#BalanceforBetter: Northwell Health celebrates International Women’s Day 2019
March 8th marks International Women’s Day to celebrate women everywhere. At Northwell Health, we’re committed to fostering a diverse work environment that champions its team members regardless of gender or gender identity and where everyone can be Truly Ourselves.
In celebration, hear from some of Northwell’s amazing women and the women that inspire them daily.
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Black History Month: Bridges BERG celebrates being Truly Ourselves
Great things are achieved when we’re Truly Ourselves. Part of being Truly Ourselves means standing together and celebrating our differences. In honor of Black History Month, Northwell recognizes the hardworking members of our Bridges BERG (Business Employee Resource Group) who dedicate time year round to support the cultural and spiritual values of the communities we serve.
Passionate about cultural diversity, team members in our Bridges BERG embrace relationship building through education and support across African American, Asian, Chinese and Latino communities.
As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, Northwell recently held our 49th consecutive event honoring the teachings and visions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This memorial event honored the teachings of Dr. King and included a keynote from noted author and motivational speaker Steve Pemberton. The Rev. Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial program scholarship was also awarded to two high school students from the community. We sat down with team members to talk about their time volunteering at this wonderful event, as well as their experience being a member of the Bridges BERG.
Hear from some of our Northwell team members volunteering with the Bridges BERG:
Amanda Basdeo
Registrar Financial
Cohen Children’s Medical Center
Registrar Financial
Cohen Children’s Medical Center
“I am so glad I was able to be a part of this event because there are so many wonderful people there and it was truly inspirational. The BERGs get you involved in the community as well as building professional relationships throughout the company. Working in the medical field, you already have an interest for the people at heart…I feel like I have finally been given the opportunity to give back like I always wanted to.”
Ashley Cohen
Business Analyst
Organization Change Management
Revenue Cycle
Business Analyst
Organization Change Management
Revenue Cycle
“The tribute was amazing and meant a lot to me in so many ways. I felt overwhelmed with pride and gratitude for the speakers, performers and award recipients. I’m proud to work for such a diverse organization that affects and saves thousands of lives each day.”
Iva Rowe
Business Manager
Revenue Cycle
Business Manager
Revenue Cycle
“I have worked at Northwell for almost five years, and I have learned so much at this organization. I am a proud member of the Bridges BERG, and volunteering at the Martin Luther King Jr. event was a true honor for me. It was my first time volunteering for the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at Northwell, and I look forward to being a part of it again. “
Sasha Garcia
Senior Specialist
Ambulatory Human Resources
Senior Specialist
Ambulatory Human Resources
“This event means a lot to me that we were acknowledging the great work of the Honorable Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I was so overwhelmed with the stories people shared with us at the event and I greatly appreciated being an ‘ear’ for some of them.
As a BERG member, I am afforded the opportunity to network with other employees from different facets of the health system…we are all able to bring our own experiences forth and are able to learn from one another.”
Tamara Gordon
Manager
Contract Negotiations
Procurement
Manager
Contract Negotiations
Procurement
“As I’ve only been with the organization for 5 months, being afforded the opportunity to volunteer was priceless. Being a part of such a giving organization that places emphasis on community, philanthropy and education is such an honor. I share with my son the importance of giving back to others who give us so much and Northwell does a great job of doing just that!”
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Northwell Health honors Universal Human Rights Month by reflecting on diversity and inclusion
December is Universal Human Rights Month and this year is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To honor this important anniversary, we’re spending the month reflecting on diversity and inclusion within Northwell Health.
At Northwell Health, we are unyielding in our commitment to welcoming, respecting, and leveraging the talent of individuals who apply their diverse perspectives and experiences in helping us understand and best meet the needs of the broad range of communities we serve. In the words of Deputy Chief HR Officer Maxine Carrington, “fully realized, the insights and contributions of a diverse workforce will enable us to fulfill our mission and values, grow and evolve, and assure our reputation as a best place to work and receive care – for all.”
We know that, as a healthcare provider, our diversity is the backbone of our ability to better serve the equally diverse communities that we touch. “I’ve always believed that the power of the health system doesn’t lie in Northwell Health being the largest healthcare provider or private employer in our state but from a much deeper place,” says Regional Director, Community Relations Matthew DePace. At Northwell Health, we draw our strength from the deep diversity of our workforce throughout our levels of operation. This variety of perspectives and points of view allow us to solve the problems of our employees, our patients’ and their communities.
