Bellport patient advocate receives significant New York State recognition

Patient Advocates of America, Inc. founder and CEO Jangir Sultan, an East Patchogue resident with an office in Bellport Village, was honored by City & State New York as a 2026 Trailblazer in Health Care. Sultan was among notable policymakers and providers in New York State.
The event was held on Thurs. Jan. 29 at the Midtown Loft & Terrace on 5th Avenue. Shelly Anderson, Hospital President of Memorial Sloan Kettering, Mario Damiani, CEO of AHRC New York City and Bryan Kelly, President and CEO Hospital for Special Surgery were among those cited.
“I felt I had imposter syndrome with all these CEO’s of these big companies but it was great being there,” said Sultan.
Sultan celebrated with husband Kevin Harter, vice president of Integrated Marketing and Fashion Office at Bloomingdale’s.
They have twin sons.
“Coming from a family where the career options were doctor, lawyer, engineer, my parents would have me take people’s blood pressure at parties early on,” Sultan joked.
Sultan grew up in Brooklyn and the U.K. His interest in advocacy health care began with a trip to bond with grandparents in Kashmir.
Grandfather Mohammad Shafi, and Grandmother Zainub Bi, (75 and 65 at the time) lived in the suburbs of Mirpur at the foothills of the Himalayas. They took frequent nature walks with bird watching and wildlife sightings and pointed out their unique aspects to Sultan.
Spending a year with them, Sultan and saw that aging can offer a dynamic alternative. Although his grandparents were from a historic Janjua Rajput noble lineage, their sense of kindness, purpose, community and health practices were pivotal in his health career journey.
Their influence: With proper care, and attention to life and health choices, you can age well.
With 23 years of advocacy experience, Sultan now consults with doctors, nurses, social workers art therapists and others and specializes in helping to navigate the health care system for the elderly. His office is located at 1 Station Circle.
Attending Lafayette High School’s (now Lafayette Medical Complex) medical technician program, he first volunteered in hospitals and nursing homes and graduated as a certified nurse’s aide at 18. “My advocacy started in a hospital through occupational therapy. From there it was 1199/SEIU Health Care Workers Union Delegate advocating for co-workers and addressing inefficient methods in patient health care.” Other roles included occupational therapist working in hospitals, rehab facilities, home care and nursing homes and earning his Nursing Home Administrator license. He also helped develop specialized programs for developmental disabilities, neurology, the deaf, blind, and mental health reintegration programs for ArchCare Senior Life.
Sultan agrees his career path was a step-by-step progression leading to what he’s doing now. “I love the idea of patients being cared for in the home,” he said. “It helps with longevity. I have quite a few patients over 100 years old. They exercise daily, eat well, have a group of friends they see every week, they volunteer and have a reason to get up.”
He referred to his upbringing in Midwood, Brooklyn after the family returned from the U.K. “There were Russian, Jewish, Italian grandmothers who were active and engaged,” he said.
“People in precarious situations, I get them backup,” he said. “We get information from the doctor, look at a patient’s schedule and set up meetings. If tests are ordered, I make sure they are covered by insurance.”
He referred to a patient who was hoarding and was going to lose her home. “We recommended the medical needs she required with her family. She is safe now in the community close to her sister in Long Island where I helped move her.”
For more information, contact: jsultan@paofny.com, phone: 914-719-7593, website: www.patientadvocatesofamerica.com.