Your first week at work – a checklist for success

You did it! You landed the job you’ve always wanted and now it’s your first week at work. You’re understandably nervous. You want to make a great impression, but with all that you have to keep track of and remember, it helps to have a checklist to follow. Based on the experience and insight of Northwell Health recruiters who have been where you are right now, here’s a handy list of things to help you start your career journey on the right foot!

Take a deep breath and relax.

Just remember, you’re surrounded by people who are excited to have you on the team. They want you to succeed and will help you make it happen. So, stay calm and don’t put too much pressure on yourself to figure everything out in week one. It also helps to arrive early, ready to go. Being prepared is a great way to reduce stress.

Ask questions and listen.

You’re joining a knowledgeable and experienced team. They have a lot of expertise to share with you. As Northwell Health recruiter, Saadia Lomeli says, “Seek tips from employees who have been successful in similar roles as yours.” Tap into this wealth of information – ask questions and really listen. And get ready to soak it all up like a sponge.

Make yourself known.

Introduce yourself! There is no need to wait to be introduced. Get to know your colleagues. “It is imperative to build relationships,” says Stephanie Wiltse, Northwell Health Recruiter. “They can be a great resource while you’re orienting.”

Join the team.

Northwell Health is all about customer service. That means you should always be ready and willing to lend a helping hand – teamwork makes success possible, no matter your role.

Keep an open mind and be flexible.

Be open to input and advice. Seek other perspectives and points of view. Stephanie Wiltse reminds new employees to, “Be open to feedback. We all make mistakes, especially when we are beginning a new career. If someone is giving you feedback it is to help you develop into the best employee you can be.”

If you’d like to be part of an organization that is passionate about helping you be successful – in your first week at work and every week – put Northwell Health at the top of your list of places to work.

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Meet the 2018 President’s Awards Winners!

Nurse of the Year

Vivian Buccino, BSN, Charge Nurse, South Oaks Hospital

Vivian is committed to taking care of patients on the behavioral health unit at South Oaks Hospital, caring for the female adolescent population. She begins each shift rounding, ensuring her patients are treated with respect, regardless of their illness. While she provides clinical care, she also builds trust with her patients and demonstrates that she personally cares. Sometimes when patients have no visitors for lengths at a time Vivian will come in on her day off with cupcakes.

Vivian’s caring demeanor manifests itself in every interaction with patients and their families – exceeding what is expected to ensure everyone feels safe and secure. She is a role model for the girls on her unit, as well as her peers. Vivian always says that South Oaks Hospital is where she needs to be because her patients need her. It’s as simple as that.

Watch Vivian’s Made for this story.

Leader of the Year

Melonie Pernice, RT (R), MBA, Administrative Director, Radiology, Plainview Hospital

Many moments in Melonie’s life led her to her career in healthcare. From witnessing the tragic events of 9/11 to her service in the U.S. Army working in a Combat Action Support Hospital, Melonie knew helping others was her calling.

While serving our country Melonie was assisting a critically-injured soldier who had been hit by a bomb. She soothed the soldier during his last moments of life by holding his hand and talking. Devastated by the loss, she found a letter to his family in the pocket of his uniform, and made it her mission to personally ensure the soldier’s family received this letter.

During her nine-year military tenure and leadership experience, Melonie has served as a role model for her staff, developing a strong sense of admiration amongst her team members. Overseeing radiology and cardiology for Plainview and Syosset hospitals, her list of achievements is vast, and because of this, she directly contributes to the success of Northwell as a thriving environment. Her colleague shares, “From her time as a soldier stationed in Iraq to now, her spirit has remained constant, influential and inspiring. We are lucky to have her.”

Watch Melonie’s Made for this story.

Teamwork- Project Search, Southwest Region

Team lead: Anne Marie McDonough

Team members: Joy Barone, Jai Sada, Anthony Mantuano, Antoniette Arcamone, Laura Longo, Dir, Rory Bradley, Nora Goldberg, Ralph Grimaldi, Joann Compitello

Launched at Staten Island University Hospital, Project Search is an innovative national program used to diversify a hospital’s workforce while minimizing high turnover in entry level jobs. The transition training program is for students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who have completed academic requirements and would benefit from internships and employability skills education. The program’s steering committee identified entry level positions, performed job task analysis and created a recognizable presence for program participants. Ten applicants were selected, and classes began at Staten Island in September 2017. Led by special educators and a job coach, students attended daily classroom academic sessions and spent the remainder of their day with their mentor in their internship.

