Featured | Mount Sinai Today

Creating an Oasis of Calm During a Busy Shift

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community, Featured

From left, Neha Dangayach, MD; Elka Riley, RN; Chaplain Maggie Keogh, BCC; and volunteer Romana Reyes in the Neurosurgical ICU.

It is always a welcomed break for hospital staff when the Chi CartTM swings into their busy work areas bringing tea, a healthy snack, aromatherapy, and music—and importantly, a reason to gather, if just for a few minutes. The word “chi” (pronounced chee) is taken from Chinese philosophy and can be translated as energy flow, life force, or breath.

Chi Time was first introduced on inpatient units at The Mount Sinai Hospital by Chaplain Maggie Keogh, BCC, in 2013, and later to Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Mount Sinai St. Luke’s. In August 2017, David L. Reich, MD, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Mount Sinai Hospital, requested that the program continue to expand to other areas of the Hospital.

“Health systems are increasingly shifting their focus from employee satisfaction to employee engagement because engagement levels have a significant impact on retention, absenteeism, patient satisfaction, and ultimately, patient safety,” says Deborah B. Marin, MD, the George and Marion Sokolik Blumenthal Professor of Psychiatry, and Director of the Center for Spirituality and Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which oversees the program.

Chaplains—and the more than 40 staff and non-staff volunteers known as “Maggie’s Team” they have trained—are behind the success of Chi Time, which now has eight carts and has served more than 9,000 staff since its expansion in August.

Chaplain Maggie with “Maggie’s Team” volunteers in their distinctive scarves.

During a recent visit to the Neurosurgical ICU at The Mount Sinai Hospital, Chaplain Maggie and volunteer Romana Reyes rolled the Chi Cart into a small room behind the nurses’ station, dimmed the lights, turned on soft music, and began offering a selection of tea, aromatherapy, and snacks. The Chi Cart is always just steps away so that staff do not have to leave their units or interrupt patient care.

Elka Riley, RN, Nurse Manager, a regular visitor at the weekly Chi Cart, received drops of lavender aromatherapy oil on her wrist, found her favorite snack, and sipped tea. “I could be a ‘10’ on the stress scale when I walk in, but after Chi Time, I am a ‘2,’” she says. Neha Dangayach, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, and Neurology, and Director of Neuro-Emergency Management and Transfers for the Health System, says, “It gives you time to breathe. I wish we could translate the feeling into our routines every day.”

Chaplain Maggie, who serves as the Director of the Chi Time program for the Health System, adds: “The overwhelming positive response from staff indicates that Chi Time is successfully serving its purpose, which includes giving staff the chance to feel they are worthy to be acknowledged, and providing a calm and nurturing space, a time to ‘be still’ during a very demanding work shift.”

The Jacobi Medallion: Honoring Excellence

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Featured, Research

Front, from left: Thomas P. Naidich, MD; Paul R.G. Cunningham, MD, MSH; Sandra K. Masur, PhD; Wayne A. Gordon, PhD; Yasmin L. Hurd, PhD; Blaine V. Fogg, Esq. Back, from left: Burton Cohen, MD; Dennis S. Charney, MD; Bruce D. Gelb, MD; Joseph R. Masci, MD; Mary Ann McLaughlin, MD, MPH, MSH; Srinivas Ravi V. Iyengar, PhD; and Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mount Sinai Health System.

The Jacobi Medallion—one of the Mount Sinai Health System’s highest honors for distinguished achievement in medicine or extraordinary service to the school, alumni, or The Mount Sinai Hospital—was bestowed upon nine individuals this year, at a special event at The Plaza. More than 300 Mount Sinai Health System alumni, donors, faculty, and staff attended the ceremony on Thursday, March 15, which helped kick off the 50th anniversary of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Burton Cohen, MD, President of The Mount Sinai Alumni Association and Associate Clinical Professor of Radiology, delivered opening remarks. The honorees had “taken different paths,” Dr. Cohen said, but as Mount Sinai alumni, faculty, or trustees, they had all, at one point, “called Mount Sinai home.”

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, welcomed the audience. “Fifty years ago,” he said, “the Mount Sinai School of Medicine opened its doors to its first students and began its journey to become the institution that we know today: one of the country’s premier centers of innovation in research, education, and clinical care. Those whom we honor tonight, and many others in this room, have played crucial roles over this half-century in building Mount Sinai’s tradition of invention and creativity.”

