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Rebecca Flood, R.N., senior vice president for nursing, Mervis Smith, R.N., NYM''s 2009 Nurse of Distinction and Robert Seminara, M.D., president of the Hospitals Medical Board.

"I function today on a simple premise", said Mervis Smith, R.N., a post anesthesia care unit nurse at New York Methodist Hospital (NYM). "If I take today and live it well, work to the best of my ability, then that day becomes the premise on which tomorrow is built." Ms. Smith was recently chosen by her peers to receive the Hospitals 2009 Nurse of Distinction Award at the annual Nurse of Distinction Award Ceremony. The celebration honors registered nurses, nurse technicians and unit secretaries who make invaluable contributions to NYM each day. The annual awards ceremony is part of a series of events held during New York Methodists Nursing Appreciation Week.

"I like to think of every nurse in this institution and every ancillary individual as a person of distinction," said Rebecca Flood, R.N., senior vice president for nursing.

In addition to Ms. Smith, a resident of Laurelton, Queens and a Hospital employee for 35 years, the event also honored: Adrian Crispino, R.N., Miner 5, resident of Kensington, Brooklyn; Carmen Deflorimonte, R.N., Operating Room, resident of Marine Park, Brooklyn; Caroline Rizzo, R.N., 6 North, resident of Dyker Heights; Charlene Webb, L.P.N., Sickle Cell/Thalassemia, resident of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn; Christopher Bennet, R.N., Emergency Department, resident of Jersey City, N.J.; Dori Elefterakis, R.N., Critical Care, resident of Marine Park, Brooklyn; Eunhee Park, R.N., Mother Bay Unit, resident of Kensington, Brooklyn; Galina Fedorenka; R.N., 8 North, resident of Arrochar, Staten Island; Helene Almeyda, R.N., 6 South, resident of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn; Iona Senior, R.N., Infill 4, resident of Kensington, Brooklyn; Jane Lamorthe, R.N., Neonatal ICU, resident of Crown Heights, Brooklyn; Jean Kalamaras, R.N., Pediatrics, resident of Arrochar, Staten Island; Jennifer Reyes, R.N., Ambulatory Surgery, resident of Woodhaven, Queens; Karen Watson, R.N., Hemodialysis, resident of Crown Heights, Brooklyn; Latika Radhamma, R.N., Infill 7, resident of Floral Park Queens; Michelle Duncan, R.N., North, resident of Rosedale, Queens; Myrtle McBean, R.N., Infill 6, resident of Brownsville, Brooklyn; Mulayim Mammadova, R.N., Infill 5, resident of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn; Natalie Iburg, R.N., Coronary Care Unit, resident of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn; Patricia Lama, R.N., Endoscopy, resident of Jeffersonville, N.Y.; Petrina Giaimo, R.N., Presurgical Testing, resident of Bay Ridge; Rosabelle Loo, R.N., Miner 8, resident of Sunset Park, Brooklyn; Rosalind Evanson, R.N., Cardiothoracic OR, resident of Old Bridge, N.J.; Ruth Matthews-Rowe, R.N., Miner 6, resident of Canarsie, Brooklyn; Sandra Caze, R.N., 8 South, resident of Brownsville, Brooklyn; Shamia Singh, R.N., Progressive Care Unit, resident of Marine Park, Brooklyn; Susan Proce, R.N., Cath Lab, resident of Silver Lake Park, Staten Island; Svetlana Grishchenko, R.N., Labor and Delivery, resident of Mapleton, Brooklyn; Bernetta Candiano, nurse technician, Progressive Care Unit, resident of Englishtown, N.J.; and Monique Reefer, unit secretary, Infill 6, resident of Crown Heights.

"In essence, nursing is about kindness, compassion and most importantly listening", said Stanley Sherbell, M.D., executive vice president for medical affairs. "I want to thank you for everything you do for our patients and all the wonderful care that you give."