Four MJHS Staff Honored by United Hospital Fund
At the seventh annual Tribute to Excellence in Health Care event, staff from participating agencies of the health system were honored for “extraordinary personal leadership to improve quality of care, patient safety and patient experience”
MJHS is thrilled to announce that four of our incredible staff were honored at the May 5, 2025 celebration hosted by the United Hospital Fund (UHF) at the Tribute to Excellence in Health Care event in Manhattan, New York. Alongside 70 other health care professionals from institutions across the greater New York metropolitan region, MJHS colleagues were applauded for their, “extraordinary personal leadership to improve quality of care, patient safety and patient experience.”
Meet our incredible group of honorees:
Deirdre Downes, LCSW, corporate director, social work and supportive care programs at MJHS Isabella Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care, demonstrates exceptional dedication and leadership in addressing the psycho-social needs of MJHS Isabella Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care residents. Plus, she effectively manages relationships with Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities, known as NORCs, and UMPSI (Upper Manhattan Partnership for Senior Independence) ensuring comprehensive support for the community.
Eunice Ference, PharmD, vice president, pharmacy services at Elderplan/HomeFirst, helps ensure that members take their medications through effective collaborations and sharing best practices. As part of this innovative work, she’s in-touch with community providers, independent medical associations and our case managers, social workers and other health plan staff who support our members.
Joyce Palmieri, MS, RN, CHPN, FPCN, senior vice president, clinical services, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care, makes a significant impact on patient care through her leadership of numerous quality initiatives. These include spearheading the integration of sexual orientation and gender identity into daily practice, creating a more inclusive environment for all patients, and co-developing an assessment screening tool for patients’ disease trajectory in hospice care enabling more tailored and effective interventions. Joyce is also a mentor, guiding Master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice students.
Josie Vega, BSN, CAE, BLS-I, RN, education coordinator, MJHS Menorah Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care, trains both nursing and non-nursing staff and plays a crucial role in the survey process by closing gaps in staff education with continuous learning and preparation. Notably, Josie successfully implemented a new certified nursing assistant program enhancing staffing levels and improving quality care.
The full list of UHF winners include physicians, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and a broad range of other incredible health care workers. They were drawn from hospital systems, long-term care facilities, home care organizations, independent practice associations and federally qualified health centers.