Dear Mount Sinai: Thank You

Apr 9, 2024 | Community, Featured

For National Doctors’ Day, Mount Sinai asked patients how they felt about their doctor. About 300 people responded by leaving short notes of thanks for doctors, their staff, and for all those who made it possible. You can read the notes here on a special website.

Notes like this: “Mount Sinai doctors have saved my life on more than one occasion. First when I had a brain aneurysm and then when I had an appendectomy. Thank you to all of them and to my present team of care. Gratitude to all the staff at Mount Sinai.” – Gladys Franceschi

Or this: “I am beyond blessed to have the following Mount Sinai physicians: Dr. Thomas Schiano has pulled me through so many rough times since my liver transplant. Dr. Kevin Dunsky has literally saved my life. Mount Sinai saved my life at least 3 times!”  – Colleen Jackson

Or this: “Dr. Kathryn Dubowski, your care at Mount Sinai changed my life. I arrived struggling to breathe, but thanks to your dedication, I can now breathe normally. Your compassion is unmatched, and I’m endlessly grateful.” – Bryan Medina

Their reasons for giving thanks were many and varied. Some expressed thanks to their doctor for saving their life. Or giving them back their life. Some for helping them get through a very difficult period in their life.

Some for diagnosing a problem others outside Mount Sinai had been unable to find. Some for many years, even decades, of expert medical treatment. Some for contributions to the community.

Some for advocating on their behalf, for giving them confidence, for understanding their pain, for offering relief.

Even some out of towners who ended up in a Mount Sinai emergency department expressed thanks. “In the past few years, I have become so disenchanted with our medical system. In a visit to NYC last year, I fell and hit my head. While at the ER, my faith was restored. Everyone there was so supportive and caring. I have never been treated so kind.” – Catherine Patrick

Many expressed thanks to their Mount Sinai doctors and staff for just listening, for answering their questions, for spending extra time with them, for always offering a friendly greeting, for expressing compassion.

In a word, for caring.

Here are some more notes:

Dr. Fabian at the Dickenson Center for MS has been a life changing doctor. She goes above and beyond to listen, understand, have compassion for and offer compassion to her patients. She is the greatest medical professional I’ve ever worked with. – Kirsten Hughson

Dr. Irie has been my oncologist for the past 5 years. In those 5 years she has shown me nothing but empathy, respect, and compassion. As a young cancer survivor I’m grateful to have a doctor who I can trust. Thank you for all that you do Dr. Irie!  – Roshni Kamta

Dr. Dubinsky was my doctor throughout my two pregnancies, including between my pregnancies when my Crohns was out of control, and she gave it all to get it under control and I’ve been in remission ever since – deepest remission I’ve ever been in!

Dr. John Mascarenhas made a difference in our lives. When my husband was dealing with leukemia, Dr. Mascarenhas was not just a doctor but acted as a family member. He put the best team together, he came on a day he was not for a consult. Incredible  – Kikelomo Ogundiran

I had a 14 hour surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from my nasal septum. Dr. Genden and his surgical team were absolutely amazing! They saved my life and I am forever grateful to them for all their top notch skills and dedication! Awesome doctors!  – Claire Lisanti

Dr. Blair Hammond is an incredible physician. She listens to our needs, concerns, and makes us feel as she has all the time in the world for us despite having a bustling waiting room of sick children. She’s just simply a pediatric gem! – Jacqueline Rose Zeigler

Dr. Kapka is passionate about population health and encourages changes towards it. Her effort in promoting healthy behaviors and addressing social determinants of health is commendable. She is making a real difference in the lives of patients/community

Dr. Anuradha Singh has been my specialist doctor for many years, I followed her from Bellevue Hospital. She has been empathetic, a good listener, an encourager, and my supportor thru out the years. She has help me feel empowered to improve my health – Felipe Rosado Jr.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my father’s highly skilled and compassionate surgeon Dr. Ismail El-Hamamsy and his entire cardiac team for safely repairing his ascending aortic aneurysm and valve. Dr. El-Hamamsy and his team are the best! – Lucia Panico

Happy Doctors’ Day! Dr. Zaw Naing – Thank you for your almost 30 years of incredible service to our healthcare community. Your dedication, compassion, and expertise have improved countless lives, and we are grateful for all that you do.  – Michele Ramirez

Dr. Mocco has been my doctor and he and his team have been fantastic pre, during, and post! I’d like to give a toast to them all! I saw him late in the fall and he dealt with my blocked right artery and ended up putting two stents in to open it up! – Dave Sweeney

