Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community, Featured
FDNY EMT Lieutenant Raymond Wang, center, returned to The Mount Sinai Hospital on Wednesday, November 27, when his colleague FDNY EMT Liam Glinane, second from right, was discharged.
In a press conference held on Thursday, October 17, New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Commissioner Daniel Nigro stood with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and shared the details of what he called “an extremely tragic coincidence.” Two emergency medical technicians (EMT), he said, had just suffered unrelated life-threatening medical emergencies at the same location, within minutes of each other.
On that fateful day, Liam Glinane, a 28-year FDNY veteran, was driving an ambulance to the Fire Academy on Randall’s Island when he had a stroke on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and veered off the road, hitting another car. Lieutenant Raymond Wang was dispatched to the scene of the accident, but before he could tend to his colleague, Lt. Wang had an aortic dissection. “This is a tough day for our city and for the FDNY,” said Mayor de Blasio. Lt. Wang was described to be in critical condition; Mr. Glinane was in critical but stable condition.
It was fortunate that when Lt. Wang, a 19-year veteran of the FDNY, took ill, he was on a ride-along with a physician from Elmhurst Hospital. That physician was able to immediately treat the two unconscious paramedics while waiting for backup help. Soon after, Mr. Glinane was rushed to Mount Sinai Queens, which recently had opened its world-class Cerebrovascular Stroke Center featuring specially designed equipment that allows for improved speed and efficiency in stroke diagnosis and treatment. Lt. Wang, who was first taken to Elmhurst Hospital, was transferred to The Mount Sinai Hospital.
Stephen D. Waterford, MD, MS, left, led a team that included Percy Boateng, MD, Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in performing life-saving surgery on FDNY EMT Lieutenant Raymond Wang.
After life-saving procedures, Lt. Wang would be released from Mount Sinai 13 days later, surrounded by a cheering crowd of FDNY officials and paramedics, family, friends, and staff who treated him. However, it was not until Wednesday, November 27, that Mr. Glinane would be discharged. Again, the FDNY family, including Lt. Wang, would turn out in force. “I am very happy to come to the hospital and be able to walk with Liam out of the hospital,” said a smiling Lt. Wang—who, himself, also had much reason to rejoice.
Lt. Wang, 47, it turned out, had survived a particularly severe form of aortic dissection—a tear in the aorta next to his heart that had caused a life-threatening decrease in his blood pressure, necessitating emergency heart surgery. Stephen D. Waterford, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery, and Director of the Surgical Arrhythmia Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, led the team that performed surgery on Lt. Wang. “His lungs and heart were not working, and he had no blood flow to his right leg,” said Dr. Waterford.
Meanwhile, Reade De Leacy, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, and Radiology, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Director of Cerebrovascular Services at Mount Sinai Queens, removed the blood clot blocking an artery in Mr. Glinane’s brain. “He presented with paralysis of the left side of his body, inability to speak properly, and poor awareness of where he was in space and his location. It was an incredibly serious illness,” Dr. De Leacy recalled.
Mr. Glinane, 63, was later transported to The Mount Sinai Hospital, where he continued his recovery and rehabilitation at the Brain Injury Unit at the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Center. Under the care of Richard Frieden, MD, Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, and a team of therapists—Kristen Eggers, PT; Aura Weltman, OT; and Carly Traiman, SLP—Mr. Glinane recovered physically and cognitively. Finally, on the day before Thanksgiving—41 days after his stroke—Mr. Glinane, serenaded by bagpipes and cheers, and with Lt. Wang at his side, was discharged from Mount Sinai.
As the two FDNY veterans walked out together, Lillian Bonsignore, Chief of FDNY Emergency Medical Services, said, “I would consider this our new FDNY Thanksgiving. We certainly have so much to be thankful for. We almost lost two of our heroes, people who have dedicated their lives to saving other people. Today, we can see that that was given back to them.”
“You’re looking at two of the luckiest New Yorkers in the city right now,” Mr. Glinane told the large crowd of well-wishers standing outside The Mount Sinai Hospital. “This is a total success story, thanks to the staff of the building behind me. They’ve literally made a total difference in my outcome—to the hospital, to how I came in here, to how I’m leaving on my own power with 100 percent functionality.”
Today, Mr. Glinane is close to being fully recovered and, despite a long road of outpatient stroke rehabilitation ahead of him, he says he has every intention of going back to work. “I’ve got the greatest job in the world,” he said. “I’m self-sufficient, I’m not a burden, I’m back in the game. I’ve got another shot at life.”
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community, Featured
The Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center honored six individuals for their commitment to New York City’s young people at its 16th Annual Breakfast of Legends benefit at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on Thursday, November 14. The Center provides free, comprehensive, and confidential health and wellness services to more than 12,000 young people annually and is a national leader in adolescent health research and training.
