Diversity and Inclusion | Mount Sinai Today

Why Testing New Medicines in a Diverse Population Is Important

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | COVID-19, Diversity and Inclusion, Featured, Research, Vaccines

Companies are working to develop new vaccines for COVID-19, and one of the many challenges is ensuring that clinical trials required to test the new medicines reflect the population at large in order to determine how effective the vaccines will be when offered to tens of millions of people throughout the United States.

In this Q&A, Lynne D. Richardson, MD, Professor and Vice Chair of Emergency Medicine, Professor of Population Health Science and Policy, and Co-Director of Mount Sinai’s Institute for Health Equity Research, talks about the latest COVID-19 vaccines, why it is important for clinical trials to include a diverse population, and how well the pharmaceutical industry has done that.

Based on data you have seen about the most advanced COVID-19 vaccines in development, do you think the pharmaceutical companies have done a good job including a diverse group of people in their clinical trials?

They are all committed to trying to include a diverse population into their trials. I think there have been substantial efforts to improve the diversity of the participants in the vaccine trials. From the data I’ve seen, I think they did an okay job, though ideally, the makeup of the folks in the trials would be the same as the distribution of the disease.

Why is it important to have a diverse group of people in the clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines?

Trials are a way of getting information about how something works. So if you want to know that it works for people of all ages, people of all races, people of all ethnicities, people who have lots of other medical conditions, these people must be in the trial. This is always true, not just for vaccines. In addition, participation in the trials must be representative of the population that is suffering from whatever condition is being targeted by the vaccine, or the treatment. There are certain communities, specifically Black and Hispanic communities, who we know are being harder hit by COVID-19, both in the chance they contract COVID-19, and the severity of the disease if they do get it. That’s why it’s important to have a vaccine that is safe and effective for those communities.

Lynne D. Richardson, MD

In the past, how well have clinical trials included a diverse population, including people of color and those of different socio economic status?

If you go back 40 or 50 years, clinical trials consisted almost exclusively of white men between the ages of 25 and 65. They were considered the ideal subjects. The problem is, it is very hard to extrapolate the results and findings of the trial to types of people who are not participating in the trial. It was about 30 years ago that a big push to improve the gender diversity in clinical trials came with the establishment of an Office of Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health, and that’s when the federal agencies that sponsored research started paying attention to who actually was participating in trials. It was about a decade later that significant attention to the racial and ethnic diversity in trial participation emerged. So it’s not a new issue. The degree of under-representation even a decade ago was staggering. About five percent of clinical trial participants were Black at a time when Black people accounted for 12 percent of the population. About one percent were Hispanic at a time when Hispanics were 16 percent of the population.

Why has ethnic and racial representation been so poor?

For patients, there is a legacy of mistrust of research, certainly among the African American population, but also mistrust of the health care system in general and of research, specifically among many disadvantaged populations. They are skeptical about the motives and intent of researchers. Also, there are access issues. Most clinical trial participants are recruited through their physicians, and often companies did not include physicians and practices that serve diverse patient populations.

What can be done about that?

Project Impact of the National Medical Association, a national association of Black physicians, has been working to diversify participation in clinical trials for more than a decade by speaking with Black physicians, who often have a group of patients that is much more diverse. They have published results that show that when Black people are approached in the same way, when they are encouraged to participate by a physician with whom they have a relationship, and whom they trust, they participate at the same rates as other groups. But you have to reach out to the physician and the physician practices, where they have those sorts of relationships.

How has the situation changed during the pandemic?

In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Black people and Hispanics being disproportionately impacted by the virus, it’s essential to engage them in vaccine trials. Yet the level of public distrust in the research process and government has never been higher. So we have a lot of work to do if we’re going to get this pandemic under control. Building trust means developing relationships and that takes time. This is an ongoing challenge in some of the trials and is why Mount Sinai has been approached by many of the pharmaceutical companies because we do have access to this diverse population.

What is Mount Sinai doing?

