Our Nursing Leaders
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
Robin Ferrer, MBA, MSN, RN
Chief Nursing Officer
Robin joined CBMC in 2024 and is responsible for all nursing practice and
clinical services. He is a compassionate leader with a commitment to evidence-based
practice, professional advancement for nurses and a focus on excellence.
Previously, Robin he served as Vice President of Emergency Services for the Mount Sinai Health System. In that role, he provided leadership and oversight for seven Mount Sinai Emergency Departments. He oversaw clinical operations and nursing and was accountable for the effectiveness, efficiency, and compliance of nursing care across the Health System. He also led efforts to implement a strategic plan that aligned with contemporary emergency services priorities.
Prior to joining Mount Sinai, Robin served as the Director of Operations and Nursing for the New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, overseeing the Departments of Adult Emergency, Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency, Hemodialysis, Respiratory Therapy, Neurophysiology, Outpatient Psychiatry, and the Pulmonary Function Lab.
Mr. Ferrer began his career in 2004 at New York University in a medical-surgical liver and kidney transplant unit. He moved to New York-Presbyterian Columbia/Columbia University in 2006 as a staff nurse in the Emergency Department. Mr. Ferrer was promoted to leadership roles within the organization, where he successfully led teams in improving quality, throughput, patient safety, employee engagement, and culture.
Mr. Ferrer received a Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University as well as master’s degrees in Nursing Administration and Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Management, both from University of Mount Saint Vincent. Mr. Ferrer is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, Board Certified Nursing Executive, and member of the American College of Healthcare Executives as well as the Greater Hospital Association of New York.
Maria E. Aponte, MPA, BSN, RN
Assistant Vice President of Emergency Services
Maria joined Cooperman Barnabas in 2021. With over 22 years of experience
in acute care, emergency and trauma nursing, she has oversight of the
transformative Emergency Department which treats more than 95,000 adults
and children each year. Maria has a passion for patient care excellence
and nursing leadership. She is most proud of her work in relationship
team building and engagement to achieve optimal patient experiences and
outcomes. Maria is integral to advancing high-reliability commitment,
continuous regulatory readiness, and nursing excellence. Maria received
a diploma in nursing from Hudson County Community College and completed
a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from New Jersey City University. She
obtained her Master's in Public Administration with a concentration in
Health Care from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Sarah Jane Allen, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Assistant Vice President of Perioperative Services
With a wealth of experience and leadership, Sarah joined CBMC in 2024 as
Administrative Director of Perioperative Services with oversight of Pre-Admission
Testing, EKG, Same Day Surgery, EPA, the PACU, and Endoscopy. She was
promoted to Assistant Vice President of Perioperative Services in 2025.
With over 15 years of experience, she has a proven track record in enhancing
clinical operations through implementation of data driven solutions, automation
of data using Epic and Tableau platforms, and presentation of data to
ensure sure key stakeholders can make meaningful decisions to impact care
delivery. She excels in team leadership, process improvement, customer
engagement, and stakeholder communication, delivering excellence through
clinical and operational leadership. Prior to joining CBMC, she served
as the Manager of Clinical Operations for Perioperative Services at New
York-Presbyterian Hospital. In this capacity, she successfully led initiatives
to optimize patient flow, case volume, and performance improvement efforts
across multiple sites. She is highly skilled in data analytics and has
developed real-time dashboards that support strategic decision-making
in clinical settings. Throughout her career, she has led multidisciplinary
teams, improved process efficiencies, and collaborated closely with finance
and recruitment to achieve significant operational improvements. Sarah
earned both her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Bachelor of Science
in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also minored
in Quality & Patient Safety. As a Hillman Scholar, she was recognized
for her commitment to excellence in healthcare and nursing education.
Her educational background has equipped her with the foundational knowledge
and innovative mindset necessary to drive continuous improvements in patient
care and safety.
Lindsay Cianciotto, MSN, RN, CNL
Assistant Vice President, Nursing Resources & Labor Relations
Lindsay serves as the Medical Center’s nurse liaison for the New
Jersey Nurses Union and oversees the Medical Surgical Division, Nurse
Staffing Office, Nursing Supervisors, Inpatient and Outpatient Wound Care,
and the Radiology nurses. She joined Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
in 2008 as a nurse extern on a medical-surgical Unit that primarily served
women with a gynecological/oncology diagnosis. Upon completion of her
undergraduate degree in 2009, Lindsay was hired as a staff nurse on a
medical-surgical step-down unit. In 2011, Lindsay successfully piloted
the first Clinical Nurse Leader role on a 36-bed medical-surgical unit.
