News from the University Hospital at Downstate
April 2023

A Message from David H. Berger, MD, MHCM, FACS, CEO of University Hospital at Downstate

I want to personally thank the entire staff and faculty for their hard work in preparing for our Joint Commission Triennial Survey.  We are pleased to announce that we have successfully completed the survey at the University Hospital at Downstate (UHD)!  We did not have any findings that met the level that could impact our conditions of participation. All the findings were standard and we will be addressing them in the coming months.  In fact, many of the findings were mitigated while the surveyors were on campus. 

The survey was conducted from March 21-24 by a team with extensive experience as caregivers and healthcare professionals. The surveyors were very impressed with UHD and the progress made since the previous survey in 2019. They commented on the great culture and teamwork at UHD and they were particularly impressed by the engagement of the faculty and staff.

I want to thank all of you for your hard work preparing for this survey and the fantastic care you provide for our patients every day. We should be incredibly proud of the results and efforts of everyone who contributed to this successful survey. You all make UHD the Best Place to Get Care and the Best Place to Give Care!

Cheers to the 2023 Patient Safety and Quality Fair!

Last month, at our third annual Patient Safety and Quality Fair, UHD staff presented ideas on how to improve patient safety. The dynamic in-person event included speakers, games, and a phenomenal keynote presentation on “Improving Quality: Lessons from Washington, DC,” by The Honorable David J. Shulkin, M.D., Ninth Secretary U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The event was jam-packed with projects detailing how we can improve UHD policies, processes, and practices.

Congratulations, and many thanks to all who participated in the Patient Safety and Quality Fair. The event brought us together as a community of professionals dedicated to high-quality, patient-centered care. Your actionable and caring suggestions are a reminder of why UHD is such a special place!  

Congratulations to Our Newest DAISY Award Recipients

In March, we celebrated our second round of DAISY Award winners for the month of December 2022 which was awarded to Ms. Lezlie Woods, RN, from Suite N (Pediatric Oncology), and Ms. Avalon Adams, RN, from Nursing Station 81 (Medical/Surgical).  They were both recognized with ceremonies held in their respective clinical areas by Chief Executive Officer Dr. David Berger and Chief Nursing Officer Cheryl Rolston.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, an international award program for licensed and registered nurses, is considered by many as the epitome of nursing recognition. The award celebrates nurses for extraordinary clinical skills and compassionate care. What distinguishes the DAISY Award is that patients and their loved ones submit nominations, attesting to the exceptional care provided by our nursing staff.

During the recognition ceremony, Ms. Woods and Ms. Adams were presented with a bouquet of daisies, freshly baked cinnamon buns to share with friends and colleagues, and a “Healer’s Touch” sculpture, which symbolizes the bond shared between nurses and their patients. The sculptures are signed by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe, and are hand-carved from Serpentine mineral rock.

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Woods and Ms. Adams on such an extraordinary achievement. We are proud of the dedication, commitment, and compassion they have demonstrated toward our patients.

One of Our Very Own Respiratory Therapists Celebrates a "Double-Dose"

Congratulations to Marie Noel, celebrating the fantastic news that her twin daughters, Gloria, and Victoria Guerrier, were accepted with full scholarships to the fall 2023 Yale University freshman class. This great news has been featured widely on ABC, NBC, and CNN, as well as in local papers. 

Gloria and Victoria excelled in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in every activity they pursued. Both will graduate at the top of their West Hempstead Secondary School Class of 2023 and are named as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Notwithstanding these accomplishments, the athletes—who have earned All-County and All-State honors in track and competed in national competitions—also work part-time jobs while maintaining responsibilities at home.  

Marie Noel immigrated to Brooklyn from Haiti 30 years ago and has proudly served Downstate for 23 years. Working the night shift, Ms. Noel covers UHD’s respiratory needs from the top of the house to the bottom, working the E.R. and ICUs and all the nursing floors. 

For Ms. Noel, the best part of her job is witnessing patients’ improvements under her care, especially when they recover quickly and can return home. She also enjoys working with students and sharing tips on managing patients’ respiratory needs. 

Congratulations to Ms. Noel, Gloria and Victoria, and the entire family. We look forward to learning of extraordinary future accomplishments!