Embodying the Best of Montefiore
Montefiore nurses are integral members of the interdisciplinary patient care team and are recognized for their unique, binding role. Partners in every sense of the word, our nurses work closely and collegially with physicians and other professionals to maximize outcomes and steer our patients to a healthy, productive future.
The leaders of Montefiore Nursing reflect the institution’s unwavering dedication to the highest caliber of clinical care and proactive, positive community involvement. They believe that nursing here epitomizes a comprehensive, multidisciplinary commitment to the highest standards of professional practice, education and research.
Providing a Clear Path to Excellence
Montefiore’s management team leads by example. They are accessible, inspirational and forward-thinking—and are focused on transforming care. In doing so, our leaders work closely with nursing leadership to articulate best practices and provide a clear path to excellence. In turn, nurses are rewarded for the contributions they make to advance their individual areas of expertise, as well as the profession as a whole.
Continually Advancing Our Nurses and Profession
Collectively, our nursing leaders have practiced throughout the world of medicine—from pediatrics to cardiology, oncology, emergency medicine, surgery and critical care. Our nursing leaders work closely with their staff, motivating them to constantly raise the bar for daily patient care. As such, they are vital to implementing Montefiore’s strategic vision and consolidating our position as a premier academic medical center.
Maureen Scanlan, RN, MSN, NEA-BC
Director, Nursing Informatics and Decision Support
Interim Lead Administrative Nurse
As Director of Nursing Informatics, she works in collaboration with the Montefiore Information Technology to develop and execute division-wide strategies that leverage innovative technology to advance the efficiency and accuracy of nursing practice and patient care.
As Interim Lead Administrative Nurse, Ms. Scanlan provides strategic oversight of nursing across the medical center engaging the nursing staff across the continuum of care and working collaboratively with medical staff and peer administrators to ensure the highest quality of care.
She has implemented various data-driven initiatives to assist with the maintenance of quality nursing care at Montefiore. In addition, she is focused on the education, training and professional development of the Nursing staff with current, new and developing technologies.
Ms. Scanlan began her nursing career at Montefiore in 1992 as a staff nurse. She has held a variety of progressive leadership positions, such as Assistant Director of Nursing and Administrative Nurse Manager. She also served as an adjunct faculty member for the College of Mount Saint Vincent and currently serves as honorarium lecturer at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Ms. Scanlan is a graduate of the College of Mount Saint Vincent, where she obtained both her baccalaureate and master of Science degrees in nursing. She holds a post-master’s certificate in nursing informatics from Duke University and maintains certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Catherine Cahill, RN-BC, MS
Director, Clinical Services, Children’s Hospital and Dialysis Service
Catherine Cahill began her nursing practice at Montefiore in 1972, specializing in pediatrics and ambulatory care nursing. As an associate of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Bioethics, she is a member of the Bioethics Committee and a bioethics clinical consultant, and she participates in nursing and medical education.
Ms. Cahill received a bachelor of science in nursing from the City University of New York/Lehman College and a master of science in healthcare administration from Iona College. She also obtained a postgraduate certificate in bioethics and medical humanities from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law.
Jeanne DeMarzo, RNC, MSN
Director, Nursing, Einstein Campus
Jeanne DeMarzo began her nursing career at Montefiore in 1983 and has extensive experience in the Maternal Newborn Services/Regional Perinatal Center and in the departments of Medicine, Oncology and Rehabilitative Services.
She serves as leader of Montefiore's Skin Collaborative Initiative, and is an active member of numerous organizational committees, such as the Einstein Patient Experience Committee, the TJC Regulatory Team, the Provision of Care Committee, the OB Safety/TEAMSTEPPS Initiative, the Breast Feeding Initiative and the Patient Safety Committee. In addition, she is involved in departmental quality improvement programs for the NICU, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Medicine and Emergency Management.
