Beyond the Badge - March 20, 2026

Why It Matters

Recognizing staff purposefully boosts morale, safeguards patient care, and strengthens digital resilience, offering a replicable model for health‑system excellence.

Key Takeaways

• Employee recognition drives morale across Mount Sinai health system.
• Gratitude practices highlighted by leaders inspire frontline resilience.
• Cybersecurity team achieved zero critical incidents in 2025.
• Leadership stresses purpose‑driven work beyond routine operational tasks.
• Creative storytelling, like supply‑chain parodies, reinforces community culture.

Summary

Beyond the Badge is a Mount Sinai internal series that spotlights employee stories during daily leadership huddles, reinforcing the system’s mission, vision and core values. Hosted by Steve Feto, the March 20, 2026 episode welcomed senior leaders—including Dr. Benjamin Abella and CIO Lisa Stump—to emphasize how intentional gratitude and public recognition energize staff across clinical and support functions. The program highlighted several key insights: frontline clinicians draw motivation from peer acknowledgment; the cyber‑security division, led by senior director “Boss,” recorded zero critical incidents in 2025 and cut phishing compromises by over 60%; and supply‑chain teams maintain operations even on holidays, illustrated by a festive parody shared by Kevin McConnell. These stories demonstrate measurable outcomes—improved safety metrics, faster incident response, and sustained service continuity. Notable quotes underscored the culture: Dr. Abella described gratitude as “a simple, intentional practice” that keeps his smile on during 5 a.m. shifts; Lisa Stump framed employee recognition as a leadership responsibility essential to a complex organization; and the cyber‑security leader likened his work to “an extension of saving lives,” stressing purpose over routine tasks. The holiday‑themed supply‑chain narrative added a human touch, showcasing teamwork behind the scenes. The implications are clear: systematic recognition cultivates engagement, reduces burnout, and directly supports patient safety and operational resilience. By publicizing concrete achievements—zero critical cyber incidents and robust supply‑chain continuity—Mount Sinai sets a benchmark for other health systems seeking to align employee purpose with organizational performance.

Original Description

Beyond the Badge is a monthly event to honor Mount Sinai Health System employees whose stories were presented to leadership on the daily system huddle. These employees found a way to push beyond the already high expectations we commit to at Mount Sinai to deliver truly exceptional service to our patients, guests, colleagues, or in their work.