Dr. Cyrus O. McCalla
Caribbean Life, J BQ une 21-27, 2019 47
HEALTHCARE AWARDS
Tracey Ledeatte
Tracey Ledeatte moved to New
York from Jamaica, West Indies
when she was only 5 years old.
In her new homeland, she experienced
severe culture shock, however she was
tremendously grateful for the sacrifice
made by parents to bring her to the
United States.
Currently the nurse manager in
the Addiction Medicine Department
at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in
Manhattan, she earned her bachelor’s
degree from Atlantic Union College
and her master’s degree in nursing
with a focus of healthcare business
management from Long Island University.
Beginning her career as a staff
nurse, she gradually accepted more
responsibilities as they were offered,
eventually being promoted to charge
nurse. Not one to settle, after a decade
in the healthcare industry, she
returned to school to earn a doctorate
degree in nursing practice (DNP) with
a concentration in executive leadership.
Ledeatte now supervises over 20
team members from multiple clinic
sites. Once advised to “never try
to lead until you have followed and
being the best leader requires that
you become a servant,” it is obvious by
her success that she has implemented
that philosophy. What makes Ledeatte
truly exceptional is that she believes
that one should never stop learning. “I
believe the sky is the limit and my philosophy
that constantly motivates me
to achieve greater accomplishments in
my life is to continue learning because
I think that the minute the mind stops
growing, everything stops flowing,”
she says. Hoping that she can one day
inspire someone as she was inspired
by the nurse who held her hand and
comforted her when she was a scared
5-year-old about to get her immunization
shots, Ledeatte hopes, “That
God will allow me to be like that individual
that inspired me to reach for
the stars.”
Born in St. Catherine, Jamaica,
W.I., Dr. Cyrus O. McCalla has
spent his career helping bring
life into this world.
His prestigious career includes his
current positions as chairman and
director of Maternal Fetal Medicine
in the Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology at Brookdale Hospital
Medical Center, president and CEO of
Downstate Perinatal Associate P.C., and
associate professor; and past positions
as director of Maternal Fetal Medicine
at New York University School of Medicine
and director of Maternal and Fetal
Medicine and director of Obstetrics at
the State University of New York.
His academic career is just as
impressive as his professional career. It
is obvious he took to heart the career
advice he received, “Work hard, stay
focused, and nothing can stop you.”
He earned his Bachelor of Science
degree, Summa Cum Laude at Medgar
Evers College, City University of New
York, his Doctor of Medicine Degree
from the State University of New York
at Stony Brook, residency training in
obstetrics and gynecology at the State
University of New York and Kings
County Hospital, and completed his
Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship at
Duke University Medical Center.
He has won the American Professors
of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Teaching Award, the American College
of Obstetrics and Gynecology Professor
of the Year Teaching Award, and twice
the Medgar Evers College Distinguish
Alumni Award. He is active in many
professional and social organizations
and is a mentor and scholarship sponsor
for students studying science and
medicine.
Dr. McCalla is married to Denise
Whittington-McCalla, CNM, MS; they
are the proud parents of two sons. If
he had a superpower, it would be to
“eliminate institutional and structural
racism.”