Learn more about our diversity efforts here.
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Northwell’s Emerging Leaders Diversity & Inclusion Council shows the power of being Truly Ourselves
Northwell Health knows that as impressive as we are individually, we’re even better working Truly Together. We’re committed to standing together and building a diverse and inclusive work environment that strengthens our organization. By standing Truly Together, we’re allowing our employees to confidently be Truly Ourselves.
This is also the goal of Northwell’s Emerging Leaders Diversity & Inclusion Council, a group formed in 2017 of some of our exemplary employees working to ensure that diverse voices are being heard throughout the organization.
“Early last year, I was asked by Joe Moscola [SVP and Chief People Officer] to form a group that could provide a voice from the perspective of a young, emerging leader on the diversity and inclusion efforts at Northwell Health,” says Jason Philip, Administrative Director of Emergency Medicine at Southside Hospital & Peconic Bay Medical Center, “A small group of 10 individuals from across Northwell were asked to participate, and together we have been committed to attracting, developing, and retaining young diverse talent for leadership positions.”
“I have always found that the health system understands the diversity of its employee population and makes an effort to engage all members of the team, from larger initiatives like the Emerging Leaders Diversity & Inclusion Council or respecting cultural backgrounds with things like holiday cards,” says Ines Ruiz, council member and Senior Administrative Manager.
Northwell’s continually growing awareness of diversity and inclusion will help to more effectively manage an increasingly diverse workforce and serve our patient population. This inclusive culture will also build an organization for the future that is more creative, innovative, and responsive to change in our market.
The Diversity Council is working hard to craft recommendations for programs that will roll out in the beginning of 2019. These talented leaders are looking to enhance our diversity and inclusion programs already in place as well as helping to form best practices for onboarding, mentoring and succession planning.
But their work won’t stop there! “We hope to continue to be an active voice at Northwell to ensure that our organization keeps making steps toward inclusiveness for all people, and that the leadership at Northwell continues to grow to reflect that,” says Jason.
At Northwell, we’re striving to change the future of health care. Diversity and inclusion helps continue to not only make our organization a great place to work, but helps us deliver extraordinary care to all of our varied patients. We’re looking for candidates like you to help us continue to stand Truly Together!
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At Northwell Health, we can be Truly Ourselves. Happy National Coming Out Day!
“Our employees should never have to make a choice between a career they love and living with their truthfulness and integrity. I am so proud to be part of an organization that lets me be who I am every day at work. Every morning I wake up looking forward to my workday and what exciting things are in store for me. As an openly gay male executive working at Northwell Health I am surrounded by support from senior leadership and my colleagues; I am able to come to work and be my true self. Through our Business Employee Resource Group EXPRESSIONS, I have been able to align with my fellow LGBTQ co-workers and our allies to make this organization such a great place to work.” – Edward C. Fraser, Vice President of Corporate Community Relations, System Administration
On October 11th, Northwell Health employees are celebrating National Coming Out Day with our LGBT community members, allies, patients and the members of our Expressions BERG. At Northwell Health, we’re always striving to create an accepting culture where we can all be Truly Ourselves.
This National Coming Out Day, Northwell is taking the pledge to #WearTheRibbon. This one-day campaign encourages employees to take a stand against the discrimination, violence, harassment, and bullying of LGBT people by showing support for safe spaces where they LIVE, LEARN, WORK, PLAY, and PRAY. Expressions BERG members and allies are signing this pledge and wearing a rainbow ribbon at work to visually “come out” in support of safe spaces for LGBT individuals. This pledge is just one way that Northwell encourages employees to achieve their full potential and supports a safe and inclusive working environment and.
The Business Employee Resource Group (BERG) program at Northwell Health helps our patients by elevating diverse voices so we can better serve our diverse population. It also helps our staff, so they can find and engage with the specific communities that understand their experiences and ensure representation of their perspective and experience. This culture of acceptance creates a safe space for BERG’s like Expressions to thrive.
The Expressions BERG consists of Northwell Health employees who identify as LGBT, are allies of the LGBT community, are passionate about or are interested in promoting health equity and awareness of the LGBT community. Wayne Kawadler, Dir, Community Relations, Administration explains, “through our Expressions BERG I have been able to connect with fellow LGBTQ workers and allies, all who are able to be truthful and open about their sexual and cultural identity. From celebrating Pride Month to acknowledging Coming Out Day, Northwell Health is a truly accepting place to work for.”
