Thirty-Two NYC Health + Hospitals Nurse Leaders Recognized for Achieving Doctoral Distinction
Nurses with doctoral degrees incorporate their years of education and bedside practice to advance the field of nursing both clinically and operationally
Only 2.9% of all Resident Nurses in the US have a doctoral degree
Sep 28, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz and System Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Natalia Cineas join the 2026 recipients of the Doctoral Circle of Excellence.
NYC Health + Hospitals today announced that 32 nurses who have attained doctoral-level education were recognized at the health system’s fifth annual Nursing Doctoral Circle of Excellence event. The Circle includes nurses who have earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Health Administration (DHA), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), or Doctor of Education (EdD) in nursing. The 32 nurses join 162 other nurses in the health system who have achieved this level of distinction.
The Nursing Doctoral Circle supports and promotes mentoring and networking among nurses across the health system. It also connects nurse researchers with aligned interests so that they can work together across facilities to generate new knowledge and integrate nursing research and evidence-based practices into clinical and operational processes. Only 2.9% of all Resident Nurses in the US have a doctoral degree.
This year’s keynote speaker, Rebecca M. Patton, DNP, RN, CNOR, FAAN, addressed the attendees and encouraged the graduates to use their newly acquired degrees to innovate and change healthcare for NYC Health + Hospitals patients.
Rebecca M. Patton, DN, RN, CNOR, FAAN addresses the 2026 recipients of the Doctoral Circle of Excellence awards.
“This year’s Doctoral Circle honorees reflect the depth of talent and ambition within our nursing workforce,” said Natalia Cineas, DNP, MSM-N, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, FAADL, Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at NYC Health + Hospitals. “We are proud of their achievements and call on them to use their education and experience to drive change, foster mentorship, and strengthen the nursing profession for generations to come. Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees.”
“I love the fact that this circle of excellence gets bigger and bigger every year,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Our nurses’ years of individual study and research collectively make us all better. They raise the bar for nursing at our health system and are an integral part of delivering the best care possible for our patients.”
Esther Frimpong, DNP, RN and Crystal Wallace Simpson, DNP, MSN, RN with their awards.
2026 Nursing Doctoral Circle of Excellence Awardees by Facility:
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
Esther Frimpong, DNP, RN
Abner Loriaga, DNP, RN, CCRN
Ray-An B. Talatala, DNP, RN, CNOR, NPD-BC, FNAP, FAORN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Central Office
Nicole E. Jie, EdD, RN, CCRN
Gail A. Haynes, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC
NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services
Joseph Oyibotsa, DNP, MSN, RN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
Maloree Monique Baxter-Williams, DNP, RN, RNC-NIC
NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem
Priscilla Utobunwa-Nwachukwu, DNP, MSN, RN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
Ihuoma Ireaja, DNP, MSN-Ed, PMHN, RN-BC
Olivia Taneisha Beale, DNP, RN, CMSRN, WCC, OMS
Crystal Wallace Simpson, DNP, MSN, RN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
Rose-Astrid Benjamin, DNP, MSN, RN, LNC
Leunz Cadely, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Tamica John, DNP, PMHNP, MSN, RN
Mellisa Roberts, DHA, MSN, RN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
Eva A. Calo, DNP, MSN, RN, CPPS
Karen B. Garcia, DNP, RN, CEN, TCRN
Adarlyn Guzman, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, NEA-BC
Seema Aziyakath Sharvo, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN, CCRN, FNP-BC, NPD-BC
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
Latifat Folajaiye, DNP, PMHNP-BC, RN
Jiwon Kim, DNP, FNP-BC, CGRN
Wesley J. Stephens, DNP, RN, CCRN-A, CCRN-P, NEA-BC
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
Annette Virosami, DNP, RN, AGPCNP-BC, ONC
NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care
Rachel Hudec, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CRRN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
Smitha Eapen DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC
Tahisha Mackey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, NEA-BC
Guerdy Marie Michel-Loiseau, DNP, PMHNP-BC, MSN, RN, AGNP-C
Phoenix Tinson, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN
NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health
Nadya Bolgova, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, RNC-OB, C-EFM
Annjeet Dhillon, DNP, RN, CCM
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
Nicola Madou, DNP, MPH, RN
Shejie Roshan, DNP-C, MS, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CCRN
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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.