Archive for year: 2020
Northwell Health’s new Baby Gift Program offers team members who have welcomed a new family member by birth or adoption a one-time delivery of gift items for both baby and parents.
Their delivery is celebrated with a delivery of our own – a care package that includes hand-picked items for baby and parents, including a Northwell-branded onesie, bib and tumbler. To further support our team members, a packet of information is included with related Northwell benefits and other well-being resources offered to our new parents.
On top of being an adorable gift, the Baby Gift Program also serves to help connect team members on leave of absence or paid family leave with their team members throughout their leave. And with Northwell feeling like one big family, it’s a fun way to celebrate our newest little team members.
“It felt great receiving a care package for my newborn and myself,” says Elena Popovski, marketing specialist on the Candidate Engagement & Experience team in Talent Acquisition. “Throughout my whole pregnancy, I felt support from my fellow coworkers and a special bond was created during that time. To receive this after delivery made it feel like he was being welcomed into my Northwell family too.”
This feeling of connection is more important than ever throughout the COVID pandemic when many new parents are celebrating their newest arrival in isolated and socially distant ways. By sending our team members a token of celebration, Northwell is able to promote our value of being Truly Together.
The Baby Gift Program is just one of the unique benefits that Northwell offers our new parent team members, on top of other offerings such as Baby Café, a free drop-in breastfeeding support group that has gone virtual to continue to offer support through the pandemic.
Join an organization committed to celebrating you throughout all your personal and professional milestones. Apply today!
*Please note that benefits for our union team members may differ and team members should reference their CBA for benefit information.
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At Northwell Health, we are committed to helping our team members to develop their skills and gain a foundation for a lifelong career journey. With that in mind, Northwell Health’s Advanced Clinical Provider (ACP) team launched a one-year mentorship program to support ACPs who are new to our health system.
Our first cohort, a mix of 20 Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs), recently celebrated their graduation from the program with a virtual ceremony. Each of our NPs and PAs had been matched with an experienced ACP mentor who worked with them throughout the year to develop essential clinical and non-clinical skills for a successful career.
Throughout the program, ACP mentees were able to enhance skills beyond their clinical knowledge by learning about our organization and self-awareness. By connecting mentors and mentees, the program fostered relationships that will create a support system for all ACP team members beyond their specialty and site.
A mentor can be especially helpful for NPs and PAs coming into a health system as large as Northwell Health, with 74,000+ team members, 23 hospitals and 800+ ambulatory locations. “Mentorship is extremely valuable for any new hire, regardless of clinical experience, into a large system,” says Jennifer Laffey DNP, FNP-BC, AVP, Advanced Clinical Providers. “Having a mentor can help navigate any non-clinical challenges as well as provide direction for clinical aspects as well. Mentees gain organizational awareness from their mentors and direct insight to all the opportunities the health system has to offer.”
The virtual graduation celebrated the relationships that had been built throughout the successful program, highlighting testimonials from both mentors and mentees on the impact they had on each other. Mentors and mentees shared stories of how they were able to learn from each other throughout the year-long program, encouraging each other to grow and see things differently.
“No matter what role you are in it is always helpful to have a guide, a coach, or a cheerleader to help navigate day-to-day personal or professional activities,” says Sheila Davies DNP, ANP-BC, senior administrative director, Advanced Clinical Providers. “Two areas that resonate with me when discussing mentorship programs are the value of friendship and nurturing that mentorship can provide. Thoughtful guidance and support can often inspire an individual’s trajectory and the relationship that was developed will often be everlasting.”
Congratulations to all of our NPs and PAs on graduating from this exciting new program!
Start your ACP career at Northwell Health. Apply today.
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An integral part of our success as an organization, especially as it relates to providing our patients with care that empowers them to lead healthier lives, are the healthcare professionals on our teams that lead healthy lives themselves. One person in particular who has been extremely impactful in this regard during her time at Northwell Health is Mystique Haynes, PTA, AAS, a physical therapist assistant at ORZAC Center for Rehabilitation.
Thirteen years ago, Mystique received her license as a physical therapy assistant (PTA), a move that would direct her steps on a path toward a rewarding career. Driven by her passion for health and wellness, she soon discovered incredible opportunities for growth at Northwell Health. “As a PTA in the sub-acute rehabilitation setting I work closely with nursing and medical staff to follow the patients’ prescribed treatment plans,” says Mystique. “I have had the opportunity to rehabilitate patients recovering from strokes, traumatic brain injuries, joint replacements, fractures, amputations and much more.”
Now, as she approaches a decade as a dedicated and valued member of our staff, Mystique has found even more ways to bring her passion and purpose together though Northwell’s commitment to team member well-being. In 2018, Mystique was chosen by the Human Resources department to be on the wellness committee, and after only a few months in the role, she became the Lead Wellness liaison and spearheaded the facility’s program.
Encouraged to bring her own passion to her work, Mystique leveraged what motivates her to be at her personal best to drive impactful change within our company culture and her department at the ORZAC Center for Rehabilitation. With her hands-on approach and eagerness to help the lives of others, she began to introduce programming at Northwell that further pushed both her goal and ours of promoting healthier lifestyles. By educating on wellness and providing resources that team members can use to improve their overall health, Mystique believes it all comes down to one word: consistency. “Consistency is the key to longevity of the heart,” says Mystique, and her heart for the health of those around her couldn’t be more evident in her day-to-day.
As the lead wellness liaison, Mystique has developed and hosted activities like health and wellness fairs, walking trails, weight training, Zumba classes, line dancing, and self-defense training. Her work has helped encourage and incorporate a healthy lifestyle into the work culture of Northwell Health and lead our team members to a better version of themselves. And as a result, our patients also benefit as our team members are then able to pass that knowledge on. As Mystique explains, “We only get one body and wellness is a major source of determining our quality of life.”
Additionally, Mystique has created a space for team members at ORZAC to benefit from organic health produce through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). CSA is an upfront investment in a local farm, which then provides weekly “shares” of the farm harvest. This promotes farm to healthy table eating by delivering a variety of seasonal vegetables, herbs and some fruit directly to ORZAC.
The work she does in wellness goes far beyond our facilities and overflows into the communities and lives of people she interacts with in her personal life too. “I try to pass along health tips, credible information, and encourage everyone around me to start where they are and to just keep moving depending on each individual person and what their needs are,” she says. “Being a wellness liaison is my opportunity to give back to Northwell to say thank you for investing in me, my co-workers and my family.”
Discover a career that invests in your passions at Northwell Health. Apply today!
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Before Donald (DJ) St.Clair, LMSW, started his career at Northwell Health, he first served as a Corporal in the US Marine Corps.
It was after his return from service while transitioning to a civilian career, that DJ first began to think about entering the healthcare industry. “Health care is a great opportunity for any veterans who are exiting the service as it will continue to give you a sense of purpose,” says DJ. “There is a sense of accomplishment because we are able to give back to the very community we served during our time in the military.”
With the encouragement and help of a social worker in the Office of Veterans Affairs, DJ continued his education to become a Licensed Master Social Worker to pursue a goal of being able to help veterans and their families. With his help, DJ was able to obtain benefits he didn’t know he had access to –something he’s able to pay forward in his new role as care coordinator within Northwell’s Military Liaison Services.
Transitioning from his role as a social worker at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, DJ is now in a unique position to combine his clinical experience and time in the military to provide support to other veterans. As care coordinator, DJ works to help service members, veterans, and their families access Northwell’s healthcare and community services, as well as assists them with connecting with local resources for additional support. It is the exact kind of role he hoped for when he started a career in mental health.