By the end of the year, students rotated through three non-paid internships that provided real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills. Staff became role models for the students, and the transition program has had far-reaching positive effects on attitudes about hiring people with disabilities and the range of jobs in which they can be successful. There is significant potential for rolling this program out within the entire organization.

Watch Project Search’s Made for this story!

Exceptional Patient Customer Experience

Urszula Monaco, Lobby Service Representative, Center for Advanced Medicine

Fighting cancer is frightening, stressful and challenging. Fortunately, patients at the Center for Advanced Medicine Department of Radiation Medicine have someone like Urszula on their side. As the department’s lobby service representative, Urszula is the first face patients see when they come to the department where they are welcomed with her warm greeting and smile. Seamlessly, Urszula maintains the patient flow, helping to keep patients informed and reassured if there are any delays. This is no easy task when you consider that she sees over 120 patients and their families daily.

Urszula literally wears out the tread of her shoes moving from waiting room to waiting room, all while attending to the needs of patients. In 2017, Urszula walked approximately 3,276,000 steps which translates to more than 1,400 miles. While that seems like a tremendous distance to travel, Urszula would gladly go twice as far it if meant that she could comfort another patient. If you ask her if she gets tired of walking so much, her response would be, “Not at all. I just need a new pair of shoes.”

In addition to supporting patients, Urszula helps the department by spearheading creative ideas for improvement. She was heavily involved in rolling out the “Gong Ceremony” to help patients celebrate the important milestone of finishing treatment. Urszula wants to make sure no patient no patient goes through their diagnosis alone.

Watch Urzula’s Made for this story!

Physician of the Year

Tarek Zetoune MD, Hospice Physician, Hospice Care Network

Dr. Zetoune holds a unique understanding of the true meaning of comprehensive care and is committed to delivering quality end of life care to both adult and pediatric patients. Driven by the belief that every day matters, he demonstrates his pledge to connectedness, awareness, respect and empathy to his patients, their families and his coworkers. His decision to work in end of life care was in part motivated by his belief that it is a facet of medicine that, as a society, we often choose to ignore. In his words, “When there is no longer an option for cure, there is even more work to be done.”

“Born in Syria, Dr. Zetoune is committed to working with refugees, as well as hospice patients. Following the end of his fellowship program, he traveled to Greece as a pediatric volunteer to help displaced refugees. “If you are in the presence of a man or woman who is talking about his or her loss, whether in a hospice setting or in a refugee camp, you don’t have to say anything. Just listen. Our presence with that patient is what is most important, not our words,” says Dr. Zetoune.”

Watch Dr. Zetoune’s Made for this story!

Igniting change across Women’s Health one nurse at a time

If you asked JoAnn Marzouk the secret to her successful nursing career in Women’s Health at Northwell, the answer is simple: great leadership. JoAnn started at Northwell in 2004 as a per diem Clinical Nurse Project Manager. Four titles and two degrees later, JoAnn has just been promoted to Nurse Manager at Islandia OB/GYN Contemporary Care, and she credits this accomplishment to her leaders who pushed her along the way. This progression led her to her current specialty in Women’s Health where JoAnn is helping to redefine health care with each nurse she mentors.

Transitioning to Women’s Health has JoAnn ready to take on new challenges. JoAnn’s been working in Women’s Health since 2016 when Donata Megaro hired JoAnn as a Nurse Supervisor at Women’s Comprehensive Health Center. This provided her with an opportunity to explore and learn another nursing discipline, which catapulted her career in Women’s health. This experience at WCHC has prepared JoAnn for the next step in her career.

“I am very privileged and excited to take on another new challenge in the OBGYN service line with a recent promotion to nurse manager at Contemporary Women’s Care in Islandia. Nurses have to understand that ambulatory nursing is significantly different than working in a hospital and that the responsibilities for nurses can at times be underestimated.” This is an underestimation that JoAnn is working hard to change. During her managerial time at Northwell, she hopes to be able to give new nurses the necessary skills tailored for physician practices, starting with developing strong telephone triage skills.

Starting her nursing career at Northwell

Starting her career with Northwell back in 2004 was an easy decision for JoAnn. “I could foresee the growth of the system even then,” she says, “I knew that this was a health system to be reckoned with and that they were doing things the right way.” Working per diem also provided her the flexibility to be at home with her kids.

