North Central Bronx Hospital’s Workforce Wellness Champion Wins Systemwide Honor

North Central Bronx Hospital's Workforce Wellness Champion Wins Systemwide Honor

Alessia Hughes named NYC Health + Hospitals 2025 Amazing Employee of the Year

Apr 13, 2026

NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx today announced that Alessia Hughes, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist and Associate Director of Health Care, has been named the 2025 Amazing Employee of the Year across the entire NYC Health + Hospitals system.

Hughes was selected from 53 nominees representing more than 20 facilities systemwide, with North Central Bronx Hospital's grassroots voting effort outpacing larger hospitals that have historically received the award.

Her impact is measurable.

In 2025 alone, Hughes logged 766 encounters through Helping Healers Heal, facilitated 443 individual and group debriefs, 323 wellness events, and 729 wellness rounds - serving all 50 units on campus at a 100% participation rate.

"North Central Bronx Hospital proved that size doesn't matter," said NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx CEO Christopher Mastromano. "Seeing the team come together for Alessia is a spectacular reminder that when we support one another, it results in nothing short of the sublime."

"The heart at North Central Bronx Hospital is palpable," said Hughes. "To be recognized and to represent this hospital, Creative Arts Therapy, and workforce wellness are so special to me."

Senior Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Peter Fragale, who launched the program six years ago, noted: "I watched the votes from North Central Bronx Hospital growing week after week. You couldn't have chosen a better person."

###

Contact: , NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx,

#081-26

About NYC Health + Hospitals/JacobiNYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region's only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi's Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/jacobi/.

About NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central BronxNYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx is a member facility of the New York City Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, North Central Bronx Hospital specializes in women's and children's services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. Its Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. North Central Bronx is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. For more information visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/north-central-bronx/.

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth -all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.