At the Mount Sinai Institute for Health Equity Research, we have been approached by various entities, asking us to help recruit more diverse populations into their studies. We start by talking about the things you have to do. First, you have to talk with some of our community partners and you have to accept their input, such as the language you use in the materials you distribute to participants. You need to look at how burdensome the trial will be. If we are going to combat mistrust, we must behave in a trustworthy manner. The Institute is ready to work with researchers who are serious about building the relationships needed to recruit diverse populations into clinical trials.

Get COVID-19 vaccination information from Mount Sinai

Disparities in Rehabilitation Medicine Are Focus of Inaugural Disability Awareness Talk

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community, Diversity and Inclusion

Miguel Escalon, MD

“Disparities in Health Care for Black Patients in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the United States,” was the subject of a wide-ranging talk on Disability Awareness by Miguel Escalon, MD, Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The virtual talk can be viewed here.

Black Americans aged 30 to 64 have a higher stroke mortality compared with all other groups, and also the highest incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and peripheral artery disease, all strong risk factors for stroke, Dr. Escalon said. There also are disparities in rehabilitation care of such patients after a stroke, he said, citing a survey of research from 2009 to 2019, which he and a team published in October 2020 in PM&R: the Journal of Injury, Function and Rehabilitation.

The talk in October inaugurated the new Raising Disability Awareness Virtual Talk Series, featuring speakers from around the Mount Sinai Health System as well as the community, in honor of Disability Awareness Month. During this time, the Mount Sinai Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) hosted events to educate, raise awareness and promote an inclusive and equitable health care environment for people with disabilities.

Speakers also came from Mount Sinai’s Seaver Center for Autism Research and Treatment, and Language Assistance Program, and from external partners, including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, MTA NYC Transit Access-A-Ride, the Lighthouse Guild, the Hearing Loss Association of America, the Adaptations Job Program, and the LBGTQ+ community. The talks were curated to bring awareness to the intersectionality of disability and race, ethnicity, and LBGTQ+ and educate on health disparities and the barriers to access to care.

Health disparities have been found for Black people with stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, hip/knee osteoarthritis, and fractures, as well as cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, Dr. Escalon said. Some contributing factors included socio-economic issues, low access to rehabilitation care, fewer referrals, lower utilization rates, perceived bias, and more self‐reliance.

Some sources also found that disparities are evident in the crucial months just after a stroke. “Most recovery happens in the first few months. You are never going to get more rehab than you get in acute inpatient rehab.” Dr. Escalon said, adding the more study is needed to identify and address health disparities.

“It is important for health care professionals to understand the health risks within Black communities,” he said. “More research is needed to elucidate the outcomes—by race/ethnicity, gender, and gender within race/ethnicity—especially around what happens after the patient leaves the hospital.”

Two Mount Sinai Diversity Groups Honored by National Association

Nov 10, 2020 | Community, Diversity and Inclusion

For projects that informed, engaged, and uplifted the community, the Mount Sinai Beth Israel (MSBI) Diversity Council and the Corporate Services Center Heritage of Latino Alliance (HOLA) Employee Resource Group were recently honored by The Association of ERGs and Councils during its annual conference. The association—which provides resources to increase the impact, effectiveness, and recognition of employee resource groups (ERGs) and diversity councils nationally—ranked the MSBI Diversity Council No. 1 in the “Top 10 Diversity Action” awards. The Corporate Services Center HOLA Employee Resource Group ranked No. 7 in the “Top 25 ERG” awards at the virtual conference, which was held October 19-24.

HOLA members at the prom dress drive, from left, Karen Rivera, Sherrine Gonzalez, and Katari Lebron.