From there, JoAnn went fulltime before she was recognized by her leader Wendy Carnel, VP, Revenue Integrity Ops, to do more project work in the hospital. Next, she was approached by her mentor, Winnie Mack, SVP, Health Systems Ops, to become the Nurse Manager at Southside for Wound Care.

“There was always that leader there to push me to the next step,” JoAnn says, “and they gave me the support and confidence that I needed to succeed.”

Continuing nursing education

Desiring to continue growing as a nurse, JoAnn enrolled in a Southside cohort to get her BSN onsite at Southside through Farmingdale University. She went on to graduate with Leadership Honors, receiving a nursing leadership award and giving the speech at graduation.

Her education didn’t stop there. JoAnn was provided an opportunity to return to school again. In another cohort environment, set up once again by Southside Hospital, JoAnn earned her Master’s Degree in Nursing through Stony Brook University in two years while still working fulltime. JoAnn feels very indebted to Tricia Lewis, Director of Nursing Education & Research at Southside Hospital for providing such an incredible opportunity for her to further her education.

As her career progressed, JoAnn was able to take her experience and education to inspire new nurses in our health system. “I take pride in identifying staff and pushing them to further their education. The reason I’m able to do that now is because someone did it for me. I’ve been able to take on new positions to continue to ignite change for new nurses

And it’s not just new nurses that JoAnn is inspiring – her own daughter has started her career with Northwell and is an assistant coordinator in Research at Zucker Hillside Hospital.

Part of building a great nursing team, means to keep learning herself. This October marks JoAnn’s next return to school. This time she’ll be working towards Doctorate in Nursing Practice, receiving tuition reimbursement from Northwell.

Top 10 reasons to work as a nurse at Staten Island University Hospital

Thinking about working as a nurse at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH)? Let our nurses convince you why that’s the right move for your career! Here are just 10 of their many reasons to join the nursing team at Staten Island University Hospital.

1. Working in your own backyard

Located in the heart of Staten Island, nurses at SIUH enjoy an easy commute that gives them more time at home and less time on the roads!

2. Giving back to the Staten Island community

One of the most popular responses we heard was the ability to contribute back to the Staten Island community. There is a deep connection between the nurses and their patients due to the unique nature of working in the same community that you live in.

“Working at SIUH has been very rewarding for me and I have literally spent my entire adult life here. I have made lifelong friends, delivered my children here, had multiple family members here as patients over the years. It is a great feeling to live on Staten Island and care for your community.”
– Laura Wenzel, Senior Director of Maternal Child Nursing

3. Access to good benefits

Being part of a large health system like Northwell Health means access to benefits that are as unique as you are! Between health coverage, life insurance, generous paid time off, and more, we’ll make sure your life at work and away from work are fulfilling your needs.

4. Promise of delivering quality care

At Staten Island University Hospital, our nurses pride themselves on delivering the best possible care to patients. There’s an importance placed on treating your patients the same way you’d like your family to be treated and to provide care with compassion.

“As a nurse you take home many stories on a daily basis, some good some bad but they all mold you and remind you the reason you started this journey. A story that shines brighter than others, a discharged patient returned to the unit and hand delivered me a bouquet of flowers for the “difference” I made in his life in such a few shorts days.”
– Jessica Powers, Assistant Nurse Manager

5. Working as part of a dedicated team

The nursing staff at Staten Island University Hospital is as close-knit as you can get! Being able to rely on your coworkers and confidently work as a team fosters a workplace environment that feels more like family.

“Teamwork is one of the most important aspects of the ED. We could not do it without each other. There is not one particular story that relates to this. There is many. Every day we work as a team and rely on each other. We are Truly Together!”
– Steven Metcalfe, Emergency Department Nurse Manager

6. State-of-the-art hospital

With growth spanning more than 150 years, Staten Island University Hospital now boasts 714-beds across two campuses to provide some of the most innovative care on Staten Island! Work at our North campuses which house Staten Island’s most modern emergency department, a state-of-the-art education center, and a medical arts pavilion. Working at our South campus? Get access to its own emergency department and a range of specialty programs.

7. Ongoing opportunities for education and growth

Staten Island University Hospital nurses gain access to Northwell Health’s entire network of valuable resources to help continuously grow their careers. From education opportunities at the Center for Learning & Innovation to the potential to move into numerous management positions, Northwell has a path ready to help you meet your career goals.