A new history wall that adorns the fifth floor of the Annenberg building celebrates innovation and excellence in education at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Charney said that in addition to being ranked among the nation’s 20 leading medical schools, Mount Sinai was among the top 15 in National Institutes of Health funding, and among the top 10 research institutions worldwide, as cited in a Nature supplement. In addition, he said, “No medical school is more committed to social justice and human rights; mentoring; and student, house staff, and faculty wellness and resilience.”

Sandra K. Masur, PhD, Chair of the Jacobi Medallion Award Selection Committee, and Professor of Ophthalmology, introduced the 2018 awardees, who, she said, “were chosen from a superb group of candidates by their peers, former Jacobi recipients.”

The honorees are:

Paul R.G. Cunningham, MD, FACS, MSH ’79

Immediate Past President, North Carolina Medical Society, Dean Emeritus, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University

Dr. Cunningham has held numerous appointments in surgery, medical education, and hospital administration throughout his career. Currently, he is the outgoing Dean and Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Prior to his appointments at East Carolina University, Dr. Cunningham served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the State University of New York, Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y. He also served as President of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, and as a Governor of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Cunningham is interested in the mentoring and career development of minority students in medicine.

Blaine V. Fogg, Esq.

Trustee, Mount Sinai Health System

Mr. Fogg joined the Mount Sinai Boards of Trustees in 1987. He chairs the Legal Committee and serves on the Executive; Compensation, Employee Benefits, and Employee Relations; Finance; and Technology Transfer committees. A corporate and securities lawyer, he has practiced at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP since 1966, and has represented clients in matters that include negotiated mergers, acquisitions, and leveraged buyouts; unsolicited tender offers; proxy contests; and corporate restructurings and reorganizations. Mr. Fogg champions numerous initiatives at Mount Sinai that support underserved populations, including the Mount Sinai Medical Legal Partnership.

Bruce D. Gelb, MD

Gogel Family Professor and Director of The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Professor of Pediatrics, and Genetics and Genomic Sciences

A member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Society for Clinical Investigation, Dr. Gelb is a physician-scientist committed to discovering improved methods for diagnosing and treating childhood diseases. He is the founder and Co-Director of the Cardiovascular Genetics Program, a multidisciplinary program that cares for patients and families with genetic-based cardiovascular disorders.

Dr. Gelb also is a site Principal Investigator for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium. In addition to establishing a Pediatric Undiagnosed Disease Program, he is a Multiple Principal Investigator for the National Human Genome Research Institute-funded Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research project.

Wayne A. Gordon, PhD, FACRM, ABPP

Jack Nash Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine

Since joining the faculty in 1986, Dr. Gordon has helped the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine become one of the specialty’s most successfully funded programs, placing it among the top 10 for research funding in the United States.

Dr. Gordon’s current research is focused on cognitive rehabilitation, screening for traumatic brain injury (TBI), developing and testing the utility of behavioral interventions to improve the function of individuals with TBI, and examining the relationship between pediatric TBI and criminality. He has received numerous awards, including the Gold Key Award from the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, and the William Fields Caveness Award from the Brain Injury Association of America.

Yasmin L. Hurd, PhD

Ward-Coleman Chair in Translational Research, Director, Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai, and Professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Pharmacological Sciences

Dr. Hurd is an internationally recognized researcher in the field of addiction disorders who has distinguished herself as an innovative investigator, educator, and role model. Her lab has made major inroads in addiction research and has shown that marijuana use has different effects on developing brains and adult brains. In recognition of the impact of her research and commitment to informing public health and education, she was recently inducted into the National Academy of Medicine. A member of the Mount Sinai faculty since 2006, Dr. Hurd has served as Director of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s MD/PhD program, and sits on multiple Mount Sinai committees, including Women in Science and Medicine.

Srinivas Ravi V. Iyengar, PhD

Dorothy H. and Lewis Rosenstiel Professor of Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, Director, Mount Sinai Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Professor of Pharmacological Sciences

An expert in systems biology and systems pharmacology, Dr. Iyengar studies signaling networks and regulatory pathways using systems biology approaches. His research is focused on understanding the design principles by which mammalian cells are constructed and drug action at a systems level. Dr. Iyengar has served as the lead Principal Investigator on a Transformative R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health Common Fund for which he and his colleagues have used computer modeling and nanotechnology and human kidney cells in ongoing research to rebuild a filtration device in vitro. A member of the faculty since 1986, Dr. Iyengar has served as Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics and Dean of Research.

