Stories of Excellence | Mount Sinai Today

Nursing Excellence: Making a Difference for Patients and Colleagues

Updated on Nov 18, 2022 | Nursing, Stories of Excellence

Nicole Reynoso, BSN, RN

Nicole Reynoso, BSN, RN, is fairly new to Mount Sinai West, but has made a strong impression on patients and her colleagues. One of her patients recently wrote a letter of commendation to Kenneth Davis, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Mount Sinai Health System.

“Nicole Reynoso is a consummate professional in the nursing field. Ms. Reynoso succeeds in a field where others strive to reach. I am writing about those qualities that distinguish between a great nurse who sees nursing as a career choice to help patients, and others who see it as a job. Ms. Reynoso not only reaches the top of the bar, but exceeds on each and every point. Ms. Reynoso treats her patients as individuals and reacts to each in a like manner. No matter how busy, Ms. Reynoso always finds the time to make certain each patient’s needs are met. Performing her duties, she demonstrates that those duties are an honor to help others, and it comes through during each exchange with the patients, family members, and co-workers. My wife Roxanne, a retired RN, paid Ms. Reynoso one of highest compliments when she told me, ‘Nicole was born to be a nurse.’”

Annalisa Monahan, MSN, MHA, RN-BC, Director, Patient Care Services, Mount Sinai West, echoes this patient’s praise. “Although she has been here a mere five months, Nicole has made such a wonderful impact to the 9B unit,” Annalisa says. “She is outgoing, kind and warm to our patients and their families. Nicole ensures that her patients feel cared for and makes a relationship-based connection that makes patients and families feel safe in her care. Her colleagues also speak highly of her, describing her as kind, caring, someone who is always eager to learn new things, and always willing to help someone in need.”

Nicole finds great satisfaction in her profession. “As a nurse, I have to opportunity to meet people with diverse backgrounds from all walks of life,” she says. “Being a nurse is very rewarding, because sometimes I can feel how I am making a difference in my patients’ lives. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a long-term patient on your unit heal and eventually be able to go back to their family.”

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.

Nurse Practitioner Applauded for His Skill, Compassion, and “Calm, Positive Energy”

Updated on Nov 11, 2022 | Nursing, Stories of Excellence

Matthew Gayton, NP

Matthew Gayton, NP, is a nurse practitioner at the Mount Sinai Visiting Doctors Program. According to Silvia Chavez, RN, Associate Director of Nursing for Mount Sinai Visiting Doctors, Matthew is an outstanding and compassionate nurse practitioner who provides high quality, culturally sensitive primary and end-of-life care to the most vulnerable underserved homebound patients in Manhattan. “Matthew is an exemplary nurse practitioner who always goes above and beyond the call of duty for his patients, caregivers, colleagues, and staff,” she says. “His fierce determination, dedication, and compassion toward our mission and vision break through any roadblocks that he may face. He always has the best interest of his patients and their families. Matthew instills a calm, positive energy deep into our souls.”

Jonathan Ripp, MD, MPH, Senior Associate Dean for Well-Being and Resilience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, shares a story about Matthew that attests to his commitment to the patient experience. “One of my patients passed away somewhat suddenly while I was away. It was a traumatic end for this patient, and his wife wanted us to know that Matthew was ‘spectacular, patient, and kind’ as he walked them through the last hour of the patient’s life.” Dr. Ripp adds, “I want to thank Matthew as well. The end of life for our patients can at times be traumatic for the family; thank you for being such a wonderful clinician to them when needed.”

Adaga Catano, RN, a clinical nurse at Mount Sinai Visiting Doctors, has another story: “Matthew stayed with a Russian-speaking home assistant, helping her through the process of end of life with one of our patients. He did a telehealth visit to assess the patient’s breathing and stability, utilized interpreting services to have better communication with the home health aide, and stayed with the aide until EMS arrived to patient’s home and pronounced the patient’s death. Matthew showed an excellent use of telehealth to support end-of-life care for the patient and caregiver.”

Silvia speaks for the entire team. “We would like to applaud Matthew for his compassion, empathy, creativity, safety, excellence, and professionalism.”

