The Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing celebrated 150 new graduates at its 120th Commencement in a joyous ceremony that spotlighted the critical role nurses play in supporting patients and improving health care. The ceremony was held Thursday, December 15, at Stern Auditorium, when degrees were awarded to 100 students from the December 2022 Class and 50 students from the August 2022 Class.
One of the reasons for joy was that all of the graduates have received offers for positions at the Mount Sinai Heath System.
For example, Blair Paltrowitz, the August valedictorian, is working at Mount Sinai South Nassau in labor and delivery, a favorite assignment for many nursing graduates.
Ms. Paltrowitz, who had been an actress on Broadway and in television, was inspired to become a nurse thanks to the care she received during her own labor and delivery experiences at Mount Sinai.
“It was extremely important to me to start my career as a Mount Sinai nurse,” she said in an interview before the ceremony. “I knew I would be embraced there as a new nurse, and learn from some of the most brilliant minds in the field. I also knew from my clinical experience how the nurses all work as a team at Mount Sinai, and I was eager to be a part of that culture. My new position at Mount Sinai South Nassau has been incredibly rewarding and challenging in the best way possible.”
Andy Charlorin, who is graduating in December, also is looking forward to working at Mount Sinai. “It was important to me to receive an offer from Mount Sinai because their pipeline for students shows their confidence and commitment to their education system,” he said in an interview. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Todd F. Ambrosia, DNP, MSN, FNAP, Dean of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing and Vice President of Nursing Academic Affairs at the Mount Sinai Health System
Todd F. Ambrosia, DNP, MSN, FNAP, Dean of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing and Vice President of Nursing Academic Affairs at the Mount Sinai Health System, presided over the ceremony. “It is definitely a unique time for nursing, as our health care landscape is ever changing and evolving in response to highly critical situations. But it’s every part of who you are becoming, and I thank you for rising to the challenge with such courage,” he told the the graduates, guests, faculty, and staff. “For all of us—if there was ever a time when we needed to come together and say we will make space for humanity in our care, and let it transform us into a more compassionate, courageous, resilient community, this is the time. And we are the ones to do it.”
Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, Mount Sinai Health System, told the graduates they have a unique opportunity.
Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, Mount Sinai Health System
“During this time of unprecedented transformation in health care, you are entering our nursing profession with an incredible opportunity to leave a mark and make a difference in the lives of others. As graduates of Mount Sinai’s Phillips School of Nursing, each of you has learned how to use your knowledge, compassion, and skills to contribute to public good,” she said. “Our world continues to face uncertain times, and your commitment to answer the call to help and serve those in need is noble and courageous. Your graduation starts your lifelong journey of continuous professional learning and reflects your resilience and determination.”
A ritual at commencement is a greeting from the Phillips-Green family, as the history of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing has been intertwined with the Phillips family for more than six generations. The school is named for Seymour Phillips, who served as a hospital trustee for more than 50 years and chaired the school’s Trustee Committee for 37 years. This year, the greeting was delivered by Janet A. Green, Co-Chair of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing Board and granddaughter of Seymour Phillips. Her mother had spoken for many years before her death in September 2021.
“This section of my remarks come directly from my mother—her sentiments so beautiful they need no improvement: As I look out at your beautiful faces today and feel the love of your families who now sit behind you but who have stood behind you during these difficult years of education, we realize that you represent the very best of our country and the hope for its future,” she said. “If America could look and act as this class does…with love and respect for each other, with strong support and caring concern for community, faculty, and family, then we will have deserved the continuing blessings of this great country.” (Click here to read her full speech).
In the keynote address, Lorraine McGrath, MA, RN-BC, Senior Director of Clinical Affairs and Associate Professor at the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing, where she has worked for 40 years, told the graduates that one of the highlights of her career has been meeting graduates who become nurses throughout the Mount Sinai Health System and other leading New York hospitals. She has taught generations of students, many times parents and then their children and their older and younger siblings—including the mother of one the current graduates, and her aunts.
Lorraine McGrath, MA, RN-BC, Senior Director of Clinical Affairs and Associate Professor
She urged the graduates to keep in mind the interest and needs of their patients. “My advice for you is to be caring and compassionate, to be able to think critically and problem solve, take the initiative in patient care, collaborate with the health care team and most importantly to be a strong patient advocate,” she said. “There are so many patients today who do not have a voice…now that is you, the RN.”
The student speaker, Brittany Robinson, salutatorian of the December class, noted in her remarks what an honor it is for the graduates to embark on a career in nursing, well prepared for the challenges ahead. While at the School, she said, students had “bonded over our passion for social justice and equality, and honed a competency and passion for nursing” that will help countless patients.
Following the presentation of the graduating class and conferring of degrees, Vice Dean Laly Joseph, DVM, DNP, CNE, RN-C, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, FNAP, and Assistant Professor, Carla Santos MS, NPD-BC, NC-BC, CCRN, distributed awards to graduating students, and Lynn Rubenstein, MA, RN, Professor Emeritus, Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing, delivered the international pledge for nurses.
The following awards were announced (August Class, December Class):
Seymour Phillips Award (valedictorian): Blair Paltrowitz, Paola Coronel
Paula and Sherman Raskin Award for Maternal and Child Nursing: Noa Allen, Doris Arias-Bonilla
Paula and Sherman Raskin Award for Academic and Clinical Excellence in Nursing: Fana Dealla, Sarin Grey
Eileen Melnick Award for Compassion in Psychiatric Care: Patrice Stellato, Molly Beitchman
Eileen Melnick Team Spirit Award: Veronica Javellana, Marvin Anderson
Dean’s Award for Professionalism: Daniel Angielczyk, Courtney Hart
Rose Hauer Award, given by the Alumni Association based on the vote of students: Julie Huang, Andy Charlorin
(Rose M. Hauer, RN, MA, was the Dean at the School and Nursing Director at Mount Sinai Beth Israel for more than 40 years. The honorees are selected by a vote of the graduating class for the student who made an outstanding contribution.)
The Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing was approved this year to charter a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. A total of 31 students and 9 nursing leaders were inducted.
These classes are the first to graduate from the School’s new, cutting-edge facility in East Harlem. It includes a high-tech simulation lab and classrooms to prepare nurses to meet the health care challenges of the day. Graduates come from all over the country, represent a variety of backgrounds and ages, and have different reasons for wanting to become nurses.
All graduates of the 2022 class are a part of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN), a program to support and train nurses with the flexibility they need to succeed. It is one of two programs the school offers, along with an RN-to-BSN program.