Archive for month: October, 2020

The vital role of peer advocates at Zucker Hillside Hospital

Oct 30, 2020/in Diversity & Inclusion, Employee Stories /by kmignone1

The vital role of peer advocates at Zucker Hillside Hospital

For Danny Sosa, working as a peer advocate at Zucker Hillside Hospital (ZHH) isn’t just a job, it’s a way for him to make a difference using his own life experience.
Danny started his Northwell Health journey as a volunteer in our Peer Training program that helps prepare individuals to work as peer advocates. Our peer advocates are vital Northwell team members who provide support and advice for individuals going through similar experiences or who have disabilities. Throughout the three-month program, Danny learned from current colleagues about what peer work entails, as well as volunteering to go to the inpatient wards as a peer-in-training to get hands-on experience leading groups. After completion, Danny was partnered with a job coach and maintains close bonds with his fellow peers-in-training to this day.
Now as a peer advocate, Danny works closely with OnTrackNY, a program that helps adolescents and young adults who may have behavioral health needs, and Strong365, a mental health support community. Meeting with these individuals in the Early Treatment program, Danny runs and participates in group sessions as well as other activities part of the program.
Having received support from OnTrackNY himself gives Danny the valuable opportunity to connect with the program participants. “Being a peer advocate is about bringing my personal life experience to a conversation,” says Danny. “I get to help people currently going through a hard point in their life the same way I was helped. Being able to share how I grew and continue to learn from it can help others. I strongly believe it’s small steps leading to big changes.”

Peer Advocacy at Zucker Hillside Hospital

At Northwell’s ZHH, Danny found an inclusive environment that welcomed him as an asset to the team, not only for his hard work and passion, but also for his ability to deliver unique support and understanding. “Since I started at ZHH, the whole team has been very welcoming. Hearing how much of a difference having me participate in groups can make from team members or having a participant speak to me after a program, allows me to appreciate what an amazing opportunity I have to help people here.”
Danny has flourished in his career at Northwell and has even recently been asked to participate in a statewide project. This 18-month research project with Strong365, OntrackNY and Northwell provides New York residents who have behavioral health needs with mental health resources. Danny will act as one of the contacts that individuals can reach out to in order to be connected to the right programs for their needs.
His commitment to helping others with behavioral health needs has set him up for a future within our organization. “Being part of Northwell has allowed me to forge my own path as a peer,” says Danny. “The support and training I received helped me to become comfortable with sharing my story and feeling that I was contributing in a positive way to someone’s first experience.” Believing in little moments, he helps deliver Truly Compassionate care and understanding to people in their time of need.
Use your life experience to build a career well cared for at Northwell Health. Apply today!

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

« Return to Blog

Meet respiratory therapist and healthcare hero, Emily Shi

Oct 29, 2020/in Clinical Care /by kmignone1

Meet respiratory therapist and healthcare hero, Emily Shi

The dedication of our respiratory care team at Northwell Health is indescribable, especially during the unprecedented times of COVID-19. Our respiratory therapists deliver vital care through their hard work, teamwork and compassion. This week we celebrate Respiratory Therapist Appreciation Week and recognize our extraordinary team members.
Meet Yang (Emily) Shi, assistant director of Respiratory Therapy at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). Emily has grown in her career at Northwell since she started as a Respiratory Therapist in 2006 on the NICU unit at NSUH. Specializing in neonatal and adult critical care, Emily has developed a skillset that lets her explore many career opportunities and advance her knowledge as a respiratory therapist.
In her current role, Emily oversees the day-to-day operations of the Respiratory Therapy department which includes team management, projects and patient care. To further her education and management skills, she is currently pursuing her MBA in Management and Leadership with the assistance of the Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program.
Respiratory therapists have always been a vital part of the healthcare system, but when COVID-19 peaked the need for respiratory team members grew rapidly. During this time respiratory therapists worked tirelessly to save their patients’ lives and Emily and her team had to rethink the way they cared for their patients on ventilators, prioritize their resources and learn how to keep their patients and colleagues safe.
“It has been stressful yet rewarding to work as a respiratory therapist throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Emily. “Nothing makes me prouder than seeing a patient being liberated from ventilator or oxygen support and seeing them go home to their loved ones. I am proud to work at Northwell Health because it is an organization that provides quality, innovative care and is invested in the well-being of their communities and team members.”
Thank you to all of Northwell’s respiratory therapy healthcare heroes today and every day. Join the respiratory therapist heroes at Northwell Health.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

