NYC Health + Hospitals Celebrates 35 Nurses and Two Facilities at Annual Nursing Excellence Awards
Nurses were nominated by their colleagues in honor of their achievements and commitment to patients
Dec 05, 2023
NYC Health + Hospitals today honored 35 nurse professionals from across the health system as part of its annual Nursing Excellence Awards. The honorees were selected from 432 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. 25 nurses were recognized for Excellence in Clinical Nursing, and 5 nurses were recognized systemwide for their efforts in leadership, volunteering, education and mentorship, home or ambulatory care, and technology and innovation. Another 5 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 fourth annual Structural Empowerment Award was presented to the nursing leadership and staff at NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health for their commitment to achieving higher performance levels, including increases in certification rates and other notable metrics. New this year, the Structural Transformation Award was presented to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem for their commitment to implementing and integrating the core principles and concepts of Care Delivery Daily Management system as well as for providing a foundation for nursing professional practice. In addition, the fourth annual Josephine Bolus Nursing Champion Award, NYC Health + Hospitals’ most prestigious designation bestowed upon supporters of nurses and the nursing profession, was given to Earnest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN, Vice Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at Duke University School of Nursing and Immediate Past President of the American Nurses Association.
“NYC Health + Hospital’s Nursing Excellence Awards are the highest honor we as a system bestow upon our nurses, and the ceremony provides a wonderful opportunity to shine the spotlight on those individuals who demonstrate day-in and day-out dedication, superior skills, commitment and enthusiasm for the nursing profession,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive Natalia Cineas, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “Our nurses provide compassionate and exemplary patient care and continually strive for excellence in clinical practice. The annual Nursing Excellence Awards embody our organization’s guiding principles of always keeping patients first while pursuing excellence in the clinical, educational, leadership and service aspects of our often-demanding occupation. The nurses recognized each year demonstrate a commitment to providing the best possible care experience for every patient, every time.”
To learn more about the Nursing Excellence Awards or any of this year’s recipients, visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/nursing-excellence-awards-2023/.
The 2023 Nursing Excellence Award honorees included:
BRONX
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
- Adelaide M. Powers, RN
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Care
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
- Aileen Habana, BSN, RN, MS-BC
Staff Nurse, Critical Care
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
- Benjamin Njoku, BSN, RN, CCRN
Assistant Director of Nursing, Administration
Excellence in Volunteerism and Service Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
- Shakeela Parveen, RN
Staff Nurse, Labor and Delivery
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania
- Charles Uchenna Duru, BSN, RN
Assistant Head Nurse, Medical Clinic
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
- Inna Rozentsvit, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Medical Clinic
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
BROOKLYN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings
- Rita Choy, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Critical Care
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health
- Vanny Isabel Reyes, RN
Staff Nurse, Emergency Services
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
- Manjinder Kaur, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Officer, on behalf of the nursing team
Structural Empowerment Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
- Phyllis Holder-Francisco, BSN, RN
Head Nurse, Behavioral Health
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland
- Ketsia Ganthier Augustin, BSN, RN
Accountable Care Manager, Medical Clinic
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney
- Simone Ross, BSN, RN
Head Nurse, Long Term Care
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
MANHATTAN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
- Bartek M. Tarnacki, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, CPEP
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
- Kareen Robertson, DNP, MSN-Ed, MHA, RN
Education, Nursing Education
Excellence in Education and Mentorship Award
- Joelle C. Laurenceau, MSN, RN, CMSRN
Head Nurse, Emergency Services
Excellence in Nursing Leadership
NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem
- Lana Small, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Critical Care
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
- Melba Raby, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Emergency Services
The DAISY Foundation Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
- Keisha Wisdom, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Officer, on behalf of the nursing team
Structural Transformation Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
- Rico Navea Zara, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Endoscopy
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur
- Xiao Ru Li, RN
Staff Nurse, Surgical Clinic
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Renaissance
- Oksoon Kim, BSN, RN, MBA
Staff Nurse, Medical Clinic
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur
- Kethly Durandisse Jean, BSN, RN
Supervisor of Nurses, Sub Acute
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter
- Ace Kristian Pascua, RN
Staff Nurse, Long Term Care
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
- Jennifer Dizon, BSN, RN
Head Nurse, Memory Care
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
QUEENS
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
- Alvin Francisco, RN
Staff Nurse, Critical Care
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
- Neena Babu, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Critical Care
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Roosevelt
- Catalina Gonzalez, RN
Staff Nurse, Pediatric Primary Care
The DAISY Foundation Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
STATEN ISLAND
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt
- Arielle Tapia, RN
Staff Nurse, Medical Clinic
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View
- Mary Ann Pagtalunan, RN
Staff Nurse, Long Term Unit
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
- Noreen Paronda, BSN, RN
Head Nurse, Sub Acute Unit
The DAISY Foundation Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
CITYWIDE
Correctional Health Services
- Joayne Maslow, RN
Staff Nurse, Correctional Health Services
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
- Shaiina Marston, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Correctional Health Services
The DAISY Foundation Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
Community Care
- Jerry Brown, RN
Head Nurse, Community Care
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
- Barbara Sergeant, BSN, RN, BSc, CWON
Associate Director of Nursing, Community Care
Excellence in Home, Community, or Ambulatory Care Award
- Jonben Garcia, BSN, RN, MSN
Accountable Care Manager, Community Care
The DAISY Foundation Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
MetroPlus Health
- Lynn St. Hilaire, BSN, RN, MA, ANP
Vice President of Clinical Services, MetroPlus Health
Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award
Central Office
- Julie Taylor, BSN, MSHI, RN
Clinical Business Analyst, Central Office
Excellence in Technology and Innovation
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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.