Ms. DeMarzo received her bachelor of science and master of science in nursing and nursing administration from the College of New Rochelle, where she serves on the Advisory Committee for the School of Nursing. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Executives, the New York Association of Nurse Executives, and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses.
Justine Huffaker, RN, MSN, FNP
Director, Nursing, Moses Campus
Over the course of her nearly 30 years at Montefiore, Justine Huffaker has demonstrated excellence in team building, strategic planning, operational planning, and financial and quality management. Ms. Huffaker led an organizational effort to develop a recruitment plan for nursing as well as a communications strategy to foster leadership among nurses. Previously, she served as Interim Chief Executive and worked as Clinical Director of Nursing for Surgery, where she implemented Grand Rounds for clinical areas, recruited and onboarded key administrative nurse managers, and coordinated development of policies and procedures for the liver transplant program. Additionally, she implemented the Preoperative Joint Education Program for elective orthopaedic patients.
Ms. Huffaker received her bachelor of science in nursing and master of science as family nurse practitioner from Pace University.
Elodia Mercier, RNC, MS
Director, Nursing, Moses Campus
Elodia Mercier earned her bachelor of science in nursing from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, a master of science from Iona College, and a post-master's certificate from Pace University. She began her career at Montefiore in 1984 in the Department of Neurology, advanced to Geriatrics and acquired certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in gerontology.
Ms. Mercier developed Montefiore’s SHHH (Silent Hospitals Help Healing) program and other key initiatives. She is an active participant in the College of Mount Saint Vincent’s mentorship program, which pairs successful alumni/trustees and friends of the College with bright, dedicated students eager to gain skills and insight that will allow them to channel their passion and talents into successful, satisfying careers.
In 2011, Elodia was the recipient of a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) award for her participation in community affairs.
Joan M. O'Brien, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Director, Nursing, Wakefield Campus
Joan O’Brien began her nearly 30-year career with Montefiore in 1987, as the nursing service associate for a new AIDS program—now called the Center for Positive Living. In this role, she collaborated with the New York State Department of Health and city hospitals to develop the state’s standards of care for patients with HIV before going on to become the nurse manager for the retrovirus care unit, renal inpatient and hemodialysis unit.
Ms. O’Brien became the clinical nurse coordinator for Montefiore’s clinical information system in 1995. Five years later, she was named Director of Nursing for the Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care. Montefiore’s Heart Transplant and LVAD program was established in collaboration with physician leadership during her time as the clinical nursing director.
Today—as Director of Nursing for Montefiore’s Wakefield Campus, a position she’s held since May 2011—Ms. O’Brien is responsible for overseeing clinical nursing operations, assisting in the crucial development of high-performing healthcare teams with the primary focus of improving the patient and staff experience, clinical outcomes and patient throughput. In 2012, Wakefield received the distinction of top improver in patient satisfaction from Press Ganey.
Ms. O’Brien also has the distinction of participating in The American Nurse Project, photographer Carolyn Jones’s acclaimed book and video project featuring photographs and narratives depicting the profession through the eyes of nurses from across the country.
Mary Ellen Lindros, RN, EdD
Director, Professional Practice/Nursing Quality Officer
Mary Ellen Lindros received her bachelor of science and master of science Degree in nursing from Adelphi University. Dr. Lindros went on to attend Teachers College, Columbia University, studying in their Nurse Executive Program, where she earned a doctoral degree in organization and leadership in 2010.
As Director of Professional Practice, Dr. Lindros helps Montefiore’s Nursing Department stay abreast of professional practice issues. She is integrally involved in the institutional move to anelectronic medical record (EMR) system, where she provides guidance on scope of nursing practice and evidence-based practice.
Dr. Lindros also oversees the activities of the Nursing Quality Department—helping to enforce the concept of a Just Culture at Montefiore in the Nursing Department. Her fields of clinical expertise include perinatal nursing, nursing informatics and nursing quality.
Dr. Lindros serves as adjunct faculty in Adelphi University’s undergraduate division.