« Return to Blog

Northwell Health hosts virtual Spoken Word Event

Oct 29, 2020/in Diversity & Inclusion, Featured Articles /by kmignone1

Northwell Health hosts virtual Spoken Word Event

At Northwell Health, we’re committed to building an inclusive and safe environment for our team members where we can all be Truly Ourselves. Our Spoken Word event encouraged individuality as team members and their families engaged in powerful self-expression.
Hosted virtually by Northwell’s Social, Belonging & Inclusion Council, this unique night of verbal expression offered team members an opportunity to creatively share what’s on their mind. Employees from all roles and teams within our organization had the opportunity to join and perform artistic pieces that focused on a variety of topics including allyship, COVID-19, diversity and inclusion, recovery, resilience and social justice.
“When we envisioned the Spoken Word event, we were excited to highlight the talent and diversity of our Northwell Health family,” says Dorean J. Flores, senior manager, Human Research Protection Program and member of the council. “Showcasing and attending an event founded in unity and interwoven with artistry invoked a sense of pride in being a part of an organization that exemplifies camaraderie.”
As part of that unity, the event created a space to share a passion from their personal lives with team members – whether that be from the topic they chose or simply the act of performing itself. For Emily Kagan-Trenchard, vice president, Digital & Innovation Strategy, and one of the night’s performers and MC, that meant connecting an artform that has been a big part of her life for over two decades with her friends and colleagues.
“What I love about spoken word events is the way it bridges all divides. It insists that all truths are worthy of an audience but makes no other demands on the shape or form that truth must take,” says Emily. “Because here’s the thing: there is no spoken word without the audience. It requires a speaker and a listener and that makes it a profound tool for building community.”
Another performer, Jeremiah Mallari, a workforce intelligence analyst in HR Operations, was grateful for an outlet to express himself while connecting to Northwell’s community, going on to even share his performance from the night online. “The Spoken Word Event was a beautiful picture of Northwell’s Culture of C.A.R.E (Connectedness, Awareness, Respect & Empathy),” says Jeremiah. “We’re all unique and hearing the different thoughts and passions of our team members perfectly depicts that. Each of the artists that performed showed their true selves and they were each embraced and celebrated.”
The spirit and passion for expression was felt throughout all 12 of the performances, with the night ending in a group virtual dance party. Healing was a continual theme through the night with the pieces allowing team members to get support and feel heard – something especially important as our healthcare heroes recover from COVID-19 in these unprecedented times.
“This event created a moment of connection and vulnerability that felt so necessary, so affirming and so urgent for all of us. The gift of spoken word is not only in the poem or the song or the freestyle that is shared, it is as much in the gift of space to listen,” says Emily. “Because this is how we get better. We sit together with the beautiful and difficult truths about the work we do for our patients, for our communities, and for ourselves to heal.”
Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

« Return to Blog

Celebrating Filipino American History Month at Northwell Health

Oct 28, 2020/in Diversity & Inclusion /by kmignone1

Celebrating Filipino American History Month at Northwell Health

Northwell Health is proud to recognize Filipino American History Month and this year’s theme: “The History of Filipino American Activism.” Every October since 1988, communities celebrate the role that Filipinos have played throughout American history. During World War II, Filipinos fought in the United States and in the Philippines alongside the United States to obtain world peace. By working in various fields such as technology, healthcare, construction, education, and more, Filipino Americans have contributed to the economic growth of this country. As of 2018, there are 4.1 million Filipino Americans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey (ACS) data. Filipino Americans are the country’s second largest self-reported Asian ancestry group.
We asked a few members of our Bridges Asian BERG what Filipino American History Month means to them and how they celebrate. We are proud to celebrate these individuals as well as all Filipino Americans who have brought creativity, passion and innovative ideas to life!

