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
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.
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.
“When I think of the theme of this month, to uplift, defend and transform – I think of our most vulnerable patients,” said NYC Health + Hospitals System Chief of Behavioral Health Services, Omar Fattal, MD, MPH. “The person brought to the CPEP after an aggressive episode in the subway who needs to be stabilized and connected to services. The pregnant mother managing her substance use disorder and is terrified of losing her kids. The patient recovering from heart surgery who is ready for discharge — but doesn’t have a home to go to. These are the patients our social workers show up for every single day. Social workers are the connective tissue of our system. Their dedication to patients, families and one another is what makes coordinated meaningful care possible. We are so happy to be able, as a system, to recognize social workers value and impact.”
“Social workers are an indispensable part of what makes NYC Health + Hospitals such a celebrated place to receive care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals System Chief of Acute Care and Emergency Preparedness, David Silvestri, MD, MBA, MHS. “Every day, our social workers devote themselves to uncovering and understanding the many underlying challenges that contribute to patients’ illness or prevent their recovery, bringing together complex teams and resources to address these challenges, and ensuring that care is centered on the whole person. We honor their critical role across our health system, and their daily service in making life healthier for New Yorkers.”
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.