Learn more about other BERG’s at Northwell Health here. Join us and find the support you’re Made for.
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We Ask Because We Care
At Northwell, we know that when we’re Truly Ourselves, we can create great things. We’re committed to developing a supportive work environment that’s as diverse and inclusive as the communities we serve. Part of championing our team members and patients includes delivering the best care possible regardless of race, ethnicity, cultural background and language proficiency.
The “We Ask Because We Care” campaign is a new effort by Northwell to ensure we’re understanding and meeting the unique ethnic and cultural needs of our patients. This initiative aims to educate both our team members and community members about the importance of collecting and using accurate race, ethnicity and preferred language data. This system-wide campaign is part of a national push to support the goals of the National Call to Action to Eliminate Health Care Disparities and comes as a result of our CEO, Michael J. Dowling, signing the Equity of Care Pledge from the American Hospital Association.
As part of this new initiative, Northwell employees will be educated on how to appropriately ask patients their preferred language, their race and their ethnicity. Our patients’ health is important to us – we ask because we care. Though it is not mandatory for patients to answer, these questions aim to help us deliver the best care possible. By better understanding our patients, we can deliver personalized care to best meet our patients’ needs. Accurate patient information helps make exceptional care possible.
“In improving the accurate collection of patient data collection of race, ethnicity and preferred language and educating our communities about the importance of providing us with this data, we will help to advance diversity and inclusion and reduce health disparities,” says Elizabeth McCulloch, PHD, AVP, Diversity & Health Equity, “We will also be able to use this data to help inform our community efforts, strengthen our community partnerships and stratify our data by key quality indicators.”
All answers provided by patients will be kept confidential and only be shared with providers and within Northwell Health. This information however marks an important first steps to improving community health and eliminating health disparities. As the future market for health care services changes, Northwell is evolving to ensure we continually redefine health care while advancing diversity and inclusion.
Our staff is as diverse as the community we serve. By promoting effective communication and cultural and linguistic competence, we’re able to improve patient and family-centered care, eliminate health disparities and enhance health outcomes for patients and their families.
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Northwell’s Path to Inclusion program wins Diversity Excellence Award from NACE
As a leader in healthcare, Northwell is committed to cultivating and fostering diversity so that we may better serve our communities and patients. Our Workforce Readiness team helps provide a supportive, caring and inclusive environment for our employees all year long. In 2017, they developed the Path to Inclusion program to help people with disabilities take advantage of our opportunities and achieve success in their careers. The program launched to great success and has recently been announced as a winner of a Diversity Excellence Award from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)!
Lesly St. Louis is proud to be a part of this award winning Path to Inclusion program. As an Inclusion Specialist at Northwell Health, Lesly works as a liaison with candidates to help facilitate employment for individuals with disabilities. As part of this mission, Lesly develops important partnerships for outreach and manages the Path to Inclusion seminars. These seminars help candidates with resume writing, interview tips, networking, the hiring process and more.
“I have been advocating for individuals with disabilities – a group of which I am a proud member – for most of my life,” says Lesly, “The biggest challenges we have to overcome are not the disabilities, but the stigma surrounding them.” And this is a stigma both Lesly and Northwell are working to eliminate, “Connecting our recruiters and hiring managers to individuals with disabilities through specialized events such as workshops fosters direct communication, furthering our shared goals of creating an inclusive workforce.”
Our 2018 Intern Finale Celebration included some of our Bridges to Adelphi graduates!
Another important part of Northwell’s Path to Inclusion program is our Bridges to Adelphi. Northwell partnered with Adelphi University to develop this model student internship for college students who are on the Autism Spectrum or have communication or social adjustment challenges. This nationally recognized program allows for students to gain invaluable work experience in meaningful job positions, helping them build skill sets for successful careers upon graduation – and careers with Northwell! The 2018 summer program boasted 6 interns with 5 students moving into full-time positions.
“It is truly an honor to have partnered with the Bridges to Adelphi program. This is our second year working with them and it has been an amazing experience. I enjoy mentoring and finding meaningful internship placements with some turning into full time jobs for them to grow and flourish in.” says Elizabeth Zgaljardic, an HR Coordinator with the Workforce Readiness team, “It’s inspiring to work with these remarkable students and the entire staff at Bridges to Adelphi. Just one of the many highlights in working for Workforce Readiness!”