Meet some of our Bridges Asian BERG members below:

“I’m honoring this year’s theme by educating myself and engaging with others through watching documentaries, participating in a few of Northwell’s many diversity-focused activities, taking Northwell’s Introduction to Unconscious Bias course, reading about Larry Itliong, who organized Fil-Am farm laborers in California in the 1960s, and most important, I’m using my platform as a leader within Northwell to make space for important conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Angeli Mae LagascaManager, System Clinical Transformation, Office of the Chief Nurse Executive

“To me, Filipino American History Month serves as a reminder to take the time to reflect on our roots, remember our family and ancestors, and take the opportunity to incorporate our culture in our everyday lives. It’s a chance to share and educate others about our heritage and culture. It’s really an honor that we are given recognition.”

Jacqueline SantelicesAccount Representative, Business Development and Marketing, Northwell Health Labs

“Filipino American History Month is a time when I can reflect on the impact Filipinos have made in the fabric of our country, in all sectors and systems like finance, culinary and healthcare. We celebrate Filipino American History Month in our home by making our favorite Filipino dishes, like Sinigang, a tangy, tamarind-based soup. It’s a time to appreciate the things that make Filipino culture unique and also intertwined with the world.””

Jeremiah Mallari Analyst, Workforce Intelligence, HR Operations

“For me, Filipino American History Month means a time to reflect on my Filipino heritage. As a Filipino/Japanese woman, I am excited to spend time learning more about my family’s Filipino traditions and history this month.”

Karina HiroshigeSenior Associate, Finance and Operations, LIJ Medical Center

“This month gives me an opportunity to learn more about the contributions that Filipino-Americans have made to this country. I look up to my mother who came here in the 1960s as a nurse. I look at how happy she is and I am grateful for what she sacrificed by coming here to give my brothers and me a better life.”

Michelle PinzonDirector, Corporate Compliance

“As a Filipino American, it is important for me to see myself and other co-workers of similar heritage develop professionally. Being part of the Asian BERG allows me to have a voice and share ideas in an inclusive and diverse environment to help improve the health outcomes in our communities. It serves as a platform for me to collaborate with talented people within and outside of our organization.”

Ryan EspineliSenior Administrative Manager, Pulmonary Medicine

“The Filipino American History Month is a recognition of all my fellow Filipino’s economic, historical and cultural contributions in the United States. We celebrate our heritage, not just this month, but every day through food, music and relationships with people.”

Suzette Escueta Optimization Specialist, Ambulatory EMR, Northwell Health Physician Partners

Join a team that celebrates the power of being Truly Ourselves. Learn more about Northwell Health’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

« Return to Blog

Strengthening our communities and the lives of our patients with physical therapy

Oct 22, 2020/in Rehabilitation /by kmignone1

Strengthening our communities and the lives of our patients with physical therapy

As October marks Physical Therapy Month, we at Northwell Health are honored to celebrate the healthcare professionals who are committed to helping patients improve movement, increase mobility, and recover from injury to live their lives to their fullest potential.
Our rehabilitation teams are staffed with licensed physical therapists who provide patients with the education, support, and motivation they need to enhance and restore functional ability. Among them is Soledad Tomasino, an experienced senior physical therapist (PT).
Having started her career in orthopedic physical therapy with Northwell a decade ago, Soledad was determined to advance her skills in ways that would lead to a rewarding and decorated career. Four years ago, she made the shift to Pelvic Health and most recently, she received her Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC) from Herman and Wallace, an institution that provides continued education for medical professionals seeking to improve their practice of pelvic treatment and rehabilitation.
For Soledad, seeking opportunities for growth outside of Northwell would help enhance her experience within. And with the unrelenting support of our organization, her professional growth was inevitable. At Northwell’s Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) in Manhasset, Soledad’s found a positive environment that fosters togetherness amongst our employees and empowers them to be at their best. It creates an atmosphere where their personal goals and patient goals can be realized. Soledad notes, “STARS is a family, especially amongst the pelvic floor team. We’ve supported each other through many stages of life including getting married and having our own babies.”
Soledad takes on a number of responsibilities as senior PT, from mentoring newly hired Pelvic Floor therapists to participating in the development of the Pelvic Floor manual. But of the many roles she has, the one she appreciates the most is the opportunity she has to make an impact in the lives of her patients. “What I like the most about my career is to help my patients achieve their personal goals,” says Soledad. “It’s rewarding when patients tell me their therapy helped them regain their quality of life.”

