Catch Up Quick: Latest News Briefs Are Here!
Across VNS Health, a lot is happening! To help keep you informed and updated, here is our latest batch of News Briefs…
Celebrating the Knicks and the World Cup! Photos!
On Thursday, June 11, to celebrate the Knicks making history as well as the official start of the World Cup, many team members from all parts of our organization wore either Knicks blue and orange colors or their favorite World Cup team country colors.
See the colorful photos here below!
“Leadership Unlocked” Graduates Another Cohort of Leaders
The third cohort of Leadership Unlocked held its graduation on Tuesday, June 16th. The day marked the successful completion of the 15-week leadership development program. Throughout the program, 15 Vice Presidents and Directors from across the organization deepened their leadership capabilities through interactive learning experiences, coaching, assessments, VNS Health site visits, and internal networking opportunities. The cohort’s final capstone presentations focused on how their understanding of One VNS Health has changed as a result of being in this program, and how they, as leaders, can help move our organization forward. See the photos below!
Congratulations to our third cohort graduates: Olga Akturk, Risikat Amolegbe, Ted Barszewski, Brady Brelinski, Lauren Caralyus, Tom Cocozza, Elizer Cooper-Audain, Kyle Crawford, Lissette Felix, Scott Gale, Jody Lee, Chantal Louisma, Grace McGhee, Tazia Myers, and Lynna Paulino-Reyes!
Since February, More Than 680 Team Members Have Earned ABCD and Initiative Awards
VNS Health team members are legendary for going above and beyond—and our latest list of ABCD and Initiative Award winners proves it. Click here to view the full list!
Nine of Our Nurses Honored by Federation of Nurses/UFT!
During Nurses Month in May, the Federation of Nurses/UFT held its annual “Nurse Recognition Celebration.” At the event, nine of our truly remarkable nurses were honored.
Congratulations to the following team members and the awards they won:
– Kelley Sheffey, LPN, Home Care — Homecare Nurse of the Year
– Kaiser Mojica, RN, Home Care — Homecare Nurse of the Year
– Nicola Toney, Nurse Practitioner, Hospice — Trailblazer
– Sharmaine Delph-Etienne, RN, Home Care — RN Advocate
– Jason Bauer, RN, After Hours, Hospice — RN Advocate
– Sherry Waldron-Dennis, LPN, Home Care — Union Service
– Angela Robles, RN, Home Care — Union Service
– Mary Mangle, Nurse Practitioner, Hospice — Homecare Nurse Distinction
– Raquel Webb-Geddes, RN — Outstanding Leadership
See the photos!
Our First Graduate from Our Registered Nurse Scholarship Program!
Congratulations to Ian Rolla, the first recipient of the VNS Health Registered Nurse Scholarship to graduate through our partnership with Touro University. This is a big milestone, not just for Ian but also for our Nurse Scholarship program.
A special thank you as well to Raquel Webb Geddes for her mentorship, guidance, and encouragement. Raquel helped Ian build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in home care nursing. Her support is a wonderful example of how experienced nurses help shape the next generation of caregivers.
Ian is now studying for his boards and will be joining VNS Health upon his licensure.
Interested in learning more about our Registered Nurse Scholarship? Click here.
2026 Golf Classic Raises Over $275,000 for Our Veterans Program
Supporters, partners, and VNS Health leaders gathered on May 18th at The Whippoorwill Club in Armonk, New York for the 2026 VNS Health Golf Classic. The annual event raised more than $275,000 to support the VNS Health Veterans Program, helping ensure that veterans receive the care and support they need. See the photos here below!
Hospice Care Team Reaches Census Milestone
The Hospice Care team reached an important milestone in May, surpassing a daily census of 1,350 patients—an important achievement made possible through strong collaboration between our Hospice clinical teams and Intake. By responding quickly when referrals are received and working closely with families to address potential barriers to admission, the team has expanded access to hospice services while maintaining a focus on personalized, interdisciplinary care and support.
Interactive AI Adventure Tour
On Wednesday morning, June 10th, leaders from across the organization participated in an “Interactive AI Adventure Tour” at our 220 office. During the three-hour session, small groups of team members went from one room to another to learn more about nine different AI initiatives that are currently in different stages of development across the organization. The gathering provided an opportunity for leaders to consider how these tools may continue to shape our work and the way we deliver care to our patients, members and clients.