Dr. Ripp does more than just listen to my complaints– many because I am almost 103! He acts on them promptly and thoughtfully. I feel totally cared for since Dr. Ripp and his team have become part of my team. – Sophie Gerber

My right hand was painful and swollen to the point I could use it. My local rheumatologist prescribed prednisone, but couldn’t find the cause. At Mount Sinai, Dr Olivia Ghaw was able to diagnose and treat me for psoriatic arthritis. I am so grateful! – Sheryl Rain Worthington

Read all of the notes to Mount Sinai doctors and staff. The annual observance is March 30.

Mount Sinai Queens-Crescent Street Officially Opens, Signifying a New Era of Care in Queens

Updated on Apr 5, 2024 | Community, Featured

From left: Anna Kril,Eartha Washington, Rabbi Jonathan Pearl, Tiffany Echevarria, Jill Goldstein, Ken Long (behind), Donovan Richards, Cameron R. Hernandez, MD, Michael Gianaris, Lynn Schulman, Florence Koulouris, Amrita Gupte, David L. Reich, MD, Ricardo Bonitto, and Nancy Papaioannou

The opening of Mount Sinai Queens-Crescent Street, a new multispecialty care outpatient practice in Queens, underscores Mount Sinai’s commitment to improving health and its commitment to the community.

“Mount Sinai Queens-Crescent Street marks a transformative milestone in the delivery of care in Astoria and beyond,” says David Reich, MD, President of The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens. “We are focused on enhancing the patient experience at Mount Sinai, and are committed to opening new facilities and increasing the range of advanced health care services we provide; and that is what we have done in our neighborhood.”

On Thursday, March 7, Mount Sinai Queens hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new outpatient practice.

Designed to enhance multispecialty care in a convenient state-of-the-art facility, Mount Sinai Queens-Crescent Street offers the latest diagnostic and treatment options and specialized care.

Services include heart care from the world-renowned Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital on the Second Floor and centers for hematology/oncology, gastroenterology, endocrinology/diabetes care, rheumatology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation (physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology) on the Third Floor.

The new practice features new accommodations, including spacious exam rooms, comfortable waiting areas, bathrooms, and beautiful modern fixtures in an accessible, easy-to-navigate building. In addition, the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department has a large gym that features new equipment, more privacy, and a bigger area, making it more accessible to patients.

“Our goal is to make this facility the destination for care in Queens,” says Cameron R. Hernandez, MD, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Mount Sinai Queens. “Mount Sinai Queens-Crescent Street will play a pivotal role not only in ensuring that community members—our neighbors—receive the care they deserve but also in creating an immersive and comprehensive health care experience for patients and clinical experts.”

Within the next year, a Mount Sinai retail pharmacy and Mount Sinai Express Care—an urgent care clinic associated with the hospital’s emergency room—will also open on the First Floor of the building.

Mount Sinai Queens is committed to providing the community of western Queens and beyond with the best outpatient, emergency, and inpatient medical care. Patients have access to a highly trained team of nearly 500 physicians representing almost 40 medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties. The team of physicians, nurses, and support staff uphold the Mount Sinai tradition of excellence by providing high-quality, patient-centered care, delivered with compassion.

Attending the groundbreaking were the Mount Sinai Queens leadership team that includes Amrita Gupte, MD, MPH, MBA, Jill Goldstein, MA, MS, RN, Ellina Babar, Ricardo Bonitto, MBA, and Zachary Kee. They were joined by Dr. Reich; Donovan Richards Jr, Queens Borough President; Michael Gianaris, State Senator; Lynn Schulman, Council Member; and Tiffany Echevarria, Community Liaison for Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez.

Learn more about Mount Sinai Queens-Crescent Street or make an appointment

Alumni Kiran Nagdeo, BDS, MPH, Shares How Mount Sinai Enabled Her to Integrate Her Oral Health Experience Into a Public Health Career

Mar 29, 2024 | Community, Featured, School

Kiran Nagdeo, BDS, MPH

Kiran Nagdeo earned her BDS degree at D.Y. Patil University School of Dentistry in India and has eight years of clinical experience. She recently graduated from the Master of Public Health program, specializing in Global Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Why did you decide to study at Icahn Mount Sinai?