Northwell thanks Soledad and all of our committed physical therapists who work tirelessly to make a difference. If you’re interested in working for an organization that specializes in rehabilitation with recovery as a top priority, get moving and apply today.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

« Return to Blog

CNO Corner – A conversation with Mary Curran

Oct 21, 2020/in Nursing /by kmignone1

Photo: Mary Curran meets with Dora Kakurieva (patient care associate), Gerty Lahens (clerical support associate) and Nadine Simmons-Ziegler, RN, (director of Patient Care Services) at LIJFH (left to right).

CNO Corner – A conversation with Mary Curran

Mary Curran, EdD, MSN, RN-BC decided to join Northwell Health while taking classes for her master’s degree where she was inspired by her professor, Maureen White, executive vice president and chief nurse executive at Northwell.
“The class was amazing,” says Mary. “I was so inspired by her leadership, passion for the profession of nursing, and the brand of Northwell, that I made the decision to work for this amazing leader and this progressive health system.”
Since starting at Northwell as a nurse educator at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) in 2011, Mary has built a career that is inspiring nurses with her passion and leadership the same way Maureen inspired her. She grew her career from assistant director of Nursing Education to Magnet program director and director of Patient Care Services at LIJMC. In 2015 she was ready for the next step in her career and transitioned to become chief nursing officer at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills (LIJFH) where she continues to lead her nurses and inspire growth, passion and development.
Read more in this CNO Corner interview with Mary.

How have the nurses at LIJFH delivered exceptional and compassionate care during the COVID-19 outbreak?

LIJFH was at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic and our team embraced this challenge to care for our community in its darkest time of need. Moreover, 2020 was also the Year of the Nurse – a year that became truly defined by the bravery, courage, and empathy of our teams, with the nurses and teams of LIJFH on the front line. Our nurses and teams truly transformed to become superheroes who provided exceptional, compassionate care for the mind, body, and souls of our community through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Utilizing science, teamwork, best practices and empathy, they care for our patients from the beginning of life, through the continuum of life, and assure dignity and respect at the end of life. I am extraordinarily proud and humbled to work beside this team of extraordinary nurses.

What are some of the ways LIJFH has been supporting their nurses and other team members throughout the COVID-19 recovery?

The support our team was provided during COVID and COVID recovery was multifaceted. To begin, our teams were assured proper PPE and resources to keep them safe, their patients safe, and subsequently our community safe. Partnering with the Institute for Nursing and FlexStaff, we brought in traveler and per diem nurses to assist with the care needed for the influx of patients. Next, via our partnership with Human Resources and Employee Health Services, team members were afforded mental health resources onsite, during and after the peak of the pandemic. In addition, we employed leadership rounding to thank our teams, accepted food donations for our teams from our community, were inspired by 7 p.m. daily clap outs from the neighborhood, and participated in team wellness activities, such as rock painting and therapeutic cafés.

How does LIJFH support their team in growth and development?

LIJFH continually supports the growth and development and lifelong learning of our nurses. Professional development is supported and encouraged through certification preparation courses and monetary compensation for certification, tuition reimbursement, nurse residency programs, flexible scheduling to accommodate higher learning, continuing education opportunities and comprehensive orientation programs.

What exciting nursing initiatives are in the works at LIJFH?

