South Miami Hospital’s Director of Social Work, Care Coordination and Counseling Stephanie Rakofsky has been honored with the Florida International University Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work’s 2012 Path Award.Rakofsky has more than 40 years experience as a social worker — 26 of those at South Miami Hospital. Under her leadership, Rakofsky has overseen the development of mental health programs that have made South Miami a leader in patient services. She established the hospital’s multidisciplinary Behavioral and Collaborative Medicine Program that brings together social workers, nurses, psychologists and therapists to offer therapy using music, dance, journaling, art, relaxation and massage, yoga, tai chi and support groups. She also created the hospital’s Perinatal Bereavement Team, which helps patients who have suffered a pregnancy and newborn loss.