“Physical and mental health are very important in the well-being of everyone, but especially the veteran population,” says DJ. “There are a great number of benefits that the veteran population might not know about and I’m able to connect them to these important resources. I’m happy for the opportunity to give back to my brothers and sisters.”
Along with offering peer-to-peer guidance, DJ takes pride in being able to connect veterans to things such as service-connected disability benefits, education benefits, and a support system of organizations that are willing to help veterans transition back into the civilian world, such as Northwell Health.
And being a former veteran himself, DJ knows firsthand what it’s like to be in their position as they return home or to civilian life. It makes him uniquely qualified to connect with those who need it and to help them figure out their next steps.
“It can be a challenge to work through the common stigma around veterans that reaching for help means you are weak,” explains DJ. “In my role, I’m able to create a bond with them in a short time and explain that this assistance isn’t much different than being together in the military. The same way we rely on each other while in the service to have each other’s backs, they can rely on me here.”
Make the transition to a civilian career with Northwell Health. Learn more about our commitment to veterans.
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Since starting his career in 1997, Brian Krebs, PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, Cert. MDT, has grown his career through Northwell Health’s rehabilitation services. Beginning with the Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) team as a physical therapist, Brian has developed his PT and business skills alike, holding positions there such as supervisor, manager, director, and senior director. Today as the AVP of the Rehab Service Line and STARS, Brian exemplifies the growth possible within Northwell.
We sat down with Brian to discuss the opportunities available at STARS.
Though the past year has been tough for all healthcare professionals, the team members at STARS have stepped up to develop new ways to deliver exceptional and safe care to our patients. We have started exploring new territories like telehealth to deliver care virtually as well as taken measures to reconfigure physical space in the offices and clinical schedules to allow for social distancing. During the COVID pandemic, many of our team members found themselves developing new skills, with many volunteering to participate in Northwell’s Reassignment Reserves to be temporarily reassigned to COVID testing centers or being trained to work as safety monitors.
Additionally, the rehabilitation specialties we offer have continued to grow. Along with our focus on orthopedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation therapy, our team members have worked hard to develop specialty services such as pelvic floor, pediatrics, neurological and wheelchair clinics, hand therapy, lymphedema/oncology, and vestibular programs to name just a few.
Though we offer physical therapy in many specialties, traditionally most of our clinical team members have been working with musculoskeletal cases. With the COVID pandemic creating an increased need for additional services, the team at STARS has further expanded their skills to align with the principles of pulmonary therapy to assist in the treatment of recovering patients. One physical therapist in particular, Michael Kamme, had the idea for the program and worked closely with the STARS leadership and the Northwell Pulmonary physicians to develop the INSPIRE Program. We’re proud to say we now have physical therapists trained to deliver pulmonary rehab at every location and have seen 56 patients to date.
Between our rehab sites and within the hospital outpatient departments, we have a variety of careers available for anyone interested in joining the STARS team. On the clinical side, we have opportunities for physical and occupational therapists and assistants, speech therapists, neuropsychologists and rehab aides. For those with a non-clinical background, we have positions available from working at the front desk or in operations, to joining our support services or revenue cycle teams.
Opportunities aren’t just limited to our Rehab Centers and hospitals however. STARS also hires athletic trainers who work directly in practices physician extenders or in schools across Long Island. STARS also has physical therapists at Hofstra University working in their training room with their athletes. We also have the exciting opportunity to work with some professional sports team, such as the New York Islanders and the New York Lizards. Aside from just treating patients, many of our therapists also provide community and professional lectures as well as are adjunct or assistant faculty at local institutions including the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
The culture in the STARS workplace is one where we value every member. Along with making STARS a fun place to work, we’re committed to developing the talent of the members of our STARS family throughout every step of their career. We encourage our team members to let us know if there are new skills they’d like to develop, including additional certifications or shadowing other departments if they would like to make a transition to the non-clinical side. We also love hearing ideas from our team members and strive to create an environment where everyone feels their voice can be heard and their ideas and input make a difference to influence changes in the organization.
Another thing that makes us unique is that our leadership team all continues to be treating clinicians. I myself still see patients generally two mornings a week, and I feel that it’s an important way to ensure that team members at all levels do not lose touch with the day to day workflows and changes related to regulatory/compliance, etc. By continuing to treat patients, we are better aware and equipped to responds to any challenges that our team may be facing and can then move together to come to the best solution for all.
Interested in a rehabilitation services career? Get moving and apply today!
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Christian Jocelyn always knew he wanted to work in the healthcare industry so he could help others. He was uncertain which career path to take, so he became an emergency medical technician (EMT) after college, which provided him with his first healthcare career opportunity delivering frontline care. His career journey at Northwell over the years brought Christian to his current role as director of operations in the Department of Neurosurgery at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH).
A few years after starting his career journey as an EMT, Christian became a paramedic and began to get involved in performance improvement projects. These projects not only helped leadership realize Christian’s potential and that lead him to be promoted to paramedic supervisor. This also helped Christian discover where he wanted his Northwell career to go.
“In my role as a supervisor, I was responsible for the day-to-day field operations for one of the largest hospital-based EMS departments in the country. I had the opportunity to view the health system through a unique lens,” says Christian. “I came to understand the importance of caring for patients across all care settings and the strength of an integrated healthcare delivery system. This experience motivated me to go back to school and obtain my Masters in Health Administration and to begin the transition from clinician to administrator.”
While working toward his master’s degree, Christian transitioned out of EMS into a role as a manger of Financial and Operations Management at NSUH. It was this administrative foundation along with his education that enabled Christian to develop the skills he needed for his current role as director.
At Northwell, Christian has been able to build a rewarding career that utilizes his skills on the frontline to impact patient care through operations. Christian enjoys being able to take his experience and understanding of care outside of the hospital into designing programs within the hospitals. It is an opportunity he feels he was able to reach thanks in part to the mentors who supported his transition from clinical care to the administrative side of healthcare by removing barriers and helping him tap into his potential.
“One of the most important factors in my growth at Northwell has been my good fortune to have excellent mentors and sponsors along the way,” says Christian. “These individuals invested time, effort, and energy in me. They have set the example of what it means to be a leader and have provided the foundation I continue to build my career on. I would not be in the role or the person I am now without the expectational guidance and support by my mentors at Northwell.”
And for those looking to make a similar transition as Christian, he offers the advice of focusing on developing meaningful relationships in the organization and to not be afraid of taking risks. “Make it a point to collaborate with folks in other departments, step outside of your comfort zone and learn about a part of the organization that is unfamiliar to you,” he advises. “The beauty of Northwell is that we touch the entire continuum of care and with that comes an unparalleled learning opportunity.”
Discover a career well cared for at Northwell Health. Apply today!
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At Northwell Health, we have the perfect career for everyone. Just ask Susan Marelli, executive program director in System Administration.
Starting her career more than 20 years ago, Susan had never imagined herself pursuing a healthcare career. That is until her mother, who was receiving treatment at the time, had noted what a nice place it seemed to work as they sat in North Shore University together. At the time, Susan believed healthcare careers were limited to just nurses and doctors and never thought her background in administration would create opportunities for her. However, with her mother’s encouragement Susan applied and it was that exact skillset that made her a perfect fit for her first role of executive associate to Michael Dowling, Northwell’s President and CEO.
Working as an executive associate, Susan began to find herself becoming an unofficial patient ambassador. She would receive phone calls from trustees, executives from other businesses, team members, and patients looking for assistance. They would call her not knowing who else to reach out to and Susan would listen to their challenges. With no guidebook for this role, she took it upon herself to make calls and figure out the best person in the system might be able to help them.
