New York, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals today announced that 38 nurse leaders who had attained doctoral-level education were recognized at the health system’s third annual Doctoral Circle of Excellence event. The Circle includes nurses who have earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Health Administration (DHA), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), or Doctor of Education (EdD) in nursing. The program supports and promotes mentoring and networking among nurses across the health system. It also connects nurse researchers with aligned interests so that they can work together across facilities to generate new knowledge and integrate nursing research and evidence-based practices into clinical and operational processes. These 38 nurses join 107 other nurses in the health system who have achieved this level of distinction. In 2022, 17.4% of the nation’s registered nurses held a master’s degree and 2.7% held a doctoral degree. The current demand for nurses with a master’s- or doctor’s degree who are prepared for advanced practice, clinical specialties, teaching, and research roles far outstrips the supply.

“The field of nursing and perceptions of nursing are changing,” said NYC Health + Hospitals System Chief Nurse Executive Natalia Cineas, MBA, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, FADLN. “This cohort of exceptional nurses exemplifies the future of our profession, as caregivers of course, but also as scholars, researchers, innovators, and leaders. Our Doctoral Circle of Excellence honorees understand that as health care evolves, we also must evolve, and they are leading the way.”

“Being part of the Doctoral Circle of Excellence holds deep significance for our doctoral graduates in our health system,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Director of Nursing Excellence and Research Annie George, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, CCRN-K, FNYAM. “Induction into this circle not only offers meaningful recognition but also creates invaluable opportunities for networking and guidance in evidence-based practice and research integration. It also symbolizes our commitment to advancing nursing science through collaboration and the exchange of expertise.”

Doctoral Circle 2024 Awardees by Facility

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue

• Shawnmarie Jackson-Moncrieffe, DNP, RN
• Roseline Martelly, DNP, RN

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham, Gouverneur

• Lisa Ma, DNP, RN, NP

NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi

• Christine E. Brown, DNP, RN, NP
• Jae Nadine Clark-Delacruz, DNP, RN
• Rosemarie Mason, DNP, RN

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings

• Claivril Da Silva, DNP, RN
• Sunita Ghale, DNP, RN, NP
• Sheila Joseph, DNP, RN
• Alie Massicot-Gray, DNP, RN, NP
• Gladys Morson-Gibbs, DNP, RN, NP
• Ashley N. Phillip, DNP, RN
• Denise Romney, DNP, RN, NP
• Jalisa Saud, DNP, RN, NP
• Elizabeth Sewell, DNP, RN, NP
• Eman Wahab, DNP, RN

NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln

• Clifettia Grissett, DNP, RN
• Adama Sanogo, DHA, RN

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan

• Simone Ashman, PhD, RN
• Rose Holmes, DNP, RN, NP
• Anelyn Banes Sanchez, DNP, RN

NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx

• Linda J. Phinazee, DNP, RN

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens

• Charity Enwere, DNP, RN, NP
• Mira Inoyatov, DNP, RN, NP
• Carrie Li, DNP, RN, NP
• Roshin Mathews, DNP, RN, NP
• Mira Rucando, DNP, RN, NP
• Sonnja Williams, DNP, RN

NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health

• Megan Alcia, DNP, RN
• Marina Bekker, DNP, RN, NP

NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull

• Roseline Agboola, DNP, RN
• Clara Ayozie-Richardson, DNP, RN
• Dynah Israel, DNP, RN, NP
• Joseph Kasamba, DNP, RN, NP
• Marlene Lofters-Dinham, DNP, RN
• Andrea Taylor, DNP, RN

NYC Health + Hospitals/Central Office

• Opeyemi Blessing, DNP, RN
• Patricia Ruiz, DrPh, RN

###

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.