News
Leslin Joins NYU's "A World of Thanks" Annual Scholarship Luncheon
Leslin was delighted to be included among the supporters of student scholarships at New York University at the A World of Thanks: Annual Scholarship Luncheon, held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
The event featured a Presidential Greeting from NYU President Linda G. Mills, remarks, and a Student Panel led by Evan R. Chesler, Chair of the NYU Board of Trustees. The afternoon also offered the opportunity to connect with NYU School of Professional Studies Dean Angie Kamath; SPS Assistant Dean and Clinical Professor Vinnie Rege; Hope O’Reilly, Senior Vice President for University Development and Alumni Relations, Genevieve Allen, Associate Director of Development; Marlene Brito, Senior Director, Workplace Learning Innovation Lab; and student scholars Krystin Caselas and Kristina Stojadainovic.
Representing Leslin were Board Members Linda C. Lombardi, Lesmah J. Fraser, A Li Song, MD, Marcia Peters, and Mei Kong, a meaningful occasion to share in the many successes and bright futures of NYU students.
Bellevue Literary Review Brings “Body Language” to Life at City Winery
The Bellevue Literary Review (BLR) marked a memorable evening, as part of its 25th Anniversary, on April 12th with an in-person event titled “Body Language: True Stories of Illness, Recovery, and Discovery,” held at City Winery and part of the Writers Read program, in New York City.
Fifteen writers took the stage to share their heartfelt stories about illness, healing, and the unexpected lessons that often arise along the way. Each narrative touched on the profound physical and emotional effects of illness, revealing how it not only impacts individuals but also resonates within families and relationships. They opened up about the shared experience of navigating a world that doesn’t always welcome vulnerability, creating a space for connection and understanding among us all.
A highlight of the evening was a reading by Dr. Danielle Ofri, Editor of the Bellevue Literary Review, from her essay “The Raw Fear of Being a Patient.” The piece drew a direct and moving line between the professional lives of healthcare workers and their shared humanity as patients and people — a reminder that no title or credential exempts anyone from the fears and uncertainties of illness.
The event showcased BLR's enduring mission to explore the connection between medicine and literature, offering writers and readers alike an opportunity to engage with the human aspects of health and healing. The audience left visibly moved, and “Body Language” stood as a testament to the power of storytelling to foster connection, empathy, and understanding.
And the event underscored the power of literature, writing, and sharing it, to connect I broader and deeper ways.
Celebrating the Art of Writing: Leslin Supports the 2026 BLR Poetry Prize
Literature is a powerful tool for understanding human experiences of health and illness, loss, and healing. That’s why Leslin proudly supports the Bellevue Literary Review and celebrates this year’s prize recipients.
Each year, the Bellevue Literary Review (BLR), an award-winning journal at the intersection of medicine and the human spirit, honors outstanding voices in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Leslin is honored to fund The John and Eileen Allman Prize for Poetry, recognizing writers who illuminate our shared experience of health and the body with courage and craft.
The 2026 Prize goes to Dara Laine for her poem "Telling the Bees." Based in Baltimore and rooted in a hay farm in New Jersey, Laine writes with restrained lyricism and domestic realism, centering on grief, memory, and what she calls the sacred ordinary. Her work appears in American Poetry Journal, Pine Hills Review, and Sky Island Journal. In "Telling the Bees, “she does what only the best poets can: she finds the ritual in sorrow and makes it bearable.
Honorable mention goes to Miranda Saake for "Stinson Beach." A writer, teacher, and mother from Northern California, Saake brings a voice that is both grounded and luminous. Published in The Rebis, Clarion, and Gossamer Arts, and recently shortlisted for the prestigious UK Bridport Prize, she reminds us that places and pain are often inseparable.
At Leslin, we believe that stories about health are powerful experiences that connect us through our shared humanity. They allow us to express how we experience health and illness, as well as how we suffer, endure, survive, and recover. Supporting BLR and its writers is one way we embody this belief.
Congratulations to Dara, Miranda, and all this year's BLR prize recipients.
To learn more about the Bellevue Literary Review and its literary prizes, visit www.blreview.org.
Leslin Partners with the Bellevue Literary Review
We are excited to announce that Leslin | The Leslin Healthcare Leadership Foundation is partnering with the Bellevue Literary Review as it celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
For the past 25 years, the Bellevue Literary Review (BLR) has emerged as a powerful beacon at the crossroads of healthcare and the arts, illuminating the profound narratives of health, illness, and healing. Through its bi-annual journal, engaging public readings, and diverse awards that celebrate creative expression, BLR inspires a deep reflection on human experience. With the introduction of an upcoming book club and many innovative initiatives, BLR continues to foster meaningful dialogue and connection, inviting us all to explore the beauty and resilience found within our shared stories.
At Leslin, we believe that the humanities are fundamental to effective healthcare leadership. Our mission is to demonstrate how the humanities, including writing, contribute to professional and leadership development. And so, it is a privilege to partner with the Bellevue Literary Review. Celebrate and support this special year for BLR and explore the numerous opportunities available to be part of its mission. Yourinvolvement makes a difference! (www.BlReview.org)
Leslin Adopts AAMC’s First Steps Career Skills Curriculum
We are pleased to share a major milestone in our journey to prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders: our organization has officially joined the AAMC community and adopted the First Step Career Skills curriculum in our programming.
The First Step Career Skills curriculum, developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), provides a competency-based foundation designed to introduce learners—especially those in earlier educational stages—to the essential abilities that support
success in medical and health professions pathways. These career skills are grounded in the AAMC’s broader competency framework for aspiring medical learners and align with the principles of competency-based education that prepare students to thrive in rigorous academic and clinical environments..
