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
Nov 26, 2025
NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitch Katz with Nursing leadership and recipients of the 2025 Nursing Excellence Awards
Today NYC Health + Hospitals announced the honor of 35 nurse professionals from across the public health care system as part of its annual Nursing Excellence Awards. The honorees were selected from 524 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 sixth annual Structural Empowerment Award was presented to the nursing leadership and staff at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan for their commitment to achieving higher performance levels, including increases in certification rates and other notable metrics. The sixth annual Josephine Bolus Nursing Champion Award — NYC Health + Hospitals’ most prestigious designation bestowed upon supporters of nurses and the nursing profession — was presented to Ena Williams, PhD, MBA, RN, CNEP, FAAN, FADLN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at Yale New Haven Health.
“Congratulations to the 35 extraordinary nurses and to Metropolitan Hospital for this well-deserved recognition,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz. “It’s an honor to work alongside such exceptional professionals, and I’m incredibly proud to celebrate these outstanding honorees and all our nurses who strengthen our mission and our communities. Every day, our nurses go above and beyond to deliver high-quality, compassionate care, making our public health system a trusted lifeline for every New Yorker, without exception. I’m deeply impressed by the remarkable talent and dedication represented across our nursing teams, and we remain committed to giving them the resources, training, and opportunities they need to grow and thrive.”
“Our commitment to nursing excellence and patient-centered care is reflected in every corner of our organization — from our frontline nurses to our leadership teams,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive Natalia Cineas, DNP, MSM-N, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, FADLN. “Together, we are advancing quality, safety, and the patient experience while fostering healthy work environments where our nurses feel empowered, valued, and supported. The Nursing Excellence Awards celebrate the dedication, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence that our nurses bring to the of care their patients every day. This year’s 35 honorees exemplify compassionate, top-tier care, and we are incredibly proud of the impact they have made on our patients, our communities, and our nursing profession.”
NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Nursing Executive Natalia Cineas addressing the 2025 Nursing Excellence honorees
“I am especially grateful to have received the Josephine Bolus Award, a tribute to a remarkable nursing pioneer whose legacy continues to inspire our profession, and honored to deliver the Nursing Excellence Awards keynote address,” said Ena Williams, PhD, MBA, RN, CNEP, FAAN, FADLN. “This event highlights the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment that nurses across NYC Health + Hospitals bring to patient care in every setting. I was deeply moved by their stories of perseverance and their steadfast focus on putting people at the center of their work. Congratulations to all the honorees!”
Keynote speaker Dr. Ena Williams, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at Yale New Haven Health, addressing the 2025 Nursing Excellence awardees
Please see a program for the Nursing Excellence Awards to learn more about the awards and this year’s recipients.
The 2025 Nursing Excellence Award honorees are listed below:
BRONX
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Belvis
Carmela Reyes, BSN, RN
Head Nurse, Ambulatory Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania
Gilbert Guerrero, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
Margarita Kenny, BSN, RN, MED SURG-BC
Staff Nurse, Medical Intensive Care Unit
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
Unit 4B, Medical Intensive Care Unit
Award: Josephine Bolus Shining Light Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
Karen Patricia Anderson, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Med/Surg
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
Edner Cuvilly, MSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Behavioral Health
Award: DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
Lourdie Jean-Pierre Chicoye, MSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Behavioral Health
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
BROOKLYN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland
Sylvia W. Seid, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York
Marilyn Tessa Bathersfield, ADN, RN
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
Dmitry Zakrevski, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Care
Award: DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
Marjorie Clarke, ADN, RN
Staff Nurse, Behavioral Health
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney
Chantone Saint Surin, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Post-Acute Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health
Veronika Orlova, MSN, RN, NE-BC, MEDSURG-BC, AMB-BC
Associate Director, Nursing
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
Unit T8W: Mother/Baby
Award: Josephine Bolus Shining Light Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
Jennifer Sawinski, MSN, RN, AMB-BC, CLC
Staff Nurse, Pediatric Primary Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
MANHATTAN
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
Ana Creglia, ADN, RN
Staff Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter
Cheryl-Ann D. Blondell, BSN, RN
Head Nurse, Long-Term Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
LTACH-5 East: Long-Term Acute Care
Award: Josephine Bolus Shining Light Award
NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
Milana Leviyev, BSN, RN
Head Nurse, Memory Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur
Kelly Rong, MSN, RN, RN-BC
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Care/Pediatrics
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur
Emelita Austria, BSN, RN, CCRN
Staff Nurse, Sub-Acute Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
Edwine Darby Joseph, MSN-ED, RN, GRN, GERO-BC, BLS-I
Nurse Educator
Award: Excellence in Education and Mentorship
Liyun Jin, ADN, RN
Staff Nurse, Long Term Care
Award: DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem
Shea Chenery, BSN, RN, CEN
Staff Nurse, Emergency Services
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
Leah V. Waga, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
Award: Structural Empowerment Award
Andrew J. Wuthrich, MBA, MSN, RN, ONC, NE-BC, CPA
Director, Nursing
Award: Excellence in Nursing Leadership
QUEENS
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
Girly Kuruvilla, BSN, RN, CCRN, TCRN
Staff Nurse, Critical Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
Jin-Li Pai, BSN, RN
Accountable Care Manager
Award: Excellence in Home, Community, or Ambulatory
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
Unit: Labor & Delivery
Award: Josephine Bolus Shining Light Award
Maria Luisa Ceniza, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, NICU
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
Madeline Hernandez, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CEN
Nurse Educator
Award: Excellence in Volunteerism and Service
Phillipa Maddan, DNP, MSN, RN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, CLC
Nurse Educator
Award: Excellence in Technology and Innovation
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, LeFrak
Ivymae Yanson, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
STATEN ISLAND
NYC Health + Hospitals/Seaview
Donald Doles, BSN, RN
Head Nurse, Post-Acute Care
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt
Award: Josephine Bolus Shining Light Award
CITYWIDE
NYC Health + Hospitals/Community Care
Claudia W. Grenade, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Home Health
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
Gina Leong, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse, Home Care
Award: DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services
Clautilde Maxi-Ligonde, BSN, RN
Patient Care Coordinator
Award: Excellence in Clinical Nursing
Paulette McGee, BSN, RN
Staff Nurse
Award: DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
MetroPlus Health
Alina Grineva, MSN, RN, CCM
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.