Dubin Breast Center Annual Benefit Honors a Tennis Champion Who Is Also a Breast Cancer Survivor

Jan 25, 2023 | Featured, Patient Stories

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Mary Joe Fernandez was one of the top professional tennis players in the United States during the 1990s in both singles and doubles. She won two Grand Slam doubles titles, first at the 1991 Australian Open and then at the 1996 French Open. She also won two Olympic Gold medals in doubles. After retiring in 2000, she became captain of the U.S. Fed Cup team and a television commentator for ESPN.

But after her annual mammogram in 2017, everything changed. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately, a friend suggested she call the Dubin Breast Center. Once she arrived and met with the team, she knew she had found the right place for her treatment and recovery.

Mary Joe Fernandez and her husband, Anthony Godsick

“My journey with the Dubin Breast Center has been one of compassion and caring—and of confidence,” she says. “They really have mastered how to make a really difficult time in a woman’s life into something they can get through and have hope.”

Ms. Fernandez was one of two women honored at the Dubin Breast Center Annual Benefit, which celebrated its 12th anniversary. She recounted her story in an emotional video that was presented during the event.

The event was held Monday, December 12, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York. More than 300 guests attended, and the event raised more than $3 million to support the Dubin Breast Center of The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai Health System.

The second honoree was Hanna Yoko Irie, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology, and Oncological Sciences) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She was honored for her contributions to the field of breast cancer research—most notably her work in triple-negative breast cancer, which is both more aggressive and harder to treat than other types—and for the care she provides to her patients at the Dubin Breast Center.

“We’ve been able to find new genes that promote or drive the growth of a subset of these triple-negative breast cancers,” Dr. Irie says, “targeting specific pathways but also understanding better how we can help boost the immune system.”  Dr. Irie’s contributions to the Center as a physician-scientist were also described in this video.

The event was hosted by Mount Sinai Health System Trustee Eva Andersson-Dubin, MD, who founded the Center, and Elisa Port, MD, FACS, Chief of Breast Surgery and the Center’s Co-Director.

“The mission of the Dubin Breast Center has always been to deliver the most cutting-edge, groundbreaking research combined with the most compassionate care,” says Dr. Port. You can hear more from Dr. Port in a video that was also presented at the gala.

The Dubin Breast Center is also leading the way in early detection and was the first in New York City to offer 3D mammography. The Center performs more than 12,000 mammograms a year.

“Under the direction of Dr. Eva Andersson-Dubin and Dr. Elisa Port, the Dubin Breast Center will transform breast cancer research and care for decades to come,” says Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President of the Mount Sinai Health System.

See all the videos and read more about the Gala

What You Need to Know About the Latest COVID-19 Variant

Jan 24, 2023 | COVID-19, Featured, Vaccines, Your Health

You may have noticed that more people you know have gotten COVID-19 recently. One reason is the virus that causes COVID-19 continues to evolve into variants that are more contagious.

The latest one is known as XBB.1.5, and since early December it has become the predominant variant in the New York metropolitan area, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This variant is thought to be highly transmissible due to its ability to partially evade antibodies produced through vaccines or past infections. However, the vaccines still offer excellent protection against severe illness and death.

New Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccines: In April 2023, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced some major changes for COVID-19 vaccines. Click here to read more about what you need to know.

In this Q&A, Bernard Camins, MD, MSc, Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Medical Director for Infection Prevention for the Mount Sinai Health System, explains more about the new variant and how to protect yourself.

No matter the variant, it is important to remember that COVID-19 is not going away. The key is to reduce transmission to those who are at risk of getting seriously ill:

  • If you feel sick, stay at home.
  • If you want to be more vigilant, wear a high-quality mask, avoid being unmasked at large indoor gatherings (such as eating at restaurants), especially when infection rates in your area are very high.
  • If you are at high-risk for a serious infection, talk with your medical provider so you are prepared should you get infected.
  • Don’t forget to get your flu shot; you can get that at the same time you get your COVID-19 booster shot.

How does this new variant differ from the earlier variants?

The nature of COVID-19 is that the new variants are likely going to be more contagious than the older ones. There is currently no evidence that this latest variant is more dangerous. The symptoms do not appear different.

 Does the newest, updated booster shot help protect me from this new variant?

According to the CDC, being up to date with the bivalent booster that became available in September 2022 offers the best protection against COVID-19. (It is the only booster now available.) The updated bivalent booster specifically targets both the BA.5 sub variant of Omicron, of which XBB.1.5 is a descendent, and the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. The original COVID-19 monovalent vaccines, and the monovalent booster that became available in the fall of 2021, only target the original virus, and therefore potentially offer less protection against the Omicron subvariants.

