During National Black History month, HHC has an opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of the African American health professionals who have contributed their exceptional skills and dedication to New York City's public hospital system. The contributions of these three nurse leaders represent thousands of African American employees whose work and care enrich us every day.
Dorothy Faustino, RN, MSN, MPH has dedicated more than 45 years to nursing, 20 of them at Woodhull Hospital, where she serves as Deputy Director of Nursing for all of the ambulatory care clinics in the North Brooklyn Health Network. Faustino graduated in 1963 from the Kings County Hospital School of Nursing, and went on to earn two Masters degrees at Columbia University, in Nursing and Public Health. She supervises nursing activities in the many primary care and specialty clinics at Woodhull Hospital, Cumberland Diagnostic & Treatment Center and the hospital network's school-based clinics, as well as the nursing staff who bring healthcare services right out into the community. Kudos to Dorothy Faustino, whose watchful eye and awesome expertise in nursing and public health ensures top quality services for thousands of patients in the north Brooklyn community each year.
Cheryl Dell-Scott Perez, RN, MSN, PNP has been Associate Director of Nursing at the Renaissance Health Care Network since January of 2007. Renaissance, an HHC Diagnostic and Treatment Center, brings a wide variety of services to Harlem residents, through seven community-based health centers and 10 school-based clinics. Perez oversees nursing activities at these facilities and works closely with the medical staff to integrate health education and continuity of care into the services provided. She has a passion for ensuring that patients and their families understand the common causes and effective treatments for chronic diseases, like asthma, diabetes, and childhood obesity that continue to plague this community. Bravo to Cheryl Dell-Scott Perez, whose commitment contributes so much to the health of adults and children throughout her community.
Joel Johnson, LPN has been brightening the halls of Gouverneur Skilled Nursing Facility since 1999, when he first accepted a position there as a Patient Care Technician. He soon enrolled in the HHC Nurse Career Ladder program and graduated in 2004 as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Johnson has worked in a number of areas in Gouverneur, including the new sub-acute unit, which recently opened, offering approximately 30 beds in a pilot program to provide short-term rehabilitation care to patients recovering from surgery. Johnson's reliability and willingness to do whatever is needed has led his colleagues to dub him "the everything man." He also serves as the Service Employees International Union Local 1199 delegate for all LPNs at Gouverneur and four affiliated satellite clinics. We salute Joel Johnson, an inspiration to both patients and staff in this innovative HHC nursing home.
February 2008