We are in the process of our Pathway to Excellence Journey which began several years ago. Pathway to Excellence is the American Nurses Credentialing Center accreditation that globally recognizes positive practice environments that are committed to nursing workplace excellence. Our submission for this accreditation will be April 2021. We are incredibly proud of the clinical outcomes, shared governance structure and professional practices of our nursing teams and are looking forward to gaining this accreditation.
We’re also proud to announce that we have successfully achieved the GOLD-level American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Beacon Award for Excellence. A Gold-Level Designation is the top honor of its kind nationally and recognizes the culture and accomplishments of the entire inter-professional team (including the critical care unit’s registered nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners, PCAs, clerks, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, social workers, case managers, nutritionists and environmental services aides). Our GOLD-Level achievement is a phenomenal testament to the culture and outcomes of the ICU team and only 18 other hospitals in New York State have earned this designation.

What makes Northwell a great place to work?

Two top thoughts come to mind: growth opportunities and employee engagement via shared governance. The growth opportunities that Northwell offers are endless. Many nursing team members here will tell you that their leaders and mentors facilitated their growth, spirit of inquiry, and passion for the profession of nursing. Growth and mentorship are foundational to Northwell and many career pathways demonstrate that. In addition, employee engagement is facilitated via shared governance councils and structures. Here, team members at all levels of the organization have a voice in hospital decision making. Fundamentally, the teams are able to create and drive processes at the front line, for the front line. Northwell Health truly is a great place to work!
Interested in joining the nursing team at LIJFH? Apply today!

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

« Return to Blog

Northwell’s Walk to the Parks step challenge is improving employee wellness

Oct 15, 2020/in Wellness /by kmignone1

Northwell’s Walk to the Parks step challenge is improving employee wellness

walk to the parks
Focusing on team member well-being at Northwell Health is a walk in the park – a virtual one that is. 2,774 teams made up of 15,691 team members are virtually walking our National Parks as they compete in this year’s employee step challenge for the chance to win $5,000!
During our Walk to the Parks innovative employee step challenge, teams of six have six weeks to walk two million steps, the distance between all national parks. Tracking their physical activity, each day brings them one step closer to their goal and unlocks virtual destinations throughout their wellness journey. Any team that successfully goes the distance will be entered into the grand prize raffle – a $5,000 prize for each team member.
In these unprecedented challenging times, it’s more important than ever for our team members to find the time to focus on their own well-being. From walks outdoors during lunch to safely gathering in parks on days off, our teams are finding fun ways to get their steps in while gaining more energy, developing healthy habits and improving mental health. Additionally, for many of our currently remote employees, it provides a unique chance to connect with their teammates despite the temporary distance.
“Walk to the Parks is more than getting in your steps, it’s about team building, challenging yourself and taking time for your own well-being,” says Niha Malcomson, manager, Employee Wellness. “Now more than ever, it is something that is needed by all.”
And this isn’t Northwell’s first step challenge! Each year Northwell provides a fun opportunity to increase physical activity while allowing team members to focus on their own well-being in unique competitions. Last year’s Walk to Rome challenge included 2,018 teams who walked a total of 9,116,790,338 steps. That’s 4,558,395 miles – or enough steps to travel 183 times around the Earth!
With so many team members competing in this year’s challenge, Northwell Health is ready for a journey both to the parks and to better well-being.
Are you up for the challenge? Get moving and apply to Northwell Health today!!

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

« Return to Blog

Shaping the future of cancer care through Academic Affairs

Oct 14, 2020/in Cancer Care, Diversity & Inclusion /by kmignone1

Shaping the future of cancer care through Academic Affairs

Kerry Wallace’s Northwell Health journey started right after college graduation and has grown with her through each stage of her 35 years here. Today she’s director of Academic Affairs at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, where she is responsible for their educational activities including fellowship program accreditation and continuing medical education programs.
Throughout her long career here, Kerry always felt supported by an organization she feels is preparing a workforce for the future era of healthcare. And as an individual with spina bifida, she’s felt supported as a team member with a disability as well. “Being disabled can definitely be a challenge in many situations. However, I’ve always felt supported during my career with Northwell and the door for opportunity has always been open for me. I also enjoy the work I do with the N-ABLE BERG to help individuals with disabilities advance their careers like I have done.”

