Featured | Mount Sinai Today

‘What a Wonderful World’ Gala Benefits Music Therapy

Updated on Nov 18, 2022 | Community, Featured, Inside Mount Sinai Psychiatry, Mental Health, Psychiatry

From left, Honoree David Sanborn, Shantelena Mouzon, administrative coordinator at the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine, and musician Paul Shaffer

The 17th annual “What a Wonderful World” gala benefiting the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine, was a festive evening of jazz and expressions of gratitude to three honorees for making the world more wonderful through their contributions to music and music therapy.

The event, held Monday, October 24, at the Angel Orensanz Foundation and hosted by the Wonderful World Friends of Music Therapy Inc., honors the legacy of the Louis Armstrong Department of Music Therapy and their commitment to music therapy at Mount Sinai hospitals.

The event recognizes a dynamic group of individuals chosen from a variety of fields including music, medicine, and patients who have benefitted from receiving music therapy at Mount Sinai hospitals.

This year’s honorees were Grant Mitchell, MD, Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Beth Israel; David Sanborn, the multi-Grammy Award-winning saxophonist, who was presented the Phoebe Jacobs Award by Paul Shaffer (pianist of the former Late Night with David Letterman); and patient Rosemarie Greene.

From left, Honoree Grant Mitchell, MD, Joanne V. Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, Prameet Singh, MD, and Daniel S Safin, MD

The gala was hosted by Mercedes Ellington, dancer, choreographer, and granddaughter of Duke Ellington, and Bill Daughtry, the retired radio and TV host. The co-chairs were Karen and Doug Seidman from the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine’s Steering Committee. The event featured performances by Rema Webb from the Broadway production of The Music Man; Antoine Smith from the Broadway production of MJ: The Musical; saxophonist Erik Lawrence, Lou Marini, a saxophonist and an original member of The Blues Brother, and jazz pianist Garry Dial. Mr. Shaffer and Mr. Sanborn, along with Will Lee (bass), performed jazz and Louis Armstrong’s ‘Wonderful World’.

“We are proud to bring together members of the music, medicine, and patient community who through the gala learn of the breadth and scope of patients we serve and our research projects with doctors and nurses, from neonatal care to oncology, Alzheimer’s disease and psychiatry,” said Joanne V. Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, Founder and Director of the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine, which provides music therapy services throughout the Mount Sinai Health System.

The Department of Music Therapy, with support from the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation and other grants, provides a range of clinical services for infants, children, and adults, and day treatment at the Mount Sinai-Union Square clinic and within the community. Its music therapists are licensed and board certified to provide care that complements medical treatment, assisting with sedation, pain management, and neurologic and respiratory function.

Learn more about the Louis Armstrong Department of Music Therapy

Celebration Week for Nurse Practitioners—Ever Rising to Meet the Needs of Patients

Updated on Nov 14, 2025 | Engagement, Featured, Nursing, Stories of Excellence

The Mount Sinai Health System celebrates nurse practitioners (NPs) during the week of Sunday, November 13, to Saturday, November 19—and recognizes their commitment toward furthering the mission and vision of the organization. “Nurse practitioners are a critical link in the comprehensive compassionate care we provide,” says Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, Chief Nurse Executive, Mount Sinai Health System.

Since the NP role began more than 50 years ago, nurse practitioners have risen to meet each challenge, worked to eliminate health care disparities, and strengthened the nation’s ability to ensure patients have equitable access to high-quality care, says Priscilla Samuel, DNP, FNP-BC, Vice President of Advanced Practice Nursing, Mount Sinai Health System.

“NPs are integral in promoting clinical excellence and fostering patient safety and quality,” Ms. Samuel says. “In collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, we provide exceptional patient care while ensuring that patient preferences and values guide all clinical decisions.”

Here are the thoughts of several of Mount Sinai’s dedicated nurse practitioners on what inspires them, what fills them with pride, and what they wish people knew about their role:

Lena Chang, MSN, RN, ANP-BC
Clinical Program Manager, Cardiology
Mount Sinai Beth Israel

I’ve been working at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Mount Sinai Union Square for 28 years, 24 of which have been in the Cardiovascular Services Department.