Joseph R. Masci, MD

Chairman, Global Health Institute, Elmhurst Hospital Center, Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), and Environmental Medicine and Public Health

During the Ebola epidemic in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, Dr. Masci served as the infectious diseases physician on the planning committee for Ebola of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (NYC H+H), the largest municipal hospital system in the United States. He served as Chairman of the Emergency Preparedness Council of NYC H+H and currently acts as infectious diseases consultant on Zika virus for NYC H+H. Dr. Masci has conducted two international projects directed at the care of HIV and other infectious diseases in Russia and Ethiopia. He has served as the medical director of AIDS services for the Queens Health Network and chaired the health workgroup of the New York City Health and Human Services HIV Planning Council.

Mary Ann McLaughlin, MD, MPH, MSH ’96

Medical Director, Cardiac Health Program, Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiology), and Population Health Science and Policy

A physician-scientist, Dr. McLaughlin has focused on the development of clinical programs and clinical research to improve cardiovascular care in vulnerable populations. Dr. McLaughlin’s interest in gender differences and cardiovascular health led her to obtain research grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American College of Cardiology, and the American Heart Association. She has also received grant support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and partnered with colleagues at the World Trade Center-Clinical Centers for Excellence to design and implement research and clinical programs to evaluate cardiovascular risk in thousands of people who sustained extensive exposure to particulate matter.

Thomas P. Naidich, MD, FACR

Irving and Dorothy Regenstreif Research Professor of Neuroscience (Neuroimaging), Professor of Pediatrics, Neurosurgery, and Radiology

Dr. Naidich’s research interests have centered on the imaging display of neuroanatomy and gross pathology. Over the course of his career, Dr. Naidich has published extensively and has held numerous editorial positions with scientific journals. He was recognized by the American Society of Neuroradiology with the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Research in 2011, and the Gold Medal in 2014, and by the American Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology with the Gold Medal in 2005. His additional awards include the Cornelius Dyke Award for outstanding research from the American Society of Neuroradiology.

Top 20 Ranking for Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Featured, School

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is ranked among the top 20 medical schools for research in the United States, according to the 2018-2019 U.S. News & World Report “Best Medical Schools” rankings released on Tuesday, March 20. Mount Sinai ranked No. 18 among the 124 medical schools that were measured this year, an improvement of four places over the previous year.

“It is an honor to be recognized as having one of the nation’s best schools and an even greater honor to lead a team of talented faculty and researchers who challenge the limits of science and medicine, seek breakthrough treatments for the most serious medical conditions, and train the next generation of great physicians and scientists,” says 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. “Our School of Medicine strives to be an innovative leader in medicine and science where future leaders are formed in a diverse, inclusive, and high-impact academic environment.” The new rankings were released online in the 2019 edition of U.S. News & World Report “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” The rankings are based on statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research, and students. Criteria used in the medical school rankings include peer assessment surveys, research activity, grade point averages, MCAT scores, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding.

Dr. Charney adds, “This year marks the 50th anniversary of our School of Medicine. Since our inception, we have set out to break the model of medical education and research through a diverse and inclusive student and faculty body, an entrepreneurial vision that disrupts the status quo, a passionate focus on community medicine, and an eye toward solving medical and scientific problems that greatly impact the lives of many. Through the years, our faculty has made many great contributions to medical science, and our talented students continue to take risks, innovate, and push the boundaries of thought to drive change.”

Separate from the U.S. News rankings, the Icahn School of Medicine in 2017 was named one of the top 10 research institutions in the world based on its contributions to published research that is later cited by other organizations in patent development. Those rankings, created by the journal Nature in its Nature Index 2017 Innovation supplement, used a unique set of metrics to determine the key academic players in the world whose ideas may shape tomorrow’s inventions.

Only a few medical schools—Icahn School of Medicine, Stanford University, and the University of California, San Francisco—have earned distinction by multiple indicators: they are U.S. News & World Report top 20 medical schools aligned with top “Honor Roll” hospitals, among the top 15 in NIH funding, and are among the top 10 most innovative research institutions as ranked by Nature. “This reflects a special level of excellence in education, clinical practice, and research,” says Dr. Charney.

Medical Students Celebrate Match Day 2018

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Featured, School

Celebrating their matches were, from left: Haran Sivakumar, University of California, San Diego (Family Medicine); Ali P. Subat, University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center (Anesthesiology); Imikomobong “Micky” Ibia, Massachusetts General Hospital (Emergency Medicine); and Stephen Trinidad, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (General Surgery).

At Match Day 2018, graduating medical students opened their envelopes to learn which residency programs they would be attending during the next phase of their training. Joining them were family members, friends, and Mount Sinai Health System physicians and staff, who offered hugs and congratulations.