The main reason I chose Mount Sinai is because it’s one of largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area. That gives you hope that it will open multiple opportunities, which it did. Another big reason was that the location really mattered to me. Mount Sinai is located very close to Central Park, and close to the subway, which made commuting easier.

What attracted you to study Public Health? What about it inspires you?

I was a completely clinically oriented dentist, practicing in India, and I was happy—until COVID-19 hit. It was during the pandemic that I realized the importance of broader level or upscale interventions. I had been working on an individual level—patient-doctor one to one relationship—but if I was equipped back then, I could have helped and contributed on a bigger scale to support many more people. Around this time, I decided to pursue public health.

My love and passion for dentistry and oral health is strong, and I have embraced avenues for my continued interest in this area. I have learned that there isn’t a heavy focus on oral health in the public health sector. There are very few select professionals, who usually tend to have a dental background, who have contributed to dental public health.

My goal going forward is the integration of oral health in public health and to advance maternal and child health. Women are key change agents, and children are the future we are bringing this change about for.

What were some of your achievements as a master’s student?

During my time in the Graduate Program in Public Health, I am proud to have accomplished so much. This includes: Two full text publications with multiple under review and work in progress publications; attending four conferences with about ten presentations; participating in the global health summer research program, which included visiting Rikers Island for shadowing the dental team and the medical complex care services team; participating in a Community-based Participatory Research Program in Queens; honored with winning four awards; and being inducted into the Delta Omega honorary society.

What activities outside the classroom have contributed to your success?

I’ve been the most active with the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), and I owe all my success to Hyewon Lee, DMD, MPH, DrPH, the Chair of the Oral Health Workgroup (OHWG). She has elevated me and invested in my growth on a professional as well a personal level. I would not have been as successful or learned as much without her mentorship. I am currently the Vice Chair of the workgroup, directly under Dr. Lee’s leadership. I had my first ever publication with her, and first ever presentation at the largest public health conference, the American Public Health Association.

I’ve also participated in many research activities. I worked as a research assistant in Mount Sinai’s Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, which helped in my professional growth and development. I learned the basics of research thanks to my professor Maayan Yitshak-Sade, PhD, and Vishal Midya, PhD. They laid the foundation for my understanding in research.

I’ve been involved in several student organizations within Icahn Mount Sinai. This kind of exposure led me to gain more perspective as a graduate student in a medical school. I’ve held two positions in the student council in my time at Icahn Mount Sinai, most recently being the second year class representative for MPH. Along with that I’ve led five other organizations, while participating in many more. Even as a student, my strongest skill has been collaborations; I’ve collaborated with postdocs, medical students, MD/PhD students, different groups that I’m leading, and other student body structures, while leading the planning of multiple events. I’ve noticed how collaborations help us all bring our resources and friends together to have a much bigger event that is mutually beneficial.

I’ve also written for The Scoop, which is the MPH newsletter, on racism in public health. And written in the Helen journal about my unforgettable experience at the AADMD One Voice conference.I completed a student leadership in global oral health course with the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders (AOHAB). That led to working closely with the president of AOHAB, Deborah Weisfuse, DMD, MSc, and I now hold a leadership position of Program Director in the organization.

I’m currently a part of the American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH) Dental Public Health Leadership Academy (DHPLA) as a student leader. I also hold leadership positions at APHA, as External Relations Co-Chair in the APHA Student Assembly, Student Fellow in the Maternal and Child Health Sections, and a member of the Scientific Planning Committee in the Oral Health Section. I’ve also had the opportunity to be a teaching assistant for Maya Korin, PhD, MS, and Laura MacIsaac, MD, MPH, for MPH students, and for Georgina Osorio, MD, MPH, and Gallane Abraham, MD, for Clinical Research Students.

What are your plans now that you have completed your degree?

I will be continuing my work as a research assistant in the Microbial Exposomics lab under the leadership of Dr. Midya and Shoshannah Eggers, PhD, in the Department of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science at Icahn Mount Sinai, in collaboration with the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa. I will be continuing my commitments at WFPHA, APHA, and AOHAB. I have been accepted and will be pursuing my PhD of Public Health in Epidemiology at New York University School of Global Public Health.

Learn more about the Master of Public Health Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Match Day 2024: Entering Specialties With Great Need

Updated on Mar 29, 2024 | Community, Featured, School

Fourth-year MD Icahn School of Medicine students receiving their placements on Match Day, Friday, March 15, from left to right: Amina Avril, Claire Ufongene, Candida Damian, Yhan Colón Ibán, and Charlotte Pierce.