Kerry’s Career Journey

After interning for two summers with the heath system, Kerry joined the Northwell team full-time as a cancer registrar at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). It was while working here doing cancer data management and state reporting that Kerry earned her master’s degree, receiving assistance from Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program. “I knew continuing my education was important to future career goals,” says Kerry. “In addition to tuition reimbursement, the leadership at NSUH also allowed me the opportunity to do an administrative internship after hours and still work at the hospital.”
From there, Kerry’s career journey included working as an administrative coordinator with the Cancer Program at NSUH, a manager in Research and Education and later in Educational Initiatives at the Monter Cancer Center.
The diverse programs she experienced throughout her career were ones she valued. “I was a science major in college and always liked to learn more scientific information on cancer and potential treatments,” says Kerry. It also helped prepare her for her current role of working in Academic Affairs. “Now I am able to assist in bringing new knowledge to our clinicians and in my own way help advance care of cancer patients in the future.”

Continued Growth

While impressive already, Kerry’s career journey isn’t finished yet. She wants to continue to grow and develop while doing her part to advance the treatment and survival of cancer. “Northwell has been a large part of my life, from college summer jobs, to various stages of my career, to the birth place of my daughter. Throughout my career, my career moves often had to do with not only need, but the desire to learn new areas of the field. I have stayed for so many years because of the new opportunities I have been given along the way.”

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

« Return to Blog

A unique start to Emergency Nursing at Northwell Health

Oct 08, 2020/in COVID-19 Stories, Emergency Medicine, Nursing /by kmignone1

A unique start to Emergency Nursing at Northwell Health

Meet Patrick Barnes, a registered nurse in the Emergency Department (ED) Nurse Fellowship at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). Beginning his nursing career in October just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the initial months of his fellowship provided Patrick with the essential emergency nursing skills to work in a high-acuity, fast-paced emergency department- a unique start to his career.
The ED Nurse Fellowship helps new graduate and registered nurses who may be entering a new specialty gain invaluable skills before working on their own in the ED. As a fellow, Patrick spent the first 10-weeks of his career at Northwell’s Institute for Nursing with classroom education and simulation trainings to teach him the basics of working in the ED and prepare him to start working 12-hour shifts in December.

Working as a new nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic

As our emergency rooms saw a temporary increase in patient volume as the pandemic peaked in March, Patrick found strength from the experienced team around him in the ED. “Our preceptors and the other nurses in our unit have helped the nurse fellows and other new hires prepare for increased patient flow during COVID-19,” says Patrick. “Though demands in our ED would change daily, myself and the fellows I started with were able to adapt tremendously thanks to their support. We would have daily briefs and education to reinforce skills that would keep us and our patients safe.”
While his fellowship continues, the format has changed to keep our team members safe while complying with COVID-19 restrictions. Trainings and certifications are now taught through virtual platforms or while practicing social distancing in small classroom settings. Throughout the unprecedented circumstances, Patrick has never felt the guidance from Northwell and his leadership waver.

Building a future in emergency nursing at Northwell

With his fellowship now nearly over, Patrick feels prepared to start the next stages of his RN career at Northwell. “Within my first year as a nurse, Northwell has given me opportunities and training that I feel I may not have been offered elsewhere,” says Patrick. “It feels like a family once you begin to work with the team in the ED.”
Patrick’s passion for emergency nursing is the foundation for growing his career at Northwell. Working in the ED, he’s seen firsthand how our nurses have moved onto educator and management roles within the system. “It is exciting to see many of our team members move on to earn their MSN and have the support of the ED behind them,” says Patrick. “I am excited to see what the future holds at Northwell.”
Start your nursing career with Northwell Health. Learn more about our nurse fellowship programs.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

