NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Appoints Devon Bennett as Chief Nursing Officer
He previously served as Associate Chief Nursing Officer at SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Feb 18, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst today announced the appointment of Devon A. Bennett, MSN, RN, CENP, LSSGB as Chief Nursing Officer. In his new position at Elmhurst Hospital, one of the city’s largest public hospitals, Bennet will oversee a staff of over 1,800 people, including Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and ancillary staff. Bennett previously served as Associate Chief Nursing Officer at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. In this capacity, he optimized patient throughput and revitalized staff engagement through a culture of transparency and shared purpose. He introduced the “START with HEART” initiative, a signature program that significantly enhanced patient experience and strengthened team cohesion. Bennett also served as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center. During his tenure, he guided more than 750 nursing professionals through the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic. His role at Elmhurst Hospital began on February 2.
“We are very pleased to welcome Devon Bennett to our healthcare team here at Elmhurst Hospital,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Alina Moran. “Devon is an experienced and dedicated nursing leader who has spent his career focused on patient safety and improving hospital experiences for both patients and their families. We look forward to collaborating with him as we continue to enhance our services and provide high-quality care in a compassionate environment.”
“We are pleased to welcome Devon A. Bennett as Chief Nursing Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Chief Medical Officer Dr. Laura Iavicoli. “He brings a strong record of transformational nursing leadership, a deep commitment to patient-centered care, and a people-first approach that aligns with our mission and values. His experience and vision will be instrumental in strengthening care for our patients and supporting our nursing workforce.”
“I warmly welcome Devon Bennett to our nursing leadership team,”said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive Natalia Cineas, DNP, MSM-N, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, FADLN. “As Chief Nursing Officer, Devon will bring his deep expertise in patient‑centered care, operational excellence and staff empowerment to one of our system’s most dynamic facilities. His leadership will be instrumental as we actualize our strategic priorities and strengthen our culture of nursing excellence. Our Elmhurst nurses are known for delivering high‑quality, culturally responsive care to one of the most diverse patient populations in the nation; achieving national recognition with both the Gold and Silver Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical‑Care Nurses (AACN;) designation as a Center for Excellence in Surgical Safety by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and redesignation as a “Baby Friendly” hospital by Baby‑Friendly USA. Devon’s proven leadership will further elevate this extraordinary team and support their continued upward trajectory.”
“I am truly honored to be joining NYC Heath + Hospital/Elmhurst at such a pivotal moment,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Chief Nursing Officer Devin Bennett, MSN, RN, CENP, LSSGB. “Under Dr. Cineas’ leadership, this organization is doing meaningful, transformative work and I couldn’t be more proud to be part of it. I am looking forward to wholeheartedly working with the Elmhurst team to achieve Leapfrog A and Magnet status within the next three years. Working with the team, I will take care of the people who take care of the people and keep our main thing the main thing.”
Grounded in a philosophy of respect, accountability and compassion, Bennett’s leadership style is bolstered by his technical expertise as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt practitioner. Bennett holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Clinical Management from Kean University and is pursuing his Doctor of Nursing Practice with a focus on leadership. Known for his collaborative leadership and “people-first” approach, Bennett is deeply committed to advancing a culture where nurses feel empowered, patients feel heard, and every outcome reflects the highest standards of care.
For more information on programs and services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, please call 718-334-4000 or visit us at www.nychealthandhospitals.org.
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Media Contact: Atiya Butler, Director of External Affairs, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, 917-319-5167
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, part of the NYC Health + Hospitals health care system, is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Queens. The 545-bed hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center, an Emergency Heart Care Station, a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Receiving Center, a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Center of Excellence, and a 911-Receiving Hospital. It is a premiere health care institution offering exceptional services across a wide range of specialties, including surgery, cardiology, women’s health, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, renal services, and mental health care. In the past year alone, the hospital received nearly one million ambulatory care visits and over 140,000 emergency room visits, reflecting its essential role in the community. NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has been nationally ranked and recognized as a “Best Regional Hospital” by U.S. News & World Report in critical areas such as Heart Failure, Heart Attack, Stroke, Hip Fracture, Maternity, Kidney Failure, Orthopedics, Pneumonia, and COPD.
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 MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 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.
