Helping our team members grow through Northwell Health’s mentorship programs

Celebrating the success and professional development of our team members is something we get excited about at Northwell Health. Our 50+ mentorship programs help prepare our employees for the next step in their career journey through the support and guidance of our seasoned Health Raisers who raise their hands to share knowledge, open doors to their network and provide training experiences. The mentorship program is structured with workshops, a series of check-ins, both virtual and in person, lectures and engaging presentations with guest speakers.

During National Mentoring Month in January, three Northwell team members share their experience being a part of the Northwell Mentorship Experience (NME) program. This mentorship program builds knowledge, fosters connections and lifelong relationships, and develops skills for leaders and team members working toward the next step in their career journey.

Kerlene Richards, DNP RN NE-BC CCRN manager, patient care – Mentor
As the manager of patient care at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream (LIJVS), Kerlene Richards is a nurse leader who builds relationships centered on trust and respect among our patients, their families and our team members. Kerlene found participating in the NME program to be very rewarding and shared, “I was able to share my experiences, offer guidance on various career paths and assist in creating networking experiences to help my mentee fulfill her goals.”

When asked about what kind of impact she hoped to make while participating in the program, Kerlene said, “This experience provided me with a platform to create a positive impact on mentees and our organization by enhancing communication, promoting collaboration among team members and offering a sense of community and support.”

As a Northwell team member for over 14 years, Kerlene believes mentorship and development programs play a crucial role in promoting diversity and inclusion while providing support to underrepresented groups. “These programs foster creativity and innovation where employees can learn from each other. The program is full of workshops and valuable organizational insights which fosters collaboration and cohesion among team members of different cultural backgrounds.”

Kala Melbourne, advisor, human resources fair employment practices – Mentee
Kala Melbourne started her career at Northwell 10 years ago as an on-boarding associate on the talent acquisition team. She moved into an HR compliance specialist role and continued her career journey as a senior HR specialist of Fair Employment Practices and to her role today. Now, Kala helps lead Northwell’s visa support services for prospective candidates, sponsored team members and visiting research scholars/scientists to support the recruitment and retention of top international talent.

As a mentee in the NME program, Kala shared, “The NME program was essential to my continued career development and growth at Northwell. My mentor introduced me to a network of team members that helped expand my organizational knowledge of other areas and functions within Northwell.  I now have more confidence to achieve my goals.”

Erick Pajuelo, assistant nurse manager, emergency department – Mentee
As an assistant nurse manager of emergency services at Glen Cove Hospital, Erick Pajuelo’s role is both clinical and administrative. His current responsibilities include scheduling, covering a charge nurse role when present on the unit, facilitating an environment of care and addressing any patient needs. Erick started at Northwell in 2016 as a rehabilitation aide before he became a registered nurse in both telemetry and emergency services. Erick’s career journey continued at Glen Cove Hospital to his promotion and current role as an assistant nurse manager.

Erick became involved in the NME program as a mentee because it is a great opportunity to collaborate with a mentor and evolve in your role. He shared, “I loved being a part of this program because I was able to grow professionally and network with a leader from another Northwell facility. Any opportunity to learn and collaborate with an experienced professional is a privilege and can open up new doors for the most seasoned professionals.”

When asked about what kind of impact he hopes to make while participating in the program, Erick said, “I always hope to learn as much as I can and bring that knowledge back to my unit and leadership team, as well as share new ideas with the emergency department or at a facility level.”

Learn about the many ways Northwell supports the career experience for our team members.