NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County Chief Nursing Officer Receives Fund for the City of New York's Sloan Public Service Award
Opal Sinclair-Chung, RN, has implemented policies to improve the quality of nursing-related services and played a critical role in the hospital's COVID-19 response.
Nov 20, 2020
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County today announced that Chief Nursing Officer Opal Sinclair-Chung, RN has been selected as one of this year’s six recipients for the Fund for the City of New York’s Sloan Public Service Award. Sinclair-Chung is recognized for her contributions to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County during her nearly 11 years of service at the facility, where she’s implemented policies to improve the quality of nursing-related services, and played a critical role in the hospital’s COVID-19 response. The Fund for the City of New York’s Sloan Public Service Award is considered the Nobel Prize of city government and is the leading independent honor for City employees given each year who have long years of service working for New Yorkers. The Fund has recognized City employees at all ranks and levels of government.
“I am grateful for this prestigious recognition and even more thankful for the incredible nursing workforce I have the honor to lead every day at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County,” said Opal Sinclair-Chung, RN. “My job brings with it an enormous array of duties and responsibilities, all of which are important. But I never want to lose sight of it all: taking the best possible care of the patients and of the nurses who take care of them.”
“On behalf of our NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County family, I take this opportunity to congratulate our very own Chief Nurse Officer, Opal Sinclair-Chung, on her achievement in being selected as a 2020 honoree for the Sloan Public Service Award,” said Sheldon McLeod. “I truly cannot think of a more deserving public servant to be bestowed this prestigious recognition. Mrs. Sinclair-Chung is an outstanding professional who has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership both at our facility and across the city’s public health system. She has implemented standards of nursing care that have greatly contributed to high-quality patient outcomes, and a highly engaged nursing staff.”
“It is my pleasure to recognize NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County’s Chief Nursing Officer, Opal Sinclair-Chung for receiving the Sloan Public Service Award. In over 30 years of service, Nurse Sinclair-Chung has gone above and beyond in her work during this challenging time and for that we commend and thank her. Our essential workers are the backbone of our city and Nurse Sinclair-Chung is among the best of us,” said Senator Zellnor Myrie.
“I want to commend and congratulate the Chief Nursing Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Mrs. Opal Sinclair-Chung, for being one of six recipients of New York’s 2020 Sloan Public Service Award. This very special acknowledgement recognizes Mrs. Sinclair-Chung’s nearly 11 years of service at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County and more than 30 years as a nurse, during which time she has established a wonderful legacy of service and dedication to all New Yorkers. As a medical doctor and public servant, I am especially thankful to Mrs. Sinclair-Chung for the critical role she has played in the hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and I wish her continued success as one of our city’s finest healthcare professionals,” said Councilmember Mathieu Eugene.
Mrs. Sinclair-Chung has been the Chief Nursing Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County for over ten years. She participates in strategic planning, budget, and service allocation. At NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Mrs. Sinclair-Chung developed and implemented policies to improve the quality of nursing-related services, which has 1,500 full-time staff. Her innovative practices, empathy for patients and nurses, and her commitment to excellence ushers in a higher-standard of patient care at the hospital. Thanks to Mrs. Sinclair-Chung’s leadership, when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, nursing teams at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County had the foundation in place to respond effectively to the unprecedented crisis.
With more than 30 years of experience as a nurse, Mrs. Sinclair-Chung has spent 20 of these years nursing administration. At NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Mrs. Sinclair-Chung has earned respect from her colleagues and staff for her astute leadership style, compassion, mentoring, and strong advocacy for the nursing profession.
Mrs. Sinclair-Chung earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Masters of Science Health Care Administration, and Masters of Science in Executive Nursing and Healthcare Administration from Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. Mrs. Sinclair-Chung is a member of the American Association of Nurse Executives, Nursing Honor Society of Long Island University, and the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership Board.