Northwell’s N-Able Business Employee Resource Group (BERG) is another asset Path to Inclusion’s efforts. The Workforce Readiness team co-chairs this BERG with Zucker Hillside, aiming to further expand our inclusive hiring efforts with resources and awareness. Rolling out system-wide in September, N-Able will host celebrations, events, and workshops as well as aid provide an information database. This database will allow for all employees to easily see what inclusive resources Northwell offers.
“The N-Able BERG is a resource to assist employees in increasing awareness of Northwell Health’s disability services,” says Cheryl Davidson, Senior Director of Workforce Readiness, “our goal is to help educate and bring together people who understand that our uniqueness makes us stronger.”
And the Path to Inclusion program goes beyond just these key initiatives! Between speaking at national events and continually engaging and educating employees, the Workforce Readiness team is developing and strengthening our diverse and inclusive team. “I am so proud to work for an organization that takes action to ensure all of its employees feel included and important,” says Cheryl. Northwell is proud to be Truly Ourselves and will continue to stand united, proud and respectful in celebrating our differences. Congratulations again to the Workforce Readiness team!
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Northwell Health has Pride all month long
Every June marks LGBTQ Pride Month and here at Northwell we stand proudly with our LGBTQ community and celebrate – in June and every month! We value being Truly Ourselves and Northwell stands united, proud and respectful, always celebrating our differences.
As a large supporter of the LGBTQ Community, Northwell attended numerous Pride events across all regions along with participation and guidance from our EXPRESSIONS BERG (Business Employee Resource Group).
EXPRESSIONS is Northwell’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) BERG. Members consist of Northwell Health employees who identify as LGBTQ, are allies of the LGBTQ community, and are passionate about promoting unity, health equity and awareness of the LGBTQ community. They promote awareness and inclusion in the workplace, and connect the community with services based on their unique health care needs.
As a champion of Health Equity Northwell Health has earned recognition and been designated as a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Healthcare Equality Index for 2018 and is a committed ally in the fight to break down barriers and offer individualized, and compassionate health care to each and every person it serves.
Check out some highlights from Northwell’s Pride activities!
- On June 2nd, Westchester’s largest LGBTQ center held its annual pride festival “LOFT Pride” with a pet parade, food trucks, vendors, raffles and advocacy stations. The event had performances by Broadway Sings for Pride, Sutton Lee Seymour, Fogo Azul NYC, Lyane Deep Priest as well as the LOFT Pride Chorus. Phelps Hospital and the Phelps Medical Associates participated with an informational table.
- Phelps Hospital and Phelps Medical Associates attended the 20th annual Rockland Pride on June 10th. In addition to the informational tables, the event had live music, kids’ activities, art, dancing and food trucks.
- Northwell Health attended the 20th annual Pride Parade in Cherry Grove, Fire Island on Saturday, June 16th. The town was decorated with our Northwell Health pride flags prior to the parade along with float and marchers that participated in the event.
The 28th Annual Long Island Pride Parade took place on Sunday, June 10th in Long Beach, NY. This year’s theme: “Brave.Strong.United” rang loud with Northwell’s very own parade float and full marching contingent composed of engaged and devoted employee volunteers ready to show their pride!- Northwell Health participated in the annual NYC Pride Parade and Festival on June 24th. In addition to a marching contingent of 200 participants, Northwell had a large presence at the festival with representation from Lenox Health Greenwich Village, Imaging, Orthopedics, the Center for AIDS Research & Treatment, the Center for Retroviral Diseases as well as the Friedman Transgender Program.
Looking to get involved? EXPRESSIONS BERG is currently in the processing of planning their next meeting. Start your career with Northwell to get involved today!
Are you Made for a career at Northwell? Explore current job opportunities.
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We’ve got your back: Eva Galan’s Story
Change is rarely a smooth transition. For Registered Nurse Eva Galan, the road back to civilian life was a challenge that she felt unprepared to attempt.
Eva had spent 10 years in the Army as a medic and was now seeking a civilian nursing position in the health care world. Though she had skills superior to fellow applicants, she found it hard to compete for local nursing jobs.
That is, until she found Northwell Health.
While attending a veteran-centric job fair at Northwell Health, she met a Veterans Program Specialist who showed her how our health care system has everything she desires to help her get the job she and her family needed for her career post-military.