The MSBI Diversity Council was recognized for its annual “Go Red” event in February, during which it partners with Mount Sinai Heart to offer blood pressure screenings for patients and staff. In recognition of Black History Month, the council members focused on providing health and wellness information to the Black patient population due to the prevalence of heart disease in this community. The HOLA Employee Resource Group was recognized for its Prom Dress Drive for female students at the Esperanza Preparatory School in East Harlem. HOLA members collected and delivered more than 150 dresses to the school and assisted 50 young women in finding a dress for their prom. “We congratulate the MSBI Diversity Council and the Corporate Services Center HOLA Employee Resource Group, especially the leads of these groups—Donnette Truss and Lena Chang at MSBI and Frank Pabon and Shawn Lee of HOLA—who led the efforts to achieve these recognitions,” says Pamela Y. Abner, MPA, CPXP, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Office for Diversity and Inclusion.

The Go Red event at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in February 2019.

To receive the awards, diversity councils and ERGs across the country were required to submit a video to the association describing an event or initiative they organized during 2019. The association selected and evaluated honorees using the “Impact Model,” a data-driven model that shows how the initiative improved talent management, culture, and organizational vitality for the individuals, organization, and external stakeholders involved. The MSBI and HOLA groups were among 45 councils and ERGs nationally honored by the association for demonstrating the standards of excellence for organizations working to enhance their diversity, equity, and inclusion work. In addition, ERGs across the Health System are doing impactful work year round, says Shana L. Dacon, MPH, MBA, Director, Corporate Health System Affairs, Office for Diversity and Inclusion. “We want to thank all diversity council and employee resource group members for their ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and promoting a culture of belonging for all faculty, staff, students, trainees, patients, and the Mount Sinai Health System community,” she says. To learn more about diversity council and employee resource groups, contact the Office for Diversity and Inclusion at diversity@mountsinai.org. Visit the United in Solidarity website to learn about how the Mount Sinai community is promoting efforts to instill an anti-racist culture and promote anti-racist behaviors.

‘Black In Neuro’ Celebrates Excellence and Inclusiveness in Neuroscience

Nov 5, 2020 | Diversity and Inclusion, Featured, Research

Ashley Cunningham

A new initiative known as Black In Neuro is taking hold around the world as scientists unite to support and encourage Blacks in the field of neuroscience, an effort swiftly supported and energized by the Mount Sinai Health System through The Friedman Brain Institute.

What launched as #BlackInNeuroWeek, a seven-day global get-together via Zoom, Skype, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram from July 27 to August 2, 2020, to celebrate Black excellence in neuroscience-related fields, continued with an inaugural Black In Neuro virtual conference October 31 – November 4.

“For me, Black In Neuro has been about redefining what a neuroscientist looks like,” says Ashley Cunningham, a first-year neuroscience PhD student at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Ms. Cunningham is one of several co-founders of the initiative and was a key organizer of its successful #BlackInNeuroWeek event. “We want to show current and future neuroscientists that we are making this space for them, where no one can dull their shine, their intelligence, or their existence. I am passionate about scientific outreach to diverse communities.”

Ms. Cunningham is working in the laboratory of Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, researching how epigenetic mechanisms contribute to the risk and development of mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Dr. Nestler is the Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience, Director of The Friedman Brain Institute, and Dean for Academic and Scientific Affairs at the Icahn School of Medicine.

Says Dr. Nestler about the effort, “I am incredibly proud of Ashley Cunningham and her national leadership role in this very important initiative. Our nation’s neuroscience research enterprise suffers greatly from the lack of Black neuroscientists, and I am hopeful that this new initiative will at long last begin to correct this weakness. The Friedman Brain Institute is committed to the goals of Black In Neuro in the strongest possible ways, having launched our own Diversity in Neuroscience initiative—@DiverseBrains—five years ago.”

All of this builds on the unwavering response by the Mount Sinai Health System to integrate and accelerate efforts to dismantle racism and advance equity through recent priorities established by the Office for Diversity and Inclusion. Many efforts are ongoing with new rigor, while other programs are launching, such as the BioMedical Laureates Program, one of the first in the nation to recruit underrepresented candidates and enhance diversity among senior research faculty. It includes a companion commitment to recruit and mentor Junior Laureates, those just starting their postdoctoral fellowships. Forming the foundation for these and future efforts is the Mount Sinai Health System Task Force to Address Racism, which was established in July with a resolve to make Mount Sinai an anti-racist health care and learning institution that intentionally addresses structural racism.