What is the most interesting and inspiring aspect of your role as an NP?
As a nurse practitioner and Clinical Program Manager, I am able to involve myself directly with the patients along with system-wide projects. I have a wonderful team of nurse practitioners and am so proud of their hard work to make the department excel.

What do you wish people knew about nurse practitioners?
I wish people knew how much nurse practitioners do for our patients, using the latest evidence-based research treatment protocols. They are also excellent problem solvers and strong patient advocates.

Charleen Jacobs, MS, ANP-BC
Sickle Cell Nurse Practitioner
The Mount Sinai Hospital

I work in the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program.

What is the most interesting and inspiring aspect of your job?
As a sickle cell nurse practitioner at The Mount Sinai Hospital, the most interesting aspect of my job is having the ability to provide longitudinal care to a unique population. Sickle cell disease requires specialized care. Our approach to care is holistic, preventative, and lifespan-focused.

Every day at work, I have the opportunity to care for patients in inpatient and outpatient settings. The sickle cell nurse practitioners provide consult services to inpatient teams once a patient arrives in the Emergency Department, and continue to follow them throughout their hospital course. Once a patient is discharged, we can provide outpatient follow-up care, as well. With this approach, we can provide high-quality, evidence-based care, identify potential gaps, and prevent long-term complications associated with sickle cell disease.

As a Black health care provider, I am most proud that I can provide care for my community, which is disproportionately affected by sick cell disease. As their nurse practitioner, there is no feeling more incredible than knowing I can serve people with this disease. It is one of the most fulfilling parts of this role.

What do you wish people knew about nurse practitioners?
I hope that others in the larger health care community understand the value of nurse practitioners. There is so much diversity among nurse practitioners—from those in leadership, academia, clinical care, and research. With this, nurse practitioners are well-posed to participate in significant decision-making due to our wide experience in a variety of health care roles.

David Skovran, NP
Internal Medicine Associates
Respectful and Equitable Access to Comprehensive Healthcare (REACH) Program
Division of General Internal Medicine
Director of Nursing, East Harlem Health Outreach Partnership

I am a primary care provider currently with Mount Sinai Doctors Internal Medicine Associates at The Mountain Sinai Hospital.

What is the most interesting and inspiring aspect of your role as a nurse practitioner?
The most inspiring aspect of my role is having the opportunity be a primary care provider with my own panel of patients. I have cared for some patients for the past six years, which has allowed me to establish long-term relationships with my patients, encourage open communications, and strive to provide personalized care.

I am proud to be part of the Respectful and Equitable Access to Comprehensive Healthcare (REACH) Program. As part of this program, I am able to provide a comprehensive, patient-centered, harm reduction approach to primary care for persons who use alcohol or other drugs, and for individuals living with hepatitis C. As part of this program, I have had the opportunity to present at national conferences on buprenorphine treatment, stigma-free risk reduction counseling, hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, and overdose response training. I am most proud of being able to educate people about the important work this program does within the Mount Sinai Health System.

What do you wish people knew about nurse practitioners?
Nurse practitioners play a vital role in our nation’s health care system. They provide acute and primary care to patients across the health care continuum, from assessing, diagnosing, and treating illnesses to educating communities on disease prevention.

Katherine D. Reina, DNP, APRN, AGNP-C
Clinical Program Director, Delirium Program
Mount Sinai Morningside
Faculty Member, Committee on Professionalism

I work for the Mount Sinai Health System’s Delirium Program, a one-of-kind approach that enables early recognition and treatment of patients who develop delirium while hospitalized, which I oversee at Mount Sinai Morningside.