In 2013, she became Nurse Manager on a 42-bed pulmonary medical unit and,
in 2017, was appointed Director of Nursing Finance with oversite of 67
nursing department budgets. She received her Master’s Degree in
Clinical Leadership from University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ in
2013 and was the first Clinical Leadership graduate from UMDNJ to receive
the Clinical Excellence award. She received her Bachelor of Science in
Nursing from York College. Lindsay has held a certification as a Clinical
Nurse Leader through the AACN since 2013. Her core competencies include:
strategic planning, process evaluation and improvement, employee relations
and mentoring, union relations, productivity, and staffing.
Anthony Delcalzo, MBA, BSN, RN
Administrative Director for Patient Care Services
Tony began his career with CBMC in January 2015 in our Nurse Residency
Program. Following graduation, he joined the Renal Transplant team as
a staff nurse. In March 2017, he was promoted to patient care coordinator,
and while continuing his journey to management, became an acting nurse
manager for 5700/5300 Renal Transplant. In September 2021, Tony was promoted
to clinical director for 5200 Pulmonary and on 2024 he was named Administrative
Director for Patient Care Services. Tony received his BSN from Felician
College and most recently completed his MBA from the University of Arizona.
Melissa D’Mello, MBA, MSN, APN, NP-BC, CCRN, NEA-BC
Clinical Director of Advanced Practice Providers
With over 15 years of experience in cardiovascular care, critical care,
and leadership, Melissa brings deep expertise in developing high-performing
teams, optimizing patient outcomes, and advancing Advanced Practice Providers
(APP) practice across diverse clinical settings. Melissa is a board-certified
nurse practitioner and nurse executive advanced, leading strategic and
clinical initiatives at both the system and hospital levels. She holds
dual master’s degrees from Adelphi University in Adult Nursing and
Exercise Physiology/Cardiac Rehabilitation and recently completed an MBA
in Healthcare Management. Her clinical background includes leading heart
failure programs, rapid response teams, and invasive cardiology services,
with a consistent focus on innovation, quality, and collaboration. Passionate
about professional development and interdisciplinary teamwork, Melissa
has earned multiple accolades and is recognized for her ability to foster
excellence in patient-centered care while driving organizational growth.
Albert Kaba, RN, BSN
Administrative Director of Perioperative Services
Albert was named Administrative Director of Perioperative Services in 2025 overseeing a robust frontline team and leading strategic operations across operating rooms, driving efficiency, compliance, and clinical excellence. Albert joinedCBMC in 2018, where he started as a nurse in the operating room. In 2020, he was promoted to patient care coordinator, and in March 2021, he became a service line manager. In that role, he served as a charge nurse, assisted in developing the neuro and ENT service lines, and coordinated patient care throughout the division. In October 2021, Albert was promoted to Director of Patient Care where he successfully maintained and staffed 24 operating rooms along with 2 hybrid rooms to achieve 65+ cases a day. He participates in development and implementation of performance improvement projects, policy and procedures, and professional practice standards. Albert holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ramapo College of New Jersey, and is enrolled at Rutgers University – New Brunswick in a Master’s of Health Administration program.
Gladys McHenry, MBA, MSN, RN
Administrative Director of Women & Children
Gladys has oversight of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric
Intensive Care Unit, Pediatrics, Pediatric Health Center, NICU High-Risk
Follow Up Center, Child Life and the Pediatric Hematology Center. As the
current Clinical Director of the NICU, Gladys assisted in planning and
executing the expansion of the NICU into the Cooperman Family Pavilion.
Her dedication focuses on improving quality outcomes for our smallest
patients. Gladys facilitates robust unit based councils that focus on
the care of extremely premature infants. Under her leadership, the NICU
has been awarded the Anthony B. Minnefor Award, Daisy Team Award, and
the Dr. Mulgaonkar Award. Gladys’s passion for the pediatric population
is what makes her an asset for leading the Pediatric service line. Gladys
received a Bachelor of Arts degree, Bachelor and Master degrees in Nursing
and a Master in Business Administration from Seton Hall University.
Michelle Rappa, MHA
Director of Nursing Finance
Michelle joined CBMC in 2024. Prior, she spent 7 years at Hackensack Meridian
Health. She began working with Corporate Human Resources, progressing
through various roles in Talent Acquisition. In 2022, she obtained her
master's in Health Administration and transitioned her career to hospital
operations at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. During this time,
Michelle worked closely with both nursing and ancillary departments to
support daily operations, improve efficiencies, and manage financial budgets.
Michelle comes with experience overseeing operating and capital budgets,
position control, and productivity.