Black In Neuro aims to amplify Black voices in neuroscience and provide a durable platform where participants can network and share their thoughts about a wide range of subjects, including the struggles they have overcome, and feel lifted up and supported. Among the activities during #BlackInNeuroWeek were panel discussions, lectures, and opportunities for participants to share their individual experiences. The event covered a variety of topics, including pathways to careers in neuroscience, mentorship, and the role of Black women in the field. A panel discussion on the effects of racism on neuroscientists drew more than 800 participants. At the Black Joy In Neuro session, participants opened up about how they find fulfillment and happiness in the field. Together, their goal is to build a virtual community around speaker panels, blog posts, interviews, and mentoring, all while inspiring a new generation of scientists and validating the contributions of those currently in the field.

Here are some of the Mount Sinai voices shaping the discussion:

Joseph Simon

Joseph Simon, a fourth-year neuroscience PhD student at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai who is studying social influences on decision-making in the laboratory of Erin Rich, MD, PhD, sees Black In Neuro as a movement. “For those of us already in the field of neuroscience, it demonstrates that we’re not alone, that there are others who look like us out there,” he says. “And for future generations, it presents science as a pathway to success. Often, when we think of successful people, we think of doctors and lawyers, but we don’t always think of scientists. Young people should understand that Black scientists are out there making important contributions, and that’s something they can aspire to.”

Faith Adams

Faith Adams, a first-year PhD student from Guyana studying the role of neural circuits in addiction at The Friedman Brain Institute, believes that Black people in academia, especially women, often feel isolated because so few are visible on campus. “#BlackInNeuroWeek has opened doors for me, connected me to other scientists, and started many important conversations. It showed me that others have overcome similar struggles and made me realize that I can do it, too, without having to change who I am.”

Aya Osman, PhD

A newly created Slack channel connected Aya Osman, PhD, a third-year postdoctoral fellow at The Friedman Brain Institute to two fellowship opportunities that she says she would not have otherwise known about. “Black In Neuro is helping to connect Black researchers, and I can’t emphasize enough how important that is,” she says. Dr. Osman is studying the role of the gut microbiome in various neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism and addiction, in the laboratory of Drew Kiraly, MD, PhD.

Dr. Osman believes that this initiative would not have happened had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought racial health disparities to the forefront. “The coronavirus really opened people’s eyes,” she says. “We are now more aware than ever that certain factors, such as underlying health conditions and higher rates of employment in jobs where work from home is not possible, have resulted in the virus disproportionately killing the Black community. That, combined with the George Floyd killing, created the perfect storm that put a spotlight on how unfair it all is. This is an opportunity to focus on injustice and to effect real, long-lasting change.”

Dr. Osman is now organizing a series of public lectures at Mount Sinai, the first of which will be on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, focused on various aspects of racism and how they influence health, as part of @DiverseBrains. Invited speakers will cover a range of topics from history, shedding light on how society arrived at this point and the policies that are needed to address the disparities, particularly in the field of mental health.

Organizers of Black In Neuro see the empowerment resulting from their efforts as a necessary first step toward increasing the number of Black neuroscientists. They have identified a need for increased recruitment and retention of students, faculty members, and principal investigators who are Black. Mr. Simon says he has addressed these issues with the Mount Sinai administration. “Having a more diverse, inclusive faculty would go a long way,” he says. “Time will tell if it really leads to increased recruitment and retention and if promises are kept.”

Ernest J. Barthélemy, MD, MPH

Ernest J. Barthélemy, MD, MPH, Co-Chief Resident in Neurosurgery, finds Black In Neuro “refreshing.” Dr. Barthélemy says that, as one of the few Black neurosurgery residents in the United States, he feels the weight of his position and is pleased that other Blacks in the field now feel a sense of community. “Having benefited from so many opportunities, resources, and mentors even before residency, as a Mount Sinai medical student, I know first-hand that a lot of what’s happening at Mount Sinai is exemplary,” he says. “But we can do more. We need to continue this conversation long after the buzz dies down, and we must continue to offer robust support to assure the success of those from underrepresented communities, including increasing the number of faculty positions.”

