Our Chaplains and Staff

Mount Sinai Pastoral Care Staff and Volunteers

Rabbi Rafael Goldstein, BCC, Director

Rabbi Goldstein joined the staff at Mount Sinai in 2009. He holds a B.S. in Social Work from Columbia, a B.H.L. in Talmud from the Jewish Theological Seminary, an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and was ordained in 1994 by the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York. He trained as a Chaplain at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego and was Board Certified (BCC) by the National Association of Jewish Chaplains in 2004. He is currently a candidate for a Doctorate in Ministry from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Rabbi Goldstein is the author of four books and wrote monthly columns in the Phoenix Jewish News on Healing and Spirituality, as well as other periodicals.

Rabbi Nathan Goldberg, ACPE, Chaplain/ Educator

Rabbi Nathan Goldberg is the Chaplain/Educator for the Mount Sinai Department of Pastoral Care and supervises the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program and interns. He serves on the HealthCare Chaplaincy's Clinical Faculty, and is the only Orthodox Jewish Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor in America. Originally from Nashville, TN, he is a graduate of Yeshiva University and Beit Midrash L'Torah in Israel. After completing chaplaincy training at Memorial/Sloan Kettering, he served as Kansas City's Jewish Community Chaplain. Rabbi Goldberg’s professional life has taken him to many NY area hospitals where he has been Chaplain, Director of Pastoral Care and Chaplain Educator. He is now pursuing a doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia University in Adult Learning and Organizational Leadership.

Rev. Denise Welsh, Women and Children’s Chaplain

Father Guency Isaac

Father Guency Isaac was called by the Archdiocese of New York to join the staff of Department of Spiritual Care and Education at Mount Sinai Medical Center. He’s a native of Haiti ordained priest in 2005 for the diocese of Hinche (Haiti). He has been sent by the Church to Paris, France, where he earned an MA in  Philosophy in June 2011 from the Catholic Institute of Paris. 

Rabbi Edith Meyerson, Chaplain

Rabbi Meyerson joined the Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute in 2006. A Baltimore native, she earned a B.A. in Anthropology and Near Eastern and Judaic Studies in 2002 from Brandeis University. She received rabbinic ordination in 2007 from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) as well as an M.A. in Hebrew Literature during her tenure with the College-Institute. After ordination, Rabbi Meyerson fulfilled her clinical chaplaincy training through a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) residency at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn where she currently on the Pastoral Care Advisory Committee. She received Board Certification through the National Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) in 2010 and currently sits on the NAJC board and the NAJC certification commission. Rabbi Meyerson is a doctoral candidate at HUC-JIR, focusing on the spiritual and psychological integration of pastoral counseling.

Sr. Nadine Koza, BCC, Volunteer Chaplain

Sister Nadine Koza is a Franciscan Sister from Joliet IL—though she is a native New Yorker. She joined Mount Sinai as a Volunteer Chaplain in 2010. Her areas of focus are the Oncology and Bone Marrow transplant units and she brings to her ministry a background as a mathematician, educator, campus minister and nine years as Director of Patient Advocacy at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn. She holds a BS in Mathematics from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, and a M.P.S. (Masters in Pastoral Studies) from Loyola University, Chicago. In addition, she spent a year of study at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. She did her chaplaincy training at NY Methodist Hospital and is a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC). She is a member of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains and the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Linda K. Kleinman, Community Religious Leaders Outreach Volunteer Coordinator

Linda Kleinman joined the staff at Mount Sinai in 2010. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts and has taken business courses at NYU.

Rifka Klaristenfeld, Chasidic Liaison, Volunteer

Rifka Klaristenfeld is a volunteer for the Satmar Bikur Cholim and volunteers at Mount Sinai two days weekly. At Mount Sinai she works on brochures and print material for the Dept. of Pastoral Care and organizes and maintains the Chesed Room. Rifka is also an artist and many of her original works are displayed in the Department of Pastoral Care. In addition to her work at Mount Sinai, she provides recreational support to patients in the infusion center at Methodist Hospital and received The Ann Chisena Award for Community Involvement for her work there. She lends her artistic talents teaching painting at the Senior Center for Holocaust survivors run by the Satmar Bikur Cholim.

Sandy Michael, Office Volunteer

Sandy has been a 'Volunteer' for over 25 years serving non-profit organizations in Westchester. Sandy served as President and Director of Program Planning for more than 10 years for Na'Amat USA, New Rochelle. One of the goals was to raise funds for social services to women and children in Israel and also to support legislation in the US. She was an active member of "My Sister's Place" in White Plains, which helps abused women and their children in 'safe houses' and a long-time participant with the 'Family Services of Westchester', provider of furnishings to needy families. She also delivered meals to homebound seniors in Westchester through UJA 'Meals on Wheels' program. Now, a resident of Manhattan, Sandy coordinates the planning of menus at a women's shelter. She continues to look for new ways to give back.

Denise Welsh, Women and Children’s Chaplain

Denise Welsh completed her Pediatric Residency in Chaplaincy at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell where she served as Chaplain to the NICU, PICU, and General Pediatric floor, as well as Geriatrics. She is a Graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Harvard Business School (M.B.A.), and Wellesley College (B.A.). She will be ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church USA in March 2013. She resides in New York City with her husband, and Wheaten Terrier, and has two daughters.