Today I want to share a few of the honors I recently heard about our employees receiving.

Two of our nurses won Caribbean American Healthcare Awards for going above and beyond. They recently attended a ceremony hosted by Caribbean Life, a community that celebrates Caribbean culture in New York City. Congratulations to Audry Radcliffe, RN, in our Petrie Recovery Room and Tracey Ledeatte, RN, at one of our OTP Clinics on 2^nd Ave.

Audry admits that she was shocked when she found out that she had won the award, but it is obvious to all of us why she was chosen.  She demonstrates extraordinary compassion and always ensures her patients get home safely. She routinely goes above and beyond the call of duty.

“I put my patients first and myself last,” says Audrey Radcliffe.

Likewise, Tracey is an exceptional member of our MSBI family. She has a passion for nursing and is continually learning and striving to provide the best care possible.

“We have to continue to uphold the standards of nursing through education and preparation,” says Tracey.

Tracey Ledeatte, RN

Audry Radcliffe, RN with her husband

Also, we were proud to honor MSBI Chief Operations Officer Elizabeth Sellman last month as she was named the Healthcare Leaders of New York’s 2019 Healthcare Executive of the Year. HLNY gives this award to leaders who demonstrate a commitment to advancing healthcare as a profession and mentoring the people around them. I watch her coach and mentor our colleagues daily, and she is a vital part of the glue that keeps us all together and moving forward throughout this challenging transformation. I couldn’t be more honored to know and work alongside her.

Elizabeth Sellman, MPA, right with me and Alison Roditi, HLNY President, at the Healthcare Leaders of New York’s annual gala

By now, over 3000 members of our MSBI community have attended the Mount Sinai Health System Experience. We are thankful to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to connect with each other and reflect on our roles in creating an exceptional place to receive care and to work.

The richness of each session is in the conversations we’ve had and the feedback you’ve shared. My team reviews this valuable feedback every single week, and we have been so inspired by what you have taught us. We are so clearly better together.

Click the video below to hear what your colleagues thought about the experience.

Community outreach comes in different forms; however, the basic intent is founded in the desire to make a difference in someone else’s life. Here at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, we have a shining example of what this looks like in our community. Did you know we have a robust volunteer program for students interested in careers in health care?

Four years ago, Dinah Jacobson, Manager of our Volunteer Office, brought the concept of a student volunteer program to the neighboring High School for Health Professions and Human Services. After an enthusiastic reception and with the help of Amanda Anderson, RN, who was a member of the MSBI nursing team, MSBI initiated the program. By linking the traditional school curriculum with a health care related work experience, the program allows students to discover and explore a variety of career paths. It empowers students to visualize college and career pathways that they may not have previously been aware of.

Working closely with Assistant Principal Donna LoPiccolo and Medical Instructor Bruce Levinson, MD, Dinah thoughtfully places students with mentors based on their interests and career aspirations. A thorough process orients the students to the hospital as well as to their assigned departments and tasks, which can encompass experiences ranging from administration to education and direct patient contact. Most students remain with their mentors for two years, and in some cases, the experience has continued after the completion of their formal internship. Students love the program because it gives them an opportunity to network as well as build long term meaningful relationships with their mentors and others with whom they have worked.

Click below to see more photos of our volunteers.

Dinah says, “This program opens the eyes of our younger community to opportunities which may have otherwise have remained unknown or seemed unattainable. It is incredibly gratifying to observe these bright, highly-motivated young people as they continue to refine their professional goals.”

Dinah passionately states that conducting this program has been one of her most deeply fulfilling professional experiences. She takes great pride in the approximately 100 students with whom she has worked. I have had the privilege of meeting with each cohort of the students, and I too have found it to be a highlight of my work here. I know that is the case for many of our colleagues who serve as their mentors.

We at MSBI have been given the privilege of helping students discover their spark and unique talents, potentially leading to enhanced opportunities for personal, academic, and professional success. We don’t take that responsibility lightly and have learned at least as much from them as they have learned from us.