Ten Long-Term Care Nursing Professionals Honored by NYC Health + Hospitals with the Distinguished DAISY and BEE Awards
Award recipients were nominated and selected by residents, families, and colleagues
Sep 30, 2026
As part of its 5th Annual Post-Acute Care DAISY & BEE Awards, NYC Health + Hospitals honored 10 extraordinary nursing professionals from its five skilled nursing facilities. Five registered nurses and licensed practical nurses received the DAISY Award, and five certified nursing assistants received the health care system’s BEE (Being Exceptional Everyday) Award. Over 110 nominations were submitted by residents, families, and staff who shared compelling stories about their day-to-day experiences with these compassion care professionals.
The DAISY Award, sponsored by the DAISY Foundation, is the international leader in nurse recognition. This award recognizes nurses or nurse-led teams who are experts in person-centered care, demonstrate integrity and compassion, working collaboratively with their peers to achieve the best health outcomes for their patients and residents.
In addition to the DAISY Award, NYC Health + Hospitals has implemented its in-house recognition program called the BEE (Being Exceptional Everyday) Award. The award recognizes exceptional caregivers in supportive nursing roles including Certified Nursing Assistants, Patient Care Technicians, Patient Care Associates, and Medical Surgical Technicians, representing nearly 1,100 staff across five skilled nursing facilities. They work with registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to provide care that includes feeding, bathing, grooming, and taking vital signs such as blood pressure and temperature checks. Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is a great starting point for anyone interested in becoming a nurse.
“Congratulations to all 10 Post-Acute Care nursing professionals on their respective DAISY and BEE Awards,” said Natalia Cineas, DNP, MSM-N, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, FALDN, NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive. “Thank you for your commitment to patient-centered care, nursing excellence and the lasting difference you make for our community.”
“The prestigious DAISY and BEE Awards, shine a light on the extraordinary kindness and sensitivity our nursing staff demonstrates every day,” said Marian McNamara, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care. “Every one of our nurses brings an extraordinary level of dedication, compassion, and excellence to the care they provide. This recognition celebrates not only their professional accomplishments, but also the meaningful difference they make in the lives of our residents, patients, families, and colleagues each day. We are incredibly proud of their contributions and grateful for the commitment they bring to our organization and to the nursing profession.”
“We are so proud of our partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals because of the extraordinary care they provide each and every day,” said DAISY Foundation Co-Founder Bonnie Barnes, FAAN. “On behalf of all of us at the Foundation, we congratulate these special nurses. They truly make a difference, and their work really matters to patients and their families.”
The 2026 DAISY Award & BEE Award honorees include:
- Hui-Ling Li, RN – DAISY Award – NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter
- Marie-Clarita Bouquet, MST – BEE Award – NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter
- Aleksandr Valitov, LPN – DAISY Award – NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
- Marie Elianor, PCT – BEE Award – NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
- Myungsoon Yi, LPN – DAISY Award – NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur
- Marie Edouard, PCT – BEE Award – NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur
- Mynette Archer-Dornick, RN – DAISY Award – NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney
- Carla Russell, PCT – BEE Award – NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney
- Una Mastrianni, RN – DAISY Award – NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View
- Shirley Tsui, PCT – BEE Award – NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View
“This celebration is a recognition of compassion, commitment, clinical excellence, and the human connection that is at the heart of nursing. Every day, our nurses and patient care technicians do so much more than provide clinical care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Chief Nursing Officer Charleen Clark, RN, MSN. “They comfort residents when they are afraid, advocate when someone cannot speak for themselves, listen when someone simply needs to be heard, and bring dignity and kindness to some of the most important moments in a person’s life. Congratulations to all the honorees!”
“Coler is proud to recognize the exemplary work of the DAISY and BEE honorees who dedicate themselves to providing exceptional care to our resident population. Their unwavering commitment reflects their dedication to upholding kindness, integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence towards the residents and their peers,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Chief Nursing Officer Verna Mitchell, RN, BSN.
“I am proud to recognize our BEE and DAISY Award winners. Their dedication to serving others, their compassion in moments that matter most, and unwavering commitment to excellence are a true reflection of our mission and values,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney Chief Nursing Officer Ann Whyte-Akinyooye, RN, GRN, MSN-PH. “The care, kindness, and grace they bring each day touches lives in meaningful ways and inspires those around them and has made us ‘McKinney Strong.’ I thank them for sharing their gifts so selflessly and for being a blessing to our patients, families, and colleagues. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”
“Carter is proud to honor our DAISY and BEE awardees, Ms. Hui-Ling Li, RN and Ms. Marie-Clarita Bouquet, MST, whose dedication and commitment have created a meaningful impact on the lives of our patients and residents, fulfilling our facility’s mission of providing high-quality care and service,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter Chief Nursing Officer Caroline H. Araullo, MSN-NE, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC. “As a Pathway-designated facility, we are especially proud to recognize staff who exemplify the Pathway standards by fostering a positive practice environment, promoting collaboration, and inspiring excellence in the workplace. Congratulations again on this well-deserved recognition.”
“To our DAISY and BEE Award recipients, Una Mastrianni, RN, and Shirley Tsui, PCT, we extend our heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. The kindness and dedication they bring to their work touch the lives of our residents and their families in ways that are especially meaningful,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View Chief Nursing Officer Dorothy McIntosh-Waddy, RN, CRRN. “Your commitment to caring for others reflects the very best of who we are at Sea View. We are so proud to have them as part of our team and grateful for the difference they make each and every day.”
The nurses recognized are among the more than 9,600 nurses at NYC Health + Hospitals who provide care throughout the system’s hospitals, long-term care (skilled nursing) facilities, community health centers and neighborhood clinics, home care, and the correctional health system, throughout the five boroughs.
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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/Post-Acute Care
NYC Health + Hospitals Post-Acute Care is comprised of five skilled nursing facilities (SNF), a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) and adult day healthcare program. There is a total of 2,099 inpatient beds in the SNFs and LTACH. Carter, Coler, Gouverneur, McKinney, and Seaview have all consistently earn Four- & Five-Star Ratings awarded by CMS. In addition, Carter, Gouverneur, McKinney and Seaview have been recognized by US News & World Report as one of the Best Nursing Homes in 2026 for long-term care and short-term rehabilitation; Newsweek ranks Carter, Coler, Gouverneur, and Sea View in the Top 10 of Best Nursing Homes 2026 in New York State; McKinney ranked #11. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/postacutecare.
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 health plan—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 the DAISY Foundation
The DAISY Foundation was created in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of an auto-immune disease (hence the name, an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) Patrick received extraordinary care from his nurses, and his family felt compelled to express their profound gratitude for the compassion and skill nurses bring to patients and families every day. The DAISY Award celebrates nurses in over 5,800 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing around the world. For more information about The DAISY Award and the Foundation’s other recognition of nurses, faculty and students, visit www.daisyfoundation.org/