But first there was an announcement by Peter Gliatto, MD, Senior Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education and Student Affairs, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: “I’d like to start with a 45-minute lecture and some PowerPoints,” Dr. Gliatto told the anxious students, to laughter and scattered moans. But he quickly made it clear that he was joking. “Actually, I just want to say how proud we all are of you and the amazing things you’ve done for yourselves, for our school, for our city, and for our world. I’m not exaggerating that.”

During the event on Friday, March 16, in the Annenberg West Lobby, 139 graduating students were matched to residency programs throughout the country, including highly competitive ones at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Johns Hopkins Medicine; Massachusetts General Hospital; the University of California, San Francisco Medical

From left: Fatemeh Parvin-Nejad was matched with Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School (General Surgery); Marielle Young with Massachusetts General Hospital (Pediatrics); and Caitlin Pacheco with Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center (Otolaryngology).

Center; and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Thirty-four students will remain within the Mount Sinai Health System to continue all or part of their graduate training. They were among 18,818 students around the nation who participated in this year’s Match Day event, the largest so far. Match Day is managed by the National Resident Matching Program, a nonprofit organization that uses an algorithm to align the preferences of applicants with those of residency programs.

Imikomobong “Micky” Ibia was “really excited and really grateful” to learn that he will study emergency medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. He said he chose the field so that he could interact with patients from all walks of life and someday help build “sustainable acute medical care in my birth country of Nigeria.” Fatemeh Parvin-Nejad will go to Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School for training in general surgery, which she finds “fulfilling on many levels” because it allows her to work with her hands and help some of the sickest and most underserved patients.

Benjamin Laitman, PhD, who was matched with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Otolaryngology), celebrated with his father, Jeffrey T. Laitman, PhD.

Benjamin Laitman was thrilled to be staying at Mount Sinai since it is home in just about every way: He was born at The Mount Sinai Hospital, and over the years at Mount Sinai, his grandfather was a Chair of Neurology; his grandmother attended nursing school; his mother graduated from the School of Medicine; and his father—who attended Match Day with a proud smile—is Jeffrey T. Laitman, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Medical Education and Professor of Otolaryngology. Benjamin Laitman earned his PhD in neuroscience in 2016 and will now train in otolaryngology. He called the surgeons, clinicians, and scientists “masters of the head and neck” in an “amazing” field that intersects with many others.

The class members will receive training in 22 specialties, including 27 graduates in internal medicine; 12 in emergency medicine; 11 in obstetrics and gynecology; and 9 each in general surgery, pediatrics, anesthesiology, and psychiatry. The rest will pursue other specialties, including family medicine and neurology. As its graduates were receiving their matches, the Mount Sinai Health System was extending residency offers to students from around the country. The new residents, who will arrive in July, include graduates of the nation’s top schools, among them Harvard Medical School, the Stanford University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and the New York University School of Medicine.

“As the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai celebrates its 50th anniversary, we could not be more proud of our students, who exemplify the School’s culture of innovation, mentoring, clinical excellence, commitment to the community, and biomedical research,” says David Muller, MD, Dean for Medical Education and the Marietta and Charles C. Morchand Chair for Medical Education. “Our students will bring these values and skills to the nation’s best medical programs as they pursue the next phase in their careers.”

Mariel Pullman, left, was matched with New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center (Neurology), and Les James with the New York University School of Medicine (General Surgery).

Mount Sinai Queens Receives Trophy for Outstanding Commitment to the Patient Experience

Mar 19, 2018 | Featured

Vicki LoPachin, MD, fourth from left, presented the Patient Experience trophy to leaders from Mount Sinai Queens. From left, Brijen Shah, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President for Medical Affairs; Caryn A. Schwab; Jill Goldstein, RN, MS, MA, Vice President, Nursing; and Judy Trilivas, RN, MA, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Ask physicians and staff at Mount Sinai Queens (MSQ), what is meant by the “Mount Sinai Queens Way,” a core set of values and behaviors that was created by the staff, and you are likely to hear the words “kind-hearted,” “courteous,” and “teamwork.” These values guide the way employees treat each other and engage with their patients, says Caryn A. Schwab, Executive Director of Mount Sinai Queens, a hospital with approximately 1,450 employees, which is located in Astoria. “We place a very high value on coming to work each day wanting to do a great job,” Ms. Schwab adds. “We have a shared commitment to making our hospital a better place.”