This curriculum focuses on developing key skills such as empathy and compassion, resilience and adaptability, relationship building and interpersonal communication, and cultural awareness and humility—all vital attributes for future healthcare professionals. By introducing these competencies early, we aim to support learners in building the confidence, skills, and mindset necessary to pursue careers in medicine and allied health.
Our adoption of First Step Career Skills strengthens our commitment to equitable access to high-quality preparation resources and aligns with AAMC’s mission to improve health through education, research, and patient care. As part of the AAMC community, we look forward to collaborating with clinicians, educators, and administrators to integrate these competencies into our pathways and expand opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.
Thank you to our partners and supporters—we are excited about the impact this alignment will have on learners and the future of healthcare leadership
Leslin Receives Special Recognition from NYU College of Dentistry.
We are pleased to share that The Leslin Healthcare Leadership Foundation (Leslin) was recognized by the NYU College of Dentistry, Department of Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting, at a special reception on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The event was in appreciation of Leslin’s scholarships supporting students in the NYU High School Academy’s Exploring Careers in Dentistry course. The event brought together clinicians, partners, educators, and students to celebrate this shared commitment to expanding pathways into oral healthcare.
We offer our deepest gratitude to the NYU College of Dentistry, the Department of Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting, for hosting such a thoughtful and meaningful gathering. The warm atmosphere and collegial spirit in the room reflected the strength of this collaboration among the NYU High School Academy, the NYU College of Dentistry, and Leslin.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Dianne Sefo, RDH, MEd, FNYAM, FADHA—Clinical Associate Professor, Chair—and her exceptional team for their dedication to creating an inspiring event and for their continuous support of student development. We are also deeply grateful to Citllali Castro, Director of Educational Pathways and Alternative Programs at NYU SPS High School Academy, whose leadership has been instrumental in shaping this important educational pathway.
Present at the reception were: President/CEO Linda C. Lombardi and Board Members Mei Kong and Marcia Peters. Our dedication, involvement, and support reflect Leslin’s mission to uplift young people as they explore futures in healthcare.
We are truly grateful for this partnership with the NYU High School Academy and the NYU College of Dentistry. Together, we are opening doors, inspiring confidence, and supporting students as they take their first meaningful steps toward careers in dentistry.
Leslin has been accepted to participate in the curriculum First Steps Career Skills Curriculum pilot. Members of the Leslin Board, Lesmah Fraser, MPS, D.Litt (Hon), Mei Kong, RN, D.Sc., Lin Lombardi, PhD, and Leslin collaborators, Kim Mendez, EdD. and Aaron Hultgren, MD will offer curriculum to NYU High School students beginning Fall 2025. Leslin will be an active participant in the AAMC community.
Announcement: Collaboration With American Association of Medical Schools
The Leslin Healthcare Leadership Foundation Supports the New York Academy of Medicine Library
“Discovering the Past to Inform the Future”
The Leslin Healthcare Leadership Foundation is dedicated to supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders and emphasizes the importance of history in leadership development. Recently, as part of the NYU High School Academy course titled “Exploring Careers in Medicine” Professor Lin Lombardi took NYU High School Academy students on a visit to the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) and its historic library. The NYAM Library’s work is to “Discover the Past and Inform the Future.”
During the visit, participants discovered NYAM’s impressive collection of rare texts, artifacts, and treasures within the library. As a gesture of appreciation for NYAM and the NYAM Library, the Leslin Healthcare Leadership Foundation donated $1,000 to support the preservation of history and education.
NYU High School Academy Students Visit the NYAM Library
Connecting Mission to Practice: A Collaborative Site Visit to NYU College of Dentistry
Leslin recently had the pleasure of coordinating a site visit to NYU College of Dentistry, hosted by Dianne L Sefo, Chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene & Dental Assisting. We are especially grateful to Dean Bertolami, and Executive Vice Dean O’Connor for their time, thoughtful discussion, support, and for sharing NYU College of Dentistry’s mission of student growth and patient-centered care.
This visit strongly aligned with Leslin’s mission as an educational non-profit to expand access, exposure, and pathways into health professions through meaningful institutional partnerships, particularly with A. Li Song, MD (China), L.Ac., President of the New York College of Health Profession, whose collaboration with Mr. Yao Yichun, Chairman of the Industry-Education Committee of the UN World Federation, CEO and Owner of China POCY Group, and his esteemed delegation, made the site visit possible.
During the visit, Professor Sefo provided an overview of NYU College of Dentistry, with a focus on the Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs. Discussions highlighted curriculum design, professional development, accreditation, and career pathways, followed by a tour of training labs, classrooms, and specialized facilities, including the NYU Dentistry Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities. Conversations also explored advanced technologies, evolving roles in the field and dental hygiene, the global need for oral health services, and the vital connection between oral health and overall well-being.
We also extend our sincere appreciation to China POCY Group and the delegation for sharing compelling films that illuminated their educational vision and the transformative institutional development underway in China. Their presentations reflected a deep commitment to excellence in healthcare and vocational education, as well as a shared enthusiasm for skills-based careers and future-focused opportunities for collaboration.
Our heartfelt thanks to NYU College of Dentistry for graciously hosting this meaningful exchange, and to Dean Bertolami and Executive Vice Dean O’Connor for their leadership and insight. Special appreciation to Prof. Sefo for thoughtfully arranging and guiding this visit, and for her hospitality and dedication to advancing Dental Hygiene, oral health education, and global collaboration. We are grateful to Dr. Song, President of NY College of Health Professions; Mr. Yao Yichun, CEO and owner of China POCY Group; and all who participated in this visit.