Mount Sinai Queens Celebrates 19th Anniversary

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community

Mount Sinai Queens recently celebrated the 19th anniversary of its acquisition by The Mount Sinai Hospital and its continued delivery of safe, high-quality health care and service to patients in Queens. The celebration attracted more than 125 faculty, staff, and members of the community, and included awards given to outstanding staff and clinicians, and the FDNY-EMS paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

Among those in attendance were New York City Council Member Costa Constantinides, and representatives from the offices of Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, State Senator Michael Gianaris, and Assembly Member Aravella Simotas.

Caryn A. Schwab, Executive Director, Mount Sinai Queens, told the attendees that the hospital continues to expand the number of patients served and the depth and breadth of services offered. “To support that growth, we have expanded our number of physician faculty, RNs, technicians, and support staff,” said Ms. Schwab. “We are proud to have such a strong team of caring and engaged employees.”

The anniversary celebration—a Mount Sinai Queens tradition—was held in the Kaufman Astoria Studios Entrance of the new, six-story Mount Sinai Queens Pavilion. Specially designed anniversary cakes were served, and two Mister Softee trucks parked outside offered complimentary ice cream.

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Back row, from left: Person of the Year Awards were given to Christopher Howard, RN, Mount Sinai Queens Freshman of the Year; Sidney Castiblanco, EMT of the Year, Battalion 45; Paul Rufrano, Paramedic of the Year, Battalion 49; and Victor Gornecki, EMT of the Year, Battalion 46.

Front row, center: Caryn A. Schwab, Executive Director, Mount Sinai Queens, with the individuals recognized for providing skilled and compassionate patient care. From left: Evelyn Bautista, RN, Mount Sinai Queens Employee of the Year; Ana Rodriguez, LCSW, Mount Sinai Queens Manager of the Year; Krystal Cascetta, MD, Mount Sinai Queens Physician of the Year; and Kelsey Moyer, RN, Mount Sinai Queens Service Excellence Honoree.

Mount Sinai Staff Members March in Two Pride Parades

Updated on Nov 14, 2025 | Community, Engagement

The Mount Sinai contingent at the New York City Pride Parade in Manhattan.

The Mount Sinai Health System recently took part in two festive Pride Month events. In the Queens Pride Parade, held on Sunday, June 3, in Jackson Heights, dozens of employees walked behind a Mount Sinai banner wearing T-shirts that read, “We Take Pride in Your Health.”

A group of 75 employees were among the 40,000 marchers in the 49th annual New York City Pride Parade on Sunday, June 24, in Manhattan. During the march, the Health System also participated in the 25th annual PrideFest street fair in Greenwich Village. Staff of Mount Sinai’s LGBT Health Services and Institute for Advanced Medicine distributed free condoms, pamphlets, and Mount Sinai favors.

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From left: Carla Moscoso, Director, Practice Operations, Mount Sinai Queens; Diana Rosario, Population Health Care Coordinator; and Richard Cancio, MPH, Program Manager for LGBT Health Services, Mount Sinai Health System, at the Queens Pride Parade.

Playing Softball for Neurosurgery Charity

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community

Faculty, residents, and fellows from the Department of Neurosurgery flexed their competitive muscles at the 15th Annual Neurosurgery Charity Softball Tournament in Central Park. More than 40 teams from academic medical centers in the United States and Canada turned out for the friendly competition in June, which was hosted by Columbia University’s Department of Neurological Surgery. The event
helps support the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and pediatric brain tumor research.

Paul Singh, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, and Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, took home the team’s Most Valuable Player award, thanks to a game-winning triple. The team from Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, won the competition.

The Department of Neurosurgery’s players and their families at the tournament in Central Park.

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Public Health Students’ Research in Spotlight

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community, School

More than 50 Master of Public Health (MPH) students from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai recently delivered poster presentations on high-quality and timely research during Public Health Research Day at Guggenheim Pavilion. Three students were selected to present their research in detail to their classmates and mentors. Molly Libou, MPH, studied barriers to treatment for opioid addiction; Lauren Esposito, MPH, located areas in New York City with the greatest risk of Zika virus transmission; and Chi Wen, MPH, examined the risks of exposure to mercury.

“This event demonstrates the excellence and diversity of our program and gives our students the opportunity to share the results of their scholarly work with the entire Mount Sinai community,” said Nils Hennig, MD, PhD, MPH, Director of the Graduate Program in Public Health. A keynote address was delivered by Ariel Pablos-Méndez, MD, MPH, former Assistant Administrator for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development.

Dominique Peters, MPH, presents a poster on the use of insecticidal mosquito nets to control malaria in Uganda.

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Paying Tribute to a Giant in Medicine

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community, Featured, Research

Dr. Holland’s children, from left: David Holland; Diane Holland; Sally Holland; Peter Holland; Mary Holland; and Steven Holland, MD.

Family, friends, and colleagues of the late James F. Holland, MD, Distinguished Professor of Neoplastic Diseases at The Tisch Cancer Institute, gathered in May at the Mount Sinai Health System to celebrate his work as a renowned physician-scientist who helped cure acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

Dr. Holland’s work helped establish oncology as a medical discipline. In the 1950s, when chemotherapy was a relatively new treatment, he and his colleagues began treating seemingly incurable patients with drug combinations rather than administering each one sequentially. Nine out of 10 patients successfully responded to the therapy. Combination chemotherapy remains the standard of care today.  Dr. Holland encouraged physicians to share data and create common protocols. In 1972, he received the prestigious Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award.

James F. Holland, MD

Speakers at Mount Sinai’s Celebration of Life event included many esteemed physicians from around the country whom Dr. Holland influenced and once mentored, as well as Mount Sinai leaders in academic affairs and cancer research. Dr. Holland’s six adult children attended the event, with several sharing their thoughts and memories.

In his opening remarks, William K. Oh, MD, Deputy Director of The Tisch Cancer Institute and Chief of Hematology and Medical Oncology, said Dr. Holland “was absolutely committed to changing the poor outcomes of patients with leukemia, breast cancer, and other devastating cancers by investing in translational research and clinical trials, principles that drive our work at The Tisch Cancer Institute today.”

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Supporting Vital Research on Ovarian Cancer

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community

From left, Abigail Shaw, Patient Care Associate, and Irena Durkovic, RN, Clinical Nurse, at the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Run/Walk.

Staff members of the Women’s Health Unit at The Mount Sinai Hospital (Klingenstein Pavilion 4) recently braved the rainy weather to participate in the New York City chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Run/Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer, which was held on Roosevelt Island.

Led by team captain Irena Durkovic, RN, the staff raised $5,095 for the 5k fundraiser—the second highest amount of any participating group. In total, the event collected $86,920 that will be used by the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition to promote awareness, provide support, and fund vital research on ovarian cancer.

“As health care providers, we were grateful to be able to take a moment to commemorate the lives of the brave women we have lost and celebrate the lives of our incredible survivors,” said Godsfavour Guillet, RN, Clinical Nurse Manager, Women’s Health Unit, who participated in the event.

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