Northwell provides the right tools and support system for all veterans to succeed

Melonie Pernice has been focused on service and care for others since working as a radiology specialist as a sergeant in the U.S. Army. Now, as the associate executive director of hospital operations at Glen Cove Hospital, she has utilized her military skills to enable her team to be more efficient in their daily tasks. We connected with Melonie to hear more of her story in her own words.

Tell us about your military experience and how it impacted your career at Northwell.

While I was in the Army, I was the noncommissioned officer who oversaw my platoon and the radiology department.  That experience taught me resilience, loyalty, and adaptability as I gained leadership skills that I still carry with me in my current role at Northwell today.

What excites you about working in your role at Northwell Health?

Northwell is a wonderful place to work, and I have been afforded so much opportunity here.  I’ve been able to take advantage of numerous professional development courses and I have great mentors that push me to learn as much as I can. I enjoy working in a hospital setting because I have oversight of many different departments and I appreciate that everyone’s goal is centered around our patients and the communities that we serve.

What skills did you learn in the military that helped you transition into your civilian career here at Northwell?

While facing extremely stressful situations with my team in Iraq and Kuwait, as the radiology specialist, I was given the opportunity to attend Warrior Leadership College and complete the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer’s Course. During my time there, I acted as the unit drug and alcohol use prevention leader, physical training sergeant, and Radiology Department head for my platoon. I believe this training along with those experiences made me a well-rounded leader who is extremely adaptable to change, ultimately making my transition into a civilian career seamless.

How does Northwell support you as a veteran personally and professionally?

Northwell has a commitment to hiring veterans and they also have many programs to support veterans and their families. I am lucky enough to have been appointed as a co-chair to Northwell Health’s VALOR BERG (Business Employee Resource Group) to enhance engagement, innovation, talent development and promote an inclusive culture that aligns with our organizational mission, values, goals, business practices, and objectives. My time in the VALOR BERG has given me the opportunity to meet other veterans and to be a mentor. We do a great deal of community service including our most recent collaboration with the Green BERG, to cleaning up memorials around the local community. We also participate in networking events to assist with recruiting and hiring veterans and their family members here at Northwell.

In what other ways has Northwell supported your career growth?

I’m a mentor for the Diversity Mentorship program and was able to utilize Northwell’s tuition reimbursement support to help pay for my MBA and my current path for my doctorate degree in professional studies with an area of concentration in management.  I was also fortunate enough to serve as a veteran mentor to students who may want to join the health system after they graduate.

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