NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi Unveils Art Exhibit for Behavioral Health Patients with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Jacobi Hospital’s Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Center (CATC) art exhibit showcases a selection of artwork that inspires calmness, reflection, and stillness, in a space defined by constant movement and care
Aug 05, 2026
Bronx, NY – NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi’s Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Center (CATC) unveiled a new art exhibit from NYC Health + Hospitals’ art collection that features works by Jim Dine, Charles Ford, Michael Manning, Gilbert Michaud, and many others. The exhibit showcases a selection of artwork that inspire calmness, reflection, and stillness, in a space defined by constant movement and care. The fifteen works emphasize color, rhythm, and organic form. Michael Manning’s Porcelain fills the space with color and quiet beauty, contributing to an uplifting environment where a sense of support and resilience can be felt. Works such as Jim Dine’s 8 Hearts, and Gilbert Michaud’s Irises introduce harmony and warmth, while Dano’s Floral by Charles Ford evokes a sense of belonging and community. Abstract and visually engaging works are particularly effective in healthcare settings, offering patients and staff opportunities for contemplative engagement. By inviting reflection and personal interpretation, these works can help reduce stress and foster a sense of healing.
In addition, Jacobi Hospital’s outpatient addiction clinic, also known as CATC, has been piloting art immersion experiences at art exhibits in the community, an under-utilized resource for social connection. The art immersion experience operates in three stages, consisting of an introductory primer group session, a group museum visit, and a follow-up debriefing session in collaboration with staff from NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine and a community-based arts education group, the National Guild for Community Arts Education. Over two dozen CATC patients at Jacobi Hospital have had the opportunity to participate in these art immersion experiences, including visits to the Guggenheim and Frick museums. 100% of the patients found it rewarding and wanted to join more art exhibit visits in the future.
With the introduction of the art work in the clinical spaces, patients who have participated in the art immersion experiences reported increasing comfort and appreciation of art as a form of social connection and healing. Patients who have not yet participated in the art immersion experiences have also been inquiring about future opportunities to do so. In addition to art immersion trips, CATC is also working on helping patients sign up for NYC IDs to facilitate free or discounted entry to community-focused art shows.
“Thank you to the NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine team for the generous donation. We are incredibly grateful to receive this inspiring art exhibit!” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx CEO Christopher Mastromano.“When our patients walk through the doors to this department, I hope they take a moment to view the artwork, reflect on the feelings it brings up, and continue to be curious about art.”
“We have a large collection selected from over 8,000 art works, and this exhibit is especially exciting because it features large pieces to activate the environment of the Behavioral Health unit,” said NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine Curatorial and Community Engagement Associate Emireth Herrera Valdés. “The art works selected by NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine were created by diverse artists with a diverse audience of patients in mind. This was the chosen unit to display these large pieces of abstract work to help inspire new moods and emotions.”
“I couldn’t be more excited about this art exhibit!” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi Chair of Behavioral Services Dr. Maryann Popiel. “This Arts in Medicine programming and the art installation for our CATC has created an opportunity for our patients to have easy and supported access to the world of art. This new exposure has led to increased feelings of joy and possibility. It has truly been transformative in the options it has created.”
“It has been such a joy to witness firsthand the healing, growth and genuine excitement we see within our patients through the incorporation of art therapy and immersive art experiences,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi Mental Health Counselor Rachel Yeung. “Many of our patients have shared that these experiences have inspired a newfound appreciation for the arts while also instilling renewed hope and motivation within their healing journey. It’s truly an inspiring reminder of the power of art in mental health and substance use recovery.”
“This a beautiful experience for both us, the staff, and for our patients,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi Associate Director Mental Health Services Sherrifa Bailey, LSCW. “The artwork brings color and meaning to the department, while upgrading the space. I’ve seen our patients really enjoy getting off the elevator, seeing the colors, and feeling welcomed. The addition of the art exhibit has turned this space into a community, that is invaluable.”
The mission of the Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Center (CATC) is to provide low-barrier, person-centered, and evidence-based care for persons experiencing problems with substance use. CATC offers walk-in services, comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, medical management of withdrawal and cravings, individual counseling and psychotherapy, vocational counseling, group-based visits, and other recovery support services. In addition to CATC, Jacobi Hospital’s Department of Behavioral Health Services also provides addiction consultation and linkage to care services for patients in the emergency department and inpatient units, and collaborates with medical, surgical, dental, and women’s health services to provide co-located comprehensive care.
For more information, please contact (718) 918-5000 for Jacobi Hospital.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Catherine Diaz, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx, 718-918-4879
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region’s only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/jacobi.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx is a member facility of the NYC Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, North Central Bronx Hospital specializes in women’s and children’s services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. Its Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. North Central Bronx Hospital is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/north-central-bronx.
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 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.