“SIUH is a great place to work. Nurses are valued. Quality care is valued. Teamwork is valued. Education is valued. Lifelong friendships will be made when you work here. Working for the community you live in is so rewarding. For me, SIUH is like family.”
– Lauren Goldstein, Emergency Department RN

8. Supportive Leadership

Nurse leaders at Staten Island University Hospital value the opinion of every RN. In this teamwork-driven environment, our nurses can have their voices be heard and supported by their leaders to help make a difference in the workplace.

9. Pushing the envelope on care

Our dedication to delivering the best care to patients means the constant drive to embrace new medical technology, including being the only hospital on Staten Island to offer open heart surgery. Nurses at SIUH are part of a team enacting some of the most innovative care methods in the area.

10. Making a difference

When it comes to care, our nurses have the opportunity to help patients and their family beyond the bedside. The trust built between patients and nurses allows nurses to educate their patients on ways to stay healthy, and to ensure their health continues to improve beyond their stay at the hospital. Our care truly makes a difference in someone’s life.

Are you Made for nursing? We’re hiring nurses at Staten Island University Hospital now.

Click to see if you have what it takes!

An Appointment With: Kelly Cifu, MSN, RN and VP of System Perioperative Services

When it comes to PeriOperative careers at Northwell Health, there’s an environment for everyone! With 23 hospitals and more than 665 outpatient practices, nurses have the flexibility to choose the right shift and specialty opportunity. Just ask Kelly Cifu, MSN, RN and VP of System PeriOperative Services. As a nurse for more than 20 years, Kelly grew her career with Northwell to her current position where she oversees 18 periOperative sites. We sat down with Kelly to discuss her history as a nurse with Northwell, the innovative technologies changing perioperative services, and the different career opportunities that are available for nurses looking to grow their career in perioperative nursing.

Why did you come to Northwell and what is your role today?

I started my nursing career at Franklin Hospital which is now known as Long Island Jewish at Valley Stream in 1987. I grew up in Franklin Square and knew that I wanted to work someplace close to home. For the first year of my career, I worked on a Medical/Surgical floor where I took care of many postsurgical patients. At the time this was a requirement for all new staff nurses that were hired. In nursing school, I had decided that I would really enjoy working in the operating room.

After my year of Med/Surg experience, I requested a transfer into the OR. I worked as a staff nurse for about six years and then was promoted to the Director of PeriOperative Services. I later moved to CFAM Ambulatory Surgery as Senior Administrative Director and then to Regional Director of Northwell’s PeriOperative Services. Next, I was promoted to the Associate Executive Director at North Shore University Hospital and then to VP of System PeriOperative Services. In my current role, I have oversight of 18 periOperative sites.

How is Northwell’s PeriOperative Services redefining health care with truly innovative technology?

The pace of medical and surgical innovation continues to increase. A wide range of new technologies are changing the way that surgeries are performed – while improving patient safety and outcomes and reducing health care costs in the process. Northwell works to be at the forefront of innovative health care as the deployment of new technologies in surgery creates many opportunities to provide our patients with better outcomes and a faster return to their everyday lives.

What advice would you give someone looking to get into perioperative nursing?

Candidates interested in periOperative nursing must be energetic, have good people skills and a great attitude. PeriOperative nurses love the fast-paced environment and the fact that no two days are the same. In one shift, you have multiple patients facing different surgeries. Nurses also enjoy the environment because it’s a specialty area in which they typically become close with their team members and enjoy the camaraderie.
PeriOperative careers offer a great deal of flexibility. There are many different shifts that are offered to fit anyone’s schedule and there are opportunities in a variety of periOperative settings such as the main hospital, an ambulatory surgery center or even a surgeon’s office. Northwell Health has 18 main surgical sites giving nurses a variety of opportunities to choose from. There are also a multitude of opportunities for growth in this specialty area. Nurses can choose to pursue leadership or educational roles within perioperative services. Career progression/certification is encouraged and supported at every level in periOperative services.

How is Northwell committed to keeping our employees engaged?

Northwell Health System has made employee engagement a top priority. The system continuously strives to improve employee satisfaction and workplace commitment. To accomplish this the leaders at Northwell clearly define and articulate our mission and vision, communicate effectively and often, coach employees for success, and strive to provide the most trusting and respectful work environment for all employees. Along with ongoing dialogue with our employees regarding Northwell’s achievements and opportunities, perioperative services holds an annual retreat specifically for our surgical services leaders and staff.