You can read short descriptions of each initiative that was part of the tour by clicking here.
Team VNS Health Steps Up for 2026 AIDS Walk
On Sunday, May 18th, more than 30 VNS Health team members participated in the 2026 AIDS Walk, joining thousands of other walkers in support of individuals and communities affected by HIV and AIDS. The event provided an opportunity for participants to show their commitment to raising awareness around the ongoing impact of HIV/AIDS while representing our mission beyond the workplace. See the photos here below!
New AI Platform to Provide Better Experience for New Health Plan Members
On May 4th, VNS Health launched a new AI-enabled Health Plans pre-enrollment platform designed specifically for our MLTC, MAP Total, and SelectHealth products. The platform provides real-time referral tracking, reduces manual work and bottlenecks, and delivers enhanced data insights to support faster, more effective enrollments.
The launch reflects a close partnership between Health Plans, SciTech, and Palantir/Foundry, who have worked together since October to reimagine the pre-enrollment experience. More than 125 staff members and seven vendor partners were trained ahead of launch, helping lay the foundation for continued innovation and an improved experience for both team members and prospective plan members.
Helping a Total Plan Member Live at Home… and Celebrate His 101st Birthday!
Gin Ng, a member of VNS Health’s Total (MAP) health plan, recently celebrated his 101st birthday with family, friends and his VNS Health caregivers at our Chinatown Community Center. Team members from VNS Health Personal Care, Community Outreach, and our Health Plans were all on hand to mark Mr. Ng’s special day. Watch the video here.
Asha Lyons Honored for Advocacy and Impact
Congratulations to Asha Lyons, Licensed Social Worker with our Gender Affirmation Program (GAP), on receiving a Proclamation from the Office of the Governor in recognition of Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). The honor recognizes Asha’s ongoing leadership, advocacy, and commitment to supporting the transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary (TGNCNB) community. More congratulations are in order for Asha for also receiving a Proclamation from the New York City Council. Asha was honored with the City Council Pride Award for “her outstanding service and enduring contributions in the LGBTQIA+ community.” See the photos!
CCSS Launches AI Assistant to Support Contact Center Teams in Real Time
The Contact Center Support Services (CCSS) team recently launched Balto, a new AI-powered assistant designed to help representatives deliver faster, more consistent support to members and patients. Built to work alongside agents during live calls, Balto listens to conversations in real time and provides on-screen guidance, suggested next steps, reminders, and quick access to relevant tools and resources. The technology acts like a live coach, helping team members navigate complex conversations with greater confidence while reducing the need to search across multiple systems or rely solely on memory.
All CCSS agents are now using Balto. The implementation team is working with Balto to continually improve the information and responsiveness of this AI tool, so agents can spend more time focused on solving complex problems and delivering an even better experience for our patients and members.
Enhancing the Patient and Clinician Experience with Ambient AI
Since April, the Home Care and IT teams have been rolling out an AI-powered documentation platform developed by Nestmed that helps our field clinicians spend less time focused on documentation during a home visit and more time engaged with patients. Designed specifically for home care and hospice settings, the technology helps strengthen patient interactions and improve the overall care experience. The goal is to complete the roll-out to all Home Care branches by the end of October. The Hospice team has also begun piloting the platform in the field, with plans to roll it out to additional clinicians soon.
Earlier this year, a team of Home Care clinicians tested Ambient AI out in the field. Three of these clinicians share their experiences in this short video.
Meet Our 2026… Nurse of the Year… Occupational Therapist of the Year … and Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year!
Congratulations to Jane Reilly, our 2026 Nurse of the Year … Stacy Mislavsky, our 2026 Occupational Therapist of the Year … and Charlene Cano, our 2026 Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year!
To read about Jane, click here!
To read about Stacy, click here!
To read about Charlene, click here!
Nurses Month Celebration Photos and Videos!
We celebrated our remarkable 1,300+ Nurses throughout May with Nurses Month events in all five NYC boroughs as well as Westchester and Long Island. Check out photos from each of these celebrations—as well as videos of government officials giving special tributes—by clicking here.