Match Day represents a milestone for fourth-year medical students across the country—it’s when they receive their placements for the residency programs they’ve applied to. On Friday, March 15, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s Class of 2024 congregated at the Guggenheim Pavilion for Match Day, and 133 students matched to 26 different specialties across the nation.

Michael Leitman, MD, Professor of Surgery, and Medical Education, at Icahn Mount Sinai, and Dean for Graduate Medical Education, observes Match Day closely because it reflects the physician pipeline. In several critical areas, he says, most notably the primary care specialties (internal medicine, general pediatrics, family medicine, and geriatrics) and psychiatry, the supply of new doctors entering these specialties is barely sufficient to meet demand.

“These are areas where we are seeing low match rates among students, and we suspect that students are gravitating towards careers in more lucrative specialties in part because they’re concerned about debt,” says Dr. Leitman.

According to the National Resident Matching Program, the organization conducting the Main Residency Match, for the Class of 2024 MD seniors, 87.8 percent of family medicine residency positions were filled, compared to most other programs, which were filled 100 percent—or close to. Pediatrics and psychiatry programs had unfilled positions in this year’s match too.

A 2021 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) forecasts a primary care physician shortage of 18,000 to 48,000 in 2034. The big problem this shortage creates is that primary care is where important screenings are done, such as hypertension.

Positions filled in specialties with high need: 2024 vs 2023

Specialty 2024 2023
Family Medicine 87.8% 88.7%
Pediatrics 91.8% 97.1%
Psychiatry 99.5% 99.0%

“In the areas that we serve at The Mount Sinai Hospital, which includes East Harlem, we have to think about the loss of family medicine doctors who will not be available to care for this population, which will only further reinforce the health care disparities we are working so hard to correct,” says Dr. Leitman.

“Although historically, students from Icahn Mount Sinai have matched to primary care fields at lower rates than other specialties, this year’s Match represented the highest number of students matching into primary care specialties,” says Tara K Cunningham, EdD, MS, Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Associate Professor of Medical Education, who leads the team responsible for career and residency advising at Icahn Mount Sinai. Last year, Dr. Cunningham says, two students entered pediatrics. “This year, a record-breaking 11 students are going into pediatrics.”

Icahn Mount Sinai’s Class of 2024 has more students placing into primary care and neurology than any other graduating class in school history. The most popular specialties for the class are internal medicine (28), pediatrics (11), anesthesiology (10), obstetrics (8), gynecology (8), neurology (7), ophthalmology (7), and psychiatry (7).

Two MD seniors entering residency programs in specialties with high need share their thoughts on their matches and what they hope to achieve in their respective fields.

Stephanie Ureña, Family Medicine program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center

What are your thoughts on your match, and tell me about the programs you applied for?

I am very happy with my result because this was my top choice. I wanted to stay in New York City and work with an underserved, majority-Hispanic population. I mostly applied to programs in New York City and Philadelphia because these are both places where I had a community. I was born and raised in the Bronx and this is where most of my immediate family is. I went to school at the University of Pennsylvania so I also had some friends there and some family that had also moved there.

What do you know about the challenges of the specialty you’re entering, and how do you think you might be able to overcome them?

I am going into family medicine and given the current medical system, there is never enough time for visits. Additionally, patients’ health is connected to social determinants of health and there are often not enough resources to keep patients healthy.

I plan on learning to prioritize pressing health issues for quick visits given the time crunch. I also plan on immersing myself into the community that I practice in so that I can learn about community resources that address some of their social determinants of health.

What inspired you to go into medicine in the first place?

I had a really awesome pediatrician growing up who was my constant cheerleader. I remember looking forward to his visits because he just wanted to catch up on life and would always teach me ways to stay healthy. Then as I grew up, I realized how much I liked science and was fascinated by the human body so I decided to continue to pursue a path in medicine.

What impact do you hope to achieve in your specialty?

For family medicine, I hope to continue to provide patient-centered health care and expand on my knowledge of community resources. I would ideally like to have a system in which I refer my patients to community resources that address their social determinants of health. I would also like to create more pipeline programs that bring students from the local community into medical schools that are in their community. I envision myself joining a community board and advocating for the community needs.

Candida Damian, Pediatrics/Psychiatry/Child Psychiatry Triple Board program at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital

What are your thoughts on your match, and tell me about the programs you applied for?