The periOperative leaders at Northwell are committed to continual improvement, teamwork, achievement, and obtaining the best results possible for our patients.

Northwell recently became the first health system to receive the Network of Excellence in Robotic Surgery designation from Surgical Review Corporation. Can you tell us more about Northwell’s robotic surgery technology?

Since it first started to gain traction about 15 years ago, robotic surgery has become increasingly common for many different types of surgical procedures, and is rapidly expanding in cardiac, GYN, ENT, thoracic, and neurosurgery, to name a few specialties. At Northwell, there’s a continuous movement to be truly innovative, adopting the latest technology to ensure the best care for our patients. Robotic surgery has results in greater precision while also providing enhanced visualization via video images. Providing our highly skilled surgeons with robotic surgery technology results in improved outcomes with faster recovery times.

Northwell’s surgical services has grown tremendously over the past few years. How are we continuing to grow in the future?

Northwell’s periOperative services is growing fast and we continue to enhance our extensive capabilities. We strive to continue to build top-notch interdisciplinary surgical teams and professionals. Northwell continues to add operating rooms with hybrid technology and constantly invests in state-of-the art technology. We have added kidney and liver transplant to those services provided and opened a world-class heart transplant center in 2018.

Are you Made for a career at Northwell? Explore current periOperative job opportunities across our healthcare system.

Director Cindy Ryan and Project C.A.R.E. Bring Wellness to New Heights!

Director Cindy Ryan started at South Oaks Hospital 25 years ago, and says there has always been a focus and emphasis on wellness for its staff and the surrounding community. Now as part of Northwell Health, Cindy has found amazing opportunities for her team at South Oaks to bring Northwell Health’s dedication to wellness to the great outdoors through Project C.A.R.E. (Cooperative Activities Ropes Experience) and to South Oaks employees as a Wellness Liaison.

Since 1994, Project C.A.R.E. has been offering adventure-based workshops, facilitating groups to work, think, and learn together! These programs involve a variety of activities including group cooperative challenge problems, outdoor adventure low and high ropes course elements, and other physical elements. The level of participation is, at all times, up to the individual. “We refer to this as Challenge by Choice,’” Cindy explains. “Project C.A.R.E. offers a non-traditional experiential opportunity for participants to problem solve, learn to trust themselves and each other, understand strengths and weaknesses they possess within a group and how to succeed by working as a team.”

So how does Project C.A.R.E. do it? Let’s say a Northwell Health team is struggling with effective leadership or communication and is looking to schedule a program day at Project C.A.R.E. A Project C.A.R.E. team member begins the process by completing an assessment of their needs. Some questions we ask include – What is the familiarity amongst the participants with each other? Do they work directly together? What are the goals the client hopes to achieve? What are the strengths of the team? What are the opportunities for growth and development? The information we get from this assessment allows our C.A.R.E. team to create a customized experience. This experience includes selected initiatives/activities that foster opportunities for tools and strategies of effective teamwork to present themselves. The learning occurs through group briefings, metaphors and evaluative reflection to make concrete connections between the participants’ experience and the application to other aspects of their lives. “Aha” moments can present themselves for the individuals and the team as a whole.

The wellness initiatives don’t stop with Northwell Health employees. Project C.A.R.E. extends its outreach to other corporations, non-profit organizations, schools, youth programs, church groups, and camps. “Northwell Health’s mission is to enhance the health and wellness of the individuals within the communities we serve,” Cindy added. Northwell Health has made wellness a priority for the entire health system, and that emphasis starts at the top. “Whether it be the Virgin Pulse platform that we’re using to help staff establish a level of sustainability for wellness goals, to the connection and support from corporate wellness,” Cindy said. “I really do feel, especially recently, our current internal infrastructure has been very proactive and supportive of promoting opportunity for employees to work on their personal wellness. They are 100 percent behind those initiatives. I feel I have a significant amount of support from executive leadership.”

Though there’s tremendous institutional support, Cindy believes that it’s up to individuals to utilize the resources at their fingertips and contact their onsite liaison — each Northwell Health site has one — with their wellness needs. “There is great opportunity for someone coming into the system from a wellness perspective. The Northwell Health system makes a number of resources available whether you need to focus on wellness in spirituality, fitness, nutrition, and even finance. Northwell Health has afforded its employees many opportunities and resources to make effective change.”