Special Honor for Behavioral Health’s Natalie Kovacs
Back in March, just as Social Work Month was drawing to a close, Natalie Kovacs, Program Manager in our Behavioral Health Parachute program, was honored as a Friend of Social Work by Gracie Square Hospital. The award recognizes Natalie’s outstanding partnership and contributions to the hospital’s social work team. Leaders from VNS Health were on hand to celebrate the surprise award presentation and the impact Natalie makes each day. Congratulations, Natalie!
“This Level of Care Means So Much”: Watch HHA Cecilia Santos in Action!
In this short one-minute video, the daughter of a Total Health Plan member reads a thank-you letter praising the exceptional care her mother received both from our plan and from HHA team member Cecilia Santos. Want to feel inspired? Click here to watch the video!
Award Winning Videos … Three VNS Health Videos Just Won Big!
And the Communicator “Award of Distinction” goes to… VNS Health!!
Congratulations to our amazing Communications video team—three videos they created just won external awards!
The videos “Now That’s Teamwork!” and “VNS Health Nurse Residency: Here When You Need Us” each won a Communicator “Award of Distinction” award. To watch these award-winning videos, click here (“Now That’s Teamwork”) and here (“VNS Health Nurse Residency: Here When You Need Us”).
Meanwhile, an Up Close with Dan video featuring our Health Plan experience won a prestigious Silver Telly Award! To watch this video, click here.
135 Kids Enjoy Bring Your Child to Work Day. Heart-warming Photos!
On April 23rd, we celebrated Bring Your Child to Work Day. This year, 135 children of VNS Health team members spent the day getting a behind-the-scenes look at the work their parents and their colleagues engage in every day. The event gave children the opportunity to explore different parts of the organization, participate in hands-on activities, meet team members, and learn more about what their grownups do. To see heart-warming photos from this special day, see below.
Need Help Finding Marketing Resources? Check Out Our Marketing Sharepoint Page and Media Library!
Have you ever looked for instructions to update your email signature or wanted to know how to connect with VNS Health on social media? How about logos and templates to best represent VNS Health? The Marketing team has updated and consolidated key resources to make it easier for teams to create polished, on-brand materials. These items can be accessed through the Marketing and Enterprise Communications Sharepoint page, a central resource for your marketing needs.
The VNS Health Media Library (library.vnshealth.org) also serves as a resource hub for ready-to-use, approved assets, including logos, images, icons, PowerPoint and Word templates, boilerplate blurbs about VNS Health, and the current catalog of active marketing materials.
As part of the update, presentation templates have been reorganized into three easy-to-use categories: a streamlined VNS Health PowerPoint Theme for everyday presentations, Additional Layouts for more complex design needs, and a dedicated collection of approved circle icons and images. Teams can access these tools through the Media Library’s Word and PowerPoint Toolkit section, or directly in PowerPoint through File → New → VNSNY.
HR Team Sponsors a Health & Wellness Fair
Back in March, our HR team held an all-day Employee Health & Wellness Fair at our 220 East 42nd Street office. Team members dropped in to learn more about supporting their health and well-being as well as health benefits that are available to them. There were health screenings, preventive care education, benefits resources, and wellness activities. Plus, benefits experts were on hand to talk about employee health and financial well-being benefits.
Returning to Our Roots with a Visit to Henry Street
In February, leadership teams from our Home Care and Hospice took a step back in time with visits to Henry Street Settlement. The tours offered team members an opportunity to reconnect with the legacy of Lillian Wald, who founded what is now VNS Health at this location, and reflect on the organization’s deep roots in community-based health care. For many participants, the experience reinforced the lasting impact of our mission and the important role each team member plays in carrying that legacy forward—including how Lillian Wald’s philosophy that every person has value inspires us to be intentional in helping our team members feel seen, valued, and connected to the people we serve.
Our Summer Interns Visit Henry Street, Too!
In early June, approximately 50 of our Summer Interns also stepped back in time to the Lower East Side to visit Henry Street, where they learned about Lillian Wald and the early roots of VNS Health’s mission. The experience offered interns a meaningful connection between the organization’s history and its continued commitment to improving the health of people in need. See the photos below!
