Amy Marcotte Albano, RN, MBA, FACHE is the Senior Director of Nursing Operations. She joined the Mount Sinai nursing community in July 2008, bringing 28 years of experience in critical care nursing and administration, hospital operations and finance. Her professional and educational interests include business plan development, budgetary development and oversight, facilitating patient throughput, ensuring quality and cost-effective patient care, and promoting financial and business skills in nursing leadership. Ms. Albano is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, a member of AONE, AACN and Sigma Theta Tau.

Education:

1980 - Holyoke Community College, Associates Degree, Nursing

1993 - Our Lady of the Elms College, Bachelor of Arts, Business and Psychology

1998 - Western New England College, Master of Business Administration, Healthcare Administration

Susan Davis, MSN, MPH, is the Director of Nursing for Medical Services. She is accountable for overall planning for nursing practice and operations for Medicine Services units including the medical intensive care unit, the respiratory care unit, and general medicine, geriatrics, and oncology units. Her professional interests include critical care nursing practice, nursing management and leadership, and patient safety. Susan earned Master’s degrees in both Nursing and Public Health from Columbia University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Nursing Practice Degree from Case Western Reserve University. Susan is certified in advanced nursing administration. She has been actively involved in professional organizations and has held board and program planning positions with the New York City

Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).

Education:

1982 – D’Youville College, Bachelor of Science, Nursing

1992 – Columbia University, Master of Science, Nursing

1992 – Columbia University, Master of Public Health

Ellen Hughes, RN, MA, ANP, is the Clinical Director for Cardiothoracic Services. She started her career at Mount Sinai as an Oncology nurse and transferred to the cardiothoracic service after five years. She was the Clinical Nurse Manager of the cardiothoracic intensive care unit prior to accepting her current position as Clinical Director in 2005. In this position, she oversees the Cardio Surgical Intensive Care Unit, the Cardio Progressive Care Unit, the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and the 36-bed step-down unit. Ellen believes in constantly striving to improve the experience and care of her patients. At the heart of the Cardiothoracic service is a talented team of nurses, physician assistants and support staff who believe strongly in excellence in patient care.

Patricia Matos, MSN, is Director of Nursing for the Department of Psychiatry. Ms. Matos comes to Mount Sinai with 32 years of experience in psychiatry, administration and performance improvement. She is accountable for all Nurse Practitioners in the department and for nursing and therapeutic activities on Mount Sinai’s five inpatient psychiatric units and the psychiatric emergency department. Her professional and educational interests include performance improvement and clinical excellence in the treatment of psychiatric patients. Ms. Matos is a published author and will be starting the Doctorate of Nursing Practice Program at Case Western Reserve University in the fall of 2006.

Education:

1977 – Pace University, Bachelor of Science, Nursing

1984 – Pace University, Master of Science, Nursing

Michael McCarry, RN, BS, is the Senior Vice President of Perioperative Services. With an extensive background in strategic planning and organizational development, Mr. McCarry is responsible for development of organizational initiatives, the establishment of best practice models, the prudent expenditure of fiscal resources, as well as the planning and development of integrated, state-of-the-art operating rooms. An international and national perioperative consultant, he promotes interdisciplinary team building and develops systems and protocols to ensure patient safety and meet regulatory requirements.

Education:

1996—St. Joseph's College, Bachelor of Science, Healthcare Administration (Distinguished Honors).

Judy Miranda, RN, MSN, APRN, is the Associate Director of the Recanati/ Miller Transplantation Institute. Ms. Miranda is responsible for the leadership of nursing practice and operations throughout the inpatient transplantation service unit on GP-9C and the Transplantation Ambulatory Unit. She also serves as a liaison between multiple professionals in collaboration and the provision/management of patient care. Ms. Miranda works closely with the Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute Physician Leader, Dr. Jonathan Bromberg, and Administrator, Helen Hauff, RN, in ensuring that the program maintains the highest standards of patient care and is responsive to the needs of the patient and family as well as the organization.