« Return to Blog

Meet Truly Ambitious Senior Physician Assistant Michael Hanson

Oct 05, 2020/in Advanced Practice /by kmignone1

Meet Truly Ambitious Senior Physician Assistant Michael Hanson

This blog is part of a series highlighting Northwell Health’s Advanced Clinical Providers (ACP). Each Northwell Health employee was nominated by their leadership as an individual who exemplifies a Northwell Health value.
When Michael Hanson, a neurosurgery physician assistant (PA), started at Huntington Hospital six years ago, he was joining a team that would grow with his career. What once started as a department of two PAs has expanded to now include nine PAs on the service, ensuring Huntington Hospital has an in-house neurosurgery PA around the clock as it offers 24/7 service to our patients.
Michael was able to play a large part of developing the team by recruiting new team members from practitioners he had worked with in the past. It was a unique opportunity to help build a team based on experience, strong skill sets, and work ethic in an emerging department that excited Michael. This passion for growth and leadership within the neurosurgery team led to Michael being promoted to a senior PA in 2017.
“The work we do as PAs is important and I truly feel it makes a difference,” says Michael, who passionately advocates for the PA profession in his senior role. “We have the ability to both impact patients’ lives and outcomes, and comfort and educate families in their time of need.”
At Northwell, he knows the skills of our PAs are valued and supported with the opportunity to grow within the whole organization even beyond clinical roles. “When I look at the senior leadership in the system and see several PAs holding high-level administrative positions, it shows that the only limitation we have here as ACPs is set by our own ambitions.”
And the invaluable and diverse skills of our PAs was never more apparent than throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With non-emergent surgeries paused at Huntington Hospital, the neurosurgery team joined other teams in the newly created temporary ICUs where they played a vital role in alleviating the pressure of an increased number of critical patients.
“Due to the nature of the disease, we suddenly had an extraordinary number of central lines, arterial lines, and dialysis catheters that needed to be placed on a daily basis,” explains Michael. Working with Dr. Kerr, the chief neurosurgeon at Huntington, Michael helped develop a vascular access team to free up the intensivists from placing these lines so they could instead focus on the patients. The teamwork Michael witnessed made him prouder than ever to work at Huntington Hospital. “Even though we have now returned to our normal roles, you see the people you spent those difficult days with and you have that shared experience that bonds you. The sense of trust and community has never been stronger.”
It’s a sense of community that Michael feels extends to not only his team, but to administration and through the organization as a whole. The Truly Together atmosphere gives everyone a place to have their voices heard and their careers supported. Since starting at Northwell, Michael’s felt his desire to learn and grow encouraged with a variety of resources to accomplish that from the skills lab, to CMEs, to conferences.
“The thing I have come to appreciate most about working for Northwell is the support I have received from the system. The administration has always been not just available, but enthusiastic about doing whatever it takes to elevate the service to impact patient care in a positive way,” says Michael. These resources are something he’ll continue to take advantage of as his career keeps growing. “As one of the largest healthcare systems in the world, the diversity of positions, opportunities for advancement, and resources available to help you become the best ACP you can be at Northwell are second to none.”
Find a PA career that grows with you at Northwell Health when you join the team that the American Academy of PAs designated as a 2020-2021 Employer of Excellence. Apply to one of our PA jobs today!