 I was recently infected with COVID-19. How long should I wait to get the latest bivalent booster?

You may consider waiting up to 90 days from your last infection before getting the bivalent booster. Reinfection is less likely in the weeks and months after infection. But you may want to talk with your provider if you are at increased risk of severe disease.

 I never got any vaccines. Can I skip the first and second monovalent vaccines and just get the bivalent booster?

No. Before you can get the bivalent booster, you still need to get two doses of the monovalent vaccine.

 I received my bivalent booster more than two months ago. Has my immunity started to wane?

Your immunity does begin to wane after three to four months, probably more so if you’re older, such as older than 50.

 Can I get another dose to bolster my immunity?

No. Currently, there are no more recommended doses after you have already gotten the bivalent booster, regardless of how long it has been.

 Will the bivalent booster and antiviral medications prevent me from developing long COVID?

We do not have definitive data yet to know how much protection the bivalent booster and antiviral medications such as Paxlovid™ offer against the development of long COVID. But we do know that being vaccinated certainly reduces your risk of developing it.

I am at high risk for complications from COVID-19. What should I do to protect myself from the latest subvariant?

Because COVID-19 is so widespread now, it’s hard to avoid getting infected or exposed. While it is reasonable to take precautions to avoid a COVID-19 infection, the goal should be to reduce the severity or prevent complications when you do get COVID-19. High-risk individuals should have a plan for how to get antiviral medications, which can prevent severe illness or death. For this to work, you must take the medications within the first five days of symptom onset. If you have not done so already, you should talk with your doctor or your care provider to create a plan for what antivirals you would need and how to get them. Having a plan is also important because you may be on medications that interact with certain antivirals, and you may need to stop taking those medications temporarily to prevent drug interactions. Those at high risk include older adults, those with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, and those with reduced ability to fight infections, such as those being treated for some cancers.

Read more from Mount Sinai experts about COVID-19

Faces of Care Shines Light on ‘Behind the Scenes’ Staff at Mount Sinai

Updated on Dec 23, 2022 | Community, Featured, Stories of Excellence

Faces of Care is a unique series of eight moving, short videos featuring employees who work for the Mount Sinai Health System. These employees are professionals, deeply dedicated to their crafts. The videos show that every employee plays an integral role in delivering safe, high- quality, seamless care, and they underscore the importance of the essential services these employees provide.

“I’m going to prep the instruments as best I can, as fast as I can, because that’s the way I would want to be treated. I’m playing a part in that. I’m helping people. We’re saving lives.” -Leahcim Francis, Central Sterile Technician

The first set of videos focus on employees at Mount Sinai Morningside, including those responsible for everything from sterilizing instruments to operating a PET CT scan to waste removal, and they show how all Mount Sinai employees, no matter their task, keep the patient at the center of their work.

Sanford Lapsley, a high-pressure boiler operating engineer who is one of the featured employees, is part of a team that operates on the hospital’s roof 24 hours a day.

“We’re responders. We feel what we do is important to the whole operation of Mount Sinai,” he says. “We give you heat, we give you steam, and we help cure patients.”

As Mount Sinai Morningside’s Chief Transformation Office, Lucy Xenophon, MD, often goes to see staff in the place where their work is done. She says she is impressed and humbled by their determination, skill, and kindheartedness. She realizes that some roles are almost invisible to the public.

“When I found out that there is someone who stays on the roof of the hospital 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to ensure steam is available for essential operations, I was determined to find a way to tell this story and stories like these,” said Dr. Xenophon.

Dr. Xenophon continued, “We must appreciate the value of our people—their fascinating work and their inspiring accomplishments. There is so much value in shining a spotlight on those who work behind the scenes in critical roles that keep our hospital and health system running.”

Director/Filmmaker Sean O’Neill created the videos in conjunction with the Mount Sinai Video Production Department led by Nicole “Nicci” Cheatham, Video Studio Manager.

“We chose Sean because of his commitment to creating authentic videos,” said Ms. Cheatham. “The choice to film the staff in their workplace and utilize the natural sounds of their environment provides a true look into the subjects’ day-to-day work life.”

“What struck me in watching the videos is the direct connection all of these staff have to healing patients and improving health,” said Arthur A. Gianelli, President, Mount Sinai Morningside. “The sense of duty and passion of people throughout the hospital has always awed me—and it is clearly evident in these videos.” The series is being expanded across the Mount Sinai Health System.

