Northwell Celebrates: A series of events and experiences celebrating and thanking our healthcare heroes and their families

It’s not often that we’re faced with taking on challenges on a global scale such as was the case with the pandemic. In moments such as those, it’s important to pull together to raise each other. That is exactly what employees at Northwell Health did. They raised health, raised communities, and through it all they raised each other.

A simple thank you wasn’t enough. Northwell wanted to celebrate and thank all employees for their courage, determination and dedication throughout the pandemic and every day. Northwell Celebrates was launched as a multi-faceted token of appreciation. It is a series of events, activities and experiences curated for the enjoyment of employees and their families throughout the year.

Included in these activities are pop-up gratitude stations at various Northwell facilities where executive leaders from across the health system participate to give their personal thanks and offer a well-being gift box to employees. David Gill, assistant vice president of Employee Experience, was among the leadership present at the Syosset Hospital gratitude pop-up. David says, “It’s a way for us to provide in-person recognition and appreciation for the work our team members continue to do every day to make Northwell a great place to work and receive care.”

Inside each gift box are essentials to self-care such as a candle, a weekly reflection journal, a mindfulness coloring book with colored pencils, among other items. Such a gift was not taken lightly by employees like Elise Yan, lead lab technologist at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, who took to Facebook: “Thank you Northwell LIJ Forest Hills! Love it, can’t wait to start using them!”

Other events are planned throughout the summer, like drive-in family movie nights, a family fun book, concerts and an invitation to have six free chef-prepared meals from Freshly delivered directly to employees’ homes. The Freshly deliveries were a huge hit, with employees like Audrey McCullough, assistant director of patient care services for the Division of Nursing, who hopped on social media to say, “Thanks, Northwell, you really have my heart. Just received my 6 free and healthy, chef-cooked meals delivered right to my doorstep by Freshly!!”

At Northwell, all employees are valued and their hard work never goes unnoticed.

Discover a career well cared for at Northwell Health.

Working as a Home Health Aide at Northwell Health, Where Compassion Meets a Rewarding Career

There is a trademark characteristic that ties our Northwell home health aides (HHA) together: a deeply ingrained passion in caring for others. Often inspired by personal experiences, home health aides step up to provide at-home care for patients who cannot care for themselves. In such an intimate setting, relationships are built with the patients and their families who rely on the compassion our HHAs always bring.

Jeanette Mazzilli, home health aide with Northwell Health, says that one of the factors behind her decision to become an HHA was her own desire for a compassionate aide to help out at home with her father a few years ago. “While caring for my dad when he was ill, I realized that being a home health aide was a great career path for me. I took the free training course with Northwell Health and now enjoy helping my patients get better.”

Fellow home health aide of 13 years Sandra Chin also touts her own family as her source for inspiration: “My aunt Daisy was an HHA and I watched her care for her patients like they were her own family. When she became ill herself, I stepped up to care for her and loved doing it so much that I turned it into a career.” Sandra joined Northwell in 2019 and has found it to be a company like no other, providing support and training every step of the way.

A career as a home health aide is multi-faceted. Never a dull moment as you coordinate patient care with a team of nurses. Each unique patient comes with their own care plan and needs, and Northwell provides the training to meet those needs and assist the patient on a path to better health. “The RN who taught the course was a great instructor who answered all of our questions. I learned about patient care, safety, HIPPA compliance, and received many other home care instructions that prepared me for my role,” Jeanette says. When asked about the training course, Sandra Chin added, “The course is three weeks long, but very informative, and one of the best things is that I met some wonderful people.”

A day in the life of a home health aide can involve going over the patient’s care plan with the patient and their family, taking note of the patient’s progress. Sometimes the patient’s care plan requires monitoring their intake of medication, preparing meals, taking patients for walks, and assisting them with daily tasks. It’s a gratifying career according to Sandra: “The fulfillment I feel at the end of every shift when someone says, ‘thank you for being here’, makes it all worthwhile.”

That rewarding feeling continues outside of the patients’ homes because our home health aides know that Northwell Health is full of opportunities to raise their career expectations. Jeanette views her HHA position as the start to a long-term career in healthcare. “I have plans to expand my career at Northwell Health. This position has enabled me to use my natural compassion and incorporate new skills learned on the job so that I can grow.” Sandra agrees, saying that benefits at Northwell Health like tuition reimbursement, free training, and leaders who mentor you along the way create, “an environment and atmosphere that fosters the growth and development of its employees’ both career-wise and personally.”

HHAs are hands on as they play point person between patients and nurses which makes this role one of the best in healthcare to have a direct impact in the community. Jeanette recalls one particular instant early on in her career that stays with her to this day: “My most memorable moment was when a family member told the nurse assigned to my patient that they were relieved to have me in their lives. One day, I had noticed that the patient’s blood pressure was low and he seemed disoriented so I contacted the RN for immediate medical assistance. The family was grateful for my ability to keep calm and keep the patient stable while medical services arrived.” Sandra likens the role to being “an anchor” for patients and families going through a challenging time. Whether she’s serving breakfast, arranging transportation, or joining her patient on medical appointments Sandra says, “It gives me a sense of satisfaction I wouldn’t give up for any other job.”

If you’re ready to raise your career expectations as a home health aide with Northwell Health, apply now. A career well cared for is waiting for you.

From Nursing Assistant to Public Relations, Angela Mandelos Grew Her Career in Unexpected Ways at Northwell Health

Northwell’s culture was a perfect environment for a curious 22-year-old starting her career as a nursing assistant at South Shore University Hospital (SSUH). That curiosity was fed by the encouragement Angela received from leaders and peers she worked with. Words of encouragement alone may seem like an incubator for growth but at Northwell, Angela also found support in learning opportunities provided by the Center for Learning and Innovation, having leaders who served as mentors, and benefits such as Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program.