Black In Neuro also gave Dr. Barthélemy the opportunity to expand the reach of the Society of Haitian Neuroscientists, an organization he founded in 2019 to build a community of clinical and basic neuroscientists among members of the Haitian diaspora to strengthen neuroscience capacity in Haiti. The organization provides support, scholarship, and research to the neurology program at the University Hospital of Mirebalais in Haiti, and plans partnered research and education initiatives with Haiti’s medical schools. Since #BlackInNeuroWeek, the number of neuroscientists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, and physiatrists in the organization has increased from 12 to 38.

This is a transformative, and reassuring, moment for the Black neuroscientists who have united in this effort. Says Mr. Simon, who is just launching his career: “Knowing there’s a whole community out there with similar backgrounds and similar aspirations is heartwarming. For me, personally, Black In Neuro is a big deal.”

Mount Sinai Actively Recruits Volunteers From Hardest Hit Communities for COVID-19 Vaccine Trial

Oct 5, 2020 | COVID-19, Diversity and Inclusion, Featured, Research, Vaccines

WillieBenjamin Loadholt, right, undergoes a checkup from Kiwan Stewart, RN, at The Mount Sinai Hospital prior to receiving his second injection as a participant in the phase 3 clinical trial for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Participating in the Mount Sinai Health System’s clinical trial for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been deeply personal for New York City educator WillieBenjamin Loadholt. He says it has provided him with the opportunity to be proactive, to contribute to a potential solution that could put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been “devastating to the African American community.”

For months, Mr. Loadholt says, “Every time I would go on a friend’s Facebook page I would see, ‘We regret to announce the passing or the transition of this person or that person.’ A friend of mine owns a funeral home and they were doing so many funerals. This one’s mom passed away, or this one’s father or sister passed away. It was heartbreaking.”

So, in August, when a friend told him about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial at Mount Sinai, Mr. Loadholt was eager to sign up. “We want to know what’s going on,” he says. “People perish from a lack of knowledge. How can we avoid this? How can we get solutions for this?” Participating in the search for answers to the COVID-19 pandemic is “worthwhile because I am able to help myself as well as my community. We can’t get this if we don’t help each other.”

Mount Sinai is actively recruiting volunteer participants in communities of color. “We want to make sure the trial is representative of the people who were hardest hit by COVID-19,” says Debbie Lucy, Program Manager for the Mount Sinai Health System’s COVID Clinical Trials Unit. Based on a legacy of mistreatment and longstanding inequities in access to health care, Black Americans, in particular, are more hesitant than other groups to embrace the use of experimental vaccines and therapies.

Debbie Lucy

In August, Ms. Lucy and her team began handing out information about the vaccine in the communities around The Mount Sinai Hospital, between 96th and 105th Streets, east of Park Avenue. In fact, Mr. Loadholt found out about the clinical trial from a friend who lives in the area and received a knock on his door from Mount Sinai.

“We have teams of people who are out in different areas trying to educate people and get them involved. We are talking to people, handing out flyers, and making as many connections as we can,” says Ms. Lucy. “We’re going to different grocery stores, hair salons, nail salons, laundromats, restaurants—any place where we think people of color are either working or going to.”

When Ms. Lucy met a man who told her that his family did not have any masks, she says she called up a team member who immediately brought several masks to the corner of East 103rd Street where they were standing. “He was in awe that we went the extra mile to do that for him,” Ms. Lucy says. “For him it was more than the masks we gave him; it was the fact that we connected with him and met his need immediately. We stood out there and talked with him and gave him additional information about participating in the trial.”

