Nursing Awards
Across all settings of care at Mount Sinai South Nassau, nurses are an integral part of our health care team. To recognize nursing’s unconditional commitment and contributions to patient care, we have established an annual internal awards program that honors nurses at all levels, serving in a variety of professional nursing roles.
Internal awards include:
- Novice Nurse Award
- Preceptor/Mentorship Award
- Transformational Leadership Award
- Excellence in Clinical Nursing Practice
- Excellence in Advanced Nursing Practice
- Excellence in Nursing Quality
- Excellence in Nursing Education/Research
- Excellence in Community Service
- DAISY Award Program
Mount Sinai South Nassau's Nurses are also recognized by our community at large, who appreciate and value the talents of nursing in our organization.
External recognition awards include:
- The Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council Annual Nurse of Excellence Award
- The Magnet Nurse of the Year Award
2025 Award Recipients:
Transformational Leadership Award
Katherine A. DeMelis, MS, RN, CCRN, Director of Nursing Education
The Transformational Leadership Award recognizes an RN in a formal leadership role who has made significant contributions to improving patient outcomes and who fosters a positive work environment that supports professional nursing practice.
Excellence in Nursing Education Award
Carolyn Engel, MSN, RN, CCRN, Assistant Director of Nursing Education
The Excellence in Nursing Education Award recognizes a nurse who promotes an environment that embraces continuous learning, supports lifelong professional development, and embraces a spirit of inquiry to support the development of new nursing knowledge.
Excellence in Advanced Nursing Practice Award
Erica Valenski, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC, WCC, GERO-BCI
The Excellence in Advanced Clinical Nursing Practice Award recognizes an APRN who demonstrates exemplary performance & exceeds expectations to make a difference in patient care & the clinical practice environment.
Excellence in Nursing Practice Award
Patrick Bowler, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager D2E
The Excellence in Clinical Nursing Practice Award recognizes an RN in a clinical role who demonstrates outstanding performance & exceeds expectations to make a difference in patient care & the practice environment.
Excellence in Community Service Award
Valentino Griffiths, LPN
The Excellence in Community Service Award recognizes an RN who has made significant contributions to professional nursing practice through community service to patients, families & colleagues and who serves as a role model to inspire other nurses.
Excellence in Nursing Quality Award
Donna Pandolfi, MSN, RN, Director of Nursing Quality
The Excellence In Nursing Quality Award recognizes an RN who has made significant contributions to patient quality & safety through professional nursing practice.
Nursing Preceptorship Award
Leni Santos, RN
The Excellence In Nursing Preceptorship/Mentorship Award recognizes a nurse preceptor who fosters a positive and nurturing learning environment for our new nurses and supports their transition into the acute care clinical setting. As a mentor RNs make significant contributions to the professional development of colleagues and inspires other nurses as a role model.
Novice Nurse Award
Justin L. Bloom, RN
The Novice Nurse Award recognizes an RN in the first year of practice who demonstrates outstanding clinical performance and contributes innovative ideas that promote excellence in practice.
LPN of Excellence
Margarita Lima, LPN
The LPN of Excellence Award recognizes a licensed practical nurse who demonstrates outstanding performance in delivering patient care and collaborates effectively with registered professional nurses and other staff to achieve exemplary outcomes for patients.
Interprofessional Team of Excellence - Float Team
The interdisciplinary Team of Excellence recognizes an interprofessional group, inclusive of nursing, consisting of 3 or more disciplines that influences the clinical care of patients & promotes positive patient outcomes.
Our supportive staff Excellence Awards recognize unlicensed assistive staff in varied positions who demonstrate outstanding service excellence in delivering patient care. These nominees are valued members of our nursing team and contribute to making a difference in patient outcomes:
-
PCT of Excellence: Crystal Almonte, PCA
- ATNM of Excellence: Justin A Maravilla, Unit Clerk
- Unit Clerk of Excellence: Liana Hernandez, D3
- CST of Excellence: Taylor A. Muro, CST
- CS/ Bed & Bath Aide of Excellence Award: Carmen Salazar
- Phlebotomist of Excellence: Donic J. Amazan, Phlebotomist
- Friend of Nursing Award: James Tully, AV Analyst, IT (The Friend of Nursing Award is a award that recognizes an interdisciplinary colleague who collaborates with nursing in creating a positive work environment that supports nurses and patient care.)
Mount Sinai South Nassau’s 2025 nominee for the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council Nurse of Excellence Award was Abigail Fromm RN, Director of Community Education
Abby joined the hospital in 2004 as a nursing assistant and has since grown within the organization. Under her leadership, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Community Education team and Vaxmobile staff have vastly extended the hospital’s outreach, bringing screenings and vaccines to patients in communities that would not otherwise have access. She is an exceptional person and is a shining example of a nurse that is committed to her patients and the nursing profession!