Northwell Health offers job fairs, veteran recruitment events, and webinars to support each veteran’s transition. In addition to these events, our Barracks to Business webinars and workshops cover practical needs like resumes, interviews, and networking advice with the goal of translating your military skills into career success.
For many veterans, like Eva, the transition to a civilian career is a difficult one and our military services are designed to help veterans understand the job search process and create a strategy to pursue civilian employment while introducing you to vast career opportunities and benefits at Northwell Health.
“Northwell Health offers employment workshops for transitioning service members, partnering with the VA to provide female Veterans much needed women’s services, a dedicated job site that matches Northwell Health jobs with applicants military skills, and even being a leader in new prosthetic technology. I am so very grateful to finally feel like someone out there has my back.”
— Eva Galan, Registered Nurse
You’ve served us, now explore our veteran-focused events to help you grow your career.
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Photo: Lesly is the 2nd man from the left in the front with the trophy Written by: Lesly St. Louis I have been advocating for individuals with disabilities – a group of which I am a proud member – for most of my life. The biggest challenges we have to overcome are not the disabilities, but the stigma surrounding them. As an Inclusion Specialist at Northwell Health, I now facilitate employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. My role provides me with the resources to replace fear with mutual understanding, allowing persons with disabilities to become productive members of society. My job is especially meaningful to me as I know how it feels to encounter barriers from employers. I was born with a congenital malformation called Spina Bifida, which is a defect of the spine and spinal cord. As a result, my primary way of mobilizing is by use of a wheelchair. But I haven’t let that stop me. Through the support and dedication of my parents, as a child, I began participating in adaptive sports designed specifically for individuals with disabilities just like me. I was embraced by the community and it was empowering. The athletes I met over the years guided me through challenges on and off the court. Because of this experience, I learned that I too had a responsibility to support other individuals with disabilities. I took on a leadership position in my wheelchair basketball team to inspire others to overcome and live better with their disabilities.Northwell Health became the biggest supporter of my wheelchair basketball team. Northwell Health became the biggest supporter of my wheelchair basketball team. I was fortunate to meet Chief People Officer Joe Moscola, who introduced me to the different employment opportunities Northwell offered.
Northwell Health’s Pathway to Inclusion
I will be working to communicate our inclusive workforce vision by connecting with schools, vocational services, and other public forums. Community outreach is key to ensuring people with disabilities are aware of the multiple employment opportunities that exist within Northwell Health. Educating everyone in our organization to work collaboratively on creating dynamic opportunities well suited to both the needs of the individual and those of the organization can result in a successful outcome. Connecting our recruiters and hiring managers to individuals with disabilities through specialized events such as workshops will also foster direct communication, furthering our shared goals of creating an inclusive workforce.
I personally know the difficulties that disabled individuals face when finding a job. I had countless conversations with prospective employers and found a few common themes: they would find multiple reasons why they could not hire this person, or if they were willing to give them an opportunity, why they were not able to promote them within the company. I know that I can play a vital role in helping other disabled individuals find a role here at Northwell Health and can honestly say that the organization is focused on this initiative. It is both my job and my vocation to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities. My hope is that through creating opportunities for employment, we can work together to increase confidence within these individuals and inspire them to conquer more challenges and achieve even higher levels of success.
It is both my job and my vocation to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities. My hope is that through creating opportunities for employment, we can work together to increase confidence within these individuals and inspire them to conquer more challenges and achieve even higher levels of success.