“Whenever I wasn’t busy with my responsibilities, I was on the phone helping people. Mr. Dowling would hear this from inside his office and one day he asked me, ‘would you like to do this for me full time?’” says Susan. “There’s such an emphasis in our organization to put patients first, and Mr. Dowling wanted me to have the opportunity to work exclusively on helping those who needed it.”
Now as executive program director, Susan uses Northwell’s network of team members to help support her patient advocacy work. In addition to speaking with patients and their family members on the phone, Susan visits them at the hospitals and helps them feel connected to the health system. She loves being able to meet new people on these visits, and that includes not just our patients but her colleagues as well.
“The only way I’m able to do my job is because of the wonderful teams that are in every office and every hospital,” says Susan. “Because of them, I’ve never had to tell someone ‘I’m sorry, I can’t help you.’ They are always willing to go the extra mile and together we are able to find a solution.”
Along with the assistance of clinical teams, Susan has worked closely with the patient and family relations teams across our system to make a difference in so many lives. It’s an emotionally rewarding role, and she cherishes the letters and thank you cards she’s received from patients and families. “It’s always so unexpected because the doctors, nurses, and everyone else in our facilities are the ones who deserve that. Without them no care is being delivered. I’m just the one making the connections.”
But it’s that connection to patients, families, and team members alike that has helped Susan’s work as a patient ambassador truly shine. Every day she helps to reinvent the patient experience, and it’s her compassion that brought her recognition with an award in patient excellence from the health system.
Discover a career well cared for at Northwell Health. Apply today!
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Our home care professionals at Northwell Health provide a comfortable and healing space for our patients and their families. We’re proud to recognize our amazing team of nurses, therapists, aides, social workers and more, who are making a difference.
Meet some of our team members in home care and learn their favorite thing about their career below:
As a registered nurse, Danielle provides a full range of care to her patients from educating them on their disease, providing treatment to their wounds and offering emotional support. “I love being able to provide a sense of security and calmness to a patient and their families,” says Danielle. “We provide an “extra set of eyes” and ears for the doctors so that we can continue to provide the care that they need as they return to their home.”
Working as a registered nurse and coordinator of care, Steven performs initial admission visits to patients for the home care program. In this role he works with physicians and colleagues in the home care interdisciplinary team, such as physical and occupation therapists and social workers to plan the patient’s course of care. “Helping patients to recover from sickness brings the most satisfaction to my work,” Steve says. “I like to assist physicians in treating patients with chronic and complex wounds. Northwell Health has helped me in becoming a certified wound care specialist.”
As a physical therapist, Thomas plays a vital role in providing evaluations of function, teaching exercises and skills to better improve movement and activity performance for his patients. “Providing physical therapy in the home is fantastic because of the one-on-one time we spend with patients,” says Thomas. “We see directly the environment with which patients must interact and can make meaningful recommendations to facilitate successful completion of their daily tasks. We work with patients to develop flexibility, strength, balance, endurance and coordination and suggest movement strategies and environmental adaptations to help them achieve what is most important to them.”
Working as a registered nurse, Yvonne facilitates a safe transition from the hospital and rehab to the community. She ensures the patient is safe in the home, taking medications correctly, and educates them on their disease and symptoms. “My goal is for all my patients to achieve their maximum independence in a timely fashion,” says Yvonne. “My favorite part of home care is the variety. No two days are ever the same and I have time to develop a relationship with patients and their families. It is extremely satisfying to discharge a patient from home care, and they are able to resume their previous lifestyle.”
Join our team of compassionate home care professionals. Apply today!
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After serving as a Sergeant (E-5) in the US Army, Matthew Scanapico joined Northwell Health as a per diem journeyman II maintenance mechanic at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH).
Matthew credits his time in the military for providing him with the discipline and leadership skills that were instrumental in developing his career at Northwell. Starting with a per diem position in 2008, Matthew enjoyed a flexible schedule that allowed him to go back to school. There he earned a BS in Construction Management and Engineering from SUNY Farmingdale in 2016.
Choosing a career in the healthcare industry, Matthew felt he was a part of an industry that shared many of the same core values as he found in the military. For him, these shared values made his transition easier to navigate.
And importantly, this new career path at Northwell also helped Matthew to feel like he was part of a team again. “Transitioning from military service is never easy, but being hired by Northwell Health provided me with the stability needed to start this new chapter of my life,” he says. “Both my leadership and my peers were aware of the hardships I faced overseas and provided me with the support I needed to be successful in both school and my career. For that, I will always be grateful.”
From his start in 2008, Matthew’s career has flourished and today, he’s a project manager for Northwell Health’s Western Region ambulatory sites. Along with overseeing practice operations, environment of care, and safety at approximately 200 locations, Matthew manages practice renovation and refresh work. He’s also a proud member of our Veterans and Allies: Liaisons of Reintegration (VALOR) business employee resource group (BERG). In addition to talent development and recruitment, VALOR serves our military personnel, veterans and their family members by connecting them to resources that support their physical and psychological wellbeing.
“Northwell is a great organization for veterans looking for careers outside of the military whose core values are like that of the military, no matter which branch you served in,” says Matthew. “Between the Military and Veteran Liaison Service and the VALOR BERG, Northwell continues to develop and adapt programs that better serve our veteran community.”
Matthew knows firsthand how integral a stable work environment can be for military veterans during their healing process. Being able to connect with Northwell’s vast network of veterans has provided him with a support system throughout every step of his career while giving him a new way to serve his community.
“Northwell prides itself in being more than just a health system, it’s a family. Here you are able to be part of something greater than ourselves by serving our patients, communities and each other,” says Matthew. “This value is one of, if not the most, important foundation to a veteran’s life. Joining Northwell gives veterans an opportunity to be a part of that bigger picture again.”
Ready to translate your military skills into career success? Learn more about Northwell Health’s commitment to veterans.
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Sean Christensen’s 20 years of honorable service in the U.S. Marine Corps developed him into the leader he is today as manager of Distribution Operations at Northwell Health’s Core Lab in New Hyde Park. In his role, Sean manages a team across two separate warehouse locations and is responsible for planning and implementing process and quality improvements, process redesign, benchmarking, and educating teams on the distribution operations process.
Retiring as a Captain from the Marine Corps in 2017, Sean held many roles throughout his service, including Mortarman, Rifleman, Infantry Platoon Sergeant, Infantry Instructor, and Logistics Officer. Once he retired, Sean still felt the call to protect and serve people and he knew pursuing a healthcare career was the perfect opportunity for him to continue to better serve society. “I needed a job that allowed me to feel like I was a part of something bigger than myself and to give me a purpose, just like the Marine Corps had provided me,” says Sean. “Working in the healthcare industry provides me with the opportunity to continue to serve my local community.”
And serving in the military developed skills in Sean that made a career in healthcare the perfect next step. While he gained knowledge in planning and logistical operations in the Marine Corps that he utilizes now, Sean believes the leadership skills he gained are even more valuable. “Being able to work and lead a diverse group of people in any environment is the most sought out skill in any industry,” says Sean. “You can always learn the specifics of a job or role over time, but an individual who has leadership experience with various group sizes and cultures helps bring their team to the next level.”
Sean also feels he benefitted greatly from training with other militaries and interacting with citizens from around the world, having been deployed to over 20 countries, whether it was during peacetime, war, or for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. It’s an experience that he likens to being able to work as one of Northwell’s healthcare heroes. “They would look to our country and our military to help provide safety and relief whenever they are in a time of need,” says Sean. “Just as those who reside in the U.S. look to our first responders and hospitals to do the same for them when they need help.”
