NYC Health + Hospitals Celebrates 35 Nurses and Six Hospitals at Annual Nursing Excellence Awards
Nurses were nominated by their colleagues in honor of their achievements and commitment to patients
Dec 19, 2024
Today NYC Health + Hospitals announced the honor of 35 nurse professionals from across the health system as part of its annual Nursing Excellence Awards. The honorees were selected from 624 nominations and include nurses from each of the systems’ facilities and clinical service lines, including acute care, post-acute, correctional health services, community care, and Gotham Health. Twenty-five nurses were recognized for Excellence in Clinical Nursing, and five nurses were recognized systemwide for their efforts in leadership, volunteering, education and mentorship, home or ambulatory care, and technology and innovation. Another five nurses received the DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity, created by the DAISY Foundation to honor nurses who go above and beyond in caring for patients and families who are disadvantaged demographically, psycho-socially, or economically. The fifth annual Structural Empowerment Award was presented to the nursing leadership and staff at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens for their commitment to achieving higher performance levels, including increases in certification rates and other notable metrics. The fifth annual Josephine Bolus Nursing Champion Award, NYC Health + Hospitals’ most prestigious designation bestowed upon supporters of nurses and the nursing profession, was given to Sharon Pappas, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN Chief Nurse Executive, Emory Healthcare and the Woodruff Health Science Centers.
“Congratulations to the 35 extraordinary nurses and to Queens Hospital for receiving this well-deserved recognition at our annual celebration of Nursing Excellence,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz. “Every day our nurses go above and beyond to deliver high quality care to patients, and to make our public health care system a place where every New Yorker, without exceptions, can seek care. I’m so proud to recognize these outstanding honorees and all our nurses who make NYC Health + Hospitals a trusted lifeline for accessible health care for our patients and communities.”
“Our commitment to nursing excellence and patient-centered care is permeating every facet of our nursing culture here at NYC Health + Hospitals, where both frontline nurses and nursing leadership are actively engaged in ongoing efforts to enhance quality, safety, and the patient experience while at the same time creating healthy work environments where nurses feel empowered and valued,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive Natalia Cineas, DNP, MSM-N, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, FADLN. “Our annual Nursing Excellence Awards recognize each of the award recipients for their enthusiasm, their devotion to duty, and their constant pursuit of excellence. This year’s 35 honorees have demonstrated a firm commitment to providing compassionate and exemplary patient care, and we salute their efforts in elevating our nursing professional practice.”
Aspiring 2 Inspire, the charitable organization founded by the family of the late Josephine Bolus, is sponsoring a new series of awards, the “Josephine Bolus Shining Light Awards,” to recognize and celebrate exceptional unit-based nursing teams throughout the NYC Health + Hospitals system. The first Josephine Bolus Shining Light Awards recognize five units that embody the values of compassion, dedication, and excellence in the nursing profession, deliver high-quality patient care, and foster a positive work environment.
“These awards are designed to recognize unit-based nursing teams for displaying a high degree of patient-centered care and collaborative teamwork, ultimately leading to enhanced levels of patient satisfaction,” said Michael H. Bolus, Executive Director and CEO of Aspiring 2 Inspire, son of the late Ms. Bolus. “The units we recognize each year are those who have demonstrated commitment to the nursing profession and consistently shown dedication to their work, their patients and the community. These unit-based nursing teams also serve as an inspiration, motivating and inspiring others through their actions and positive outcomes. The units selected for the Josephine Bolus Shining Light Award have made a significant positive impact on the nursing profession, and have proven that they embrace the values of compassion, empathy and kindness in their day-to-day work activities. We believe that the members of these unit-based nursing teams have distinguished themselves with their dedication to nursing excellence. We are delighted to create this new award that celebrates these units for their commitment and caring.”
Please see a program for the Nursing Excellence Awards to learn more about the awards and this year’s recipients.
The 2024 Nursing Excellence Award honorees are listed below:
BRONX
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Belvis
- Zitlali Gutierrez, RN
Staff Nurse, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
- Lily Ashun, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Award: DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania
- Eunyoung Oh, BSN, RN
Head Nurse, Pediatrics
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
- Jennifer A. Lucas, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Critical Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
- 6B Medical/Surgical Unit
Award: Josephine Bolus Shining Light Award
- John Castaneda, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Operating Room
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
- Jennifer Brown, MS, BSN, RN, PMH-BC
Staff Nurse, Behavioral Health
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
BROOKLYN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland
- Anaya Previlor, BSN, RN
Nurse Supervisor
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York
- Angella Whyte, RN, MSN/Ed
Nurse Educator
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
- D6 North Pediatric Unit
Award: Josephine Bolus Shining Light Award
- Melissa M. Museau, RN, MEDSURG-BC, CCRN
Staff Nurse, Medical Intensive Care Unit
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney
- Rhoda David, BSN, RN
Charge Nurse, Post-Acute Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health
- Anastasiya Rothstein-Leonova, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Medical/Surgical
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
- Gloria Cottoy, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Adult Outpatient Behavioral Health
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney
- Jacqueline Leach, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Post-Acute Care
Award: DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
MANHATTAN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
- Gacelyne Etienne (Camulaire), BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Labor and Delivery
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
- McKenna Duffy, MSN, RN, CPEN
Staff Nurse, Pediatric Emergency Services
Award: Excellence in Volunteerism and Service
- Mayra Sucupira Oliveria, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Pediatric Emergency Department
Award: DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter
- Donald Taghap, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Wound Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
- Caroline Helen Araullo, MSN-NE, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC
Nurse Educator
Award: Excellence in Education and Mentorship
NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
- Shaarnette Young, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Post-Acute Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur
- Flor Vega Mendoza, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur
- Neha Sharma, MSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Sub-Acute
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem
- 13th Floor Stroke Unit
Award: Josephine Bolus Shining Light Award
- Yudith Mahon, RN, C-EFM
Staff Nurse, Labor and Delivery
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
- Linnda Archille, MSN, RN, RN-C
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
- Jaslyn Reyes, BSN, RN, AMB-BC
Head Nurse, Pediatric Ambulatory
Award: Excellence in Home, Community, and Ambulatory
QUEENS
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
- D5 Labor & Delivery
Award: Josephine Bolus Shining Light Award
- Teresa Pedretti-Ramos, RN, BSN, MSL, CNOR
Director, Nursing
Award: Excellence in Nursing Leadership
- Naftaly Henriquez Polanco, BSN, RN, AMB-BC
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Jackson Heights
- Nadege Anglade, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Surgery
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
- Award: Structural Empowerment Award
- Rachel Jacob, MS, RN, CCRN, NEA-BC, NI-BC
Director, Patient Care Systems
Award: Excellence in Technology and Innovation
- Dianne Persaud, BSN, RN
Nurse Supervisor, Medical/Surgical
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
STATEN ISLAND
NYC Health + Hospitals/Seaview
- Angelica C. Santos, BSN, RN
Head Nurse, Geriatric Long-Term Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
CITYWIDE
NYC Health + Hospitals/Community Care
- Amy Lo, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Home Health
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
- Ivette Candelaria, BSN, RN
Accountable Care Manager, Community Care
Award: DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services
- Psychiatric Unit
Award: Josephine Bolus Shining Light Award
- Enola A. James, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, KEEP Program
Award: DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
- Kerrin Monique Nelson, MSN, RN, APRN, PMHMP-BC
Staff Nurse, Behavioral Health
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
MetroPlus Health
- Madeline Rivera, RN, MS
Senior Director, Integrated Care Management
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal 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.