47 Social Workers Honored for Their Commitment to Their Patients
Social workers are an integral part of NYC Health + Hospitals; there are more 1,000 social workers employed throughout the health system
The honorees were nominated by their colleagues and were chosen by their facility’s individual social work recognition committee
Apr 02, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals’ post-acute and long-term care facilities honor their social work champions.
New York, NY – NYC Health + Hospitals today announced 47 social workers from across health care system who were honored for their commitment and dedication to their patients. More than 1,300 social workers are employed at the health system performing a variety of roles, including managers, therapists, researchers, discharge planners, and policymakers. In these positions they work closely with family caregivers, friends, neighbors and community-based agencies to help patients resume their life within the community. This year, over 1,000 nominations were submitted from across the system, and the 47 honorees were selected from this pool by their facility’s social work recognition committee. The honorees were recognized for their dedication to their patients and their passion for the mission of NYC Health + Hospitals.
In 2024, NYC Health + Hospitals launched a comprehensive effort to strengthen and expand its social work workforce, beginning with a recruitment campaign that resulted in more than 400 new hires and reduced the vacancy rate from 12% in 2024 to 5% in 2025. That same year, the system introduced the Social Work Training Academy to standardize training and enhance practice across its more than 1,000 social workers. The Academy supports professionals at all stages of their careers by streamlining clinical internship placements and behavioral health orientation, offering evidence-based practice training, providing continuing education, and helping social workers pursue licensure and advance into leadership roles. Since its launch, the Academy has trained over 950 social workers, strengthening both workforce capacity and patient outcomes.
Social work award winners from Woodhull Hospital.
Building on the success of the Social Work Training Academy, in 2025 NYC Health + Hospitals implemented the Social Work Clinical Licensure Training Program to further support career advancement and retention. This initiative provides Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSWs) with training and financial assistance to obtain clinical licensure in exchange for a two-year service commitment. Participants receive free exam preparation—including study materials and 24 hours of training—as well as reimbursement for exam registration and licensure fees to become New York State Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). By enabling higher earning potential and access to supervisory roles, the program addresses a key driver of turnover, as prior exit data showed that 20% of departing social workers cited limited career advancement opportunities. Available to LMSWs with at least two years of service, the program has already supported the career mobility of more than 80 staff members while further strengthening the system’s behavioral health workforce.
“We are deeply appreciative of our social workers, whose exceptional dedication to clinical care helps ensure continuity of treatment for our patients,” said NYC Health + Hospitals System Chief of Behavioral Health Services, Omar Fattal, MD, MPH. “Through ongoing engagement, connecting individuals to vital health care and social services, and supporting recovery, they make a meaningful difference every day. We thank them for their tireless commitment to serving New Yorkers in need and extend our congratulations to this year’s award recipients.”
Social work award winners from Gotham Health.
The 2026 social work honorees include:
Hospitals
Namgyal Gyalnor and Marilyn Rodriguez-Navarro
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
Lidia Zhinin and Siever O’Connor-Aoki
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
Rebecca Segall-Dillon and Shanay Morris
NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem
Amanda Sifonte and Carlos Garcia
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
Eliza Fink and Hazel Mathurin
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
Robert Aviles and Genesis Diaz
NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
Adrianna Sirinian and Alexander Raabe
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
Albert Bencosme and Kiara De La Cruz Sarmiento
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
Diamanto Prassakos and Yasmeen Shaukat
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
Pamela Kaynas and Regina Kaprivelov
NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health
Mindel Boduch and Riya Ahmed
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
Post-Acute Care
Merary Guzman and Sayeda Khan
NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter
Janelle Hartman and Michelle Tran
NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
Julie Zhen
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur
Bibi Saffee-Razak
NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney
Sherry McShall
NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View
Gotham Health
Lynnsue Jolley
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham, Renaissance
Jodiann Swearing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham, East New York
Alba Cuartas and Carla Coleman
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham, Gouverneur
David Rosario
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham, Morrisania
Denise Lucero
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham, Roosevelt
Jahashia Morrison
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham, Tremont
Sydney Boyer
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham, Parsons
Kari Hinkson
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham, Broadway
Nancy Hernandez
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham, Belvis
Destiny Rodriguez
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham, Vanderbilt
Community Care
Asantewa James
NYC Health + Hospitals/Community Care
Correctional Health Services
Ashley Andreo and Alexandra Castellaccio
NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services
MetroPlusHealth
Allison Nayor and Kerry Holmes
NYC Health + Hospitals/MetroPlusHealth
Central Office
Charity Okoye and Lucey Cummins
NYC Health + Hospitals Central Office
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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 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.