Staff Biographies

Min. Robin K. Ross is a Manager in the Department of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy at New York-Presbyterian. She is responsible for spiritual care at NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NYP Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, NYP Allen Hospital, NYP Westchester, and NYP Hudson Valley Hospital. Robin is a board-certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) and a Certified Educator of ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education. Robin began her professional career as an elementary school teacher and taught in public and private schools during that time. She received her Master of Education at Philadelphia Biblical University (currently named Cairn University) Later, Robin, felt led by the Divine to attend seminary at Palmer Theological Seminary where she received her Master of Divinity.

Robin loves teaching and has taught on many different platforms from the schoolhouse classrooms to spiritual conferences with adults. However, in seminary she discovered chaplaincy and how offering a comforting presence and empathetic listening is not only gratifying but aligned with her Christian faith. Robin spent seven years as a hospice chaplain and seven years as a hospital chaplain in her hometown of Philadelphia PA. During her fourteen years as a chaplain, she discovered how she could merge her love for teaching with her love of chaplaincy and became an ACPE Educator. Robin is an ordained minister who embraces inter-faith ministry and has discovered her life’s mission to embody love and a supportive presence to all those she comes in contact within her life.

Fr. Antonio Almonte is a priest ordained for the Archdiocese of New York in 1997. He was born and raised in the Washington Heights area. In May 1991 he received a Bachelor of Arts from Manhattan College, in May 1993 an Associate degree in Philosophy from St. John’s University, and in May 1997, a Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Theology and a Master in Divinity from St. Joseph Seminary. “At present, I have been a priest for 25 years and am trying to become a certified Catholic chaplain. I completed 4 units of CPE at Northwell/Lenox Hill Hospital, January 2020–June 2021. I have been a pastor at St. Peter’s Church (91 Ludlow St.; Yonkers, New York) 2003–2007 and at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs (91 Arden St.; New York, New York) 2007–2018. I was in an assistant administrative role at Incarnation Parish 1997–2002 and St. Luke’s parish 2002–2003 in the Bronx. At present, I am one of the Roman Catholic Priests at NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Before coming to NYP, I was at Northwell/Lenox Hill Hospital as a chaplain, November 2019–April 2022. While there, I performed the duties of a Catholic priest in the entire building and participated extensively in the care of Covid patients and staff from March 2020 to May of 2022”.

Ali Carr is a per diem chaplain at NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Barnard college with a focus on evolutionary psychology and gender and sexuality studies in 2011. She is interested in serving patients who might draw from nontraditional sources of spiritual strength that can be difficult to access in a hospital environment.

Soren Glassing is an ordained Zen Buddhist monk and Staff Chaplain at NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He has been practicing Buddhism since 1985, both in Japan and America was the head monk and co-director of the Zen Studies Society in New York City.

He works primarily on the Palliative Care team, and specializes in end of life, working on a small hospice unit in the hospital (Palliative Care Unit). He also works on the psychiatric unit where he leads meditation and spirituality groups both there and throughout the hospital. Soren teaches spirituality in the healthcare setting to new medical students, mentors residents and fellows, and teaches clinicians ways to reduce stress and burnout on the job.

Soren has presented workshops on a national level including subjects ranging from Buddhism, working with the dying, and how to bring the contemplative and visual arts into clinical work. He has been highlighted by the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, and Intima, A Journal of Narrative Medicine for his art during Covid. He was also selected by the Washington University

Certified by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Chaplain Gómez is an alumna of Fordham’s Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education, where she earned a Master’s in Pastoral Care and Mental Health Counseling. Influenced by Catholic Social Teaching, Ignatian Spirituality, and Person-Centered Therapy, her approach to chaplaincy is deeply rooted in empathy, active listening, and honoring the dignity of all individuals.

Though she regularly works with cardiac patients, their families, and staff, Chaplain Gómez also serves those with Catholic-specific and/or Spanish language needs. She leads a variety of groups, workshops, and spiritual gatherings, including "The Waiting Room Project," the "Divine Mercy Chaplet," and the "Cardiac Staff Spirituality Group."

