Long-Term Care Residents Celebrate the Lunar New Year at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur
Celebrating the Year of the Snake
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Skilled Nursing Facility partnered with Gotham Health, Gouverneur, part of the public health system’s network of primary care clinics, to celebrate the Year of the Snake during their annual Lunar New Year festivities. Just steps away from Manhattan’s Chinatown, the top-ranked nursing home honored traditions celebrated across Asia for centuries, from its bright red décor and hongbao (red envelopes) to the paper lanterns and snake statue adorned with mandarin oranges for good luck and prosperity in the New Year. NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur staff, long-term care residents and their families enjoyed traditional song and dance performances by Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute, Tai Chi demonstrations, and the grand finale, a Lion Dance.
“I am very pleased that the Gouverneur Lunar New Year Celebration continues to be a cherished tradition creating lasting memories for staff, residents and families, and our neighbors in lower Manhattan,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Chief Executive Officer Susan Sales, MPA, FACHE, LNHA. “As the New Year begins, let us take inspiration from the snake and begin the year with resilience and creativity, to overcome challenges and be adaptable. May this new year bring happiness, prosperity and good health for all who celebrate.”
representing longevity and transformation.
“Lunar New Year is a time to honor tradition, celebrate community, and embrace the values of resilience and renewal that the Year of the Snake represents. NYC Health + Hospitals/ Gouverneur’s commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care reflects the deep cultural connections that make Lower Manhattan such a special place,” said NYC Council Member Christopher Marte. “I’m grateful to celebrate this occasion with our seniors, families, and staff, and I look forward to continuing our work to ensure that every resident receives the care and support they deserve. Wishing everyone a joyful, prosperous, and healthy New Year!”
“As we celebrate the Lunar New Year, we are reminded of the importance of health and community,” said Michelle Lewis, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health. “At Gotham Health, we are proud to serve a diverse community, and this time of year offers us an opportunity to reflect on our commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care for all. Wishing everyone a prosperous and healthy Lunar New Year!”
“It’s an honor to celebrate Lunar New Year with our staff, patients, and community at Gotham Health, Gouverneur,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health Regional Medical Director, Manhattan, Morris Gagliardi, MD. “The Year of the Snake symbolizes intelligence and growth. We wish everyone a year filled with good health and happiness. Let’s continue to work together to promote comprehensive healthcare for all in the community.”
New Year with her daughter Nicola Chen and Monsignor William M. Hoppe.
“As a family caregiver and nurse practitioner, I see both ends of the spectrum as it relates to my mother’s care at Gouverneur. This Lunar New Year celebration was nostalgic and reminiscent of her younger days,” said Daughter of Gouverneur Resident Chen Huang Y and NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care Sr. Clinical Program Manager Nicola Chen, DHA, MSN, NPC. “The Lion Dance performance evoked cherished memories of the people she loved, and past experiences when she actively participated in similar performances back in her hometown. She was beside herself with joy and her reactions were vividly captured in the pictures that I had taken of her.”
“The Lunar New Year has always meant time for unity, gathering of friends & family, and celebrating with amazing food. During this celebration, we come together with staff, community, friends and family to welcome good health, wealth and prosperity for the New Year,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Community Advisory Board Chair Pauline Lock.
good fortune during the traditional Lion Dance.
“I want to thank Gouverneur Health and NYC Health + Hospitals for putting on such a vibrant and exciting Lunar New Year celebration and for giving all of the staff, residents, families, and neighbors of Gouverneur an opportunity to gather and ring in the New Year together,” said State Senator Brian Kavanagh, who represents Gouverneur Health. “Gouverneur Health is an essential healthcare institution in New York and has always been committed to providing compassionate and culturally competent care to our diverse Lower East Side and Chinatown communities. I look forward to continuing to support their critical work. Happy Year of the Snake!”
###
Media Contact: Rafael Dominguez, NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care, 646-988-3599
#014-25
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur
Conveniently located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and accessible by mass transportation from most parts of New York City, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur operates a 295-bed Nursing Facility, providing state-of-the-art care for short-term rehabilitation, long-term and hospice care. Gouverneur is an academic affiliate of NYU School of Medicine and Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, providing high-quality sub-acute rehabilitation medicine and skilled nursing services.Gouverneur has been meeting the healthcare needs of New Yorkers for more than a century. The facility received a 5-star CMS Overall Rating and 5-Star CMS Quality Rating; ranked #4 in Newsweek’s 2025 Best Nursing Homes in New York, and has earned high-performance rating in long-term care and short-term rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report – 2025 Best Nursing Homes. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/gouverneur.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
