Gino Santorio, President & CEO, Mount Sinai Medical Center

Gino Santorio, president and CEO of Mount Sinai Medical Center, spoke with Invest: about the hospital’s comprehensive services, and how they utilize cutting-edge technology in their treatments. He also explained the vital role healthcare plays in the growth of Miami, and the collaborative efforts in place to support that growth.

What milestones stand out for Mount Sinai over the last 12 months?

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Mount Sinai Medical Center. We started in 1949 with the purpose of providing Jewish and Black physicians a safe space to practice medicine, a mission that continues today across our 12 locations in South Florida. We continue to expand the community’s access to our brand of high-quality care, through various initiatives. The Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center will be completed in early 2026, offering the latest in technologies and a patient-centric approach to care. The 220,000-square-foot building will house the Rad Center for Precision Medicine and Cancer Genetics, as well as a comprehensive breast center offering mammograms, ultrasounds, dedicated biopsy rooms, and 20,000 square feet of radiation oncology space. We are also building a new facility in Westchester. The first phase will include a 110,000-square-foot space with a freestanding emergency center, set to be completed in mid-2026. Later phases will include a micro-hospital and a separate building on the same property to accommodate physician offices. In addition to infrastructure projects, we are also expanding services. Last year, we celebrated our one-year anniversary of Eldercare, a nationally recognized and comprehensive care model designed to delay or avoid placement of patients into skilled nursing facilities. It allows vulnerable individuals in our community to continue living healthy, independent lives. Finally, none of this would be possible without the community’s trust in our ability to deliver exceptional care, and our efforts continue to be recognized on a national level. Mount Sinai has once again been named among America’s 100 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades for 2024 and 2025. This prestigious distinction places us in the top 2% of hospitals nationwide for consistently delivering clinical excellence year after year.

What are some of the emerging trends in healthcare delivery and patient expectations, and how is Mount Sinai preparing to meet these demands?

The last couple of years have ushered in a new era in more personalized, patient-centric healthcare with emerging technology; that’s a trend we’ll continue to see. With healthcare systems across the country implementing artificial intelligence (AI) into their patient care models, Mount Sinai is committed to being at the forefront of these advancements. For instance, our labor and delivery unit, which was recognized as one of the best maternity hospitals for 2024 by Newsweek, recently integrated PeriGen. This AI integration analyzes a mother’s and baby’s vitals during labor, providing early warning signals. In the surgical and cardiovascular area, we use AI to create a 3D map of a patient’s entire cardiovascular system, allowing our surgeons to complete the procedures with as high of a level of precision and success as possible. Additionally, the implementation of ambient listening technology has enhanced physician efficiency by reducing documentation time through real-time transcription. This allows our physicians to spend more time communicating with their patients and reduces burnout.  

What is your take on the current economic landscape, and do current changes in the market impact Mount Sinai?

We’ve seen many changes in the demographics in South Florida, including an influx of affluent individuals over the last five years. This shift has created a higher demand for a more personalized level of care and, in addition to the AI integrations that provide an enhanced patient-centric experience, we also expanded our concierge medicine services to include a longevity clinic and genetic testing. We are also focused on continuing to expand the community’s access to cutting-edge research and clinical trials that are available at Mount Sinai. 

Have you seen tangible improvements in workforce stability, and what further steps have been taken to prepare the team for all of these changes?

We have seen a significant improvement in our recruitment efforts and retention rates, which I would attribute to the partnerships we’ve formed with local universities, colleges, and technical schools. We’ve provided scholarships to nursing students, and the State has provided funding in the form of matching grants to provide additional opportunities. 

How does the center address healthcare access disparities within the diverse community it serves?

National physician shortages continue to impact accessibility to high-quality medical care, including in South Florida. As one of Florida’s original statutory teaching hospitals, we are committed to training the next generation of expert physicians for our community. Each year, we teach over 200 residents and fellows across 18 specialties. In addition, we train over 400 medical students and allied health professionals annually. This commitment to continuous learning is what fuels medical advancements and results in enhanced quality, better outcomes, and more accessibility. 

What are your top priorities for Mount Sinai over the next few years?

We are continually striving to enhance the patient-centric care we deliver to the community. From expanding our locations to provide convenient care and investing in enhanced technologies to improve outcomes to continue to recruit the best physicians from across the country to improve access to care, we are committed to addressing the growing needs of the South Florida community. 

What is your vision for Miami over the next decade, and what role will Mount Sinai play in that vision?

Miami is poised for rapid growth, and we remain committed to contributing to its development. Mount Sinai will lead the way as one of the most technologically integrated hospitals in America, bringing the future of medicine to our backyard. We are committed to playing an active role in ensuring the health and well-being of South Florida and continue to see significantly more collaboration among the medical providers in our community, which has led to the overall benefit of every citizen here. We’re excited to continue leading the way in a collaborative way.