I am very excited. There are only 11 Triple Board programs in the country, so I am super grateful to have matched. Since there are limited triple board positions, I applied for categorical psychiatry positions as well. I wanted to match into a Triple Board program because I am deeply passionate about the intersection of pediatrics and psychiatry, and am drawn to the diversity of experiences and the unique skill set that Triple Board training offers.

What do you know about the challenges of the specialty you’re entering, and how do you think you might be able to overcome them?

Entering a Triple Board program presents the challenge of navigating multiple specialties and wearing different hats, requiring adaptability and flexibility. I plan to overcome this by really leaning into my training and always asking for help.

There is a huge need, especially, for child psychiatrists. Mental health in children is a public health crisis. Entering a field with a high, under-met need is both daunting and inspiring. It underscores the urgency and importance of my chosen path. I see it as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on individuals and communities who are underserved and often marginalized. By entering these fields, I aim to contribute to closing the gap in access to quality health care and improving outcomes for those in need.

What inspired you to go into medicine in the first place?

It has been my childhood dream to become a doctor. However, due to many external factors, I had believed a profession in medicine was just too far out of my reach. The idea of attending college was daunting enough, not to speak of attending medical school. I was committed to providing compassionate care for patients, so I channeled my energy into going to nursing school.

I will never forget the day as a third-year nursing student that I met a 16-year-old patient who confided in me about the events that led up to her being admitted into the psychiatric hospital. She had dreams of going to college and becoming a marine biologist. However, the external hardships she faced made her doubtful that she could accomplish her goals. She told me, “You know more about me than the doctors here do. I feel like I can tell you anything.”

We could relate to each other, we had similar upbringings, and I learned that just my presence alone was able to give patients that feeling of safety they often lacked. I recognized that all of the reasons that led me to believe I could not become a physician were actually the reasons why I needed to become a physician.

That patient’s story and trust in me during my nursing rotation helped me believe, for the first time, that becoming a physician was attainable. My determination to make a difference outweighed the fear. That day, I Googled “How to get into medical school” and the rest was history.

What impact do you hope to achieve in your specialty?

In my specialty, I hope to provide compassionate and comprehensive care to vulnerable populations, especially children and families who have endured significant abuse and neglect. My aim is to intervene promptly and treat both their physical and mental health needs at each developmental milestone, while fostering trust, empowerment, and providing a safe environment for healing and growth. I am dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of trauma and I am on a mission to help break down the many barriers faced so that future generations have the opportunity to pursue their dreams despite external challenges.

2024 Jacobi Medallion Award Ceremony

Updated on Mar 25, 2024 | Community, Featured, Research

Seated, from left: Helen M. Fernandez, MD, MPH, MSH ’01; Marla C. Dubinsky, MD; Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD; Roxana Mehran, MD, MSH ’95; and Stephen Harvey, CPA, MBA. Standing, from left: Dennis Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Stuart A. Aaronson, MD; Peak Woo, MD; Mark Kostegan, FAHP; Kirk N. Campbell, MD; Sandra K. Masur, PhD, FASCB; Brendan G. Carr, MD, MA, MS, Chief Executive Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System; and Leo M. Keegan, MD, MSSM ’86, MSH ’94. Not pictured: Jeremy H. Boal, MD, MSH ’96

The Mount Sinai Alumni Association and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai presented accomplished physicians, researchers, educators, and administrators with the 2024 Jacobi Medallion, one of Mount Sinai’s highest awards. The annual ceremony was held Thursday, March 14, at the Plaza Hotel.

The recipients of the Jacobi Medallion have made exceptional contributions to the Mount Sinai Health System, Icahn Mount Sinai, the Mount Sinai Alumni Association, or the fields of medicine or biomedicine.

Watch the ceremony

View the digital program

Watch the In Memoriam video

Stuart A. Aaronson, MD

Founding Chair Emeritus, Department of Oncological Sciences

Jane B. and Jack R. Aron Professor of Neoplastic Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Associate Director for Basic and Translational Research, The Tisch Cancer Institute’s NCI-designated Cancer Center

Watch a video of Dr. Aaronson

Jeremy H. Boal, MD, MSH ’96

Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, and President of Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Downtown until December 2023

Department of Population Health Science and Policy

Watch a video of Dr. Boal

Kirk N. Campbell, MD

Irene and Dr. Arthur M. Fishberg Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology

Professor of Pharmacological Sciences

Founding Director of the Center for Kidney Disease Innovation

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Watch a video of Dr. Campbell