Explore wellness at Northwell Health!

How Assistant Director Jim Wescott is Bringing Northwell Health’s ED to Innovative Heights

Assistant Director of Emergency Medicine Service Line Jim Wescott has built his career in the ED and now he’s bringing his lively, passionate, and innovative leadership to the entire Emergency Service Line at Northwell Health. We sat down with Jim to see the ED through his eyes:

How did you get your start at Northwell Health?

I started at Southside Hospital ED in 2004 as a Staff Nurse where I stayed for 14 years. Shortly after that, Southside Hospital became a part of Northwell Health. From there, I progressed with the health system from Staff Nurse, to Charge Nurse, to Preceptor, and in 2012, I became an Assistant Nurse Manager. In 2015, I became a Nurse Manager and was integral in the expansion of the emergency department. Under my leadership, the ED progressed from an 11,000 capacity ED to 30,000. After construction, that number reached 60,000! Now, I’m Assistant Director of Emergency Medicine Service Line.

How did you know that coming to Northwell Health was the right career move for you?

I knew immediately that Southside ED was for me on my first walk through in 2004. There was a buzz and energy that was occurring in this small ED. I hadn’t even had an official interview and I was ready to jump in and start working! When Southside Hospital integrated with Northwell Health, the system did an amazing job of committing to projects and improving processes. It’s such an innovative health system! There’s just this incredible commitment to moving forward at Northwell Health and I believe it’s because the senior executive level has a passionate vision that they’ve implemented in the mid-level leadership team and disseminated throughout the entire system.

Tell us about your current role:

The Emergency Medicine service line works collaboratively with hospital executive leadership to oversee clinical operations, quality, patient experience, finance, employee investment, community benefit, teaching and research, and market growth in the system’s emergency departments. The service line drives the sharing of best practices, standardized measurement and analysis of efficiency and quality metrics, and streamlined administrative practices by partnering with site ED leadership. Additionally, the EMSL assists our sites with redesign ED workflows, coordinates with system emergency preparedness departments, and is growing the Northwell footprint through a joint venture with GoHealth Urgent Care.

We also work with sites on career development and the (this is a mouthful, sorry!) ED Service Line Clinical Leadership Development Program. It’s a terrific opportunity for our ED clinicians, ACPs, and RNs! Created in conjunction with other leaders at the service line level, program participants attend an expert-led class every month. One month might focus on emotional intelligence, another on finance, and another on business strategies. This is a unique program that’s geared toward Emergency Medicine and it’s an exciting program because you don’t traditionally get these courses in healthcare work. Our SVP and executive director, Dr. John Deangelo recognized the enormous benefit of this investment in our clinical leadership teams along the service line and through his trailblazing vision, brought it to life. The program will be kicking off its fourth class this July. As a proud alumnus of this program, I can share with you firsthand how the content of this program augmented my own career development.

How does Northwell Health encourage employees to move around within the organization?

Moving within the organization is very well received and encouraged. I was at Southside Hospital for a long time and had successful upward career mobility. There are definitely pros to progressing and growing at one site. You know the culture, you know the players, you know what to expect day-to-day- even in an ED where the landscape is unpredictable! There are also cons to staying at one site. When you take on a new role, there’s a lot to learn and I think it’s beneficial to start that new role at a different location. Each culture is different. You’ll augment your own growth by being exposed to different processes and different patterns of thinking with new leaders. Northwell Health does a great job of offering these opportunities for upward mobility throughout the system.

Have you had a great mentor at Northwell Health? What did you learn from them?

Narrowing down my mentors at Northwell Health is difficult! Senior Director of Emergency Medicine Service Line Kate O’Neill is a dynamic person. When I was a Nurse Manager, I was expanding the department to three times its size. It was a very stressful time, I could share my experiences and challenges with Kate and she was the reassuring voice I needed. Even if I knew what to do, receiving validation from her level was integral to my growth. She always had a calming presence to her and you knew she was really listening, a trait that’s a hallmark of any great leader.

There’s also Paula Fessler who has championed my career and been a mentor for years. When you look at someone like Paula, her personality and the presence she has- it’s very inspiring. She reminds you of how inclusive Northwell Health is as an organization and how they build a real culture of care from top to bottom.

