In July, Mount Sinai Health System’s leadership offered staff the opportunity to receive a Commemorative COVID-19 Challenge Coin to recognize their selfless dedication and commitment during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Challenge Coins, as they have become known, are an important tradition, particularly within the crisis-response community, symbolizing a catastrophic event and recognizing the teamwork and individual sacrifice needed to overcome such events. In the past, they have been given to front-line workers after historical events of importance, such as 9/11 and Hurricane Maria relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
Click here to see three Mount Sinai employees reflecting on challenge coins they received for crisis responses.
In that tradition, this coin is designed to recognize the teamwork and partnership that characterized Mount Sinai’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Inscribed on one side of the coin are those exact two words. The opposing side bears a representation of how Mount Sinai’s eight hospitals (marked by eight stars) and hundreds of ambulatory sites—bolstered by clinical, ambulatory, administrative, and operations staff, trainees, and students—united as a system that, together in service, gave and continues to give everything to those who need us most.
Many sites across Mount Sinai hosted events or had managers make rounds to distribute the coins with letters of gratitude. Many other sites are still distributing the coins.
“We offer this small but meaningful token of our deep appreciation. We hope that it will serve as one way to memorialize the remarkable efforts you have made as individuals and as members of a team that met and countered this disastrous pandemic” says Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mount Sinai Health System.