The Department of Radiation Oncology at The Mount Sinai Hospital is celebrating Irene Braccia, BSN, nurse manager, and Mariam Rahyab, LMSW, social worker, for their thoughtfulness and compassion. Their story was recounted by Marysabel Vargas Guzman, administrative coordinator for the department:

Irene Braccia, BSN, left, and Mariam Rahyab, LMSW

“The majority of our patients in Radiation Oncology are adults; pediatric cancer patients are not as common. For obvious reasons, these cases tend to take a toll on our team. Recently, a very ill pediatric patient was to undergo treatment on their birthday. Irene and Mariam coordinated to ensure a special birthday celebration. Mariam had found out that the patient liked Super Mario and Mickey Mouse, reached out to the team, and suggested the room be decorated accordingly. Mariam also designed a jumbo card with all of the patient’s favorite Super Mario characters for the treatment team to sign. Irene got the decorations, cake, and turned an exam room into a party hub. During the celebration, the patient kept asking for their favorite food, ‘doughnuts and chicken nuggets.’ Unfortunately, neither was on hand. Mariam excused herself, and a little while after came back with doughnuts and chicken nuggets. The patient’s face lit up with excitement. The patient’s mom was also happy and comforted in the midst of a heartbreaking situation. Irene and Mariam turned a very difficult moment into a memorable experience for this patient, and importantly, for the patient’s mom.”

Mariam and Irene are both inspired by their patients.

“I was so honored to watch the joy on the faces of this patient and their mom,” Mariam says. “Working in oncology, we experience our patients’ pain and trauma, but we also get to see all their hope and resilience. I try to go above and beyond in a patient’s care; as a social worker especially, I see the patient as a whole person in their environment. A patient’s story doesn’t stop when we say goodbye at the end of their appointment. I hope this story will provide some comfort to future families and patients who are feeling hesitant and worried about being valued and supported at Mount Sinai.” Irene says, “Oncology nursing is challenging, but I have met the most extraordinary people over the course of my career. This particular pediatric patient had a grim prognosis, and the entire Radiation Oncology staff wanted to ensure that both the child and his family would be cared for in a meaningful way. The patient’s smile was the best thank you ever! I cannot be more proud of the Radiation Oncology team for their professionalism and for their caring spirit.”

3 North nursing team at Mount Sinai Brooklyn

The 3 North nursing team at Mount Sinai Brooklyn was recently recognized by hospital leaders Claudia Garcenot, MSN, MHA, RN, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer, and Peter Shearer, MD, FACEP, Chief Medical Officer, VP Medical Staff. They say the team has shown “unwavering dedication, compassion and resilience” in their work with a challenging patient who needs complex care.

“We want to highlight their exceptional team efforts to make a profound difference in this patient’s life,” the leaders wrote in a President’s Huddle recognition of the team. “Working with this patient requires a skill set that includes empathy, understanding, and patience. The 3 North nurses have been creative in working with this patient in pairs, which allows them to render the care needed and ensure their safety, which is a priority for those of us in leadership. Their daily commitment to providing this respectful care has helped heal some of this patient’s complex wounds that brought him to the hospital. In the face of adversity, the 3 North nurses have remained dedicated to healing. They have shown resilience and adaptability, and they have developed a unit environment of collaboration and support.”

Dwynette Distin, MSN, RN, Nurse Manager of the 3 North unit supports the well-being of her team and is proud of their commitment to patient care. She sums it up simply: “Together, we make the impossible possible.”

Gregory Fisk, MSN, RN-BC

Gregory Fisk, MSN, RN-BC, has been a program manager since August 2022 in Mount Sinai’s Clinical Command Center in System Throughput—a group that coordinates patient movement to optimize care. According to Kevin Landon, Senior Director of the Command Center, Greg truly embodies the mission of the Clinical Command Center to ensure the right care to the right patient at the right time with the appropriate resources. “Greg is a devoted advocate who keeps the patient at the center of our efforts,“  Kevin says. “We recognize Greg as a leader and health care innovator. His compassion is on display each day, and we are so thankful for his commitment to excellence, and safety.”

Greg, who has nine years of experience as an RN, has been recognized with STAR recognitions by his colleagues in the Emergency Department and Pediatric Nursing.