Finally, there’s Jason Philip, the Administrative Director of the emergency department at Southside Hospital. I’m very passionate about leadership, coaching and mentoring. I want to teach others the lessons that I’ve learned, especially emotional intelligence- a skill that’s vital for innovative leadership. I can’t think of anyone that I’ve ever worked with who has a stronger emotional intelligence than Jason. He is ridiculously engaged in all of the many moving parts of the emergency department. You wouldn’t expect someone who’s on the MBA executive route to really get down into the weeds of clinical operations. But from his first day, Jason has fully integrated himself. He’s also the Administrative Director of the ED at Peconic Bay Hospital and he does the same thing there! I’m just amazed by his ability to listen- that’s an art that I’ve tried to perfect in my career.

What advice do you have for people just starting out in their careers?

Don’t be afraid to fail! I’ve learned so much more from trying and failing than anything I have succeeded at immediately. So to all of you starting your careers, I say this: Northwell Health is the greatest health system in the world to work for and I would go toe-to-toe with anyone who would challenge that. Shoot for the moon and don’t worry about failing while trying. In a just culture like Northwell Health, if your intentions are good and you tried your best, you won’t be berated or beaten down for it. You’ll learn from it!

Any innovative changes or growth happening in the future we should know about?

One of the numerous innovative projects our team has developed and continues to augment are real-time dashboards. Historically in health care, measuring your performance was a manual, rigorous, work exhaustive endeavor. If you were able to obtain any information it was seldom actionable as it was always a retrospective review of things you could have done better, say a few weeks, months, or even a year ago, and rarely could you benchmark these results to others. Today, our service line team utilizes real-time data with a laser focus on throughput efficacy, quality metrics, and patient experience to name a few.

By leveraging this technology our clinical leadership teams along the service line can drill down to the granular level on such things as length of stay in the ED by the hour, day, mode (walk-in or ambulance) of arrival, and truly drive sustained performance improvement by understanding the challenges and opportunities this powerful information provides our teams.

Jim Wescott is just one great example of the innovation, passion and creative thinking that is making our emergency department a trailblazer in health care. Interested in joining our incredible team in Northwell Health’s ED? RSVP here for our hiring event on August 7th!

A Commitment to Service: Kelly Mahaffy’s Story

A passionate commitment to her patients and team has followed registered nurse and Reservist Kelly Mahaffy throughout her career at Northwell Health that spans 30 years. It’s this passion for service that helped Kelly flourish in the OR, whether it be in a Northwell hospital or during her active duty.

Kelly’s career started in Manhasset Hospital as an OR nurse in 1988, following a successful clinical there in nursing school. Here she worked for 17 years on the evening shift, enjoying the diversity the evening shift brought and focusing primarily in neurology. Her desire for travel led her to California in 2005, where she later joined the Army Reserves.

When it came time to come home, Kelly returned to Northwell, accepting a position at Glen Cove Hospital in 2009. “At Glen Cove, we’re very proud of our hospital,” says Kelly, who is still an OR nurse there today, “We know when new surgeons come in, we have one chance to get it right and we do.” We’re proud to be able to have helped Kelly grow in her career with us while she continues to serve in the reserves.

From 2017 to 2018, Kelly worked with other reservists at Womack Army Medical Center in North Carolina. Here she was part of the active duty service, taking care of active duty soldiers. During her shifts, Kelly saw firsthand the sacrifices of those in the military and their families. Working with these soldiers continually inspired Kelly. “It reminds you to be grateful for the freedoms we enjoy daily,” she shares.

While at Womack Army Medical Center, Kelly noticed the inherent loyalty and teamwork of the soldiers with pride. “You have to look out for your soldiers,” says Kelly, “you have to look out for the people you serve with.” And she’s proud to see this value reflected in Northwell’s Truly Together employees as well, “The team really pulled together and took care of my job when I went away for a whole year. I knew when I came back, they’ll have kept things running smoothly.”

Veterans like Kelly and the soldiers they serviced have sacrificed so much to serve our country. At Northwell, we’re proud that Kelly chooses to continue this spirit of service with us as a nurse. “I’m proud to serve at Northwell,” says Kelly, “I am proud to have served in North Carolina, and I am proud to still be in the Army Reserves.”

And we’re proud to have been named a Military Friendly® Employer for three years in a row, supporting veterans like Kelly and providing veteran services throughout their time with us, such as pay differentials and flexible scheduling for reservists. We’re committed to our veterans, their career transition, and their growth.

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