Marla C. Dubinsky, MD

Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital

Co-Director of the Susan and Leonard Feinstein IBD Clinical Center

Co-Director of the IBD Preconception and Pregnancy Planning Clinic at Mount Sinai

Watch a video of Dr. Dubinsky

Helen M. Fernandez, MD, MPH, MSH ’01

Vice Chair of Education, Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Watch a video of Dr. Fernandez

Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD

Waldman Professor of Dermatology and Immunology

Health System Chair of the Department of Dermatology

Director, Center for Excellence in Eczema and the Laboratory for Inflammatory Skin Diseases

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Watch a video of Dr. Guttman-Yassky

Stephen Harvey, CPA, MBA

Chief Financial Officer, Mount Sinai Health System

Watch a video of Mr. Harvey

Mark Kostegan, FAHP

Chief Development Officer and Senior Vice President for Development at Mount Sinai

Watch a video of Mr. Kostegan

Roxana Mehran, MD, MSH ’95

Professor of Medicine

Director of Interventional Cardiovascular Research and Clinical Trials, Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Watch a video of Dr. Mehran

Peak Woo, MD

Clinical Professor, Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Watch a video of Dr. Woo

Learn more about Alumni at Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai’s Million Dollar Circle Recognition Honors Underrepresented Vendors

Updated on Mar 22, 2024 | Community, Diversity and Inclusion, Featured

From left: Tiffany Oloke, Sourcing Lead II–Value Analysis; Patrice Gordon-Poyser, Supplier Diversity Manager; Carlos Maceda, Chief Supply Chain Officer; and Lynn Oxner, Director, Supply Chain, at the Million Dollar Circle Recognition event on February 9

Mount Sinai recently held its inaugural Million Dollar Circle Recognition event—celebrating 28 underrepresented vendors that each provided more than $1 million in products and services to the Health System in 2022 and 2023. More than $70 million was spent with the Million Dollar Circle vendors in each of those years.

“Supplier diversity is embedded in the culture, even the DNA of Mount Sinai,” Edward Robinson, Senior Vice President and Chief Resource Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, said at the event, which was held on February 9 at Mount Sinai’s Corporate Services Center. “This is our mission, to advance health equity and socioeconomics in the communities we serve.”

The event, attended by vendors and Mount Sinai staff and leadership, was moderated by Patrice Gordon-Poyser, Supplier Diversity Manager, Mount Sinai Health System. Leaders from three of the vendor honorees participated in the Million Dollar Journey panel. They discussed the services they provided to Mount Sinai, the effect of their long-standing business relationship on the growth of their companies, and ways in which they have been giving back to communities through charitable initiatives.

One of these vendors, a technology procurement fulfillment company that is Asian-American owned, was tasked with procuring iPads for patients, which allowed them to communicate with their loved ones while they were isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Getting there, not just from the technological perspective, but from one of procurement, putting it together, and delivering it, was one of the areas that I feel really stood out during our relationship with Mount Sinai,” said the vendor’s chief technology officer.

Another vendor on the panel, a veteran-owned staffing business, provided 50 crisis nurses for the Health System during the pandemic. “We all came together, Mount Sinai, our company, everybody here,” said the company’s chief executive officer. “It was an amazing New York moment, and something we are very proud of.”

The third vendor, a woman-owned office supply business, worked with Mount Sinai’s architectural design team to redesign Health System spaces that support employee well-being, including ergonomic chairs for nursing staff. As a health care provider, Mount Sinai posed unique challenges that helped the business evolve.

“Our client is not just Mount Sinai, our client is also the patient,” said the company’s director of marketing and workplaces strategy during the panel. “It really prompted us to develop a whole new health care department. Our staff all have more training and understanding in health care specifically.”

Carlos Maceda, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, commended the vendors for reaching the $1 million milestone. “I ask you to never forget where you came from, and to never forget your roots to be able to always help someone,” said Mr. Maceda.

Pamela Abner, Senior Vice President, Health Equity Officer, and Chief Diversity Operations Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, said that community vendors provide solutions through innovation and creativity in ways that would have been challenging for larger companies. She also noted how Mount Sinai’s relationship with local vendors helps New York City.

“By building community wealth, we build community health,” she explained.

To learn more about Mount Sinai’s commitment to supplier diversity, please visit Supplier Diversity or email supplierdiversity@mountsinai.org.

Learn more about Supplier Diversity at Mount Sinai.

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