Education:

1994—Regent's College, Bachelor of Science

2000—Fairleigh Dickinson University, Master In Science, Primary Adult Nurse Practitioner's Program, Board Certified As Adult Nurse Practitioner, July 2003 to June 2008

Beth Oliver, MSN, BSN, is the Senior Director of Nursing for Mount Sinai Heart. In this role, she is responsible for the supervision as well as the management of a large complex staff, which consists of NPs, PAs RNs, PCAs and BAs. Beth has been a strong nurse leader in Cardiac services for the past 18 years and has been involved in several publications, abstracts and presentations. She is a post recipient of the Ellen Fuller award of Excellence in Nursing Leadership in 2003 and a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the national Nursing Honor Society, AONE (American Organization of Nurse Executives) and is on the board of Directors at the American Heart Association. Beth works closely with the entire Mount Sinai Heart team to create a dedicated center of clinical excellence.

Education:

1988 – University of Massachusetts, Bachelor of Science, Nursing

1991 – Columbia University, Master of Science Nursing

1998 – Columbia University, Nurse Practitioner Certification

Eleonora Shapiro, RN, MHA, is the Senior Clinical Director for Perioperative Services. With responsibility for 47 multi-specialty Operating Rooms, 3 PACUs, Endoscopy, Sterile Processing Dept, Pre-Op and Phase II Post-Op areas, Ms. Shapiro provides the leadership and direction to assure the highest quality of patient care. She is responsible for enhancing productivity, budget management, effective staff utilization, as well as promoting the effectiveness of quality initiatives and providing support and guidance to clinical managers.

Education:

1991—Long Island University, School of Nursing, Bachelor of Science

1998—Central Michigan University, Master of Science, Administration/Health Services

Audrey J. Schmerzler, RN, MSN, CRRN, NE-BC, is the Director of Nursing for the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Center. She is responsible for leadership of nursing practice and operation throughout the Rehabilitation Center including management of clinical nursing practice, staff recruitment, staff education, employee performance evaluation, labor relations, quality improvement, supply chain and budget, medical records, and internal and external regulatory and survey requirements.

Audrey Schmerzler received her RN diploma from the Beth Israel School of Nursing, BSN from the Hunter College of the City University of New York and her master's degree at Columbia University. Her master’s degree major was Clinical Nurse Specialist in Rehabilitation Nursing – at the time Columbia was only 1 of 2 schools offering a master's in this area.

Ms. Schmerzler promotes patient satisfaction from day of admission through discharge, achieving this through promoting an environment of care and concern for both the patient and staff. She rounds with patients and staff in order to become better acquainted with patient and staff issues and concerns and then actively acts to resolve any issues that may have been brought up.

Ms. Schmerzler has a strong interest in administration, staff education and development of nurses and new managers. Ms. Schmerzler fosters a collaborative working relationship among interdisciplinary teams and staff by seeking their involvement in unit decision making, program development, and staff satisfaction. She advocates equality among staff on a personal level, with individual professional roles and responsibilities identified, acknowledged and respected.

In addition, Ms. Schmerzler has coauthored a book for the Lippincott Fact Finder Series entitled, “Nursing Management of Individuals with Disabilities.” Ms. Schmerzler is also a CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) surveyor.

Maria Vezina, EdD, RN, is a Senior Director for Nursing Education, Research and Professional Practice. Dr. Vezina also holds a faculty appointment in the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in the Department of Geriatrics. Dr. Vezina is accountable for the recruitment and staff development needs of the 2,000 RNs in the Department of Nursing, manages the Mount Sinai Hospital School of Continuing Education in Nursing, coordinates the credentialing of the Advanced Practice Nurses (a group of over 200 nurse practitioners, midwives and nurse anesthetists), and oversees the professional practice and research model at Mount Sinai. Her professional and educational interests include active learning models that promote critical thinking and accountability, promotion of advanced practice and project management as a model for overseeing the foundation of practicing nursing within an academic health science center. Dr. Vezina is a proponent of clinical leadership, advanced practice and nursing research as avenues to promote the profession of nursing and quality patient care. Dr. Vezina also promotes the image of professional nursing to encompass evidence-based practice, accountablility and expertise as it relates to the healthcare environment of the 21st century.

Education:

1973 – Hartwick College, Bachelor of Science, Nurisng

1977 – New York University, Master’s, Teaching of Nursing/Adult Health

1980 – Post Master’s Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health/Adult Primary Care

1982 – Columbia University, Teachers College, Master of Education, Communication & Instructional Technology

1989 – Columbia University, Teachers College, Doctor of Education, Nursing Education, Professorial Role