Now at Northwell, Sean has found a new team where he loves working among a group where everyone has a deep desire for continually improving how we provide services to customers and patients. Since Sean’s started, his team has restructured their receiving process and are currently restructuring their shelving system to better utilize the space available for storage of their more than 1,100 inventory line items. Along with implementing a new inventory system, they are continually changing and improving current processes to ensure the most efficient and effective workplace for the whole team. Sean feels that working at Northwell provides a collaborative environment where everyone’s voice can be heard as we all strive to better our organization.
“I would definitely recommend other veterans look to Northwell for their next career as this is a great place to grow your career and meet your professional goals,” says Sean. “Northwell looks out for their employees and is a very welcoming place to work for all.”
Find your next mission at Northwell Health. Learn about our commitment to veterans.
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As one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For®, Northwell Health is invested in our team members’ development and their career experience is of the utmost importance. With opportunities across our organization, Northwell implemented the GROW (Goals, Reflect, Opportunities, Will) model as a guide for important career conversations among team members and leaders to set goals, reflect on the career journey, explore opportunities, and how to get there.
We have a saying at Northwell that careers are well cared for and the GROW model truly supports our commitment in ensuring that the career aspirations of our team members are a part of their journey with us. Michael Dowling, Northwell President and CEO says, “We put our patients first, but to do that we need to take care of our employees and ensure a workplace that’s safe, life-affirming and team-oriented. Everyone at Northwell is connected by the common bond of service to our community.” Our commitment to the team member experience and alignment with their career aspirations is critical to our culture of innovation, and essential to ongoing efforts to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed, heard, and valued for their contributions.
Each member of the Northwell team is unique which means growth has a different meaning for every one of us based on our individual career interests and lifestyles. In order to celebrate these different strengths and goals, Northwell set out to create ways to support the personal and professional growth of our team.
The GROW model is what we use to guide career conversations and help leaders and team members collaborate on actionable, purposeful, and developmental plans aligned with their interests and available opportunities. This model shows members how to start or redirect themselves to their chosen and desired career path in one of our many career professions. It is completely customizable to meet their interests so that our team members can develop in a way that is most meaningful to them.
Careers conversations offer opportunities to strategize and develop action plans to reach certain goals and these conversations provide a structure that keeps the lines of communication open. They enable our leaders to be better career coaches and give a voice and a clear focus for our team members’ career paths.
Northwell is dedicated to helping employees achieve their goals by providing the steps and support necessary. Discover how you can GROW your career at Northwell Health.
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Our imaging professionals at Northwell Health play a vital role in helping patients get the diagnosis they need to receive care. Working at imaging centers and in hospitals across Long Island, New York City, Staten Island and Westchester, Northwell team members use state-of-the-art technology to guide and support our patients through every stage of their treatment. Whether they’re capturing x-rays or ultrasounds, these are true healthcare heroes providing care to the communities in which we live, love and belong.
As a CT Technologist, Carmen operates a computed tomography (CT) machine which creates detailed images of internal organs, bones, soft tissue and blood vessels. “I have the unique experience of being able to provide a safe and complete diagnostic exam using state-of-the-art technology,” says Carmen. “I enjoy helping patients have the best experience possible and appreciate the thanks and smiles I am given in return.” And using her skills, Carmen even had the unique opportunity to work with The Nature Conservancy to scan samples of water from different marshes using a CT scanner, a project designed to help improve the quality of water that surrounds Long Island.
While most people associate sonograms with pregnancy, Enid is a sonogram technologist who specializes in vascular disease. Working as a vascular technologist, she captures images used to help diagnose diseases of the arteries or veins. Seeking a technology-based career where she could help people, Enid found her calling in imaging. “My favorite thing about being an RVT is the variety of different tests I get to perform on a daily basis,” says Enid. “Some days I even assist the doctor with venous ablation procedure. It’s one thing to read about these procedures in school but the actual experience of assisting in surgery is so rewarding.”
As a mammography technologist, Erika is responsible for capturing an image of the breast that helps doctors diagnose abnormalities including breast cancer. Though a mammography may only take 10-15 minutes, Erika knows the importance of greeting her patients with a confident and friendly face during an experience that may leave some patients nervous. “It is our goal to provide a warm and comfortable environment for patients while providing quality imaging, emotional support and a patient rapport,” says Erika. “Breast cancer is known as one of the most common malignancies among women. It makes me proud to know I play an important role in prevention and disease management for the women in our community.”
Working as a radiologic technologist is extremely rewarding for Jacqueline, who prides her team on being able to think outside of the box to deliver care to patients who may have unique orthopaedic conditions. As a team lead, Jacqueline aids our surgeons to diagnose fractures, bone pathology, diseases, deformities as well as providing images of organs, soft tissue, and vessels. Using her practice’s imaging machines, she is able to capture the vital images surgeons need to treat quality of life impacting issues and deliver life-saving solutions to our patients. “I take pride in my work here at Northwell, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to assist others in need,” says Jacqueline. “We are always ready for anything while trying to make our patients as comfortable as possible.”
As a MRI technologist, Jamie first screens patients thoroughly to be certain it is safe for them to have an MRI. She prides herself on helping to ensure their overall experience is a smooth one. “My favorite thing about being an MRI Tech is the team that I work with,” says Jamie. “We always go the extra mile to ease our patients about whatever nerves they might be having. It’s nice to know that at the end of the day, people feel comfortable and safe coming to us. We are making a difference.”
Discover an radiology technology career well cared for at Northwell Health. Apply today!
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The Magnet Recognition Program® by the American Nurses Credentialing Center designates organizations around the world as nursing leaders in education and development and in exceptional care delivered to patients. Often considered the gold standard for nursing excellence, many of Northwell Health’s hospitals are on the journey to earning this elite status.
We’re proud to announce that as of this month, Northwell now has eight Magnet-designated hospitals in our system. The road to Magnet isn’t easy, it takes a lot of work, dedication, preparation and leadership. It’s an accomplishment that wouldn’t be possible without the nurses and nurse leaders at all of our facilities.
Starting as a registered nurse in the Emergency Department (ED), Andrew Wong, MS, RN, AGACNP-BC, CEN, CPEN, CCRN-K, has grown his nursing career at Lenox Hill Hospital (LHH). After becoming an ED nurse educator for LHH and Lenox Health Greenwich Village, Andrew’s career continued to grow. Today, he’s a Clinical Impact nurse practitioner with the Critical Care team – a role he helped create himself. When LHH started its journey toward earning the prestigious designation, Andrew’s work played a vital role.
As part of the designation, Andrew’s evidence-based practice project to create a new Clinical Impact NP role earned an exemplar by the Magnet Commission. For Andrew, it was a true culmination of the hard work throughout the last couple of years, as well as a reflection of the support Northwell provides in investing in their team members. This project was a dream for Andrew, who had felt this role was a vital addition to provide resources to his team while improving patient outcomes.
Since the creation of the Clinical Impact NP role, LHH has seen evidence of increased collaboration within the multidisciplinary team and increased standard of critical care to patients who require it. Today, LHH now has two Clinical Impact NPs.
“When I was watching the designation call and heard about the Clinical Impact Nurse Practitioner program being named one of the five exemplars, I immediately reflected on how we got there,” says Andrew. “Through mentorship, scholarship, and transformational leadership, our program was able to be successful and highlighted.”
