White Plains Hospital

Congratulations to Dr. Rafael A. Ortiz, Executive Director of Neurosciences at White Plains Hospital, on being named a Healthcare Hero of 2026 by Westchester Magazine! Under Dr. Ortiz’s leadership, White Plains Hospital’s Neurosciences team achieved Comprehensive Stroke Center certification, the highest level of stroke care accreditation, helping expand access to advanced, lifesaving care for our community. We’d also like to congratulate fellow honorees Dr. Erika Trovato, Associate Chief Medical Director at Burke Rehabilitation, part of Montefiore Einstein, and Brittney Cintron-Owens of the Command Center at Montefiore Einstein, on these well-deserved recognitions. Congratulations to all three honorees for their leadership and commitment to advancing care across our region! #WPHProud

White Plains Hospital hosted its second annual "Ride for a Reason" at SoulCycle in honor of National Stroke Awareness Month. Staff, supporters, and community members came together for a workout in support of the White Plains Hospital Neurosciences Program and to help raise awareness around stroke prevention, education, and care. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and a special thank you to Dr. Rafael A. Ortiz, Executive Director of Neurosciences, for his continued leadership and in making this event possible! Remember to BE FAST: Balance loss, Eyesight changes, Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911. #WPHProud #StrokeAwareness

What a week celebrating the people who make White Plains Hospital exceptional! From employee appreciation events and years of service recognitions, to wellness activities and moments of connection across the Hospital — Hospital Week 2026 was all about honoring our incredible staff. To make the week even more special, we had even more to celebrate — 5 Stars, 5 Times, which only 3% of Hospitals can claim, and we were also named a 2026 Best Place to Work by Modern Healthcare! Thank you to every member of our team for the compassion, dedication, and excellence you bring to our patients and community each day! #HospitalWeek2026 #WPHProud

A stroke can happen to anyone, anywhere. For Ertha Small-Nicolas, AVP of Patient Care Services at White Plains Hospital, a regular work day in 2024 took a sudden, unexpected turn. Thankfully, her trusted colleagues recognized the signs of a stroke and sprung into action. Thank you, Ertha, for telling your story and raising awareness! Remember, know the signs, BE FAST. White Plains Hospital is proud to be accredited as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and American Heart Association. Learn more about our stroke program at wphospital.org/stroke

Meet Jackie Screene, a nurse on 5E at White Plains Hospital, and this week’s #NurseDayThursday! Jackie started her healthcare journey as a hospital volunteer in high school. She joined White Plains Hospital in October 2019 after finishing nursing school and has been on 5E ever since. A proud night-shift nurse, Jackie values the strong teamwork that defines her unit. “Especially on nights, we rely on each other. We have such a strong team.” Jackie enjoys 5E’s mix of surgical and geriatric patients, combining critical thinking with meaningful patient connection. She especially loves hearing her patients’ stories and getting to know them beyond their diagnoses. “I meet patients where they are and do whatever helps them feel safe.” Beyond bedside care, Jackie has precepted more than 20 new nurses and takes pride in helping them build confidence and clinical judgment. “Watching them grow into confident, independent nurses is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.” Thank you, Jackie! #WPHProud

We celebrated a major milestone in the sweetest way possible! To mark White Plains Hospital's earning the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 5 Star rating for five consecutive years, patients and teams across the Hospital celebrated with special "Five stars, Five years" cookies! Thank you to our physicians, nurses, staff, and volunteers whose dedication to exceptional patient care made this recognition possible. #WPHProud

BREAKING NEWS: White Plains Hospital is proud to be among only 3% of hospitals nationwide to earn the highest rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - 5 Stars for five consecutive years! This is the highest quality rating given and this recognition continues to reflect the dedication of our physicians, nurses, and staff to delivering exceptional patient care, every day. #WPHProud

Congratulations to White Plains Hospital’s Patient Materials Equipment Transport team, our newest Exceptional Award recipients! From bedside to procedure and back, they move patients safely and efficiently, keeping everything on track for timely treatment. Thank you for the vital role you play in supporting patient care every day! #WPHProud

Congratulations to Dr. Dean Straff, Director of Emergency Medicine at White Plains Hospital, on being named to City & State New York's "Tomorrow's Leaders 2026" list! Dr. Straff's commitment to advancing emergency care continues to make an impact on our patients and community. From driving quality improvement and patient experience initiatives to leading the busiest Emergency Department in Westchester County, this recognition is well deserved. Congratulations, Dr. Straff! #WPHProud

🌟Healthcare Hero Spotlight: Rafael Alexander Ortiz, MD 🌟Role: Executive Director of Neurosciences, White Plains Hospital As Executive Director of Neurosciences, Chief of Neuro-Endovascular Surgery, and Chief of Neurology at White Plains Hospital, Dr. Ortiz leads a team of specialists providing advanced treatment for patients with brain aneurysms, stroke, and other neurological and spinal conditions. “When we train to become doctors, we are trained to take care of one patient at a time. As my career has evolved, I’ve been able to be part of teams that care for communities at a time. By recruiting talented healthcare professionals, designing protocols, and educating people, we have direct, positive impact on thousands of people," says Dr. Ortiz. 🗓️ Come join us at our Healthcare Heroes luncheon as we celebrate all of our fantastic honorees on Thursday, May 14: https://lnkd.in/eZzvK6Bt #Westchester #HealthcareHeroes