, please call the Hospital's Department of Development at 718-780-5342.