Tameka Wallace, MSN-RN, CPAN, CCRN-K started her career at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) as a lobby service representative and then as a nursing assistant at NSUH where she was first inspired to pursue becoming a nurse. Tameka embraced her ambition and leadership ability and today is a nurse manager in the PACU at NSUH. As part of NSUH’s Magnet journey, Tameka was proud to serve as a Magnet Champion and Magnet Ambassador.
Both roles played a key importance in NSUH’s designation. As a champion, Tameka acted as a driving force of the Magnet Program at the hospital, utilizing the pillars of the process and implementing them within her units. And as an ambassador, Tameka and her team members networked with leaders from around the country to share best practices from other hospitals.. During the appraisal, Tameka also escorted a member from the appraisal team to different units, helping to showcase the hard work and accomplishments that the units prepared, a big honor during the Magnet review session.
It was these opportunities that helped Tameka to further develop her leadership skills and played a part in her promotion to nurse manager. Now as nurse manager, Tameka believes firmly in transformational leadership for her nurses. “Believing in the vision of the hospital and instilling it in your unit and your team inspires them to embrace it and work for it,” says Tameka. “This journey has taught me that involving clinical nurses at every opportunity is very important. In addition to support and nurse empowerment, as leaders we must ensure agility and the ability to facilitate innovations throughout an organization.”
Now as part of the re-designation team, Tameka is part of NSUH’s team, working to ensure re-designation. “I learned that Magnet is not something you get, but something you are. It’s something to be proud of and recognizes your nursing excellence. That is what makes the journey worthwhile.”
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Starting her career as an inspired young nurse following in the footsteps of her aunt, Maureen Hogan, DNP, RN, CCRN, AGNP, would soon find a way to inspire others in the same way. Her passion as a registered nurse in cardiology guided her to Northwell Health, where she became a registered nurse in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) in 1994.
Her career has spanned 26 years and today she’s a DNP in the Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplant program at LIJMC. As a nurse practitioner, Maureen is as ambitious as she is kind, working to support her patients and her team members. It’s this dedication to care that has earned her the recognition of being the Nurse Practitioner Association (NPA) New York State NP of the year.
“To be recognized by your peers is an amazing feeling. I am truly humbled and honored that the Awards Committee of the Nurse Practitioner Association (NPA) chose me as the recipient of the NPA State Nurse Practitioner of the year and that the NPA of Long Island chose me as the recipient of the Long Island award. There have been so many wonderfully accomplished recipients before me and I am so appreciative to be included in this group,” says Maureen. “It was also so special when my LIJMC cardiology family had a celebration for me with so many kind comments and well wishes.”
It was working nights in the CCU at LIJMC where she gained the incredible experience and built friendships that would carry through her exceptional career at Northwell. “Working as a nurse in the electrophysiology lab, where they have some of the most knowledgeable nurses I know and working on cardiac research provided a wonderful foundation for my NP practice,” says Maureen.
Wanting to grow her career, Maureen continued her education with support from Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program and graduated from the Hunter-Bellevue Nurse Practitioner Program as an Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner. After she graduated, she was hired at the Massapequa Heart Group, which later became part of Northwell Physician Partners. There she worked with wonderful physicians, NPs and support staff who are still like family.
Even though she is now a veteran of our organization, Maureen still considers herself fortunate to take part in programs at Northwell Health that promote her growth and professional development. It was this support that led her to continue her education again, graduating with her DNP in 2014 with the help of her clinical mentor and our tuition reimbursement program.
It was while earning her DNP that Maureen had the opportunity to co-author publications with clinical advisors and conduct an IRB approved study at Northwell entitled, Testing the effect of a Home based exercise intervention on Older Patients with Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillators.
In her current role, Maureen cares for patients in the outpatient heart failure clinic at LIJ with director Dr. Sandeep Jauhar, Dr. Samit Shah and PA Tamara Diaz and on the inpatient service when new and current patients are admitted with heart failure. “I continue to learn so much from my fellow nurses, ACPs and doctors on the Advanced Heart Failure, Mechanical Support and Heart Transplant team,” says Maureen. “It makes me proud to participate in the weekly evaluation and research meetings.”
Having found rewarding opportunities at every turn within Northwell, it has inspired Maureen to help her fellow nurses and team members find their own potential. On top of her duties as an adjunct professor at both Hunter College and Adelphi, she mentors and acts as a preceptor for many students and registered nurses looking to find their way as healthcare professionals. “To have a small part in giving back to the profession is so rewarding,” says Maureen. “It makes me smile when I see them succeeding in their clinical roles.”
And with confidence of her own, Maureen has consistently evolved and demonstrated how commitment, passion and ambition can be the launchpad for taking your career to new heights. “My favorite thing about being an NP at Northwell is being part of a group with so much support and spirit that gives you the feeling you are part of a big 74,000+ member family.”
Discover careers well cared for and explore nurse practitioner and other ACP positions. Get moving at NorthwellCareers.com
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For Nelson Martinez, a supervisor in Environmental Services (EVS) at Plainview Hospital, a commitment to helping and protecting others led him to a lifelong career in healthcare and in the U.S. Army Reserves.
It was an unexpected career journey for Nelson, who back in 2004 hadn’t planned on an EVS career. “Over the years I’ve learned a lot from being in the healthcare environment and really became excited to pursue it,” says Nelson. “It’s so rewarding being in a field where you can help the community and people all around you.”
The reward of helping others was also one he found while serving in the Army Reserves, which he first joined in 2007 and continues to serve in today. As an engineer operating heavy equipment, Nelson has been deployed twice: once in 2010 for 14 months and again in 2014 for nine months.
“Northwell has shown me great support while I’ve been at work and whenever I have had to go on deployments,” says Nelson. “My management team has also been very supportive and has always asked if there’s anything I need or if they can help.”
Throughout his training and deployment, Nelson has developed skills that he’s been able to bring back to his work at Plainview Hospital. “Serving in the military has taught me leadership skills, how to train others and the ability to adapt to any situation as they occur,” says Nelson.
Adaptability and leadership skills were especially vital to Nelson this year during the COVID-19 pandemic where our EVS team members played a vital role in keeping our patients, team members and facilities safe. Having just grown into his supervisor role at the start of the pandemic, Nelson relied on his leadership experience to stay on top of their new responsibilities, to make sure his team members and the patients were being safe and to ensure a thoroughly and properly cleaned environment.
Within the hospital, he has found a team environment where he has enjoyed being able to partner with various departments where each team member serves an important role in our united mission to deliver compassionate care. He also loves being able to build rewarding moments with patients and visitors, many of whom he is able to connect with over a shared experience of having served in the military.
At Northwell, Nelson has found an organization with diverse opportunities. “Northwell is an awesome place to build and pursue a career,” says Nelson. “There are so many different fields to choose from, just like in the military.”
Find your next mission at Northwell Health. Learn about our commitment to veterans here.
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Lisa Peters, MBA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, CCRN, started her registered nurse career at Lenox Hill Hospital (LHH) with a passion in caring for others and a drive for making a difference. Today, decades later, her passion and drive are alive as ever.
Gaining valuable experience at each step of her career, Lisa began as a clinical registered nurse in medical/surgical, step-down, and the ICU departments, and grew in her role to nurse manager for the surgical stepdown/ICU. Her ambition was welcomed because at Northwell we are championed to think beyond our jobs and envision a long career path ahead of us. That’s just one reason why the health system has been named a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®.