Mount Sinai has also held community forums that educate people of color about the Pfizer vaccine trial. In September, Mr. Loadholt discussed his experience at one of these forums. Ms. Lucy says, “We believe it’s easier for people who look like you to talk with you about participating in a trial because we recognize that there’s a lot of mistrust around research among people of color. Our ultimate goal is to find a vaccine that’s going to help prevent COVID-19, but with any trial we also want to test for safety to make sure it’s not causing any negative side effects in people, and that it’s well tolerated.”

Of the more than 180 COVID-19 vaccines under development, Pfizer’s RNA vaccine is one of the furthest along in the phase 3 clinical trials taking place at Mount Sinai and other locations throughout the United States. The vaccine is based on new technology and can be produced completely in vitro, or in a laboratory.

“I am grateful to individuals like Mr. Loadholt who are participating in this vaccine study and helping us to inform others,” says Judith A. Aberg, MD, the Dr. George Baehr Professor of Clinical Medicine, and Chief of Infectious Diseases for the Mount Sinai Health System. “Involvement with communities should not be overlooked due to false assumptions that people of color are unwilling to enroll in clinical trials. Such false assumptions result in harmful health disparities. We must provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in clinical trials and receive linkage to care. Only through engagement and education can people protect themselves and their loved ones.”

After receiving his second of two injections in September, Mr. Loadholt says he feels fine. He does not know whether he received the real vaccine or a placebo, which is how the placebo-controlled, randomized, observer-blinded vaccine trial is designed. He will be able to find this out in two years. “If I did receive a placebo, at least I can help another person of color receive the real one,” he says.

Mount Sinai has provided Mr. Loadholt and other trial participants with either an iPhone app or their own separate device to communicate any symptoms. “The staff at Mount Sinai has been wonderful,” Mr. Loadholt adds. “I would like Mount Sinai to do what they’re doing and be a beacon in the community.”

To potential volunteers, he says, “Don’t be afraid. Try it.”

If you are interested in volunteering for a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial, please call 212-824-7714 or email: COVIDTRIALSINFO@MOUNTSINAI.ORG. Mount Sinai offers $119 in compensation for all visits related to the clinical trial. Watch the following video to learn more

Watch a video to learn more about our clinical trial

Mount Sinai Celebrates Administrative Fellowship Graduates

Sep 8, 2020 | Diversity and Inclusion, Featured

The six new graduates of the Mount Sinai Health System’s Administrative Fellowship Program

Ask questions; don’t be afraid to make mistakes; find mentors who challenge and encourage you; embrace change, but honor your deepest values. These were some of the key takeaways offered by six new graduates of the Mount Sinai Health System’s Administrative Fellowship Program.

The Office for Diversity and Inclusion—together with hospital leadership from Mount Sinai Beth Israel, The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, and Mount Sinai West—hosted a ceremony on Monday, June 29, to celebrate the six young professionals, who were hailed as “amazing,” “creative,” and “insightful.” The goal of the two-year administrative development program is to recruit, develop, and ultimately promote underrepresented minority talent into leadership roles within the Mount Sinai Health System.

“The fellows continue to teach us, make us better, and give us things to think about, and we are grateful for that,” Jeremy Boal, MD, President, Mount Sinai Downtown, and Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, said in his opening remarks for the event, which was held remotely. The graduates, Fatema Begum, MPH; Vanna Chau, MHA; Aaron Hopkins, MHSA; Atef Rafiuddin, MHA; Lititia Satpathy, MHSA; and Nina Williams, MPH, spoke enthusiastically about their projects and takeaways from the experience, which involved working with executive and senior leaders on key initiatives for the Health System.

David L. Reich, MD, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Mount Sinai Hospital, and President, Mount Sinai Queens, thanked the Office for Diversity and Inclusion for “establishing a remarkable pipeline of incredible talent and showing us the way to create better diversity at all levels of administration.” All six graduates have transitioned into managerial roles in the Health System, joining six graduates from previous years. Five new fellows, Carolina Carvajal, MPA; Oladapo Durojaiye, MS/HSA, MPH; Precious Nwajei, MPH; Hazel Rogers, MPH; and Francisca Roman, MHA, joined the organization in July; and four more started their second year of the fellowship.

