A recipe for success: Growing from dietary aide to director of operations at Northwell Health.

Sep 22, 2026/in Career Paths /by sgreer2

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A recipe for success: Growing from dietary aide to director of operations at Northwell Health.

Northwell’s sterile processing technicians ensure the critical instruments our physicians rely on are decontaminated and sterilized before every procedure. At America’s largest sterile processing center in Bethpage, NY, our Northwell technicians provide round-the-clock support using innovative technology. Read on to learn more about Justin’s career journey to become director of operations of sterile processing at Northwell’s Central Sterile Processing Center.

Justin Schmidt joined Northwell in 2012 as a dietary aide working in the kitchen at Plainview Hospital. That’s when a colleague introduced him to the nearby sterile processing area during a brief lunch conversation. Curious to learn more, Justin connected with team members within the sterile processing department, and discovered an interest for the field. While working as a dietary aide at Plainview Hospital, he earned his sterile processing certification. After completing the required hands-on experience through volunteering opportunities at Northwell, in 2018 he moved into his new role as a sterile processing technician at Northwell’s South Shore University Hospital. In this role, he was responsible for decontaminating and sterilizing inventory and equipment to ensure they were safe for use before returning them to their departments.

Justin continued to develop at Northwell. “The opportunities, stability and meaningful work that this organization provides makes Northwell such a great place to grow any career,” he said. In 2020, he became supervisor, at Central Sterile, where he managed the staff’s daily operations to ensure adherence to proper sterilization procedures. In 2022, he advanced to manager of operations, where he oversaw the sterile processing team members, managed the operational budget, and guided his team toward the department’s objectives. Two years later, he was promoted to senior manager of operations, which allowed him to build on his leadership skills and gain experience managing a larger team.

Today, as the director of operations of sterile processing at Central Sterile, Justin oversees the decontamination, inspection, packaging and distribution of surgical instrumentation and equipment to multiple Northwell sites, including five hospitals and two ambulatory centers. Justin said, “What I love most about my job now is leading a passionate team who shows up ready to support our operating rooms, surgeons and most importantly, our patients.”

“My growth at Northwell has been supported every step of the way— from my leaders who mentored me and encouraged me to build my leadership skills to the colleagues I get to work with every day,” shared Justin.

Grow your career as a sterile processing technician at Northwell today.

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Discover Farhana’s career journey as a senior specialty pharmacist at Northwell Health’s Vivo Health Pharmacy

Sep 21, 2026/in Featured Articles, Pharmacy /by mperlman

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Discover Farhana’s career journey as a senior specialty pharmacist at Northwell Health’s Vivo Health Pharmacy

Throughout her time at Northwell, Farhana Khalid has received guidance, mentorship and opportunities to take on new challenges, which have been instrumental in her professional growth. Read on to learn more about Farhana, who grew her career from specialty pharmacist to senior specialty pharmacist at Northwell Health’s Vivo Health Pharmacy.

Farhana began her career with us in 2018 as a specialty pharmacist at Northwell’s Vivo Health Pharmacy, located in the Center for Advanced Medicine (CFAM) in New Hyde Park, New York. There, she was able to hone her skills in oncology and transplant — managing medication for patients with chronic or rare diseases, providing education on treatments and addressing side effects of medications. Farhana also collaborated with her colleagues to navigate prior authorizations and served as a patient advocate to ensure seamless, accessible and specialized care for patients, thereby enhancing their experience.

During her time as a specialty pharmacist, Farhana was supported by Northwell in her pursuit of specialized certifications. After passing the Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP) exam in 2021, she began working as a certified specialty pharmacist at Vivo Health Pharmacy at CFAM. In this role, Farhana assisted patients in managing their medications, ensured that they understood their treatments and any potential side effects, and also served as a patient advocate striving for the best possible health outcomes. Mastering this position led to her promotion to senior specialty pharmacist this year at CFAM.

As a senior specialty pharmacist, Farhana guides and supervises a team of pharmacists and their daily operations to ensure efficient service delivery. She performs all the duties she did as a certified pharmacist but also participates in additional programs that continue to drive quality and excellence in patient care within the pharmacy. Reflecting on her current position, Farhana shared that it is most rewarding for her to see her patients achieve their health goals and overcome challenges. “I enjoy working closely with patients, healthcare providers and my team to provide personalized patient care and support. I love that I can make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives as a senior specialty pharmacist.”

Farhana is proud of her achievements during her time at Northwell, especially her career progression and the opportunity to become certified and develop leadership and mentorship skills. “My team members have come to seek my guidance and mentorship, which is both humbling and rewarding,” said Farhana. As a mentor for others in specialty pharmacy, she offers advice to those looking to grow their career, “Throughout my time at Northwell, I have embraced opportunities for learning, building strong relationships and staying adaptable to advance my career. I encourage new team members to stay curious, look for growth opportunities and don’t be afraid to ask questions or take on new challenges.”

Discover a career well cared for with our Vivo Health Pharmacy team and learn more about opportunities with Northwell Health today.

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Explore a career as a patient care associate at Northwell Health.

Sep 16, 2026/in Career Paths, Featured Articles /by kaiello

Explore a career as a patient care associate at Northwell Health

Northwell patient care associates provide direct care and support to our patients under the guidance of our nurses and physicians. It’s a Truly Compassionate role where our team members can positively impact the communities we serve.

When you explore a career well cared for as a patient care associate with our team, you’ll find a fulfilling career with opportunities to expand your clinical skills, pursue new certifications and advance your education.

Patient care associates play an important role in delivering compassionate, hands-on care to our patients. Their responsibilities include phlebotomy, EKGs, collecting specimens and cultures, assisting with activities of daily living, performing simple wound dressings, taking vital signs and supporting other essential patient care needs.

Here are the qualifications required for a patient care associate at Northwell:

High school diploma or equivalent, required.
One to three (1-3) years of relevant experience, required.

Learn more about how you can begin your journey and see how Jessica and Guillermo took different paths. Their inspiring career journeys demonstrate how starting as a patient care associate can unlock many career opportunities at Northwell.

Guillermo’s Career Growth

2016 – Patient Care Associate – Long Island Jewish Medical Center
2020 – Registered Nurse Critical Care – Long Island Jewish Medical Center
2020 – Registered Nurse Intensive Care Unit – Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Current position – Advanced Clinical Provider Fellow – Northwell Health

Click here to learn more about what a day in the life looks like as a patient care associate.

Jessica’s Career Growth

2005 – Patient Care Associate – North Shore University Hospital
2006 – Registered Nurse – Critical Care Unit – North Shore University Hospital
2007 – Registered Nurse – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – North Shore University Hospital
2010 – Registered Nurse – Cardiac Catheterization – North Shore University Hospital
2015 – Nurse Practitioner – Northwell Health Solutions
Current position – Senior Nurse Practitioner – Northwell Health Solutions

For the complete job descriptions of each role, we invite you to visit NorthwellCareers.com or view our available patient care associate roles here.

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