Northwell takes pride in its employees by equipping them with the resources and support they need to reach their fullest potential, including continuing their education. For Lisa, that was a dream come true. Since starting with Northwell, she has benefitted from our tuition reimbursement and paid certification programs. “I love my career here at Northwell because it has afforded me many opportunities to grow personally and professionally,” says Lisa. “I have been able to complete my BSN and my MBA in addition to my NE-BC and CCRN through programs offered or supported by Northwell.”
As compassionate as she is ambitious, Lisa finds these opportunities are the perfect way to help give even more to her patients. Along with a commitment to growth, she values that Northwell encourages interdisciplinary collaboration that results in positive patient outcomes. She says, “Northwell supports us in being our best selves and this in turn allows us to be our best for our patients.” Being our best and true selves is a core value at Northwell and it goes beyond who you are as a professional. Named Best Health System for Diversity by DiversityInc., Northwell’s mission is to create an environment where employees feel embraced regardless of their backgrounds or identities. This in effect impacts the greater community because our workforce is representative of it.
Lisa’s work in helping to transform care, optimize patient satisfaction, and create better patient outcomes through teamwork and service excellence, has not gone unnoticed throughout our organization. Lisa received the Distinction in Nursing Leadership Award. Now as nurse manager in the surgical stepdown/ICU at LHH, Lisa is leading and guiding other registered nurses through their own career journeys. “I have a passion for nursing at Northwell because of my own growth, but also because Northwell supports my ability to foster the same growth in others. Anyone who has the desire to grow is nurtured.”
When asked why she loves Northwell Health, her answer was simple. “Our values are not just words on a banner; we actually live by them,” she says.
Find a nursing career well cared for at Northwell Health. Apply today!
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For Danny Sosa, working as a peer advocate at Zucker Hillside Hospital (ZHH) isn’t just a job, it’s a way for him to make a difference using his own life experience.
Danny started his Northwell Health journey as a volunteer in our Peer Training program that helps prepare individuals to work as peer advocates. Our peer advocates are vital Northwell team members who provide support and advice for individuals going through similar experiences or who have disabilities. Throughout the three-month program, Danny learned from current colleagues about what peer work entails, as well as volunteering to go to the inpatient wards as a peer-in-training to get hands-on experience leading groups. After completion, Danny was partnered with a job coach and maintains close bonds with his fellow peers-in-training to this day.
Now as a peer advocate, Danny works closely with OnTrackNY, a program that helps adolescents and young adults who may have behavioral health needs, and Strong365, a mental health support community. Meeting with these individuals in the Early Treatment program, Danny runs and participates in group sessions as well as other activities part of the program.
Having received support from OnTrackNY himself gives Danny the valuable opportunity to connect with the program participants. “Being a peer advocate is about bringing my personal life experience to a conversation,” says Danny. “I get to help people currently going through a hard point in their life the same way I was helped. Being able to share how I grew and continue to learn from it can help others. I strongly believe it’s small steps leading to big changes.”
At Northwell’s ZHH, Danny found an inclusive environment that welcomed him as an asset to the team, not only for his hard work and passion, but also for his ability to deliver unique support and understanding. “Since I started at ZHH, the whole team has been very welcoming. Hearing how much of a difference having me participate in groups can make from team members or having a participant speak to me after a program, allows me to appreciate what an amazing opportunity I have to help people here.”
Danny has flourished in his career at Northwell and has even recently been asked to participate in a statewide project. This 18-month research project with Strong365, OntrackNY and Northwell provides New York residents who have behavioral health needs with mental health resources. Danny will act as one of the contacts that individuals can reach out to in order to be connected to the right programs for their needs.
His commitment to helping others with behavioral health needs has set him up for a future within our organization. “Being part of Northwell has allowed me to forge my own path as a peer,” says Danny. “The support and training I received helped me to become comfortable with sharing my story and feeling that I was contributing in a positive way to someone’s first experience.” Believing in little moments, he helps deliver Truly Compassionate care and understanding to people in their time of need.
Use your life experience to build a career well cared for at Northwell Health. Apply today!
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The dedication of our respiratory care team at Northwell Health is indescribable, especially during the unprecedented times of COVID-19. Our respiratory therapists deliver vital care through their hard work, teamwork and compassion. This week we celebrate Respiratory Therapist Appreciation Week and recognize our extraordinary team members.
Meet Yang (Emily) Shi, assistant director of Respiratory Therapy at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). Emily has grown in her career at Northwell since she started as a Respiratory Therapist in 2006 on the NICU unit at NSUH. Specializing in neonatal and adult critical care, Emily has developed a skillset that lets her explore many career opportunities and advance her knowledge as a respiratory therapist.
In her current role, Emily oversees the day-to-day operations of the Respiratory Therapy department which includes team management, projects and patient care. To further her education and management skills, she is currently pursuing her MBA in Management and Leadership with the assistance of the Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program.
Respiratory therapists have always been a vital part of the healthcare system, but when COVID-19 peaked the need for respiratory team members grew rapidly. During this time respiratory therapists worked tirelessly to save their patients’ lives and Emily and her team had to rethink the way they cared for their patients on ventilators, prioritize their resources and learn how to keep their patients and colleagues safe.
“It has been stressful yet rewarding to work as a respiratory therapist throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Emily. “Nothing makes me prouder than seeing a patient being liberated from ventilator or oxygen support and seeing them go home to their loved ones. I am proud to work at Northwell Health because it is an organization that provides quality, innovative care and is invested in the well-being of their communities and team members.”
Thank you to all of Northwell’s respiratory therapy healthcare heroes today and every day. Join the respiratory therapist heroes at Northwell Health.
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At Northwell Health, we’re committed to building an inclusive and safe environment for our team members where we can all be Truly Ourselves. Our Spoken Word event encouraged individuality as team members and their families engaged in powerful self-expression.
Hosted virtually by Northwell’s Social, Belonging & Inclusion Council, this unique night of verbal expression offered team members an opportunity to creatively share what’s on their mind. Employees from all roles and teams within our organization had the opportunity to join and perform artistic pieces that focused on a variety of topics including allyship, COVID-19, diversity and inclusion, recovery, resilience and social justice.
“When we envisioned the Spoken Word event, we were excited to highlight the talent and diversity of our Northwell Health family,” says Dorean J. Flores, senior manager, Human Research Protection Program and member of the council. “Showcasing and attending an event founded in unity and interwoven with artistry invoked a sense of pride in being a part of an organization that exemplifies camaraderie.”
As part of that unity, the event created a space to share a passion from their personal lives with team members – whether that be from the topic they chose or simply the act of performing itself. For Emily Kagan-Trenchard, vice president, Digital & Innovation Strategy, and one of the night’s performers and MC, that meant connecting an artform that has been a big part of her life for over two decades with her friends and colleagues.
“What I love about spoken word events is the way it bridges all divides. It insists that all truths are worthy of an audience but makes no other demands on the shape or form that truth must take,” says Emily. “Because here’s the thing: there is no spoken word without the audience. It requires a speaker and a listener and that makes it a profound tool for building community.”
Another performer, Jeremiah Mallari, a workforce intelligence analyst in HR Operations, was grateful for an outlet to express himself while connecting to Northwell’s community, going on to even share his performance from the night online. “The Spoken Word Event was a beautiful picture of Northwell’s Culture of C.A.R.E (Connectedness, Awareness, Respect & Empathy),” says Jeremiah. “We’re all unique and hearing the different thoughts and passions of our team members perfectly depicts that. Each of the artists that performed showed their true selves and they were each embraced and celebrated.”
