Myra Escudero, MSN, RN

J. Thomas, MD, received a diagnosis of multiple myeloma at a particularly stressful time in his life. He had recently lost a sibling with whom he was very close, and, as a consequence, had just became the primary caregiver for his elderly parents. Returning to the New York area after many years overseas, specifically to assist in his parents’ care, he was very busy readjusting to life back in the United States and a new and intense job in medical research. “It was not an easy time for me,” he says.

A little anxious for his first outpatient chemotherapy session in fall 2019, Dr. Thomas still remembers when Myra Escudero, MSN, RN, a nurse at the Ruttenberg Treatment Center of The Tisch Cancer Institute, entered the room, smiled, and introduced herself as his oncology nurse for the day. “I knew that I was only one of her many patients, but she made me feel as though I had her full attention and care. Thanks to her kind demeanor and calming voice, I was suddenly able to turn off my computer, my phone and, most importantly, all of the stressful thoughts that were spinning around in my head and was able to focus on the moment,” he recounts. “She took the time to learn about me, my background and concerns. She patiently explained the procedure for the day. Working in the medical field, I have seen many nurses in action, but Myra was particularly outstanding. One moment, she was very professionally following a meticulous medications preparation protocol, the next moment she was focused on putting me at ease, and not just this one time. Every time I came for therapy, even when other oncology nurses were assigned to me, she would check in with me and make sure that I was doing OK. Myra was my guardian angel.”

Myra is considered an outstanding nurse by her colleagues as well as her patients. “Myra is a superb model of compassionate care. We are so proud that she was recognized at the 2023 Oncology Nursing Society Congress as an Extraordinary Healer nominee,” says Miwa Saito, MSN, RN, OCN, Director of Nursing for Outpatient Oncology Infusion Services and Therapeutic Infusion at The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens.

Myra does not see oncology nursing as a job, but as a service to which she is dedicated. “In my role, it is so important for me to give my patients support and information about the treatment they will receive throughout their protocol. Most of my patients appreciate having someone to listen to their concerns; a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment is tough. Dr. Thomas became a friend, as do all the patients that I care for. It means a lot to me to help someone during a difficult time of their life.”

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.”