What is the most interesting and inspiring aspect of your role as a nurse practitioner?
As a nurse practitioner, I am honored and humbled to be a part of the Health System’s interdisciplinary team caring for some of our most vulnerable patients and their families. I feel that nurse practitioners are uniquely positioned to manage patients across their lifespan. As nurse practitioners, we get to combine the best of nursing and medicine to optimize the health care delivery model. I truly believe the Health System is at the forefront of innovation and research in health care.

I am most proud of first being a part of the Delirium Program. As a nurse practitioner, I have helped expand the program at Mount Sinai Morningside while helping to manage patients. My work within the program has helped reimagine the role of the nurse practitioner as one that includes serving as a lead consultant for a clinical program. It has also increased awareness of delirium and best evidence-based practices to improve management of our patients.

What do you wish people knew about nurse practitioners?
Nurse practitioners are the fastest growing career field in the United States, with more than 355,000 nurse practitioners practicing across the country. Nurse practitioners hold the potential to become the foundation of health care delivery models and standards.

Luz Lucero-Calabro, MS, RN
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse Specialist
Mount Sinai Brooklyn

I am a nurse practitioner engaged in system policy changes, standardizing pressure injury prevention practices, managing products, and providing education for the staff.

I started in 2019 as the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse (WOCN) Nurse Practitioner specialist at Mount Sinai Brooklyn, with a unique position as an educator, provider, and nurse administrator. While I work mainly at Mount Sinai Brooklyn, I am also engaged in a number of Mount Sinai Health System initiatives related to the prevention of hospital acquired-pressure injuries.

What is the most interesting and inspiring aspect of your role as a nurse practitioner?
I have the autonomy to plan and develop treatment plans as a provider while also engaging in a holistic approach due to my nursing roots. I take into account the patient as a whole. It is rewarding to make a difference in the wound and ostomy community.

I am most proud of helping to create the Mount Sinai Brooklyn Skin Care team with registered nurses and personal care assistants. I am also proud of collaborating on the development of a program to improve electronic reporting to the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators®, which provides reporting of structure, process, and outcome indicators to evaluate nursing care at the unit level, and using the data for quality improvement projects. I am also proud of my engagement in standardizing the WOCN practice throughout the Mount Sinai Health System, and serving as chair of the WOCN Steering Committee.

What do you wish people knew about nurse practitioners?
We uphold the highest professional standards for ourselves, and desire to succeed and model care through our practice.

James Murphy, DNP, ANP-C
Administrative Director
Advanced Practice Nursing
Mount Sinai South Nassau

I am currently the Administrative Director of Advanced Practice Nursing at Mount Sinai South Nassau. Clinically, I work with the Critical Care team as a provider on the Rapid Response team.

What is the most interesting and inspiring aspect of your role as a nurse practitioner?
I love clinical work and being able to spend time caring for and speaking with patients and their families regarding care. I also enjoy assisting the resident physicians with their education through the Rapid Response team. Both are very rewarding.

I am co-chair of the Resuscitation Committee at Mount Sinai South Nassau and love working on this proactive committee. I believe we all work well together and make changes where it counts most—through policies and at the bedside of patients. I am also called upon to review charts and medical team cases when questions arise. I have also had the pleasure of working on the Mount Sinai Health System CPR Committee, which worked on a system-wide medical team policy.

What do you wish people knew about nurse practitioners?
I wish more people knew who we are and what we can offer. Nurse practitioners take time with our patients and are holistic in looking at all aspects of our patients’ physical and emotional care. We see the whole patient.

Kimberley Ennis DNP, APRN-BC
Senior Director of Nursing
Mount Sinai Queens

I am a nurse practitioner currently practicing as a nurse leader at Mount Sinai Queens, overseeing all operations of medical-surgical units, cancer center, dialysis, catheterization/electrophysiology, and hospital administrator team. I also act as liaison to the Magnet Recognition Program for nursing excellence, and oversee advanced practice nurses.

What is the most interesting and inspiring aspect of your role as a nurse practitioner?
The most inspiring part of my role is the ability to mentor, coach, and inspire new and experienced nurse leaders and other nurses and nurse practitioners who aspire to leadership roles.

