NYU Langone Health hosted its annual “Sala-bration” event on November 12 to recognize the impactful work of the Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care. As an integral part of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, the Sala Institute fosters meaningful partnerships between healthcare providers, children and families. Over the past eleven years, the Sala Institute has profoundly influenced and improved the quality of clinical care at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital through supportive services, resiliency programs, and safety and quality initiatives.
The event, held at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, brought together 130 attendees to celebrate $3.2 million in fundraising to support and expand the Sala Institute’s mission and resources. The evening featured opening remarks from Robert I. Grossman, MD, CEO of NYU Langone Health and Dean of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, along with heartfelt reflections from Sala Institute co-founders Trudy Elbaum Gottesman and Robert W. Gottesman.
Its founders, the Gottesmans, are steadfast advocates for children’s health and have helped NYU Langone achieve important milestones in pediatric care. Named in honor of Trudy’s mother, Sala Bierman Elbaum, a Holocaust survivor, the Sala Institute serves as a symbol of resilience, with an ongoing commitment to supporting children and families, and their partnership with faculty and staff throughout care process.
“Bob and I are incredibly proud of Sala’s growth and achievements,” said Trudy. “It is deeply satisfying to see our collective vision providing comfort and support to children and their families when they need it most – and to know that this impact will continue for years to come.”
During this year’s celebration, Jason C. Fisher, MD, director of Children’s Surgical Services at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital and director of the Division of Pediatric Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, was honored for his dedication to advancing Sala’s pediatric and family-oriented culture. The Gottesmans, along with colleagues and patient families, celebrated Dr.’s dedication. Fisher to provide exceptional surgical care.
I am honored to be recognized as a Sala Champion. Caring for children is a team effort, and when people with diverse skills work together, the result is always greater than the sum of its parts. Sala services are seamlessly integrated with the medical care we provide at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, and having such a resource is essential to our mission.”
Dr. Jason C. Fisher, MD, director of pediatric surgical services, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital and director, division of pediatric surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
In honor of Dr. Fisher shared with Ellen Cambe her family’s experiences at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, where Dr. Fisher and a multidisciplinary team saved her daughter Malaya’s life. Malaya was diagnosed before birth with congenital diaphragmatic hernia – a rare condition that causes a large hole in the diaphragm that allows abdominal organs to push into the chest, hindering lung development. Therefore, she had to undergo a complex operation shortly after birth. Ellen told how Dr. Fisher guided her family through this difficult time with clarity and empathy, making sure they understood every medical decision. His straightforward yet compassionate team approach provided a steadying presence as he navigated the challenges of life support and delicate operations.
“Dr. Fisher’s expertise and dedication to Malaya and our family kept us going through the most difficult days,” said Ellen. “He treated us as partners in her care, which made all the difference in us feeling like we could handle whatever came next.”
Now that Malaya is 9, her story continues to highlight the crucial role of collaborative family-centered care.
Sala Institute runs a range of programs in close collaboration with clinical teams, patients and families:
- Sala Child and Family Support Services and Resilience Programs: offering child life, creative arts therapies, the KiDS of NYU Foundation Integrated Behavioral Health Program, integrative medicine, nutrition, pain management, palliative care, social work and spiritual support
- Family Partnership Programs: Improving the Patient Experience through the Sala Family Advisory Council, the Sala Youth Advisory Council, and the Sala Patient and Family Faculty Program
- Patient safety and quality programs
“Trudy and Bob’s longstanding and unwavering support for pediatric care at NYU Langone has had a profound impact on the lives of thousands of children and their families,” said Catherine S. Manno, MD, the Pat and John Rosenwald Professor of Pediatrics and chair of the Department of Pediatrics. “Sala is essential to the compassionate, personalized care we provide, and I want to thank them for their visionary leadership to ensure every child and family receives the highest level of support.”