On Tuesday, February 27, physicians and staff at MSQ took a few minutes out of their busy schedules to celebrate their strong culture, when Vicki LoPachin, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Mount Sinai Health System, presented Ms. Schwab and Mount Sinai Queens with a trophy for their “Outstanding Commitment to Patient Experience.”

The trophy was given to MSQ for its 100 percent response rate to the Patient Experience Survey, which was launched throughout the Health System in December, under the leadership of Dr. LoPachin. The survey—rolled out at the Health System’s seven hospitals, Mount Sinai Union Square and Chelsea, Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice, off-site practices, corporate services, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai—gathered valuable insight into how Mount Sinai can ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality, and compassionate care to its patients at all times. The survey was the beginning of a patient experience improvement process that will enable the Mount Sinai Health System to create the best environment for patients to receive care.

Eighteen thousand Mount Sinai employees took the survey. Employees at MSQ—the location with the most stellar response rate—showed a strong understanding of how their roles contribute to the patient experience, can improve the patient experience, and foster the teamwork needed to help patients even when it is not part of their job.

Staff at Mount Sinai Queens gathered around their trophy.

“Everybody who works at Mount Sinai Queens has an impact on the patient experience,” says Ms. Schwab. “If you work in billing, for example, it means sending the right bill. If you’re in the pharmacy, it means getting the correct medications to the hospital floor in a timely manner. Improvement is a continuous process. Many of us have relatives who have been cared for at Mount Sinai and can speak in a personal way about their experiences. We, as leaders, want to see those positive experiences extended to every patient, every day, every time.”

Communicating the values of safety and quality in patient care, and treating patients the way employees themselves would like to be treated, is an ongoing process at MSQ. When senior leaders conduct hospital rounds, they ask about the procedures that are running smoothly and discuss how to fix the barriers to success. Town Hall meetings—held every three months—are among the methods used for communicating the hospital’s shared values. MSQ employees open each Town Hall with a patient story or a scenario that encourages empathy and compassion by putting themselves in the place of a patient.

“Every employee is important and connected to caregiving,” says Judy Trilivas, RN, MA, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mount Sinai Queens. If an employee notices a patient in need, he or she is encouraged to respond—even if it is simply to help summon the patient’s nurse. “It may be something as simple as bringing a patient a box of tissues or moving a patient’s tray closer to his or her bed,” she adds. “When employees are engaged, it drives patient safety and quality.”

Ms. Schwab says, “We were thrilled with the results of the survey.” Yet, she acknowledges, “We’re on this journey, and we still have a long way to go. We work hard to be consistent in what we say and do. We strive to model behaviors and provide structure. Communication is key.”

Hoda Farghaly: My Colleagues in Queens Inspire Me

Mar 19, 2018 | Featured, Patient Stories

Hoda Farghaly, Patient Ambassador, Mount Sinai Queens, is pursuing a nursing degree.

When I was eight years old, I witnessed my mom involved in a tragic accident. Time was of the essence, and she was rushed to Mount Sinai Queens, the nearest hospital. My sister—who was seven at the time—and I were terrified that we could lose our mother. As our family was preparing for the worst, this “little emergency room that could” saved my mother’s life.

After emergency surgery, she was transferred to an inpatient unit and hospitalized for about three weeks. My sister and I visited her whenever we were able to.

During those times, I encountered so many heroes. I can still remember their names, faces, warm smiles, and kind, soft-spoken words. At a time of uncertainty and distress, these special people—housekeepers, nursing assistants, nurses, and doctors—helped my family feel at ease, and I felt that everything was truly going to be OK.

The day my mother was discharged to rehabilitation, I told myself that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others with the same compassion and care that my mother received at Mount Sinai Queens.

I learned so much about humanity, empathy, and selflessness during my mother’s hospital stay 17 years ago. I continue to learn and see this today, being surrounded by so many great people who work here.

These amazing people recently inspired my own kind gesture to a patient at Mount Sinai Queens.

This patient had a bucket list. He passionately wanted to travel the world like his brother did, but his health was preventing him from doing that. One of the places on his list was Egypt, and we spoke about its culture and history. Fortunately, I am half Egyptian, and my parents travel often. After work that day, I ran home and grabbed a souvenir I had gotten from Egypt, from the Pyramids of Giza, and brought it to him. I knew I couldn’t help him travel, but I could bring a small piece of another part of the world to his bedside.

He was so surprised and happy, and must have thanked me a million times. Something as small as a souvenir that we might take for granted every day really made such a difference to him.

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