2025 TRAIN Program leadership, speakers, staff, and fellows, from left: Bevin Cohen, PhD, MS, MPH, RN, FAAN; Kavita Rampertaap, MSN, RN, CPON; Tiffany Goldwire, MA, CHES; Selamawit Gebrezghi, MSN, FNP-c; Keisha Burrell, MSN, FP-BC; Joseph E. Ravenell, MD; Nickisha Mortimer, DNP, PMHNP; Tanmaiyee Vaddepati, MSN, MPH; Kimberly Souffront, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAHA, FAAN; and Crystal Tucker, DNP, PMH-RN-BC.

Hypertension remains a significant public health challenge and a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although clinical trials have identified effective interventions to improve hypertension outcomes, translation of findings remains uneven.

In 2023, the Center for Nursing Research and Innovation (CNRI) at Mount Sinai launched a novel program to address this disconnect. The third cohort of Translational Research And Implementation Science for Nurses (TRAIN) Program fellows will join Mount Sinai in May.

“The TRAIN Program is the first of its kind in the United States,” says Kimberly Souffront, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAHA, FAAN, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Health Equity Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Associate Director of the CNRI. “TRAIN offers a fellowship opportunity to Doctor of Nursing Practice students from historically underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds to develop expertise in translating evidence into clinical practice.”

The 12-week, summer boot camp-style initiative is supported by a five-year grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health.

“The TRAIN program is built around two core components,” says Bevin Cohen, PhD, MS, MPH, RN, FAAN, Director of the CNRI. “TRAIN fellows are paired with researchers in the field to gain hands-on experience and personalized mentorship in the fields of health disparities, hypertension, and other topics central to the NHLBI mission. The approach helps to develop skills for working in translational research teams. Simultaneously, TRAIN fellows participate in a rich, structured curriculum designed around the principles and methods of translational research, implementation science, and interdisciplinary teamwork.”

TRAIN fellows travel to Mount Sinai from across the country to take part in the program, which features nationally renowned guest speakers who are clinician-scientists in the fields of nursing, medicine, social work, and psychology, along with DNP-prepared leaders who bring expertise in health care operations and quality. Meet the five fellows from the second cohort in 2025.

Keisha Burrell, MSN, FNP-BC

Keisha Burrell, MSN, FNP-BC, is an Air Force reservist and a family nurse practitioner at SUNY University of Buffalo, where her goal is to advance mental care for all communities. “The TRAIN program gave me a much better appreciation for how research and clinical practice go hand in hand,” she says. “In nursing school, I shied away from research. As my nursing practice matured, I wanted to strengthen that area to be better able to bring the latest nursing knowledge to the frontline.”

Throughout Ms. Burrell’s fellowship, she worked with Milla Arabadjian, PhD, FNP-BC, RN, Assistant Professor, Department of Foundations of Medicine at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, to​ conduct a series of one-on-one interviews with Black men at risk for hypertension and their partners to identify interpersonal factors that impacted cardiovascular health promotion. She deepened her research involvement by observing an institutional review board, sharing insights via a podcast, and presenting a poster abstract at the Eastern Nursing Research Society’s 38th Annual Scientific Sessions.

Crystal Tucker, DNP, PMH-RN-BC

Crystal Tucker, DNP, PMH-RN-BC, is a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlote, North Carolina. Paired with mentor Billy A. Caceres, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, FPCNA, Associate Professor at the Columbia School of Nursing,  Ms. Tucker focused on a systematic literature review examining non-pharmacological interventions for hypertension in people living with serious mental illness—a project that she continues to work on with Dr. Caceres post-fellowship. “TRAIN was truly life changing to me personally and professionally,” Ms. Tucker says. “I hadn’t met any PhD-prepared nurse scientists, let alone any of color, so that was very inspirational. It also helped me see I can improve the health of more than one person at a time. For example, it can be hard for patients living with schizophrenia to get the help they need because of their symptoms, and some are reluctant to take medications. As a DNP working with a nurse scientist, we are finding ways to build a bridge where there’s a gap like this to find alternative approaches to improve the health of this community.”

Tanmaiyee Vaddepati, MSN, MPH

Tanmaiyee Vaddepati, MSN, MPH, practices in a medical-surgical unit at UMass Memorial Health, in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her fellowship project involved equitable, primary care-integrated long COVID care for adults in New York City.