Olivia Sgambellone, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager in the Emergency Department at The Mount Sinai Hospital, shares, “Working with Greg in Throughput is always a pleasure! He goes above and beyond to help us out in the ED. He is easy to get in touch with, great with communication, and always advocates for us down here. Thank you for your collaboration and partnership!”

Nicole Cribbin, BSN, CCRN, Nurse Manager in Pediatrics at The Mount Sinai Hospital, says, “Greg, thanks for all your help in multiple bed movements and being patient with us while we worked with multiple disciplines to make bed movement happen to get patients requiring telemetry [advanced monitoring of vital signs] out of the ED. I appreciate your partnership!”

Greg is humble. “Teamwork is essential to providing the best patient care possible,” he says. “And when it comes to teamwork, I love the phrase, ‘A rising tide lifts all boats.’ I’ve worked with so many great leaders and team members at Mount Sinai, both at the bedside and in the Command Center. It motivates me to be better and expect more from myself. Hopefully, I can do the same for others.”

Theodora (Dee) Morabe, RN, (left) and Catherine (Cat) Mercado, unit clerk

Leadership at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE) recently received a letter of thanks from a patient’s daughter, who said: “I wanted to let you know about the outstanding care my mom received today during her eye surgery. Her nurse, Theodora Morabe, RN, and unit clerk, Catherine Mercado, went above and beyond in their care for her. I, unfortunately, could not be with her today, and they put me at ease. My mom felt like she was important and not just a patient. Please commend them on such great patient care. It is hard to find such dedication and professionalism these days.”

Catherine, known as “Cat,” is an invaluable part of the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), says Samantha Bisaya, MSN, RN, Nurse Manager, Perioperative Service at NYEE. “Cat greets everyone who enters the unit with warmth and empathy. Her welcoming smile puts everyone at ease, especially our patients who are waiting for surgery. Cat started her career at NYEE in 2018 as a unit clerk in PACU. She also serves as the patient flow coordinator during the evenings to maintain clear and concise communication between doctors and the patient’s family. She plays a vital role, especially when addressing situations that require immediate assistance,” Samantha says. “Countless times, her co-workers have relied on her ability to troubleshoot and resolve unit issues. She also has established a good relationship with other disciplines through hard work and dedication. She exceeds the expectations of patients and coworkers alike.”

Theodora, known as “Dee,” is equally praised by her supervisor, Esther Cruz. “Dee has been with NYEE since November 1989. She is seen as a role model and leader in our unit,” Esther says. “She is always enthusiastic when selected to precept new staff. She is patient, informative, and supportive. Dee treats every patient like family. Her smile and warm and caring nature puts them at ease. She takes patient safety very seriously and prides herself in making sure all of our patients go down to the OR safely. She is a big supporter of new projects and initiatives, and gives feedback on how to continue exceeding patients’ expectations and delivering quality care. Dee is a valued team member of our team.”

Cat and Dee have a shared focus on the patient experience. Cat says, “Patient experience is about removing the uneasiness that comes with dealing with health concerns, and providing encouragement so patients want to return to us for future health matters.” Dee sees excellent patient experience as her primary goal: “It is the measure of the safest and highest quality care.”

Maria Vezina, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

To leave an impactful legacy in an organization or field, a person must intentionally create meaningful experiences for others. These experiences can range from the simplest to the most complex, but people in the organization need to believe they matter.

Maria Vezina, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, is a nurse whose many decades of work in nursing leadership and education/professional practice are building a significant legacy at Mount Sinai Health System. “I believe the goals and mission of my role are to ensure that the profession of nursing is practiced in accordance with the core values of the nursing discipline, evidence-based practice, and regulations,” says Dr. Vezina.

Dr. Vezina is Vice President and Chief of Nursing Practice, Education, Advanced Practice Nursing Credentialing, and Nursing Labor Relations Partnerships for the Mount Sinai Health System. Her myriad responsibilities and multifaceted roles are difficult to summarize. But among other things, they include oversight of the various dimensions of professional practice of Mount Sinai’s registered nurses and advanced practice nurses.

“Even though I have responsibility for two levels of practice, my work with nursing education and professional practice is really a seamless approach because the standards of care we develop are based on the evidence and best practice,” says Dr. Vezina. “The work of nursing is foremost interdisciplinary, so we need to always work with our fellow administrators, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, social workers, and other team members to come together with standard work that is logical, measurable, and delivers on our mission of quality care and patient safety. It is when the scope of nursing practice is jeopardized, or contracts require clinical interpretation, that my labor relations partnership becomes critical so as to analyze fairly and thoroughly what the next steps need to be in these challenging situations.”

