NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens Clinical Pharmacist Honored as 2026 Tribute to Excellence in Healthcare Recipient – Sole Public Hospital Honoree
May 11, 2026
Olga Inoyatova, PharmD, AAHIVP, HIVPCPrx, Clinical Pharmacist at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens was selected as a recipient of the United Hospital Fund’s (UHF) 2026 Tribute to Excellence in Healthcare Award, recognizing her extraordinary personal leadership to improve quality of care, patient safety, and patient experience at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. She led a performance improvement project in the Adult Virology Clinic where she and the team were able to significantly reduce viral loads which keeps patients healthy and prevents transmissions. She stood out as the only public hospital employee among the 76 honorees.
Dr. Inoyatova, who was born in Uzbekistan and inspired by her parents to enter healthcare, conveys her commitment to quality improvement with her personal motto: “Believe you can, you are halfway there.” She advises, “My advice for anyone undertaking health quality improvement projects would be to start small, demonstrate success, and build momentum. In my opinion, equitable health care depends on dismantling social and economic barriers to ensure everyone has access to the highest level of care.” This sentiment aligns seamlessly with NYC Health + Hospitals’ mission to provide high-quality and affordable care for all, ensuring no one is left behind.
This prestigious award celebrated Dr. Inoyatova’s extraordinary leadership in advancing quality of care, patient safety, and patient experience at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, a 253-bed facility serving diverse communities with centers of excellence in cancer care, diabetes management, women’s health, and behavioral health. The awards luncheon took place on May 4 at Cipriani 42nd Street in Manhattan, featuring a reception, seated lunch, keynote by New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald, an honoree video montage showcasing individual accomplishments, and awards presentations.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens exemplifies this commitment through its dedication to quality improvement. The hospital has earned consecutive “A” Hospital Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group in both spring and fall 2025, received the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for three consecutive years, and obtained two awards from the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses. The hospital has also been recognized as an ERAS Center of Excellence for surgical safety, demonstrating its commitment to high standards through robotic-assisted procedures, enhanced protocols, and advanced training.
Within the NYC Health + Hospitals system, all 11 hospitals have earned American Heart Association/American Stroke Association awards for heart failure, cardiac arrest, and stroke care, with additional recognitions for infection prevention and comprehensive care models. NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens has been awarded the ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation, highlighting its efforts in nursing excellence and commitment to quality improvement through educational and professional development initiatives.
Serving a diverse, underserved population facing complex challenges such as chronic diseases, language barriers, and social determinants of health, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens prioritizes rigorous quality improvement to deliver equitable, safe outcomes. This focus enables the hospital to address a variety of health issues effectively, ensuring their commitment to making quality care accessible positions them as a leader in community health.
“I am thrilled by the recognition Olga has received and the many quality achievements we have made as a hospital,” said Dr. Jean Fleischman, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement and Chief Quality Officer. “The teamwork and accountability that define our approach to care are essential for ensuring safer outcomes.”
“Olga’s honor underscores our hospital’s ongoing dedication to innovation and excellence,” said Neil J. Moore, MBA, MPA, FACHE, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “Together, we ensure the highest standards for our diverse communities through collaboration and person-centered care.”
“Our focus on continuous improvement genuinely delivers better outcomes for the people we serve,” said Dr. Dave Holson, Chief Medical Officer at Queens Hospital. “By fostering multidisciplinary efforts and enhancing training, we create safer recoveries and position ourselves to be among the best community hospitals in the nation.”
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition,” said Dr. Inoyatova. “This award reflects not just my individual efforts but also the collective commitment of our entire team at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens to improve health care for our community.”
For more information about NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, please visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/queens.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Cleon Edwards, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, (646) 772-5725;
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
A member of NYC Health and Hospitals, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens is a major health care provider in the borough of Queens. Its foremost mission is to provide quality, comprehensive care to all members of the public regardless of their ability to pay. In 2025, Queens Hospital marked its 90th anniversary of serving the communities of central and southeastern Queens, having first opened its doors as Queens General Hospital in 1935. Encompassing 360,000 square feet, it comprises 253 licensed beds, spacious ambulatory care suites featuring both primary and specialty services, and cutting-edge equipment. It also houses four Centers of Excellence: Cancer Care, Diabetes Management, Women’s Health, and Behavioral Health. The hospital has recently added a fully expanded Emergency Room, a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence accredited by the American College of Radiology, and a Total Hip and Knee Replacement Center, with plans underway to build the health system’s first Dialysis Center to train patients to perform their own at-home dialysis. To learn more about NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/queens.
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.
About United Hospital Fund
United Hospital Fund works to build a more effective health care system for every New Yorker. An independent, nonprofit organization, they analyze public policy to inform decision-makers, find common ground among diverse stakeholders, and develop and support innovative programs that improve the quality, accessibility, affordability, and experience of patient care. For more information about their initiatives and programs, please visit the organization’s website at www.uhfnyc.org and follow us on Twitter.