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

« Return to Blog

Creating an inclusive environment for all at Northwell Health

Oct 05, 2020/in Diversity & Inclusion /by kmignone1

national disability employment awareness month

Creating an inclusive environment for all at Northwell Health

Northwell Health is committed to creating a work environment that celebrates the diversity of our team members while ensuring everyone is included and respected. We’re proud to recognize National Disability Employment Awareness (NDEAM) Month this October with a number of events, resources and celebrations of our team and community members with disabilities alongside our N-Able Business Employee Resource Group (BERG). This year is a commemorative year, marking the 75^th observance of NDEAM and 30^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The N-Able BERG was formed to advocate, educate and support a diverse workforce and provide a safe environment for people with disabilities. The work of our N-Able BERG along with Northwell’s Workforce Readiness team and Zucker Hillside Department of Vocational Rehabilitation placed people with disabilities back into the workforce.
Their commitment to an inclusive workforce led to Northwell Health receiving a region-wide National Disability Employment Awareness Month Award. This award recognizes businesses that have demonstrated exemplary hiring practices, employment hiring and advancement opportunities for skilled and qualified people with disabilities. The N-Able BERG will be honored on October 16. “It has been a pleasure and privilege to help people with disabilities find career opportunities,” says Cheryl Davidson, senior director, Workforce Readiness and co-chair of the N-Able BERG. “This is an untapped pool of motivated and qualified individuals which fosters diversity of ideas and experiences while representing the population Northwell Health serves.”
Here are some of the events and resources our N-Able BERG is launching during this year’s October National Disability Employment Awareness Month:

Path to Inclusion Seminar

This virtual seminar was created to help people with disabilities during their career search. Candidates have the opportunity to discover how Northwell’s Inclusion Specialist can support them on their career journeys while receiving important resume writing and networking tips.

Disability Pride Conference

The first Disability Pride Conference on October 14 will celebrate the contributions and unique talents of individuals with disabilities while providing education and resources to team members who are also care providers for people with disabilities.

Inclusive Awards

The Inclusive Awards celebrate the work of our team members who have been committed to the N-Able BERG who ensure people with disabilities have access to our community, healthcare, education, training and employment.

Neurodiversity Virtual Mentorship Program

The launch of a new semester-long neurodiverse mentoring program provides neurodiverse college students with the chance to work one-on-one with a Northwell leader while they gain firsthand insight and invaluable healthcare career information and guidance.

National Business Disability Council Emerging Leaders

Northwell will be hosting a virtual shadow day to ensure that students with disabilities will have the opportunity to learn about careers at Northwell Health directly from our team members.

Disability Etiquette Seminar

This seminar will breakdown myths and offer guidelines on how to have respectful interactions and communications with people with disabilities to better foster an inclusive environment.

Parent Blog

N-Able has created a special resource for team members who are parents of special needs children. This blog will allow them to share information, resources and support.
Join an organization that celebrates a workforce that is Truly Ourselves. Learn more about Northwell Health’s commitment to inclusion.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Subscribe to our blogs

Stay up to date with stories you want to know more about right to your email inbox.

Contact us
If you are an individual with a disability requesting an accommodation for the application process, please click the contact us link above to request assistance.

Learn more about our hiring experience.
Read answers to common questions about the application process.
© 2021 - Northwell Health
Click here to view the “EEO is the law” poster.

It is Northwell Health’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all applicants and employees equally regardless of their age, race, creed/religion, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, pregnancy, genetic information or genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital or familial status, partnership status, victim of domestic violence, sexual or other reproductive health decisions, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

Northwell Health reserves the right to amend all terms of employment.

The vital role of peer advocates at Zucker Hillside Hospital

Peer Advocacy at Zucker Hillside Hospital

Share this entry

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Search Jobs

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Archives

Meet respiratory therapist and healthcare hero, Emily Shi

Share this entry

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Search Jobs

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Archives

Northwell Health hosts virtual Spoken Word Event

Share this entry

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Search Jobs

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Archives

Celebrating Filipino American History Month at Northwell Health

Meet some of our Bridges Asian BERG members below:

Share this entry

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Search Jobs

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Archives

Strengthening our communities and the lives of our patients with physical therapy

Share this entry

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Search Jobs

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Archives

CNO Corner – A conversation with Mary Curran

How have the nurses at LIJFH delivered exceptional and compassionate care during the COVID-19 outbreak?

What are some of the ways LIJFH has been supporting their nurses and other team members throughout the COVID-19 recovery?

How does LIJFH support their team in growth and development?

What exciting nursing initiatives are in the works at LIJFH?

What makes Northwell a great place to work?

Share this entry

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Search Jobs

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Archives

Northwell’s Walk to the Parks step challenge is improving employee wellness

Share this entry

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Subscribe to our blogs

Newsletter

Search Jobs