Chaplain Gómez considers her role as a Chaplain a great honor, and she strives to fulfill her duties ad majorem Dei gloriam (for the greater glory of God).

Father Arlen Harris, O.F.M., Cap., is a Roman Catholic priest and a perpetually professed religious of the Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin, a Franciscan religious order in the Roman Catholic Church. Father Arlen is a board-certified chaplain and member of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC).

Rabbi Ralph Kreger

Rabbi Kreger has been a hospital chaplain for the past 25 years. He studied chaplaincy at Beth Israel Medical Center,NY back in May 1996-97. His first chaplaincy position was at Lenox Hill Hospital and the Hospital for Special Surgery. After 15 years he joined NYP/ Columbia and has been in this position since July 2012.

Rabbi Kreger ministers to patients, family and staff of all faiths. He of course has a special interest and ministry for Jewish patients. Rabbi Kreger has a special connection with hospital staff and gives presentations on how to care and be sensitive to the religious and cultural needs of Orthodox/Hassidic Jewish patients in the hospital setting. He has lectured on this topic nationally and at the Columbia School of Medicine and Nursing.

Rabbi Kreger studied post high school in Israel for 6 1/2 years and came back to America where he continued his Rabbinic studies. He received smicha (Rabbinic ordination) back in July 1990 from the Mirrer Yeshiva Rabbinic Institute Brooklyn NY.

Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn

Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn is a Board-Certified Chaplain at NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She has specialties in Palliative Care, Critical Care, and Emergency Psychiatric Care. She is the president of NAJC (Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains). Rabbanit Alissa is also a member of the clergy at Congregation Netivot Shalom in Teaneck, NJ. A writer and speaker, she received her ordination from Yeshivat Maharat and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brandeis University with a degree in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and Classical Studies Archaeology and Ancient History. She lives in Teaneck, NJ with her husband Akiva and daughter Ella.

Sister Monica Okon

Sister Monica Okon is a per diem chaplain at NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and has been part of NYP since 2017. Sister Monica completed 5 units of CPE from NYP Queens, NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and NYP Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. She is a Board-Certified Chaplain (BCC) with the National Catholic Chaplains (NACC), since 2020. Sister Monica is happy to serve wherever there is need for spiritual support to patients, families, and staff.

JyākuEn Sherrilynn Posey

Jyākuen Sherrilynn Posey lives in New York City and has worked as a watchmaker in the luxury timepiece field since 1996. After 2 years of study at One Spirit Interfaith Seminary she was ordained an Interfaith Minister in 2008 and started meditating at Insight. From 2010 to 2015 she studied Buddhist Chaplaincy/Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care and Interfaith Chaplaincy/CPE from 2015 – 2016 at New York Presbyterian Columbia University Medical Center where she has also worked as a Per Diem Buddhist Chaplain since 2012. Jyākuen is a formal student of Roshi Enkyo O’Hara (now Abbess Emerita of Village Zendo) and is currently a senior student of Village Zendo – True Expression Temple in NYC under Abbot Shinryu Thomson. As a member of Village Zendo she received Jukai (a ceremony of taking refuge and received the name JyāKuEn, meaning PERFECT STILLNESS) in 2016 and was ordained as a Buddhist Chaplain, by Roshi O’Hara, (in the Soto Zen tradition) in 2021.

Sarah Emine Unal

Sarah Emine Unal is a Staff Chaplain at NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Before this role, she was a chaplain resident at Penn Medicine Princeton Health. She finished her undergraduate degree in Sakarya University Faculty of Theology in Turkey. She got her MDiv Degree in Hartford International University (Hartford Seminary) in Connecticut. She is a Board-Certified Chaplain by the Association of Professional Chaplains. Sarah has a special interest in mental health and the connection between mental health and spirituality. Also, she has had a special interest in music and singing for years and she sings amateurly on special occasions.