In addition to Mr. Lapsley, the video series features:

Hilary Bogert, Speech Language Pathologist

Douglas Burgos, Patient Representative

Marita Cuenca, Laboratory Technologist

Leahcim Francis, Central Sterile Technician

Sehar Khan, PET CT Technologist

Joseph McSherry, Mechanic Foreman

Edgardo Valentin, Environmental Services, Waste Removal

Watch all of the Faces of Care videos

Mount Sinai Recognized by Healthcare Digital Marketing Awards

Updated on Dec 22, 2022 | Featured

Mount Sinai’s Central Marketing and Communications team received three “Gold” honors in the Third Annual Healthcare Digital Marketing Awards.

Mount Sinai was recognized for its COVID-19 response and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Facts and Resources web page; for its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion web page; and for eNewsletter campaigns for The Friedman Brain Institute and the Light and Health Research Center. The Mount Sinai Health System was the only New York City health system to be honored.

The goal for the COVID-19 site was to provide all Mount Sinai’s communities with accurate information on how to get the information they need—whether it is how to get care, testing, vaccinations—in a “one stop shop” site. The site had 1.6 million visitors from January to August.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion page was designed to raise awareness of how Mount Sinai integrates DEI into its everyday interactions in quality patient care, the workplace, education, and research. The site had more than 3,000 visitors from January to August.

The Friedman Brain Institute specialty report newsletter was sent to 3,000 researchers, and the monthly HealthCast Professionals eNewsletter for the Light and Health Research Center was sent to 5,000 researchers. Both were designed to help with the position and branding of the organizations.

The Healthcare Digital Marketing Awards recognizes the best health care websites, digital content, electronic communications, mobile media, and social media. The awards are sponsored by HMR Publications Group.

Entries were received from nearly 1,000 health care and medical institutions across the country. The HDMAwards were judged by a national panel of health care marketers, creative directors, and marketing and advertising professionals.

Gold awards were granted to 161 institutions, Silver awards were awarded to 82 institutions, and Bronze awards were awarded to 47 institutions.

Janet Anne Green Remarks to the Graduating Class of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing

Updated on Dec 16, 2022 | Featured

These prepared remarks were delivered by Janet A. Green, Co-Chair, Board Member, Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing, at the 120th Commencement of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing on Thursday, December 15.

Janet A. Green, Co-Chair, Board Member, Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing

Janet A. Green, Co-Chair, Board Member, Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing

Until my mother’s passing in September, 2021, it was she who delivered this greeting to all of you on behalf of our family. I was always enthralled listening to Carol Phillips Green retell the tale of our family and how we became staunch supporters of New York City health care and this school of nursing. Truthfully, of all of the ways I’ve had to attempt to fill her shoes, this speech is the hardest.

Before we begin this ceremony of graduation, I would like to carve out a brief moment in remembrance of my dear grandfather, Seymour Phillips, the man who was honored by having his name linked to the nursing school from which you are graduating today. The Phillips School of Nursing… many of you may have wondered about this man who was so greatly honored by having this school named after him. I have been assured and reassured that no matter which hospital group becomes our umbrella institution, we will always remain the Phillips School of Nursing, and that is a commitment and promise that will be kept.

It is now 35 years since my grandfather’s death—a minute and a lifetime. Possibly the way you feel today looking back on this time you have spent at the Phillips School of Nursing—a minute and a lifetime. Take a moment to think about how different you are with this knowledge and with the friendships you have created here!

The number of generations that our family has been a part of Beth Israel, its nursing school, and New York City health care is now five. I proudly represent the fifth generation as co-chair of your Nursing School Board, serving with the amazing and dedicated Ruth Nerken who has her own compelling tale of philanthropy and service to community to tell. We represent your interests and needs to the Mount Sinai Health System, and even though you may not see us wandering the halls, we have been there with you in spirit every day. And it gives me great, great pride that my daughter, Kristine Mikkelsen, has recently joined the Board representing the sixth generation of our family. Really, it leaves me kind of speechless.

As President of the Phillips-Green Foundation, it is my honor to keep the generations of our family informed about this school, our students, scholars, and graduates. I send regards and congratulations from our seven Directors on this milestone in your lives.

As so as many of you and your families have come from other countries, so too, my grandfather’s grandfather, Moses Phillips, his wife, Endel, and three sons, came to America in 1881 as penniless immigrants from Poland.

President Theodore Roosevelt with supporters at the groundbreaking of Beth Israel Hospital in New York, including Isaac Phillips, the second person to the left of the president

The family first settled in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where a cousin was living. As there was not much work in this community for a cantor, a singer in the synagogue, he bought his wife, Endel, a sewing machine, and Moses, from his pushcart, sold the shirts his wife made to the coal miners emerging from the mines with their Friday paychecks. A business was born there.

