How Veteran Lenore Brathwaite uses skills she learned in the U.S. Army at Northwell Health Laboratories

Lenore Elizabeth Brathwaite, who is a six-year Army Reserves veteran, two years deployed during Desert Storm, and today is a project manager of Hospital Laboratory Integration and Operations at Northwell Health.
Lenore gained vital skills in the military that help shaped her civilian career today. In the U.S. Army, she held many roles such as a Sergeant, blood transfusion coordinator, and phlebotomy supervisor. This helped her to learn skills ranging from. communications and leadership, to the ability to work under pressure and problem solve . “The military taught me to handle change and adapt to new situations in a short amount of time,” says Lenore. “My flexibility to adapt to changing environments allows me to stay productive and positive.  As a section Sergeant I always had to remain calm and be confident in my leadership decisions to lead my team.”

Transitioning into healthcare

Lenore’s interest in healthcare sparked when she was in high school and witnessed her mother undergo chemotherapy treatments. She saw how important it was to be the voice for the patient and  to always have empathy and patience.  This is what she practices with her team now as she helps lead projects.
She started her Northwell journey in 2012 as a point of care supervisor (POCT) at Long Island Jewish Hospital. This role gave Lenore the opportunity to coach her team to provide quality care. Throughout the years she has grown into her career in hospital laboratory operations and in her current role as a project manager, Lenore coordinates with senior leadership, assists in projects, and prepares financial and quarterly reports as a project manager. And as a clinical laboratory technologist, Lenore’s experience helps her lead and enabled her pitch and help her team when necessary, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her time serving the country and working in healthcare enabled Lenore to become a great team member. “Northwell has many great leaders.  I had the pleasure to work with and learn from a few of them during my past years,” she says. Lenore is inspired by Northwell’s President and CEO Michael Dowling and his dedication to veterans in addition to his leadership motivates her to work harder.
In addition to learning from her leaders, Lenore is also a member of Northwell’s veteran-focused Business Employee Resource Group VALOR (Veterans and Allies: Liaisons of Reintegration). Being a part of this group allows her to connect with other members of the military, veterans and their families. “VALOR has great resources to help veterans transition. We are a BERG comprised of fellow veterans from all roles across the organization. Who better to understand the hardship of transitioning from military to civilian status but us,” Lenore says.
Lenore feels supported, encouraged, and honored at Northwell as a veteran and encourages fellow veterans to explore the limitless opportunities that are offered!
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