The spirit and passion for expression was felt throughout all 12 of the performances, with the night ending in a group virtual dance party. Healing was a continual theme through the night with the pieces allowing team members to get support and feel heard – something especially important as our healthcare heroes recover from COVID-19 in these unprecedented times.
“This event created a moment of connection and vulnerability that felt so necessary, so affirming and so urgent for all of us. The gift of spoken word is not only in the poem or the song or the freestyle that is shared, it is as much in the gift of space to listen,” says Emily. “Because this is how we get better. We sit together with the beautiful and difficult truths about the work we do for our patients, for our communities, and for ourselves to heal.”
Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
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Northwell Health is proud to recognize Filipino American History Month and this year’s theme: “The History of Filipino American Activism.” Every October since 1988, communities celebrate the role that Filipinos have played throughout American history. During World War II, Filipinos fought in the United States and in the Philippines alongside the United States to obtain world peace. By working in various fields such as technology, healthcare, construction, education, and more, Filipino Americans have contributed to the economic growth of this country. As of 2018, there are 4.1 million Filipino Americans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey (ACS) data. Filipino Americans are the country’s second largest self-reported Asian ancestry group.
We asked a few members of our Bridges Asian BERG what Filipino American History Month means to them and how they celebrate. We are proud to celebrate these individuals as well as all Filipino Americans who have brought creativity, passion and innovative ideas to life!
“I’m honoring this year’s theme by educating myself and engaging with others through watching documentaries, participating in a few of Northwell’s many diversity-focused activities, taking Northwell’s Introduction to Unconscious Bias course, reading about Larry Itliong, who organized Fil-Am farm laborers in California in the 1960s, and most important, I’m using my platform as a leader within Northwell to make space for important conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion.”
“To me, Filipino American History Month serves as a reminder to take the time to reflect on our roots, remember our family and ancestors, and take the opportunity to incorporate our culture in our everyday lives. It’s a chance to share and educate others about our heritage and culture. It’s really an honor that we are given recognition.”
“Filipino American History Month is a time when I can reflect on the impact Filipinos have made in the fabric of our country, in all sectors and systems like finance, culinary and healthcare. We celebrate Filipino American History Month in our home by making our favorite Filipino dishes, like Sinigang, a tangy, tamarind-based soup. It’s a time to appreciate the things that make Filipino culture unique and also intertwined with the world.””
“For me, Filipino American History Month means a time to reflect on my Filipino heritage. As a Filipino/Japanese woman, I am excited to spend time learning more about my family’s Filipino traditions and history this month.”
“This month gives me an opportunity to learn more about the contributions that Filipino-Americans have made to this country. I look up to my mother who came here in the 1960s as a nurse. I look at how happy she is and I am grateful for what she sacrificed by coming here to give my brothers and me a better life.”
“As a Filipino American, it is important for me to see myself and other co-workers of similar heritage develop professionally. Being part of the Asian BERG allows me to have a voice and share ideas in an inclusive and diverse environment to help improve the health outcomes in our communities. It serves as a platform for me to collaborate with talented people within and outside of our organization.”
“The Filipino American History Month is a recognition of all my fellow Filipino’s economic, historical and cultural contributions in the United States. We celebrate our heritage, not just this month, but every day through food, music and relationships with people.”
Join a team that celebrates the power of being Truly Ourselves. Learn more about Northwell Health’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
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As October marks Physical Therapy Month, we at Northwell Health are honored to celebrate the healthcare professionals who are committed to helping patients improve movement, increase mobility, and recover from injury to live their lives to their fullest potential.
Our rehabilitation teams are staffed with licensed physical therapists who provide patients with the education, support, and motivation they need to enhance and restore functional ability. Among them is Soledad Tomasino, an experienced senior physical therapist (PT).
Having started her career in orthopedic physical therapy with Northwell a decade ago, Soledad was determined to advance her skills in ways that would lead to a rewarding and decorated career. Four years ago, she made the shift to Pelvic Health and most recently, she received her Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC) from Herman and Wallace, an institution that provides continued education for medical professionals seeking to improve their practice of pelvic treatment and rehabilitation.
For Soledad, seeking opportunities for growth outside of Northwell would help enhance her experience within. And with the unrelenting support of our organization, her professional growth was inevitable. At Northwell’s Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) in Manhasset, Soledad’s found a positive environment that fosters togetherness amongst our employees and empowers them to be at their best. It creates an atmosphere where their personal goals and patient goals can be realized. Soledad notes, “STARS is a family, especially amongst the pelvic floor team. We’ve supported each other through many stages of life including getting married and having our own babies.”
Soledad takes on a number of responsibilities as senior PT, from mentoring newly hired Pelvic Floor therapists to participating in the development of the Pelvic Floor manual. But of the many roles she has, the one she appreciates the most is the opportunity she has to make an impact in the lives of her patients. “What I like the most about my career is to help my patients achieve their personal goals,” says Soledad. “It’s rewarding when patients tell me their therapy helped them regain their quality of life.”
Northwell thanks Soledad and all of our committed physical therapists who work tirelessly to make a difference. If you’re interested in working for an organization that specializes in rehabilitation with recovery as a top priority, get moving and apply today.
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Photo: Mary Curran meets with Dora Kakurieva (patient care associate), Gerty Lahens (clerical support associate) and Nadine Simmons-Ziegler, RN, (director of Patient Care Services) at LIJFH (left to right). LIJFH was at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic and our team embraced this challenge to care for our community in its darkest time of need. Moreover, 2020 was also the Year of the Nurse – a year that became truly defined by the bravery, courage, and empathy of our teams, with the nurses and teams of LIJFH on the front line. Our nurses and teams truly transformed to become superheroes who provided exceptional, compassionate care for the mind, body, and souls of our community through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Utilizing science, teamwork, best practices and empathy, they care for our patients from the beginning of life, through the continuum of life, and assure dignity and respect at the end of life. I am extraordinarily proud and humbled to work beside this team of extraordinary nurses. The support our team was provided during COVID and COVID recovery was multifaceted. To begin, our teams were assured proper PPE and resources to keep them safe, their patients safe, and subsequently our community safe. Partnering with the Institute for Nursing and FlexStaff, we brought in traveler and per diem nurses to assist with the care needed for the influx of patients. Next, via our partnership with Human Resources and Employee Health Services, team members were afforded mental health resources onsite, during and after the peak of the pandemic. In addition, we employed leadership rounding to thank our teams, accepted food donations for our teams from our community, were inspired by 7 p.m. daily clap outs from the neighborhood, and participated in team wellness activities, such as rock painting and therapeutic cafés. LIJFH continually supports the growth and development and lifelong learning of our nurses. Professional development is supported and encouraged through certification preparation courses and monetary compensation for certification, tuition reimbursement, nurse residency programs, flexible scheduling to accommodate higher learning, continuing education opportunities and comprehensive orientation programs. We are in the process of our Pathway to Excellence Journey which began several years ago. Pathway to Excellence is the American Nurses Credentialing Center accreditation that globally recognizes positive practice environments that are committed to nursing workplace excellence. Our submission for this accreditation will be April 2021. We are incredibly proud of the clinical outcomes, shared governance structure and professional practices of our nursing teams and are looking forward to gaining this accreditation. Two top thoughts come to mind: growth opportunities and employee engagement via shared governance. The growth opportunities that Northwell offers are endless. Many nursing team members here will tell you that their leaders and mentors facilitated their growth, spirit of inquiry, and passion for the profession of nursing. Growth and mentorship are foundational to Northwell and many career pathways demonstrate that. In addition, employee engagement is facilitated via shared governance councils and structures. Here, team members at all levels of the organization have a voice in hospital decision making. Fundamentally, the teams are able to create and drive processes at the front line, for the front line. Northwell Health truly is a great place to work!