I am proud to be a part of a system that is leading change in diversity, equity, and inclusion and a system that has many opportunities for RNs to advance to nurse practitioners. I am proud of the projects and initiatives I have led, in opening a new clinical unit and lab and significantly impacting multiple quality metrics at Mount Sinai Queens. I am even more proud to be a mentor to Mount Sinai Health System nurses and nurse leaders.

What do you wish people knew about nurse practitioners?
I want more people to understand the multifaceted roles of a nurse practitioner in the health care setting.

Monica An, PhD, RN
Inpatient Oncology Nurse Practitioner
Hematology and Oncology Infusion Center
Mount Sinai West

I am currently an inpatient consultant for a non-teaching service in the Hematology/Oncology program.

What is the most interesting and inspiring aspect of your role as a nurse practitioner?
Inpatient consultants have a big responsibility to optimize the patient’s oncologic care during hospital admission. My role is to provide a unique inpatient nurse practitioner service, which bridges oncologic care with that of the primary medicine and primary oncology teams.

I am proud that the Mount Sinai Health System supports our nurse practitioner service as an advanced practice provider in many ways, such as orientation programs that combine essential, detailed information with extensive mentorship for new nurse practitioners. The Health System also supports nurse practitioners in initiating research projects. And leadership consistently provides a supportive environment for nurse practitioners who want to advance their degrees, which was instrumental in my earning a PhD. Working as a nurse practitioner at the Health System has been a precious and extraordinary experience that has allowed me to grow in my profession.

What do you wish people knew about nurse practitioners?
Everything we do, including the critical role we play in nursing and medicine. Nurse practitioners practice with independence, profound knowledge, and experience. As such, we are crucial in ensuring better outcomes and greater satisfaction for our patients.

COVID-19 Travel Tips for This Holiday Season

Updated on Nov 10, 2022 | COVID-19, Featured

We are approaching the third holiday season during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this one is different from the others: Masking requirements and other social distancing guidelines are largely gone.

So what should you do if you are concerned about COVID-19 possibly interfering with your holiday plans? Just take some common-sense precautions, experts say. Here are some suggestions from 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.

Pay attention to all your vaccinations. Continue to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations. On September 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that those over age 12 get the newest COVID-19 boosters that also target the Omicron variant, and on October 12, the CDC extended that recommendation to those ages 5-11. You should get this vaccine if it has been at least two months since your last COVID-19 vaccine dose. Also, don’t forget your flu shot, as this season is expected to be worse than normal. And remember these shots may take up to two weeks for full protection to kick in.

It’s just as important to stay up to date even if you had COVID-19. The newest vaccine provides added protection, according to the CDC. If you recently had COVID-19, you may delay the next vaccine dose for three months from the onset of symptoms or from your first positive test.

When traveling, consider wearing a high-quality mask in crowded public areas. A surgical mask, which is more comfortable than a snug-fitting KN95 mask, provides some protection against viral infections. That might be prudent for a long plane ride. But to ensure better protection, wearing a clean cloth mask on top of the surgical mask, or wearing a KN95 mask or N95 mask is recommended. Also, onboard the plane, the most important time to consider wearing a mask is while the plane is still on the ground; once airborne, the plane’s sophisticated air filtration systems come on. (Two important footnotes on masks: Masking is still required in health care facilities in New York State, and health care facilities in areas where there is high COVID-19 transmission may require them. You are supposed to wear a mask in public if you are just getting over COVID-19.)

Be especially careful at gatherings and celebrations. If you have been dining at restaurants indoors or attending gatherings indoors without a mask on, then you have been exposed to respiratory viruses already. This holiday season, you are probably more likely to get infected during the many hours you are with friends and family around the dinner table or celebrating inside. That’s what happened a year ago when social distancing guidelines were relaxed. So general guidance on gatherings remains: Remember that some people may be more at risk, such as such as 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. More fresh air is better. You may want to ask those gathering to consider taking an at-home test in advance. Keep in mind these tests are not always sensitive enough to detect the onset of COVID-19 (home antigen tests should be performed at least three times, 48 hours apart after a high-risk exposure), and you could be infected and spreading the virus without showing any symptoms.