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Photo (from left to right): Philip Dong is the fourth employee from the left gathered with the other members of our Asian BERG As a part of the BRIDGES Asian Business Employee Resource Group (BERG) it’s a passion of mine to share the tradition, spiritual and ethical values of the Asian culture across the health system’s facilities and network. The BERGs are made up of employees passionate about embracing relationships with diverse communities served by Northwell Health, and the BRIDGES Business Employee Resource Group is focused on fostering shared understanding of cultural, spiritual and ethical values in the context of healthcare delivery among employees and communities. On October 4th, I had the privilege to be part of a Diversity and Health Equity Committee meeting and for the first time, introduced one of my most treasured holidays – Mid-Autumn Festival, to Northwell Health’s executive senior leadership. The festival was also celebrated at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research by the Chinese Association at the Feinstein Institute (CAFI) which was organized by Dan Li, President of CAFI and a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Laboratory of Autoimmune and Cancer Research at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. Celebrated throughout different Asian regions, this festival has a history of over 3,000 years and commemorates the end of the autumn harvest. It is the second most important festival after the Lunar New Year, where people celebrate through family reunions, akin to Thanksgiving in the United States. In China, Mid-Autumn Festival was also a time for moon-worship and moon cakes are the must-eat food item during ancient times because the round shape symbolizes reunion and happiness. After worshipping the full moon, family members would savor the cakes together. And while moon-worshiping is no longer a practices ritual, moon cakes are still a traditional pastry to be enjoyed during the festival. The Americans have turkey, but we have delicious cakes with sweet fillings. The modern day celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival shares much of the same principles as Thanksgiving; that of family gathering and giving thanks. Ever since I was a child, the festival instilled in me a strong sense of family bonds and love. To this day, the clinking of plates and clattering of shuffling mahjong tiles stir up warm, resonant feelings of my Chinese family heritage. To me, the Mid-Autumn festival is more than just a time to eat and be merry – it’s a precious moment when everyone takes a step out of their normal routine to gather as a family and appreciate each other. To all who celebrate this holiday, I hope you enjoyed this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival!
Celebrating Chinese Culture and Traditions Through Mid-Autumn Festival
By: Philip Dong
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When your military service continues, so does Northwell Health’s support
Reservists face unique challenges as they balance a civilian job with ongoing military obligations. Just ask Reservist and Core Laboratories Clerk Davesha Taylor. Her Reservist duties include regular training that often involves weekday assignments overlapping her work schedule. We’re honored to be able to help Davesha grow in her career with us while she continues to meet her military commitments.
“I owe a lot of thanks to the kind staff I work with,” says Davesha. “They are very considerate of me whenever I need to take time off for military training.”
We recognize that there’s more to helping our veterans than merely finding them a job. As a Military Friendly® Employer for three years in a row, we’re there to continue to support veterans throughout their time with us – such as offering flexible scheduling and pay differentials for reservists.
For Davesha, her role as a clerk with us is just the start. Her vision and passion is to attend medical school to become a Forensic Pathologist, and we’ll be there to help her make this dream a reality.
“Thanks to Northwell Health, my transition from the military has been smooth and easy,” Davesha acknowledges.
Veterans like Davesha Taylor have sacrificed so much in the service of our country. At Northwell Health, we’re proud that they choose to continue their life of service with us.
If you’d like to learn more about our commitment to your career transition and growth, please visit: NorthwellCareers.com/Veterans.
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An Appointment With: Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Ramon Soto
Welcome to “An Appointment With,” where we sit down one on one with leadership, doctors, nurses and more to bring you their stories. Today we’re meeting SVP, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Ramon Soto, who was the most recent winner of the AHHE Hospital Executive of the Year Award.
How did you know that coming to Northwell Health was the right career move for you?
I didn’t at first. I was born in Brooklyn and raised in Patchogue. When I heard about the Chief Marketing Officer position at Northwell Health, then known as North Shore-LIJ Health System, I just remembered the small health care company from my childhood. After doing my research, hearing Michael Dowling speak, and learning about the advancements at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and the Hofstra School of Medicine, I fell in love. I saw the power of this organization and I knew there were stories waiting to be told. This is the best job I’ve ever had.
How has the rebranding process at Northwell Health impacted the organization?
Fundamentally, our hospitals used to run regionally and people associated themselves with the single hospital they worked for. Now people feel like they are all together, and there is a sense of community. This has helped improve our engagement scores. As separate entities, people didn’t know who we were and how we were all connected and now they see all of our locations as one. There has been an undeniable unifying effect on the inside, and ability to shine as a destination health care system.
What is your perspective on leadership?
90% of leadership traits are trainable and there are things you can do throughout your career to be a good leader. My philosophy is: don’t just “dabble” in anything, take it on with all you’ve got. You should know your stuff and strive to be the subject matter experts. When making a decision, you should bring everyone together to help. Leverage diversity of thought and unity in action. If you give people a voice, the execution is always better. If you can adapt your leadership style to fit the needs of your audience as well as the organization, you will be able to grow and flourish.
You recently earned the AHHE Hospital Executive of the Year Award. What have you learned from that experience and what did that mean to you?
