Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside honors staff member at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration

Mount Sinai South Nassau and local elected officials honored the life and legacy of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with musical tributes and poetry readings during the hospital’s 12th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on Monday.

 The event featured Hempstead Senior Town Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby’s tribute to the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, who was an American politician and civil rights advocate who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Maryland’s 7th congressional district from 1996 until his death last October. Pediatrics Nurse Manager Lynn Bert also shared her memories of beloved actress, singer, model, and activist Diahann Carroll, who also died in October.

The celebration was capped by the presentation of the Mount Sinai South Nassau Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award to Baldwin resident Willie Wright.

 Wright, the recipient of the hospital’s 2018 Cupola Award, has worked at Mount Sinai South Nassau for more than 30 years, joining the hospital in 1988 as a nursing transporter. Known and beloved across the hospital as “Willie,” Wright has a passion to be at his patient’s side as they are transported in and out of the hospital, reassuring them and making them feel at home.   

The 2013 Employee of the Year, Wright is an omnipresent hospital staff member, serving on its Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee as well as the EMS council, Decontamination Team, Standards Committee (which assists efforts to improve customer service and employee engagement) and Mobility Team (which ambulates patients who are critically ill).

Courtesy Mount Sinai South Nassau; compiled by Mike Smollins