Have a plan. Talk with your primary care provider in advance about what you should do if you are at risk for severe complications from COVID-19 and think you have been exposed or start to show symptoms of COVID-19. For example, some clinicians may prefer you get a more sophisticated PCR test, rather than the simple at-home antigen tests. Some people with COVID-19, notably those over 65 or with other health conditions, might benefit from the antiviral therapy Paxlovid—though this must be taken within five days after symptoms start. Talking to your provider in advance can help you know precisely what to do, such as getting a prescription for Paxlovid, especially if you must take action over the weekend.

Recognize we are all learning to live with COVID-19. This viral disease, much like the flu or the common cold, is not going away. But with some basic precautions, it should not stand in the way of spending time with friends and family.

Division of Nephrology Named in Honor of Barbara Murphy, MD, World-Renowned Nephrologist and Researcher

Updated on Nov 9, 2022 | Featured

Barbara Murphy, MD, MB, BAO, BCh, FRCPI

The Division of Nephrology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has been named in honor of Barbara Murphy, MD, MB, BAO, BCh, FRCPI, a world-renowned and award-winning nephrologist and researcher who became the first female chair of a Department of Medicine at an academic medical center in New York City. Dr. Murphy died June 30, 2021, at age 56.

The official announcement of the establishing of the Dr. Barbara T. Murphy Division of Nephrology was made during a ceremony Monday, October 24, at the Division, located in the Annenberg Building, 23rd Floor, during which Mount Sinai leaders celebrated her outstanding contributions to Mount Sinai and to the Division.

Those making remarks included Kenneth L. Davis, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Mount Sinai Health System; 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; Judith A. Aberg, MD, Professor of Medicine, System Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases; and Samira Farouk, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology.

David C. Thomas, MD, MHPE, Professor of Medicine, System Vice Chair for Education, Department of Medicine, served as moderator of the event. Among those attending was Peter Fogarty, Dr. Murphy’s husband.

Kenneth L. Davis, MD

In a statement, Monica Kraft, MD, Murray M. Rosenberg Professor of Medicine and System Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, called Dr. Murphy “a great leader, a groundbreaking scientist, and wonderful human being.”

“It is extraordinary for us to be able to celebrate her in this way, and a privilege to honor her legacy for all the incredible contributions she made to the field of nephrology, medical science, and importantly to Mount Sinai,” Dr. Kraft added. “To dedicate the Division of Nephrology in her honor is a reminder of the impact that certain individuals have on the lives of our patients, colleagues, and fellow scientists. And this division embodies the very essence of Dr. Murphy’s vision for a healthier tomorrow through monumental kidney research that will continue to save so many lives.”

Dr. Thomas said, “There are so many amazing stories we could share with you about Dr. Murphy. But what they all have in common is that she was a staunch supporter of research and education, and nothing made her happier than to see her team thrive through the discovery of new therapies and treatments. Particularly, when she knew that a life was or could be saved because of her team’s work.”

Click here to read more about Dr. Murphy in The New York Times

Dr. Murphy was motivated to pursue kidney research when she was in medical school in Ireland. She was caring for a patient who had developed end-stage kidney disease who went on to receive a kidney transplant. This experience led Dr. Murphy to come to the United States, where she pursued kidney and transplantation research and completed her fellowship training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital before being recruited to be the Director of Transplant Nephrology at Mount Sinai in 1997.

She was named Division Chief six years later, becoming one of the youngest division Chiefs in the United States, as well as one of the few women at the time to hold the title. Subsequently, she was appointed the Dean for Clinical Integration and Population Health, and went on to become Chair of Medicine in 2012.

Dr. Murphy was at the forefront of groundbreaking kidney research, always ensuring that any advances made in the field were quickly and safely applied to the treatment of her patients.