The most important part of the awards evening was that my family was there and I was able to reflect on my heritage. This award made me think of my father. He came from Puerto Rico when he was 12 and he didn’t speak a word of English. He pulled himself up from poverty by going to school at night and working hard. He believed you always had a choice: work a job you enjoy or work a job as a chore. He also said to always stretch yourself, whenever you think you can’t do more, you can. His wisdom helped shape who I am today. I went back to get my MBA at 40 even though I had a successful career because of the drive he instilled in me.
Many people of diverse backgrounds have stories like this, and that’s why in terms of diversity in the workplace, it’s important to include individuals from all backgrounds based on their experience and what they’ve done. We need qualified candidates and we need to choose the best of the best. If we don’t include everyone in that pool of candidates, we’re missing out.
However, no institution should ever settle for people who aren’t the top or relax their standards to bring on talent that isn’t qualified.
What is an interesting fact that people should know about you?
I had a perm in high school!
We invite you to come back for the next moment in our Appointment With… blog!
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Sharing traditions and culture with Lunar New Year celebrations.
Written by: Julie Liu
Spanning a total of fifteen days, the Lunar New Year is a joyous time of renewal marked by gatherings with family and friends, elaborate feasts, parades, fireworks and gift giving. It marks the return of spring and reunion of family.
One thing that makes the Lunar calendar different than the Gregorian calendar is its use of representative animals, following a 12-year cycle, and 2017 ushered in the Year of the Rooster. Marking the end of the holiday, a magnificent red lantern festival will be on display as celebrants symbolize their letting go of the past and welcoming in of future good fortunes.
On February 4th, for the eighth consecutive year, contingents from Northwell Health marched in the Lunar New Year Parade in downtown Flushing, New York. The parade is the highlight of Lunar New Year celebrations in Flushing, including dragon dancers, kettle drummers and fireworks. The march draws a considerable amount of spectators each year.
Demonstrating its commitment to the Asian-American community, the senior leadership at Northwell Health participated in the customary tradition of receiving and gifting red envelopes to its Asian-American employee business resource group (BERG). Our Chinese BERG leadership also had the opportunity to network with some of the most prominent, world-renowned Chinese medical scientists and researchers at the Northwell Health Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, during its annual Chinese New Year luncheon, hosted by the Chinese Association at the Feinstein Institute (CAFI). What a great honor to be surrounded by creative thinkers who share a singular focus of advancing science to prevent disease and cure patients (pictured above).
Overview of Lunar New Year Traditions
Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is China’s most important traditional festival. It is also a time for families to be together and celebrate a year of hard work and wish for a lucky and prosperous coming year. Chinese people believe that a good start to the year will lead to a lucky year.
On New Year’s Eve, every street, building, and house is decorated with red. Red is the main color for the festival, as it is believed to be a “lucky” color. Red lanterns are also displayed in streets; red couplets are pasted on doors; banks and official buildings are decorated with pictures and writings representing prosperity.
The New Year’s Eve dinner is called “reunion dinner”, and is believed to be the most important meal of the year, where families sit around round tables and enjoy the food and time together. Certain foods are eaten during the New Year’s Eve dinner, because of their symbolic meanings, based on their names or appearances, such as:
- Fish – serving a whole fish symbolizes a year of abundance for the whole family. The Chinese word for fish is pronounced the same way as the word for abundance;
- Nian Gao or sticky rice cake –symbolizes prosperity in the New Year. The word of Nian Gao can be pronounced the same way as higher year;
- Oranges or Tangerines – because of their plump shape and golden color, oranges and tangerines are said to bring fortune and good luck. The Chinese word for orange sounds like success;
- Dumplings – made to look like ancient Chinese currency and legend has it, the more dumplings you eat during New Years, the more money you will make;
- Noodles – a staple food to Chinese culture, but when they are long noodles, it means longevity. The longer the noodle, the longer the life. Legend has it, the strand should be eaten whole and if you bite them half way thru, you might be cutting your life short
Just in the western culture, gifts are exchanged during the festival. The most common gifts are red envelopes. The envelopes have money in them and are given to children by the elder of the household. According to a legend, there was monster that would come out during the New Year’s Eve and terrify children while they were asleep. To keep children safe from being harmed, parents gave their children eight coins to play with the monster, in order to keep him tired. The children would distract the monster by wrapping the coins in red, opening the packet, re-wrapping and re-opening the packet until the monster was too tired to fall asleep. From then on, giving red envelopes to children became a way to keep them safe and bring good luck.
恭禧发财
Gong Xi Fa Cai
Gong Hey Fat Choy
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