Demanding Immediate Action on Conflict of Interest of Maria Vezina at the NYS Board of Nursing
Commissioner Betty A. Rosa, New York State Education Department
Mount Sinai Vice President of Nursing Labor Relations Partnerships, Dr. Maria Vezina, whose job includes nursing labor relations, sits on the New York State Board of Nursing that participates in nurse discipline. Mount Sinai has unfairly terminated three union nurses and is potentially reporting them to the Board of Nursing. Mount Sinai Hospital is currently in a labor dispute, with an ongoing nurses strike for unfair labor practices -- Dr. Vezina is currently on the Management negotiation team for this labor dispute. Dr. Vezina's roles in labor relations and the Board of Nursing creates an unacceptable conflict of interest and undermines trust in fair nursing oversight.
We demand NYSED require immediate recusal, launch an ethics review, and block retaliatory use of the licensing process.
Petition by
To:
Commissioner Betty A. Rosa, New York State Education Department
From:
[Your Name]
We are New York City nurses writing to urgently petition NYSED regarding a serious conflict-of-interest concern involving the New York State Board of Nursing.
Dr. Maria L. Vezina, EdD, RN is currently a senior executive at the Mount Sinai Health System, serving as Vice President and Chief of Nursing Practice, Education, Advanced Practice Nursing Credentialing, and Nursing Labor Relations Partnerships. She is also a member of the New York State Board of Nursing, where she participates in matters involving licensure and discipline.
This dual role creates an unacceptable conflict of interest—and at minimum, the appearance of regulatory bias—because Mount Sinai is currently involved in labor conflict and has terminated nurses under circumstances widely perceived as retaliatory.
We are aware of the termination of three registered nurses who are members of the New York State Nurses Association at The Mount Sinai Hospital, and we are further aware of concerns indicating Mount Sinai intends to report these nurses to the New York State Board of Nursing.
The Board of Nursing exists to protect the public—not to be used as a tool for corporate retaliation or intimidation.
We Demand NYSED Take Immediate Action! We call on NYSED to:
• Require immediate recusal of Dr. Vezina from any matters involving Mount Sinai or Mount Sinai-employed nurses
• Conduct an independent ethics review of this conflict of interest
• Investigate whether Mount Sinai is using or threatening to use BON reporting as retaliation
• Ensure heightened scrutiny or temporary suspension of Mount Sinai-initiated complaints while this conflict exists
• Consider removal or suspension of Dr. Vezina’s Board appointment if NYSED determines the conflict undermines public trust
When hospital executives sit on licensing discipline boards, nurses lose faith in fair oversight and may be intimidated from speaking up about unsafe conditions. That harms nurses, patients, and the integrity of the profession.
We demand NYSED protect the independence of the nursing disciplinary process and provide a written public response outlining what actions will be taken.
Signed,
Concerned Nurses of New York State