Under her leadership in the Division of Nephrology, she built one of the most comprehensive and robust kidney transplant programs in the country. When she became Chair of Medicine, the Department experienced rapid expansion, particularly during the merger to become one large health system, and she ensured that clinical and training programs were integrated at every hospital site to improve patient outcomes.

As a researcher, Dr. Murphy focused on genetics and genomics in transplantation. Her discoveries have led to renal transplantation in HIV-positive patients becoming standard of care. She conducted groundbreaking research using high-throughput genomic technologies to understand the immune mechanisms that lead to graft injury and loss. She aimed to identify gene expression profiles or genetic variants that would predict patients’ risk for disease. Dr. Murphy’s laboratory took a systems biology approach to identifying genetic drivers of fibrosis; this had important implications for kidney transplantation, but she hoped it would have an enormous impact on all organ transplantations in the future.

Dennis S. Charney, MD, left, and Peter Fogarty, husband of Barbara Murphy, MD

Dr. Murphy was also an innovator and inventor. In addition to her roles within the Health System, in 2018 she became Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board for RenalytixAI, an artificial intelligence-enabled in vitro diagnostics company that collaborates with Mount Sinai in seeking to improve chronic kidney disease detection, management, and treatment. And, in 2020, she became a co-founder and board member of Verici Dx, a pioneering company focused on advanced clinical diagnostics in organ transplant.

Dr. Murphy was President-Elect of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) at the time of her passing, and was named in June 2021 as the recipient of the ASN’s first Lifetime Achievement Award. She was named Nephrologist of the Year in 2011 by the American Kidney Fund; among The Annual Irish America Healthcare and Life Science 50 in 2016; and as one of the Crain’s New York “Notable Women in Health Care” in 2018. She received numerous honorary doctoral degrees from universities and medical schools.

In May 2018, Dr. Murphy described her approach to her work when she was a featured speaker at the graduation ceremony of her alma mater, the School of Medicine of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), according to an article in Mount Sinai Today.

Her advice was straightforward. “Do not be afraid to stand up and take risks for the good of your patients,” Dr. Murphy told the graduates. “You cannot have an impact if you live in the shadows afraid to fail or afraid of upsetting others. Success is not about abstracts, papers, awards, or titles. It is about having a positive impact on the lives of others, about meaningful change.”

The morning after the dedication ceremony at Mount Sinai, the First Annual Dr. Barbara T. Murphy Memorial Lecture was held over Zoom with Dr. Susan Quaggin, MD, Chief of Nephrology at Northwestern University.

Three Mount Sinai Nursing Leaders Inducted as Fellows in the American Academy of Nursing

Updated on Nov 3, 2022 | Featured, Nursing

From left: Joan Miravite, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN; Chief Nurse Executive Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN; and Jared M. Kutzin, DNP, MS, MPH, RN, FSSH, FAAN

Three Mount Sinai nurse leaders, including Chief Nurse Executive Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, have been inducted as Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) in the 2022 Class of Fellows, a significant milestone for the most accomplished nurse leaders in education, management, practice, and research.

The 2022 Academy Fellows were recognized for their contributions in health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference that took place on Thursday, October 27, through Saturday, October 29. The induction ceremony was on October 29 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Oliver; Jared M. Kutzin, DNP, MS, MPH, RN, FSSH, FAAN, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, and Medical Education, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Senior Director of the Simulation, Teaching, and Research (STAR) Center at The Mount Sinai Hospital; and Joan Miravite, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Icahn Mount Sinai and an expert in movement disorders, were among 250 nurses chosen by the Academy’s Fellow Selection Committee through a competitive and thorough application process.

Fellows come from nearly 40 countries and hold a variety of roles within the nursing profession. Following their induction, fellows contribute their expertise by engaging with health leaders to improve the delivery of care, achieve health equity, and discover new innovations.

