Freeport’s Jose Medina is MSSN’s Employee of the Year

Mount Sinai South Nassau has named Jose Medina, a Freeport resident and a longtime hospital staffer, Employee of the Year in honor of his dedication to the facility’s mission to providing standard-setting health care.

Medina, an environmental services technician, has worked for nearly 35 years behind the scenes, ensuring that the hospital’s soiled linens and waste are collected and properly removed to be laundered or discarded.

Despite not working in patient care areas, Medina has played a vital part in maintaining MSSN’s cleanliness and safety. “He is our eyes and ears while conducting his work, as he covers the entire building,” Felix Nazario, the administrative director of building services, said. “He’s the unsung hero. He’s not a gentleman that looks for compliments, and he doesn’t expect anything in return. He just does a job every day, and we definitely feel that when he’s not here. When he goes on vacation, right away you know that he’s not in the building.”

Born in Cuesta, near San Jose de la Matas in the Dominican Republic, Medina, 62, emigrated to the United States in March 1988, in search of a better life for himself and his family. Just over a month later, he began working at Mount Sinai South Nassau, initially in the laundry department before transitioning to his current job. Medina credits a close childhood friend with referring him to the hospital, marking the beginning of his remarkable journey.

“I wanted the American dream, and wanted to do better for myself and my family,” he said.

Each day on the job, Medina handles the physically demanding tasks of pushing, pulling, lifting and dumping close to 2,500 pounds of garbage, medical waste and other materials. Over the course of his career, he has moved a staggering estimated 22,750,000 pounds of it, making clear his dedication to ensuring a clean and hygienic environment for patients and staff alike.

Medina expressed his gratitude for the Employee of the Year award, and said it was a great feeling to be acknowledged after 35 years of hard work. He particularly appreciates the recognition from the hospital’s administration, because it confirms that they see and appreciate his efforts. Medina feels valued for more than just his work, honored for his character, commitment and positive impact on the Environmental Services Department and the entire hospital.

“I feel that after 35 years, all this hard work was worth it,” Medina said. “I appreciate the leadership team for finally recognizing me after 35 years of hard work. All this time, I thought I was invisible.”

His meticulous attention to detail and focus on maintaining cleanliness contribute significantly to the overall patient experience and quality care at the hospital, administrators say. Medina also understands the importance of creating a positive first impression, ensuring that patients and visitors alike see a clean and well-maintained environment when they arrive.

“I make sure everything is disposed of properly,” he said. “From garbage to regulated medical waste and linen, I ensure that everything leaves the facility accordingly. My focus is on maintaining the loading dock area, which is crucial, because it serves multiple departments and experiences high traffic. When I’m not present, that area could easily become a mess. That’s why I stand out in my job, because I take pride in ensuring that the loading dock area is impeccable.”

While his work is physically demanding, Medina has managed those demands to prevent injury. He understands the mechanics of the loads he moves, and is mindful of the proper techniques for bending and lifting. He attends training sessions twice a year to stay updated on best practices, further ensuring his safety and the effectiveness of his work.

In his spare time, Medina plays tennis, spends time with his family, and making regular visits to the Dominican Republic.

At the hospital, his dedication to his job and his commitment to maintaining the facility’s high standards have earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and the rest of the staff.

“He’s a great attribute,” Nazario said. “He’s going to go in a couple of years, he’s going to retire, and it’s going to be very hard to replace him. It’s not easy to do that job, and he does it without fail every day.”