Moet Wood

Moet Wood walked into 150 East 42nd Street as property manager in 2014 when only the third floor of the new Mount Sinai Corporate Services Center was occupied. Five years later, she has helped situate more than 3,000 employees and is responsible for managing all seven floors.

Moet works with both internal constituents and external vendors to keep everything in order: electricity, plumbing, housekeeping, and more. “I want 42nd Street to look as fresh and new as it did on day one,” she says.

Although she oversees various Mount Sinai sites and worked as a property manager for Continuum before the Mount Sinai merger, Moet feels as if 150 East 42nd is her second home.

Thomas Ahn, Vice President, Real Estate Services, says Moet brings a personal touch to every project.

“She is the perfect example of grace under pressure,” he says. “Her diplomacy and tact go a long way in handling some very challenging situations.”

Evelyn Vega, Corporate Secretary, Boards of Trustees, has high praise for Moet, as well. “Moet’s professionalism and positive attitude are big reasons why our Boards of Trustees meetings and other events are so successful. Moet understands the needs of our Trustees and always delivers.”

Moet says, “Although I don’t work directly with patients, I know that in comfortable, safe, and pleasant work environments, our staff can provide the best patient experiences.”

Wai Lee Gee at her 91st birthday party with Juliette Collazo, RN.

An elderly patient gained precious time with her family due to empathetic and skilled care at Mount Sinai West.

When Wai Lee Gee arrived on 9A at Mount Sinai West in 2017, she was severely ill. She was diagnosed with metabolic encephalopathy, and as a result, she did not speak, barely moved, and showed no signs of comprehension.

Juliette Collazo, RN, was her primary nurse and became close with her large and close-knit family, who were a constant presence on the unit. Juliette and the rest of the care team called the patient her Chinese nickname, Mah, as her family did, and they were determined to see her recover.

There were serious setbacks along the road, but after an extended stay on 9A, Wai Lee regained much of her ability to walk and talk and was able to return home to her family. This past spring, Juliette celebrated Mah’s 91st birthday with her and her family in Chinatown. Mah thanked Juliette and the team, and her children expressed tearful appreciation for getting more time with their mother.

Although Mah recently passed away, she is not far from Juliette’s thoughts. “This experience touched my life,” Juliette says. “I am so proud to be at Mount Sinai West.”

Lisa Ross leading an exercise session.

The work day is now livelier, and healthier, for Call Center agents at the Mount Sinai Ambulatory Care Access Center on East 94th Street. That is because once an hour, they perform a few minutes of aerobic exercises at their stations, led by Administrative Manager Lisa Ross.

Lisa came up with the “Up and Out” program after an agent mentioned that she sometimes felt her attention drifting.

Lisa had begun a personal exercise program years earlier, after the death of her husband, as a way to combat grief and get in better shape. At the Call Center, she started by working with just a handful of interested agents.

Now the program has become so popular that Lisa instructs from the middle of the floor, focusing on a different body part each day.

“The team has started to research new exercises,” she says. “They are motivated to do more.” Claudio Pugliese, Director of the Call Center, has seen a dramatic effect.

“Thanks to Lisa’s creativity, we have a program that re-energizes agents’ efforts to consistently deliver a great experience to each patient,” he says. “There are more smiles and laughter, which translates into improved employee and patient interactions.”

Service dog Moby visited with, from right, his handler Jaclyn Damiano, MPS, LCAT; Jonathan Ripp, MD, MPH; and Sharissa Rivera, program coordinator.

The inaugural Well-Being and Resilience Fair, held on Thursday, May 16, at Guggenheim Pavilion, showcased more than 30 initiatives that promoted well-being, with the objective of helping students, faculty, and staff reconnect with meaning in their work.

“Supporting the well-being, resilience, and mental health of our employees impacts teamwork and the patient experience, and enables all of us to do our best work,” says Jonathan Ripp, MD, MPH, Chief Wellness Officer, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Patient Assistance team members, from left: Yenelsy Nin, Mary Rodriguez, Jessica Poon, and Mayra Puchuela

The Mount Sinai Health System’s Patient Assistance Program can be a lifesaver for patients who have cancer or other conditions requiring infusions but cannot afford their medications.

The team—part of the Patient Financial Services Department—is led by Mary Rodriguez and works to connect patients with payment options, including co-pay and free drug programs, Medicaid, or Mount Sinai Charity Care. Located at Water Street, the team assists an average of 500 patients monthly.

Julieann Bilotta has multiple sclerosis and requires regular infusions of a medication that costs thousands of dollars per treatment. She was referred to Mary’s team to see if she could be enrolled in a co-pay assistance program. As a Medicare beneficiary, Julieann was not eligible for such a program, and independent foundation funds were not available either. After exploring many options, the team arranged for the Mount Sinai Charity Care Program to help reduce the costs for Julieann’s past treatments and a free drug program to cover upcoming infusions.

”It has been a wonderful experience working with Mary,” says Julieann. “She helped me both financially and personally, easing my stress considerably.” Mary replies, “My team wants patients to know that Finance cares. We are delighted when we hear the joy in their voices, knowing they won’t lose access to medicine that keeps them healthy.”