“Some research findings might not translate in an acute setting the same way they do in a community health setting,” Ms. Vaddepati says. “TRAIN helped us to focus on our role as DNPs to both identify available research and make it applicable within our own practice settings.”

“It was also really interesting to hear the different perspectives of fellows from across the country,” Ms. Vaddepati says. “Each of us had something unique to share that made for a rich collective learning experience. The other fellows have shared so much knowledge that I wouldn’t necessarily gain at the bedside or in a classroom.”

Nickisha Mortimer, DNP, PMHNP

Nickisha Mortimer, DNP, PMHNP, is a hospice clinical liaison for VNS Health. Her mentor was Ruth Masterson Creber, PhD, MSc, RN, FAAN, FAHA, the Mary Crawford Professor of Nursing and Director of the Center for Community-Engaged Health Informatics and Data Science at Columbia University’s School of Nursing. Ms. Mortimer had the opportunity to participate in Dr. Creber’s NHLBI-sponsored study “IMPROVE: Cardiac Care.”

“I didn’t come into the program seeing myself as a researcher at all,” Ms. Mortimer says. “So, this was an amazing opportunity, particularly as a student, to actively learn from the best of the best.”

She became involved in conducting reflexive interviews and analyzing how patient-reported outcomes inform clinical decision making. “I came to more deeply understand the importance of language, emotion, and environment in shaping how patients interpret health information,” she says. “The experience also revealed the symbiotic relationship between those doing the research and the DNP. I absolutely came away with more tools and knowledge that make me a far better provider.”

Selamawit Gebrezghi, MSN, FNP-c,

Selamawit Gebrezghi, MSN, FNP-c, is an Emergency Nurse Practitioner with Kaiser Permanente in Santa Rosa, California. As a TRAIN fellow, she contributed to a study of follow-up services for sexual assault survivors led by Jessica Draughon Moret, PhD, RN, Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at the University of California, Davis. She described her experience as one of the most transformative of her nursing career.

“I entered the fellowship wanting to understand how evidence becomes action,” Ms. Gebrezghi says. “While I engaged with research, I was never taught how to critically evaluate evidence, synthesize findings, or understand how implementation strategies can facilitate or hinder equitable outcomes. TRAIN provided me with that understanding and a completely new scientific framework that I would not have accessed without this opportunity. Translational research and implementation science are fields that have traditionally felt out of reach for clinicians from disadvantaged backgrounds like mine that have limited access to academic resources and professional networks.”

Ms. Gebrezghi echoed the sentiments of the other fellows, saying, “TRAIN didn’t just advance my career. It expanded my capacity to lead change locally and globally. It showed me that nurses are not only vital to health care, they are capable of transforming it.”

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) play an increasingly important role in the fast-paced and high-reliability field of health care. Since the nation’s first NP program launched in 1965, there are now more than 431,000 licensed NPs throughout the United States, responsible for nearly 1 billion patient visits annually. These are clinically trained health professionals who have journeyed a rigorous professional development path, earning graduate-level degrees and completing exacting board certification requirements. Their shared goal: to provide better care for their patients and advance practice.

In recognition of National Nurse Practitioner Week, November 9-15, Nurse Practitioners from throughout the Mount Sinai Health System talked about their own experiences.

Genevieve McHugh, FNP-C, RN-BC, PCCN, works in an inpatient cardiology service within Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital. There, 38 nurse practitioners are responsible for diagnosing, managing and treating, admitting, and discharging complex cardiac patients in collaboration with the physicians.

“When I started as a nurse, I didn’t know the tremendous role NPs play in health care,” Ms. McHugh says. “I worked on a Mount Sinai cardiac step-down unit with a talented and caring group of NPs. They were reviewing patient labs, data, and vitals, rounding with the attending, fellows, and residents, participating in interdisciplinary rounds, and discharging patients. And they absolutely influenced my decision to pursue advanced practice nursing.”

Deborah Louis, PMHNP-BC, practices in the 36-bed Psychiatry Inpatient Unit at Mount Sinai South Nassau. Having spent 12 years as an RN Supervisor at a traumatic brain injury facility before becoming a psychiatric mental health NP, she had an opportunity to see a different side of mental health.