The program’s contributions to developing the next generation of leaders in health care administration were noted in closing remarks by Pamela Y. Abner, MPA, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Office for Diversity and Inclusion. She thanked Shana Dacon, MPH, MBA, Director, Corporate Health System Affairs, ODI, and Janice Yoon, Program Manager, Corporate Health System Affairs, ODI, for their work in designing the program to advance a pipeline of health care professionals from underrepresented minority groups. “Our program is unique, and we are perhaps one of the only institutions doing this,” Ms. Abner said. “We are all proud to be part of it.”

Mount Sinai is accepting applications for the 2021 Administrative Fellowship through Friday, October 30. Health System staff and students are encouraged to apply. Contact the Office for Diversity and Inclusion at diversity@mountsinai.org for any additional questions.

Mount Sinai Administrative Fellows Share Takeaway Lessons

Six young professionals recently completed the Mount Sinai Administrative Fellowship, a two-year program developed by the Office for Diversity and Inclusion with support from top leadership. The Fellows served rotations at Mount Sinai hospitals in fields such as project management, business development, budgeting, data analysis, and the patient and staff experience. In a recent graduation ceremony, they all expressed profound gratitude and shared some takeaway thoughts:

Fatema Begum, MPH, Operations Manager
Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, Mount Sinai Morningside

“Mount Sinai Morningside has instilled in me the importance of strong values, and I saw it exemplified in every area of my work. Quite often, I would work on a project that had previously not been done before. I was always assured that when there was no blueprint it was OK to be creative, to make mistakes, and do many iterations because we are always on a journey of continuous improvement.”

Aaron Hopkins, MHSA, Administrator, Mount Sinai Doctors – Westchester
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, The Mount Sinai Hospital

“This fellowship is the only one of its kind—focused on promoting minorities in health care administration—which is a big reason I chose to participate. With the current climate and everything going on in the world, it’s a blessing to be a part of an organization that shows support for diversity, as opposed to just providing words. Mount Sinai is an organization where senior leaders live out its mission every day, and I am grateful to be surrounded by such leaders and on the path to becoming one as well, thanks to the fellowship program.”

Atef Rafiuddin, MHA, Project Manager, Cardiac Services, Mount Sinai Morningside
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, Mount Sinai Morningside

“Throughout my Fellowship, I have tried to embody the philosophy of “Going to the Gemba.” This is a LEAN project management term—translated as “the Real Place”—that emphasizes going to where the work is actually completed. By following this philosophy, I have come to realize that there is no easy job in this industry, and you do not get a sense for what a job entails until you see it in person. Mount Sinai’s Administrative Fellowship truly was an opportunity to learn and grow by exploring various roles.”

Vanna Chau, MHA, Senior Financial Analyst, Mount Sinai West
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, Mount Sinai West

“Mount Sinai West leadership encourages curiosity and creativity. They gave me the opportunity to just take something, make it my own, and make improvements. For example, I helped create a new census template, which I’m proud to say is used every single day. And from it I also learned what leaders are looking for, how the whole hospital works, and the unique features of each unit.”

Lititia Satpathy, MHSA, Project Manager, Mount Sinai Union Square
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Mount Sinai Union Square

“In the COVID-19 response, I tried to be present and available in any way I could, for example helping to organize labor pool deployments, and tracking personal protective equipment. I think the big takeaway is that I always felt like part of the teams at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Mount Sinai Union Square—being trusted to do a lot and being a part of a wonderful organization.”

Nina Williams, MPH, Project Manager, Mount Sinai Doctors – Downtown
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, Mount Sinai Beth Israel

“We’re in a unique position because Mount Sinai Beth Israel is going through a massive transformation, and turning our attention to preventive measures focused on population health. During my rotation in the Transformation Department, I was able to focus on initiatives like maximizing our revenue with vacant spaces within the hospital; and I had the opportunity to enhance project management skills that help me in my current role.”

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