“Today, in its 51st year, the Center remains true to its original vision and mission—the care of New York City’s adolescents and young adults,” James S. Tisch, Co-Chairman, Boards of Trustees, Mount Sinai Health System, said in a warm welcome to guests.
Angela Diaz, MD, PhD, MPH, Jean C. and James W. Crystal Professor in Adolescent Health, Professor of Pediatrics, and Environmental Medicine and Public Health, and Director of the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, recognized the volunteers, benefactors, leadership, and staff who made the event—and the Center’s work—possible: “Thank you for helping us give young people a place of healing, and a place of hope.”
Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System, emphasized the importance of innovation in the care of adolescents, who face constantly evolving challenges. “At the Center, innovations are ongoing—including its groundbreaking work with HIV-infected youth and transgender adolescents,” Dr. Charney said.
Three patients—Moza, Richard, and Anisa—recounted how the Center had transformed their lives. “It is not just a health center, but a chance for a fulfilled life,” Moza said.
The honorees were:
Jerry Bruno, Strategic Project Manager, City of New York Department of Homeless Services
Rachel L. Colon, LCSW, Primary Care Social Work Coordinator, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, who received the Center’s Staff Award
Yasmeen Mock, Head of Client Relations and Chief Operating Officer, Kimelman & Baird, LLC
Lisa M. Satlin, MD, Herbert H. Lehman Professor and Chair, Jack and Lucy Clark Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Patricia Wang, President and Chief Executive Officer, Healthfirst
Raja M. Flores, MD, Steven and Ann Ames Professor and Chair of the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who was presented with the Dr. Joan E. Morgenthau Lifetime Advocate for Youth Award by Dr. Morgenthau’s daughters Ellie Hirschhorn and Joan Bright for his kindness, warmth, and clinical skill in treating adolescent patients.
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community
From left: Financial Representatives Shiara Gonzalez, Bianela Baez, Benney Mayol, Carmen Abreu, Carmen Cacho, Evangeline Counts, Dawn Wiggins, and Christopher Figueroa.
Amid pink balloons and desk decorations, and prominent pink banners that proclaimed “Courage, Strength & Hope,” Mount Sinai staff located at 160 Water Street also wore pink—and plenty of it—every Friday in October to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The all-pink effort was led by Carmen Cacho, Carmen Abreu, Evangeline Counts, and Dawn Wiggins, Financial Representatives on the Patient Financial Services team.
“Cancer affects all of us, whether you are a daughter, a mother, a sister, a friend, a co-worker, a doctor, or patient,” says Ms. Abreu. Adds Evelyn Placencia, Director, Patient Financial Services, Patient Accounts (Commercial Unit), “Here at 160 Water Street, we are a family. Decorating and acknowledging the month of October signifies our love, support, and unity for family, co-workers, patients, and other colleagues throughout the Mount Sinai Health System.”
Updated on Nov 14, 2025 | Community
At Mount Sinai St. Luke’s, Alicia Thomas, MSPT, MPH, Director of Rehabilitation, right; with Helen Ong Hai, PT, MSHS, GCS, Senior Physical Therapist, demonstrated the use of a sock-aid, an adaptive equipment device for individuals lacking the dexterity, strength, or range of motion for putting on socks.
Two informational fairs about disability awareness drew Mount Sinai faculty, staff, and students, as well as patients and community members interested in learning about local organizations and resources dedicated to the care of people with disabilities.
The events, which were held at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and The Mount Sinai Hospital during Disability Awareness Month in October, were co-sponsored by The Joseph F. Cullman, Jr. Institute for Patient Experience.
Among those providing educational resources were representatives from the Lighthouse Guild, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, Access-A-Ride, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Harlem Independent Living Center, as well as Mount Sinai staff from a variety of areas, including Language Services, Rehabilitation Medicine and Human Performance, and the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment.
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community
Alejandro Berenstein, MD, center in white coat; and Michelle A. Sorscher, RN, MSN, CPNP, Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Program Manager, Pediatric Cerebrovascular Program, far left; with members of the Needlers Foundation.
Representatives from the nonprofit Needlers Foundation, which raises funds to support underprivileged children in need of neurosurgery, brought joy to pediatric patients in December when they visited Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital with loads of donated toys.
“We are incredibly appreciative of their partnership and collaboration,” says Alejandro Berenstein, MD, Director of the Pediatric Cerebrovascular Surgery Program and Hyman-Newman Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery at Kravis Children’s Hospital, who has partnered with the nonprofit organization for more than 20 years.
“The Needlers Foundation is a unique group of individuals who are dedicated to helping the most fragile individuals in our society, children whose families are unable to pay for their medical care or have to travel great distances to access care. With their support, we have been able to help more than 350 children since 1995.”