“Many of the patients struggled with depression, anger, and intense emotions because of their injuries, but too often, no one truly listened to them. Becoming a psychiatric mental health NP allowed me to take my advocacy for y patients even further, not only to listen but to help create meaningful change.”

Some Mount Sinai NPs started out on a less conventional path. In her mid-twenties, Randi Adelman, PMHNP-BC planned to be a sportswriter. After reading about nursing in a book about career choices, something clicked. She earned a second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing and later studied to become an NP in psychiatric mental health. She currently works as a team leader in the Comprehensive Adolescent Rehabilitation and Education Service (CARES), a partnership between the Mount Sinai Department of Psychiatry, the Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, and the New York Department of Education that provides critical mental health and substance treatments to New York City’s most vulnerable teens.

“I chose to become an NP because I wanted more responsibility, more autonomy, and specialized knowledge in my field,” says Ms. Adelman. She is now responsible for providing psychiatric and medication management services to about half of the CARES patients, in addition to leading group therapy sessions and providing individual and milieu therapy. “It’s exciting to be in a position where I can make a real impact in the lives of my patients and at such a critical time in their lives.”

Erica Valenski, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO-BC, WCC, a nurse practitioner specializing in geriatrics at Mount Sinai South Nassau, also demonstrates the NP’s ability to extend their influence beyond the point of care. “I’m building my nursing career on Long Island—where I was born, raised, and now care for the neighbors and older adults who shaped my community,” she says.

Passionate about expanding age-friendly initiatives, Ms. Valenski has collaborated across disciplines in efforts to educate staff, enhance end-of-life care, and lead various hospital improvement initiatives to ensure age-friendly, person-centered care is woven into daily practice. She recently led a research project on falls, ageism, and high-risk medications in the Emergency Department that her team is writing up for publication.

Minna Park, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN, works at Mount Sinai Queens in the Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine. Early in her career, an opportunity to be a wound care champion deepened her clinical knowledge, strengthened her sense of autonomy, and inspired her to pursue advanced practice nursing. She became a family nurse practitioner and then completed an adult palliative and end-of-life care fellowship during her doctoral program. Today she cares for people facing serious illness.

“We help manage severe symptoms,” Dr. Park says, “but my role also involves listening to patients’ concerns, validating their struggles, exploring available resources, advocating for their needs, and creating care plans together that reflect their values and goals. My goal is to support patients, caregivers, and the medical team throughout the course of an illness. Although I may be involved with a patient for only a short time, I know the care I provide can significantly influence the last chapter of their life. Through palliative care, I help empower people to plan their lives and have greater control even in the face of uncertainty.”

In virtually every specialty area and in all environments of care throughout the Health System, Nurse Practitioners play a vital role in health care delivery and direction. Every day and with every encounter they make a difference in the lives of patients who are often at their most vulnerable. They are health care superstars. To learn more about advanced practice nursing at Mount Sinai, click here.

Grace Ferguson-Pell, CNM, WHNP, RN

It is a common misconception that midwives provide only natural childbirth or pregnancy services. In fact, all New York State licensed midwives, both Certified Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives, offer a unique brand of care throughout a patient’s lifetime, from adolescence to post-menopausal years.

“A midwife is an independent practitioner who focuses on reproductive health,” says Grace Ferguson-Pell, CNM, WHNP, RN, a certified nurse midwife at the Midwife Practice at Mount Sinai Doctors at Delancey Street, in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.  “And many Mount Sinai patients who are pregnant and at low to moderate risk choose to be cared for by a licensed midwife.”

Midwives provide a wide range of care, including:

• Contraceptive counseling
• Menstrual cycle issues
• Prenatal care
• Attending births
• Postpartum visits
• Annual reproductive health exams like cervical cancer screening and testing for sexually transmitted diseases

Lesley Cohen, CNM, MSN, MPH

Midwives also support patients through menopause and perimenopause, providing ongoing reproductive health services such as screenings, symptom management, and education.

They also focus on providing care for the individual.

“Certified Nurse Midwives are clinically trained in the full scope OB/GYN, but their nursing background brings a depth of empathy and compassion to their care delivery,” says Lesley Cohen, CNM, MSN, MPH, a certified nurse midwife at Mount Sinai West.

“In general, we view health from a wellness perspective,” she says. “This allows me to create strong relationships and truly connect with the patients in my care.”