CNO Corner – A conversation with Mary Curran
Mary Curran, EdD, MSN, RN-BC decided to join Northwell Health while taking classes for her master’s degree where she was inspired by her professor, Maureen White, executive vice president and chief nurse executive at Northwell.
“The class was amazing,” says Mary. “I was so inspired by her leadership, passion for the profession of nursing, and the brand of Northwell, that I made the decision to work for this amazing leader and this progressive health system.”
Since starting at Northwell as a nurse educator at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) in 2011, Mary has built a career that is inspiring nurses with her passion and leadership the same way Maureen inspired her. She grew her career from assistant director of Nursing Education to Magnet program director and director of Patient Care Services at LIJMC. In 2015 she was ready for the next step in her career and transitioned to become chief nursing officer at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills (LIJFH) where she continues to lead her nurses and inspire growth, passion and development.
Read more in this CNO Corner interview with Mary.How have the nurses at LIJFH delivered exceptional and compassionate care during the COVID-19 outbreak?
What are some of the ways LIJFH has been supporting their nurses and other team members throughout the COVID-19 recovery?
How does LIJFH support their team in growth and development?
What exciting nursing initiatives are in the works at LIJFH?
We’re also proud to announce that we have successfully achieved the GOLD-level American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Beacon Award for Excellence. A Gold-Level Designation is the top honor of its kind nationally and recognizes the culture and accomplishments of the entire inter-professional team (including the critical care unit’s registered nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners, PCAs, clerks, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, social workers, case managers, nutritionists and environmental services aides). Our GOLD-Level achievement is a phenomenal testament to the culture and outcomes of the ICU team and only 18 other hospitals in New York State have earned this designation.What makes Northwell a great place to work?
Interested in joining the nursing team at LIJFH? Apply today!
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Focusing on team member well-being at Northwell Health is a walk in the park – a virtual one that is. 2,774 teams made up of 15,691 team members are virtually walking our National Parks as they compete in this year’s employee step challenge for the chance to win $5,000!
During our Walk to the Parks innovative employee step challenge, teams of six have six weeks to walk two million steps, the distance between all national parks. Tracking their physical activity, each day brings them one step closer to their goal and unlocks virtual destinations throughout their wellness journey. Any team that successfully goes the distance will be entered into the grand prize raffle – a $5,000 prize for each team member.
In these unprecedented challenging times, it’s more important than ever for our team members to find the time to focus on their own well-being. From walks outdoors during lunch to safely gathering in parks on days off, our teams are finding fun ways to get their steps in while gaining more energy, developing healthy habits and improving mental health. Additionally, for many of our currently remote employees, it provides a unique chance to connect with their teammates despite the temporary distance.
“Walk to the Parks is more than getting in your steps, it’s about team building, challenging yourself and taking time for your own well-being,” says Niha Malcomson, manager, Employee Wellness. “Now more than ever, it is something that is needed by all.”
And this isn’t Northwell’s first step challenge! Each year Northwell provides a fun opportunity to increase physical activity while allowing team members to focus on their own well-being in unique competitions. Last year’s Walk to Rome challenge included 2,018 teams who walked a total of 9,116,790,338 steps. That’s 4,558,395 miles – or enough steps to travel 183 times around the Earth!
With so many team members competing in this year’s challenge, Northwell Health is ready for a journey both to the parks and to better well-being.
Are you up for the challenge? Get moving and apply to Northwell Health today!!
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Kerry Wallace’s Northwell Health journey started right after college graduation and has grown with her through each stage of her 35 years here. Today she’s director of Academic Affairs at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, where she is responsible for their educational activities including fellowship program accreditation and continuing medical education programs.
Throughout her long career here, Kerry always felt supported by an organization she feels is preparing a workforce for the future era of healthcare. And as an individual with spina bifida, she’s felt supported as a team member with a disability as well. “Being disabled can definitely be a challenge in many situations. However, I’ve always felt supported during my career with Northwell and the door for opportunity has always been open for me. I also enjoy the work I do with the N-ABLE BERG to help individuals with disabilities advance their careers like I have done.”
After interning for two summers with the heath system, Kerry joined the Northwell team full-time as a cancer registrar at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). It was while working here doing cancer data management and state reporting that Kerry earned her master’s degree, receiving assistance from Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program. “I knew continuing my education was important to future career goals,” says Kerry. “In addition to tuition reimbursement, the leadership at NSUH also allowed me the opportunity to do an administrative internship after hours and still work at the hospital.”
From there, Kerry’s career journey included working as an administrative coordinator with the Cancer Program at NSUH, a manager in Research and Education and later in Educational Initiatives at the Monter Cancer Center.
The diverse programs she experienced throughout her career were ones she valued. “I was a science major in college and always liked to learn more scientific information on cancer and potential treatments,” says Kerry. It also helped prepare her for her current role of working in Academic Affairs. “Now I am able to assist in bringing new knowledge to our clinicians and in my own way help advance care of cancer patients in the future.”
While impressive already, Kerry’s career journey isn’t finished yet. She wants to continue to grow and develop while doing her part to advance the treatment and survival of cancer. “Northwell has been a large part of my life, from college summer jobs, to various stages of my career, to the birth place of my daughter. Throughout my career, my career moves often had to do with not only need, but the desire to learn new areas of the field. I have stayed for so many years because of the new opportunities I have been given along the way.”
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Meet Patrick Barnes, a registered nurse in the Emergency Department (ED) Nurse Fellowship at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). Beginning his nursing career in October just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the initial months of his fellowship provided Patrick with the essential emergency nursing skills to work in a high-acuity, fast-paced emergency department- a unique start to his career.
The ED Nurse Fellowship helps new graduate and registered nurses who may be entering a new specialty gain invaluable skills before working on their own in the ED. As a fellow, Patrick spent the first 10-weeks of his career at Northwell’s Institute for Nursing with classroom education and simulation trainings to teach him the basics of working in the ED and prepare him to start working 12-hour shifts in December.
As our emergency rooms saw a temporary increase in patient volume as the pandemic peaked in March, Patrick found strength from the experienced team around him in the ED. “Our preceptors and the other nurses in our unit have helped the nurse fellows and other new hires prepare for increased patient flow during COVID-19,” says Patrick. “Though demands in our ED would change daily, myself and the fellows I started with were able to adapt tremendously thanks to their support. We would have daily briefs and education to reinforce skills that would keep us and our patients safe.”
While his fellowship continues, the format has changed to keep our team members safe while complying with COVID-19 restrictions. Trainings and certifications are now taught through virtual platforms or while practicing social distancing in small classroom settings. Throughout the unprecedented circumstances, Patrick has never felt the guidance from Northwell and his leadership waver.
With his fellowship now nearly over, Patrick feels prepared to start the next stages of his RN career at Northwell. “Within my first year as a nurse, Northwell has given me opportunities and training that I feel I may not have been offered elsewhere,” says Patrick. “It feels like a family once you begin to work with the team in the ED.”
Patrick’s passion for emergency nursing is the foundation for growing his career at Northwell. Working in the ED, he’s seen firsthand how our nurses have moved onto educator and management roles within the system. “It is exciting to see many of our team members move on to earn their MSN and have the support of the ED behind them,” says Patrick. “I am excited to see what the future holds at Northwell.”
Start your nursing career with Northwell Health. Learn more about our nurse fellowship programs.