Stephanie Richter, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, NEA-BC
Director of the Center for Professional Development, Innovation and Research
Stephanie works with a team of nursing educators to consistently meet the
needs of our nursing staff and our patients through innovation and evidence-based
practice. Prior to being named director in 2022, she served as the manager
for Nursing Education and Research, co-leading significant achievements
for CBMC, including accreditation with distinction for our Nurse Residency
Program in 2020, as awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center
for Practice Transition Accreditation Programs. Stephanie has been recognized
at local and national levels for her dedication to nursing and for her
leadership, notably a Daisy Nurse Leader Award recipient in 2021. Her
knowledge and skill set in scholarly inquiry has resulted in peer-reviewed
publications in journals such as
Journal for Nurses in Professional Development,
BioNanoScience, and
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, as well as national presentations, including at an Annual Conference
of the Emergency Nurses Association. Stephanie received a Bachelor of
Arts in Chemistry from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in
Nursing from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She obtained a Master of
Science in Health Services Leadership and Management with an Education
focus from the University of Maryland, School of Nursing, and a Doctor
of Nursing Practice degree in Systems-Level Leadership from Thomas Edison
University in 2023.
Christopher Santana, BSN, BS, RN
Administrative Director for Patient Care Services
Christopher has oversight of 4 West Orthopedics, 6700 EEG, 5200 Pulmonary,
4200 Medical Surgical, and the Float Pool. He has been a dedicated and
impactful team member since joining member of the Cooperman Barnabas Medical
Center in 2016 as a staff nurse on both the orthopedics unit and the seizure
and epilepsy unit. His exceptional skills and leadership potential were
quickly recognized, leading to a promotion to Patient Care Coordinator
in 2018. In this role, Christopher played a crucial part in directing
the expansion of the orthopedics unit bed size and the successful transition
to the Cooperman Family Pavilion. In November 2020, Christopher was appointed
Clinical Director of the orthopedics, neuro-surgical, stroke, and seizure
and epilepsy units. During his tenure as Clinical Director, he was instrumental
in achieving several Joint Commission re-certifications for orthopedics
and epilepsy, as well as, most recently, the Advanced Certification in
Comprehensive Stroke Center in 2024. Beyond his dedication to patient
care and quality, Christopher is focused on staff well-being. In 2024,
he co-founded the CBMC Nurse Physician Well-being Committee and established
a peer support program, which currently includes 23 trained peer supporters
consisting of nursing, physician, advanced practice provider, and nursing
assistant representatives
Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Kean University (2012) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Caldwell University (2016). He is known as a compassionate leader with a strong focus on continuous improvement in quality, throughput, patient safety, employee engagement, and overall well-being.
Leanne Sanabria, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Assistant Vice President, Patient Care Services
In her role, Leanne has oversight of Cardiac and Critical Care Services.
Leanne began her career at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in 2004 as
a medical-surgical, tele nurse. In 2007, she became a clinical coordinator
for medical-surgical units and shortly after transitioned to the cardio-thoracic
step down unit. In 2010, Leanne became the Nurse Manager of the Renal
and Pancreas Transplant Unit where she worked until 2013 when she was
promoted to the Administrative Director of Medical-Surgical. Leanne left
briefly to take a leadership position in NYC where she gained strong operational
skills, and focused on consistent delivery for patient safety, quality,
and patient experience outcomes. Leanne is a results oriented leader,
and excels at operational excellence and conflict resolution. She earned
her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Elizabeth College of Nursing
and her Master of Science in Nursing Leadership from Rutgers University.
Barbara Straub, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, NI-BC
Administrative Director of Nursing Excellence and Professional Practice
Sheryl Ann Syby, MSN, RN, CPN
Assistant Vice President of Perinatal Services
Sheryl has over 35 years of nursing experience, specializing in women’s
and children’s health. Prior to joining CBMC in 2024, she worked
at Holy Name Medical Center as Director of Women’s and Children’s
Services. More recently, Sheryl worked as the Assistant Vice President
of Nursing at Hudson Regional Hospital. There she obtained operational
experience broadened by her work in various clinical areas, including
emergency medicine, perioperative services, case management, emergency
management, security, and hospital education. Sheryl has a bachelor’s
degree from Farleigh Dickinson University and her master’s degree
in Leadership/Administration from Aspen University.
Ginger Weatherston, MA, BS
Administrative Director of Patient Experience
Ginger, has been at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center for over 25 years.
She began her career at the Medical Center as the department’s educator.
She currently oversees the unit representatives who provide the clerical
support for our nursing units. Her other duties include oversight of providing
services for our deaf and hard of hearing patients and the Electronic
Death Registration system for the State. Ginger currently is the facilitator
for the Physician Collaboration Team which works to improve our communication
with doctors. She was also the liaison for our physicians during the implementation
of the electronic medical record. Previously, she served as director of
Patient Transport and Bed Management.
Ginger received her bachelor’s of science in business administration from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, and her master’s degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. She currently is an online facilitator for the University of Phoenix in the School of Health Sciences.