In her role as Chief Nurse Executive, Dr. Oliver is responsible for overseeing the practice of nursing and collaborating with the Health System’s senior executive team and the Chief Nursing Officers of Mount Sinai’s eight hospitals. Her top priorities include ensuring the safety and quality of care for patients, supporting and advancing the professional development of nurses, and transforming the care Mount Sinai provides around the needs of patients and communities.

From left: Christine Mahoney, DNP, RN, AGACNP-BC, NEA-BC, CCRN, Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Downtown; Maria Vezina, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Vice President and Chief of Nursing Practice, Education, Advanced Practice Nursing Credentialing, Mount Sinai Health System; Toby Bressler, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine; Joan Miravite, Beth Oliver, Fran Cartwright, PhD, RN-BC, AOCN, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President at The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens; Linda M. Valentino, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services for Women’s and Children’s Services, Mount Sinai Health System, and Chief Nursing Officer of Mount Sinai West; Stacey A. Conklin, MSN, RN-BC, MHCDS, NE-BC, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Mount Sinai South Nassau; and Jared Kutzin.

Dr. Kutzin is an experienced educator, innovator, and simulationist. He is a Fellow in the Institute for Medical Education at Mount Sinai, a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, and a Fellow of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Academy. Dr. Kutzin serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, on the New York State Emergency Medical Services Council, and on multiple curriculum revision committees for the Icahn School of Medicine.

He has developed innovative curricula, including the use of virtual reality, for Emergency Medicine, Nursing, Critical Care, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and departments across the Health System.

Dr. Miravite has more than 21 years of experience in the evaluation, programming, and management of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. She has helped to build a strong DBS program at Mount Sinai by educating physicians, nurse practitioners, students, and patients about DBS. Additionally, she is on the faculty at three academic institutions in New York City, including Icahn Mount Sinai.

Dr. Miravite is the Chair-Elect of the American Academy of Neurology Consortium of Neurology Advanced Practice Providers. She also serves as core faculty for the Parkinson’s Foundation Team Training program, an international multidisciplinary training program for clinicians with the goal of improving treatment and outcomes for underserved patients with chronic neurologic conditions.

Patient Dining Associate Recognized for Her Commitment to the Patient Experience

Oct 27, 2022 | Engagement, Featured, Stories of Excellence

Tessor Tyrell, Patient Dining Associate at Mount Sinai West

Tessor Tyrell, Patient Dining Associate at Mount Sinai West, is considered to be a shining example of how the Department of Food and Nutrition Services can make a significant impact on the patient experience.

John Gkanios, Patient Service Manager, explains: “Tessor is totally focused on the needs and preferences of her patients. Before she leaves a patient’s room, she asks if they are happy with their meal and follows up before coming back to the kitchen to set up for the next meal period. If there is a non-food issue that the patient brings to her attention, Tessor always informs the appropriate nurse to ensure the concern is addressed.”

Tessor recently received the following praise from a patient in a letter addressed to Kenneth Davis, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Mount Sinai Health System: “Ms. Tyrell demonstrates a passion for her job and people. Always with a smile and a wonderful positive attitude, Ms. Tyrell makes a patient feel comfortable in an atmosphere of uncertainty and stress. It certainly takes a team to address the physical issues and the mental conditions as well. Health care professionals will work to keep the body healthy. It is the other team members, from housekeeping to food and nutrition, that are essential to keeping the mind as positive and healthy as the body. Ms. Tyrell has exceeded in all of these categories, and I would appreciate your acknowledging Ms. Tyrell as a professional, caring, and outstanding employee and member of your team.”

Tessor is clearly dedicated to her patients.

“I love my job,” she says. “I like taking care of people and giving patients the care and attention they need. If they want to tell me their stories, once all my rounds are completed, I am happy to listen. Patients have even given me their numbers so I can follow up with them after they are discharged.”

Not only does Tessor serve her patients with care, she also is appreciated for her skills in the kitchen.

“Lucky for us,” John says, “Tessor is also a great cook! She volunteered and prepared a dish for the Juneteenth Celebration, which was enjoyed by the entire hospital.”