Neurology Administrative Assistant Goes Above and Beyond for Physicians and Patients

Updated on Oct 28, 2022 | Stories of Excellence

Alice Bernard

Alice Bernard has been an administrative assistant in the Department of Neurology at Mount Sinai West since February 2021, when she transferred from Access Services. She is praised for being reliable, compassionate, and always willing to go above and beyond to help her team and patients. The practice continually receives wonderful feedback from patients about Alice, with comments such as, “I was so appreciative of how she worked me into a visit even though I was booked out so far initially. She communicated clearly with me and was able to find an earlier appointment.”

According to her supervisor, Yvonne Matos, Senior Manager, Neurology at Mount Sinai West, Alice has always been willing to learn and is available to help whenever needed. “She has become our Epic ‘super user,’ which has been a great help to the staff and her manager. She never shies away from additional tasks when her assistance is needed and always asks if there is anything that she can do to help.”

Alice supports three physicians in Neurology, each one praising her reliability, kindness, and professional skills. One physician shared that her clinicians never have to worry that a patient or task will slip through the cracks. “She is extremely thoughtful and kind. She makes my job so much easier and more enjoyable.” Another shared, “Alice approaches her work with kindness and enthusiasm that serve as a model for others to aspire toward. She takes time to make sure that each patient is taken care of and is shown the utmost care. Her professional and interpersonal abilities have led her to being an integral part of the department.”

Alice is a team player who is deeply committed to the patient experience. “First, I would like to thank my manager, Yvonne Matos, and the physicians and co-workers I have been working with in both Neurology and Neurosurgery,” she says. “It has been fantastic and amazing to work with such caring and supportive people. It is an amazing feeling to be able to help patients and see their road to recovery. A good chunk of the patients I work with are being seen for mental health due to epilepsy—these are patients I speak with almost on a weekly basis. Epilepsy can be quite debilitating, and carrying this diagnosis, patients often feel labeled. But talking with them beyond their diagnosis is an approach that makes them feel less apprehensive and more open to continuing treatment at our office. “

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.”

Social Worker at “Coming Home” Program Helps Former Inmates Build a Better Life

Oct 12, 2022 | Engagement, Stories of Excellence

Iris Bowen, LMSW

Since 2006, the Coming Home program at Mount Sinai has worked to improve the physical and mental health and the emotional and social well-being of men and women during their transition from prison or jail to the community. The program, a division of the Institute for Advanced Medicine, was originally conceived to serve patients with HIV and now provides services to anyone with a history of arrests. In addition to primary care, the program connects clients with medical specialists if needed. Importantly, some of the case management is provided by formerly incarcerated staff who understand well the challenges of returning to a pre-prison life. Clients have access to supportive counseling individually and in groups. In addition, the Coming Home Program trains integrated teams of medical providers, clinicians, and staff to ensure that formerly incarcerated patients receive their health care in a safe and welcoming environment.

Iris Bowen, LMSW, joined the Coming Home program in 2013, and knows how tough a transition can be for her clients. “People come out of prison confused and not sure of their next steps. My clients say they never had anyone to care for them or listen to them—so many come from a history of foster care or group homes before they went to prison,” Iris says. “They tell me about physical and mental abuse. About having families they cannot care for. We do not judge them. We listen to them, we care for them. We meet them where they are and go from there. That means connections to health care, of course, including mental health and help with substance abuse, but also education and job training.”

Iris has forged special relationships with all of her clients, but is very proud of John Gargano, a man who spent 12 years in prison on drug charges and completely turned his life around with the support of Coming Home.

Iris met John shortly after he found out he was being discharged into the New York City shelter system from a halfway house. John told his inspiring story of prison and post-prison life in the blog Humans of NY: He was referred to Iris by a fellow inmate, and he was prepared to be disappointed. Instead, John says, Iris had a “calm and comforting” presence and wanted to know everything about him. Iris helped him find an apartment, arranged for him to have hip surgery, get through the red tape of applying to school, and into a job-training program. With her encouragement, he completed a bachelor’s degree at New York University (and was the keynote speaker at graduation) and land a job as the General Manager of Craft Restaurant in Manhattan, where he works today.

Iris loves being a member of the highly dedicated Mount Sinai Morningside Social Work team and the Coming Home program staff and helping patients. “I tell my patients that we can make it happen, that they can have a better life. I like to see people be happy and become productive and successful, and most of all, empower them.”

Members of the Coming Home program team (left to right): Jennifer Guzman, MSW, Substance Use Specialist, Cory Butler, Outreach Coordinator, Serina Yancey, Peer Education Specialist, Jesus Robles, LCSW, Program Coordinator.