In the 1890’s my great, great grandfather, Moses, moved the family and the business to New York City, where he helped open an infirmary on the Lower East Side to help care for and train immigrants that had arrived here from all over the world. Twenty years later, his son, Isaac, helped raise the money and turned the first shovel of dirt for the new Beth Israel Hospital at 17th Street and First Avenue—proudly standing next to Theodore Roosevelt, the newly elected President of the United States. Can we even possibly imagine the pride of this immigrant and the honor he felt at that moment? There is a photo of this event in the Phillips display case on the main floor of the school, and I hope you will pause for a moment to look at it the next time you pass by.

After Isaac’s too early death, my grandfather, Seymour, then in his early 20’s, came to work in what we still lovingly think of as “the family shirt business” which eventually morphed into the Phillips Van Heusen Shirt Company. But Seymour devoted his free time to his real love: the Beth Israel Hospital and the Nursing School whose Committee he chaired for 37 years until his death in 1987. There are some great stories of Seymour on that Board as he championed nurses and nursing education, saving the school from budget axes and closure in the 1970’s because some others couldn’t see the value added, only the expense. That we are standing here to honor you today is a testament to what can happen when you stand up to the naysayers.

During each of those 37 years, my grandfather presided over these graduations, and he and his wife, Madelyn, warmly hosted dinner dances for the graduates in their Park Avenue apartment, and occasionally I still hear from alumni that remember those evenings. In the three plus decades after Seymour’s passing, my mother delivered this message of welcome to the graduates and their families, and to hopefully give you a sense of my grandfather’s extraordinary life.

Graduation was the favorite day in Seymour’s busy year. He loved this school, its staff and faculty, and he especially loved its graduates. It was the highlight of his very full life when he was honored by having this nursing school bear his name.

This section of my remarks come directly from my mother—her sentiments so beautiful they need no improvement: As I look out at your beautiful faces today and feel the love of your families who now sit behind you, but who have stood behind you during these difficult years of education, we realize that you represent the very best of our country and the hope for its future. If America could look and act as this class does… with love and respect for each other, with strong support and caring concern for community, faculty and family, then we will have deserved the continuing blessings of this great country.

I am truly sorry that you did not get a chance to know my grandfather or mother. But today, we are even sorrier that they did not know you.

So on behalf of my dear grandfather, Seymour Phillips, whose memory I do invoke for this brief moment, and for my mother, Carol and all of our family, I salute each of you… and on with the ceremony.

 

Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing Celebrates Commencement

Updated on Dec 16, 2022 | Featured, Nursing

The Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing celebrated 150 new graduates at its 120th Commencement in a joyous ceremony that spotlighted the critical role nurses play in supporting patients and improving health care. The ceremony was held Thursday, December 15, at Stern Auditorium, when degrees were awarded to 100 students from the December 2022 Class and 50 students from the August 2022 Class.

One of the reasons for joy was that all of the graduates have received offers for positions at the Mount Sinai Heath System.

For example, Blair Paltrowitz, the August valedictorian, is working at Mount Sinai South Nassau in labor and delivery, a favorite assignment for many nursing graduates.

Ms. Paltrowitz, who had been an actress on Broadway and in television, was inspired to become a nurse thanks to the care she received during her own labor and delivery experiences at Mount Sinai.

“It was extremely important to me to start my career as a Mount Sinai nurse,” she said in an interview before the ceremony.  “I knew I would be embraced there as a new nurse, and learn from some of the most brilliant minds in the field. I also knew from my clinical experience how the nurses all work as a team at Mount Sinai, and I was eager to be a part of that culture. My new position at Mount Sinai South Nassau has been incredibly rewarding and challenging in the best way possible.”

Andy Charlorin, who is graduating in December, also is looking forward to working at Mount Sinai. “It was important to me to receive an offer from Mount Sinai because their pipeline for students shows their confidence and commitment to their education system,” he said in an interview. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Todd F. Ambrosia, DNP, MSN, FNAP, Dean of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing and Vice President of Nursing Academic Affairs at the Mount Sinai Health System

Todd F. Ambrosia, DNP, MSN, FNAP, Dean of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing and Vice President of Nursing Academic Affairs at the Mount Sinai Health System, presided over the ceremony. “It is definitely a unique time for nursing, as our health care landscape is ever changing and evolving in response to highly critical situations. But it’s every part of who you are becoming, and I thank you for rising to the challenge with such courage,” he told the the graduates, guests, faculty, and staff. “For all of us—if there was ever a time when we needed to come together and say we will make space for humanity in our care, and let it transform us into a more compassionate, courageous, resilient community, this is the time. And we are the ones to do it.”

Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, Mount Sinai Health System, told the graduates they have a unique opportunity.

Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, Mount Sinai Health System

“During this time of unprecedented transformation in health care, you are entering our nursing profession with an incredible opportunity to leave a mark and make a difference in the lives of others.  As graduates of Mount Sinai’s Phillips School of Nursing, each of you has learned how to use your knowledge, compassion, and skills to contribute to public good,” she said. “Our world continues to face uncertain times, and your commitment to answer the call to help and serve those in need is noble and courageous. Your graduation starts your lifelong journey of continuous professional learning and reflects your resilience and determination.”

A ritual at commencement is a greeting from the Phillips-Green family, as the history of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing has been intertwined with the Phillips family for more than six generations. The school is named for Seymour Phillips, who served as a hospital trustee for more than 50 years and chaired the school’s Trustee Committee for 37 years. This year, the greeting was delivered by Janet A. Green, Co-Chair of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing Board and granddaughter of Seymour Phillips. Her mother had spoken for many years before her death in September 2021.

“This section of my remarks come directly from my mother—her sentiments so beautiful they need no improvement: As I look out at your beautiful faces today and feel the love of your families who now sit behind you but who have stood behind you during these difficult years of education, we realize that you represent the very best of our country and the hope for its future,” she said. “If America could look and act as this class does…with love and respect for each other, with strong support and caring concern for community, faculty, and family, then we will have deserved the continuing blessings of this great country.” (Click here to read her full speech).

In the keynote address, Lorraine McGrath, MA, RN-BC, Senior Director of Clinical Affairs and Associate Professor at the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing, where she has worked for 40 years, told the graduates that one of the highlights of her career has been meeting graduates who become nurses throughout the Mount Sinai Health System and other leading New York hospitals. She has taught generations of students, many times parents and then their children and their older and younger siblings—including the mother of one the current graduates, and her aunts.

Lorraine McGrath, MA, RN-BC, Senior Director of Clinical Affairs and Associate Professor

She urged the graduates to keep in mind the interest and needs of their patients. “My advice for you is to be caring and compassionate, to be able to think critically and problem solve, take the initiative in patient care, collaborate with the health care team and most importantly to be a strong patient advocate,” she said. “There are so many patients today who do not have a voice…now that is you, the RN.”

The student speaker, Brittany Robinson, salutatorian of the December class, noted in her remarks what an honor it is for the graduates to embark on a career in nursing, well prepared for the challenges ahead. While at the School, she said, students had “bonded over our passion for social justice and equality, and honed a competency and passion for nursing” that will help countless patients.

Following the presentation of the graduating class and conferring of degrees, Vice Dean Laly Joseph, DVM, DNP, CNE, RN-C, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, FNAP, and Assistant Professor, Carla Santos MS, NPD-BC, NC-BC, CCRN, distributed awards to graduating students, and Lynn Rubenstein, MA, RN, Professor Emeritus, Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing, delivered the international pledge for nurses.

The following awards were announced (August Class, December Class):

Seymour Phillips Award (valedictorian): Blair Paltrowitz, Paola Coronel

Paula and Sherman Raskin Award for Maternal and Child Nursing: Noa Allen, Doris Arias-Bonilla

Paula and Sherman Raskin Award for Academic and Clinical Excellence in Nursing: Fana Dealla, Sarin Grey

Eileen Melnick Award for Compassion in Psychiatric Care: Patrice Stellato, Molly Beitchman

Eileen Melnick Team Spirit Award: Veronica Javellana, Marvin Anderson

Dean’s Award for Professionalism: Daniel Angielczyk, Courtney Hart

Rose Hauer Award, given by the Alumni Association based on the vote of students: Julie Huang, Andy Charlorin

(Rose M. Hauer, RN, MA, was the Dean at the School and Nursing Director at Mount Sinai Beth Israel for more than 40 years. The honorees are selected by a vote of the graduating class for the student who made an outstanding contribution.)

The Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing was approved this year to charter a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. A total of 31 students and 9 nursing leaders were inducted.

These classes are the first to graduate from the School’s new, cutting-edge facility in East Harlem. It includes a high-tech simulation lab and classrooms to prepare nurses to meet the health care challenges of the day. Graduates come from all over the country, represent a variety of backgrounds and ages, and have different reasons for wanting to become nurses.

All graduates of the 2022 class are a part of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN), a program to support and train nurses with the flexibility they need to succeed. It is one of two programs the school offers, along with an RN-to-BSN program.

 

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