Dr. Vezina received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Hartwick College, Oneonta, New York, where she currently serves on the Board of Trustees. She received a Master of Arts in Nursing Education and Adult Health from New York University, and a Master of Education in Communications and Instructional Technology and a Doctorate of Education in Nursing from Teachers College at Columbia University. Dr. Vezina is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the New York Academy of Medicine, where she holds a leadership appointment on the Nursing Section Committee. Appointed to the New York State Board of Nursing in 2015, she participates in moral standing/discipline hearings and peer assistance programs for New York State nurses. She is also board certified as an ANCC Advanced Nurse Executive.

Dr. Vezina oversees nursing education and professional practice for Mount Sinai nurses across all sites. “There is a consistent flow of information from an executive level to a bedside level each and every day,” she says. “Always clarifying the role and scope of nursing with other health care disciplines is a critical part of what I do.” She adds, “I believe my primary obligation is to instill accountability and provide expertise about the practice of nursing, which naturally flows into all the domains I am responsible for.”

Dr. Vezina is committed to the profession of nursing and finds herself constantly participating in the field’s advancement. “I belong to many nursing organizations, so I spend a great deal of time learning and listening to thought leaders,” she says. “I allocate time for professional memberships, service commitments, and liaisons with colleges of nursing. I rely on my strong external involvement in the health care/academic world to keep me knowledgeable and current in my role. I am also a veracious reader of professional journals and leadership philosophies but my true north is to ensure I listen to those who do the work.”

Dr. Vezina, who arrived at Mount Sinai 40 years ago, equipped with past experiences as a staff RN, undergraduate faculty member, and nurse practitioner, frequently comes across processes and policies she developed years ago. “It is nice to see your legacy still alive in pockets of the system,” she says. “It is very gratifying for me and is a very satisfying experience.”

Dr. Vezina was Senior Director of Nursing at The Mount Sinai Hospital from 2006 until 2014, when she became Chief Nursing Officer at Mount Sinai Morningside. She served in that role until 2021, when Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President, Cardiac Services, and Chief Nurse Executive at Mount Sinai Health System, offered her a newly created position to lead the development of a framework for system nursing practice.

“I want to share my expertise so we can learn together to design the highest standards for nursing practice and deliver exceptional care for our patients and the families we serve,” she says. “I also strive to provide nurses with the tools they need that allow them to deliver care that gives them pride and joy in work.”

Dr. Vezina is committed to strong first impressions and strives to ensure new nurses at Mount Sinai feel welcome and special from day one of their arrival in the work world of nursing. “We don’t get a second chance to give a first impression,” she says. “We have a system centralized nursing orientation and following the completion of orientation, new graduate nurses follow into a Nurse Residency Program.” She adds, “Mount Sinai has also developed new graduate nursing fellowship programs with goals to insert more simulation opportunities for new graduates across all sites.” This commitment to refining that “first impression” is a work in progress.

Transferring knowledge and expertise define Dr. Vezina’s nursing presence. Her decades of service and leadership at Mount Sinai in professional nursing, patient experience initiatives, labor management collaboration, safety and regulatory compliance, financial stewardship, and performance improvement are unrivaled. “What I enjoy more than anything through all my experiences is to just give back from what I have learned—share it with others,” she says. “I will always advocate for nursing practice and look after the Mount Sinai community of nursing at all levels.”

Dr. Vezina comes from a French Canadian family whose relatives also include Georges Vézina, an early-20th-century goalie for whom the National Hockey League’s Vezina Trophy is named. The trophy is awarded annually to the league’s best goaltender. “Although I never played hockey, I often compare my role in nursing with that of a goalie, always protecting and defending the discipline of nursing (the goal line) and advocating for my team to win and achieve success,” Dr. Vezina says.

With her legacy of protecting and advocating for Mount Sinai Health System nurses, Dr. Vezina has achieved a very satisfying and rewarding place within her own professional career of nursing. “Giving back is what is most important to me today!” she says. “As the writer and minister Alan Loy McGinnis said, ‘There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being – to help someone to succeed.”