NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Nurse Educator Receives Award from LeadingAge New York
Jasmine Slater Small, RN is among 16 honorees recognized across New York State and 3 honorees in New York City
Oct 09, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Skilled Nursing Facility announced the recognition of Nurse Educator Jasmin Slater Small, RN as recipient of the 2026 LeadingAge New York’s Employee of Distinction Award, which recognizes the extraordinary dedication of direct service and indirect service staff in post-acute care. Slater Small is one of 16 people to receive the award in New York State, and one of three people to receive the award this year in New York City.
As a seasoned registered nurse, Slater Small pursued nursing education to bring her hands-on experience to train and develop new nurses. She conducts training and ongoing competency assessment to align nursing educational opportunities, operational standards, and educational priorities that develop strong clinical skills so that they provide can safe, high quality care to our residents.
“I’m truly grateful to be a recipient of this year’s LeadingAge New York Employee of Distinction Award. My driving force has always been to be the best I can at whatever I do,” said Leading Age Award Recipient and NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Nurse Educator Jasmine Slater Small, RN. “I’m truly happy that others recognized my efforts and think that I’m deserving of such a prestigious recognition. Most of all I want to thank God for the wisdom and strength to persevere as well as my families at home and work for their endless support throughout my journey.”
“Jasmine Slater Small exemplifies the very best of our skilled nursing facility, consistently going above and beyond in onboarding new nurses and providing the continued training and development they need to provide the highest level of person-centered care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Chief Executive Officer Susan Sales, MPA, FACHE, LNHA. “Her commitment to excellence reminds us that the strength of our health system begins with the people who show up every day with integrity, compassion, and a genuine commitment to those we serve.”
“People like Jasmine demonstrate the blueprint of excellence for nursing home care,” said Sebrina Barrett, President and CEO of LeadingAge New York. “Her dedication to mentoring her colleagues, empowering them to be their best, and fostering a culture of compassion reflects the heart of our profession. We are proud to recognize Jasmine with this well-deserved honor.”
“On a personal level, Ms. Slater Smalls’ mentorship has been instrumental in shaping me into the nurse leader I am today,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Nurse Shevourne Joseph BSN, RN, CRRN. “From my earliest days working with her, she saw potential in me that I had not yet recognized in myself. She challenged me to think critically, encouraged me to step outside to my comfort zone, and provided constructive guidance that strengthened both my clinical judgement and leadership abilities. She has been a steady and inspiring influence.”
In 2005, Slater Small started her nursing career in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. After migrating to the United States, she joined NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur as a staff nurse in 2019. After various progressive leadership roles in nursing, Slater Small was promoted to Nurse Educator in 2026, where she is responsible for planning, organizing and coordinating nursing educational programs and activities with the goal of empowering nursing staff to provide safe, high quality and overall improve the health outcomes for our residents.
Outside of nursing, Slater Small is active in her faith, participating in community outreach programs organized by her church to bring resources to those in need.
LeadingAge New York is the only statewide organization representing the entire continuum of not-for-profit, mission-driven, and public continuing care, including senior housing, nursing home, adult care facility, continuing care retirement community, assisted living, home care, adult day care and community services providers. LeadingAge New York represents over 300 organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Rafael Dominguez, NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care, 646-694-4910
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur
Conveniently located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and accessible by mass transportation from most parts of New York City, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur operates a 295-bed Nursing Facility, providing state-of-the-art care for short-term rehabilitation, long-term and hospice care. Gouverneur is an academic affiliate of NYU School of Medicine and Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, providing high-quality sub-acute rehabilitation medicine and skilled nursing services.Gouverneur has been meeting the healthcare needs of New Yorkers for more than 140 years. The facility received a 5-star CMS Overall Rating and 5-Star CMS Quality Rating; ranked #1 in New York City by Newsweek’s 2026 Best Nursing Homes and has earned high-performance rating in long-term care and short-term rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report – 2026 Best Nursing Homes. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/gouverneur.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public 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 MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 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.
About LeadingAge New York
Founded in 1961, LeadingAge New York is the only statewide organization representing the entire continuum of not-for-profit, mission-driven, and public continuing care, including home and community-based services, adult day health care, nursing homes, senior housing, continuing care retirement communities, adult care facilities, assisted living programs, and Managed Long-Term Care plans. LeadingAge New York’s 350-plus members serve an estimated 500,000 New Yorkers of all ages annually.