A Birthday Party for Amos and Professor Bunsen Honeydew

Oct 8, 2018 | Community

Two beloved members of Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital—sweet-natured golden doodles Amos and Professor Bunsen Honeydew—were treated to a Hawaiian-themed birthday party in August.

Patients, families, and staff gathered at the hospital to show their love and support for the dogs, while enjoying crafts activities, eating cupcakes, and signing a celebratory banner in honor of Amos’ and Professor’s third birthdays. The dogs are related, but were not part of the same litter. The excitement of the party appeared to tire out the four-legged guests of honor—they both fell asleep one hour into the festivities, with Hawaiian music playing in the background.

Under the direction of skilled clinical handlers in the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, Professor works with patients in the Blau Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disease and the Alice Gottesman Bayer Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Amos comforts pediatric inpatients and is a popular attendee at Kravis’ coffee hour, a weekly offering for the parents and families of patients.

The dogs are full-time employees of Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital through the Paws & Play facility dog program. The program—supported by PetSmart Charities® and the Mount Sinai Auxiliary Board—is the first of its kind in New York State.

Pediatrician Honored as a “Literacy Champion”

Oct 8, 2018 | Community

Leora Mogilner, MD, left, with Chelsea Clinton at the Reach Out and Read of Greater New York benefit gala in Central Park.

Leora Mogilner, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, recently received a Literacy Champion award from Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, part of a national nonprofit group that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating literacy into pediatric care. Dr. Mogilner is medical director of the regional chapter and was instrumental in its founding 20 years ago. She accepted the award at a benefit gala from Chelsea Clinton, who was representing the Clinton Global Initiative, which supports early literacy.

“The idea is that you teach parents about the importance of reading to children from the time they are babies,” Dr. Mogilner says. “In my practice at Mount Sinai Pediatric Associates, we give out brand new books, and we also have volunteers in the waiting room who read to kids and model reading aloud for parents.” Her dream for the future: “I would love to see this at every clinic and every practice in New York City.”

Watercolor Workshop Promotes Calm and Creativity

Sep 26, 2018 | Community

Sabrina Gomez, a Mount Sinai Calm intern, volunteered as a model.

While many were rushing away from work on two recent afternoons, about two dozen Mount Sinai staff members took a peaceful detour—to after-work watercolor workshops at the Icahn Medical Institute.

The classes were sponsored by Mount Sinai Calm, 1199-SEIU, and Chashama, a nonprofit group that provides work space to artists and offers community-centered arts programs. Participants were given painting tips by Charles Esperanza, an author and illustrator with Chashama.

“Make a rough sketch first to make sure your figure will fit on the paper,” Mr. Esperanza said. “As you paint, look at the model more than at your paper.”

And finally, there was advice that could be applied to many endeavors: “Don’t expect perfection, just jump in and have fun.”

Mount Sinai Calm offers free self-care and stress-reduction programs. For a class schedule and to learn about future workshops, visit www.mountsinai.org/about/ms-fit/self-care or email 4calm@mountsinai.org.

 

 

Some of the participants’ paintings.

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Restoring Stained Glass at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s

Sep 25, 2018 | Community

The historic stained-glass windows of Muhlenberg Chapel at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s are being restored, thanks to a fund-raising effort led by Norma M.T. Braun, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The chapel is named a– er the founder of St. Luke’s, Episcopal clergyman William Augustus Muhlenberg. Its windows, designed by the architect Henry Holiday in 1896, were recently selected as a point of interest in the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s annual Sacred Sites Open House. Restoration is to be completed later this year. Meanwhile, the chapel will continue multidenominational services, remaining “a beautiful and serene retreat for prayer and contemplation,” says the Rev. Meredith D.K. Lisagor, MDiv, BCC, Director of Spiritual Care and Education at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West.

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“Celebration and Joy” on National Cancer Survivors Day

Sep 25, 2018 | Community

Above left: Ralph Kotkov, center, performed with fellow Mount Sinai cancer survivors, from left, Ella Levi, Hyacinth Constance, Maryann DeLeo, and Susan Staal.

About 200 cancer survivors, their families and friends, and Mount Sinai faculty and staff recently a ended the 21st annual luncheon celebrating National Cancer Survivors Day®. At the event, held in the atrium of Mount Sinai Union Square, Shawn S. Smith, who was treated for uterine cancer at Mount Sinai West, gave a talk on her journey as a patient. “I learned to laugh and to help others to laugh, even if only for a moment,” Ms. Smith said. “I learned that it was OK to
be afraid, but not stay in fear—to push past it.” The Mount Sinai Chelsea Cancer Survivors Vocal Ensemble made its debut performance, led by Michael Inge, a singer-songwriter. And additional speakers included Stefan Balan, MD, Assistant Professor,  Medicine, and Hematology and Medical Oncology, and the Hematology/Oncology Network Director for Mount Sinai Brooklyn;  Karen Devries, Nurse Manager, Mount Sinai Union Square and Mount Sinai West Infusion Suites; and Camry Diaz, Medical Assistant, The Blavatnik Family – Chelsea Medical Center at Mount Sinai.

“This well-anticipated annual event was filled with celebration and joy,” says Melissa Bellino, Vice President, Oncology and Therapeutic Infusion, Mount Sinai Health System. “It allows us to focus on the importance of the community that we have created and demonstrates our commitment to provide the highest quality of cancer care.”

 

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Epic Team Wins Honor Roll Distinction

Sep 25, 2018 | Community

Ken Koppenhaver, center, with his Epic team.

The Mount Sinai Health System was recognized recently for its achievements with Epic, the electronic health record system, receiving an Honor Roll distinction, at the Cum Laude level, through the Epic Honor Roll Good Maintenance Grant Program. This is a voluntary recognition program based on application of strategies, lessons learned, and best practices distilled from Epic’s experience serving top-line health care organizations.

“This is a huge achievement that not many other organizations of our size and complexity have achieved,” says Ken Koppenhaver, Senior Director of Epic Applications. “Just like the large-scale implementations that have occurred this year, this accomplishment belongs to all of us in Information Technology, as it took many teams countless hours to meet the requirements of this program.”

The requirements include computer hardware and business continuity, benchmarks in patient experience and population health, and ease of use, requiring collaboration across all of the Information Technology areas. Those who are eligible for the program include Epic customers across the United States who have been live with EpicCare Ambulatory or EpicCare Inpatient for one year or more. In early 2017, the Epic team began the process of achieving the Honor Roll recognition, with the final submission completed more than a year later in June.

Adds Mr. Koppenhaver: “Completing all components of the program helps ensure that Mount Sinai draws the most value from the Epic software and helps us improve the health and wellness of the communities we serve.”

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