By developing a mutual understanding with patients, Ms. Cohen strives to make them feel comfortable and at ease, which means patients will be more open about their health and any concerns.

Gail Rivera, MSN, CNM

Gail Rivera, MSN, CNM, a certified nurse midwife at The Mount Sinai Hospital, says midwifery care places a focus on wellness that positions the patient at the center of decision-making.

“Midwives turn the medical approach from illness to optimal health,” she says. “We focus on the natural processes of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breastfeeding using medical interventions as needed.”

A midwife for more than 30 years, she has worked in a variety of settings, including at a birth center, at home, and at high-risk labor and delivery units.

“I know from experience how critical it is to engage patients,” she says. “I come from a humble background and am a bilingual Afro-Latina woman,” she says. “I have seen how important cultural connections can be in establishing a good, trusting relationship with a patient.”

Suzanne Ricca-Hinchey, CNM, MS

Suzanne Ricca-Hinchey, CNM, MS, a certified nurse midwife at The Mount Sinai Hospital, says she ensures she provides patients with personalized care.

“Our training requires us to be present, connect, and overall to educate,” she says. “We follow the same accepted standards of all professionals, with the focus of individualizing our care to consider the unique situation of each patient.”

Ms. Ricca-Hinchey is passionate about the opportunity to guide patients into motherhood.

“Birth can be messy and overwhelming,” she says. “Birth can also be calm and transformational. It’s always unpredictable. New parents deserve to feel strong and empowered so they can properly nurture and protect the next generation. If I have my hands in accomplishing this, I have done my job.”

Ms. Ricca-Hinchey keeps a photo taped to the inside of her locker that was given to her by a patient in her labor room following delivery.

“Looking at this photo reminds me that I am part of the story for this family, and for every family I assist in labor and birth,” she says. “It reminds me to remain purposeful in my words and interactions because it shapes the experience, and it will all be repeated when the story is told.”

What is a Mount Sinai nurse? A Mount Sinai nurse is so many things: a team player, dedicated caregiver, critical thinker, continuous learner, mentor, patient advocate. And so much more.  At Mount Sinai, we believe that a Mount Sinai nurse is the nurse all other nurses aspire to be. Together and individually, they create excellence every day. Read what our patients are saying about our nurses and listen to how some of them describe what makes them a Mount Sinai nurse.

Rivkah Eisner, RN

“From the onset of labor all the way through to bringing us to the post-partum floor, Rivka worked with dedication, wisdom, and high energy to ensure a healthy and positive experience. Rivka exuded an attitude of collaboration and accommodation. She made us all feel that we were a team, and she was there to assist in every way. She was kind, focused, respectful, and full of helpful energy.” Click here to watch the video.

Will Novini, BSN, RN

“My CSICU/ CVIVU (Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit) center nurse Will Novini was a godsend. He got me through the two most difficult days after my surgery. I can’t say enough about how good he was.” Click here to watch the video.

Beth Lungaro, BSN, RN

“Nurse Beth Lungaro in the ER was truly outstanding. After 11 hours there, she would still show a beautiful smile, warm manners, and incredible efficiency. We could not have asked for a better nurse.”

Grace Tesoriero, NP

“I came in experiencing a great deal of pain and was angry at everyone I encountered because I just couldn’t manage it anymore. But Grace treated me as if she could feel exactly what I was going through. Her presence was calming, and just being with her made me feel better. I was truly blessed to have seen her that day.”

Uzoma Nwaekpe, RN

“One night, at 4 am I mentioned to Umoza that I was looking forward to having a conversation not about medical stuff. He stayed for 10 minutes, recited Shakespeare beautifully, and we discussed poetry. Are you kidding me? There is more intelligence, creativity, and perseverance in this group of nurses.”  

Tristen Castillo, BSN, RN and Shirley Liu, RN

“As a husband on behalf of his wife, I want to give special recognition to Tristen Castillo and Shirley Liu, whose compassionate attention and calming presence made a difficult situation much easier to bear. Nurse Castillo was thorough, kind, attentive. Nurse Liu brought a warmth and gentleness that immediately put us at ease.”

John Schwartz, RN

“John Schwartz is an outstanding professional RN. He emphasized that any unusual symptoms are important to bring to the attention of nurses.”