That support made the decision to continue her education easy, attaining a bachelor’s degree followed by an MBA in Healthcare Management. Throughout this time, Angela was also given multiple opportunities by SSUH leadership to participate in various hospital committees which expanded her scope and knowledge of the health system.

The combination of her continued education, her desire to spread her wings, and Northwell’s workplace culture helped set new directions for Angela’s career journey in the organization. Angela embarked on a second phase in her career with the department of service excellence at SSUH. She became a certified patient advocate, led an award-winning team, and soon grew in her role again. First, she served as director of community relations and then as principal of public and media relations at SSUH, which is the role she holds today. “These positions expanded my knowledge of our community and the importance of preventive education,” Angela says.

Her experiences made her a thought leader in community engagement and communication, and Angela sees it as an opportunity to impact not only the workforce but the patients cared for at Northwell Health. Angela believes that her successes wouldn’t have been possible without a lot of teamwork, “I am grateful to have leaders and peers who support my ideas and offer continuous motivation; we support and respect each other.”

Angela’s Northwell career journey unexpectedly took her from nursing assistant to principal of public and media relations. When asked what inspired her to grow her career at Northwell, Angela explains, “My years as a nursing assistant provided me with firsthand knowledge of patients’ experiences, and the day-to-day efforts of frontline heroes. Those moments inspired me to keep pushing myself to be their voice and to help create an environment that brings smiles to all.”

One piece of advice that Angela has for both new and seasoned employees looking to grow their careers at Northwell: “Make every moment meaningful. Every moment is an opportunity to learn something new, make new connections, or to make a difference!”

Discover a career well cared for at Northwell Health.

The perioperative team at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) and Cohen Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) takes their commitment to wellness very seriously. Not only the wellness of their patients, but also their own wellness and that of their colleagues. This is why recently the group of 14 registered nurses, certified surgical technicians, surgeons, managers, and support staff from LIJMC and CCMC laced up their hiking boots and hit the trails, something they do together regularly.

While these outdoor team-building exercises are a great way to enjoy nature, they are also a chance to get to know one another better and form bonds that help them work better as a team inside the operating room. . “Forming a better relationship/bond with your co-workers helps us work better as a team while at work,” says Danielle Colwell, assistant nurse manager, patient care at CCMC. “You gain more respect for one another and are more eager to assist each other when the need arises, which in the operating room is quite often.”  It’s that kind of commitment, support and mutual respect among colleagues that makes Northwell Health a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®.

Northwell encourages its employees to find ways to make their wellness a priority both at work and outside of work. We provide the resources and support to make wellness more convenient and fun like incentives for exercising, such as walk challenges and wellness contests, as well as workshops, wellness apps, and access to resources for emotional and stress management, financial well-being, healthy eating, and more.

Nurturing wellness and empowering our people to decompress, get outside, and stay active however it best suits them is essential in healthcare. And we encourage and embrace opportunities for our teams to find ways to focus on their well-being together and bring that commitment and collaboration back to their careers at Northwell.

Inspired by the Support from Northwell, Our Northwell Health Nurse Choir Aims to Inspire America

Seeing the Northwell Health Nurse Choir on America’s Got Talent reinforces what so many Northwell employees believe: Northwell is a place that is open to our endeavors be they personal or professional.

These nurses did not know each other prior to forming the choir but found it easy to make a connection through the power of music and a common passion for nursing at Northwell. Joining their voices from across the health system, the Northwell Health Nurse Choir aimed to inspire America – and they have!

“I still cannot believe that I am part of this experience and I have the honor of representing nurses on a national stage. I hope that the joy we show when performing is felt by healthcare providers and anyone else watching us. I hope that the hope we feel when singing can be hope for those watching too, and that everyone can feel our message: that we have survived a dark time together and we are moving into a hopeful next chapter,” says Winnie Mele, director of perioperative services at Plainview Hospital.

The decision to represent Northwell on the national stage was a chance they seized. They knew that the backing from Northwell would be there because of the organization’s commitment to uplifting their employees and the communities served.

Emanuel Remilus, registered nurse, Cohen Children’s Medical Center (CCMC), appreciates having the health system behind them citing, “Northwell provided a place where we could take precautions to be protected from COVID and practice together. That was the first time we met each other in person, and it was magic – our voices and personalities came together like we had known each other for years. We come from different towns, hospitals and backgrounds, which is great because it gives us diversity in our sound and an opportunity to learn from each other.”

Fellow choir member and registered nurse, Julieta Hernandez, who works at CCMC, adds, “If we hadn’t had a place to get together and practice singing together, I don’t know that we would have been so successful. Northwell also supported us by giving us time to practice and resources for choreography and vocals. It’s been a great experience because of this support!”

Northwell is a workplace where you don’t feel like you’re checking your personal life at the door in exchange for your professional life. It’s more like walking into your shift with extended family. With initiatives such as the BERGs (business employee resource groups) that bridge our external and internal communities, promoting growth and learning opportunities with a tuition reimbursement program, and the championing of employee interests, such as the nurse choir, an employee’s whole self is embraced into the organization.

That feeling of knowing that your interests are welcomed and supported is something that is sensed from the ground up.  Fellow nurse choir member, Gaelle Clesca, pediatric nurse practitioner, Cohen Children’s Medical Center, affirms this: “This opportunity is evidence that Northwell supports its own.” You’ll even hear it often from our President and CEO Michael Dowling: “Our Northwell family pulls together to support one another.”

Be sure to catch our nurses during the live quarterfinal rounds of America’s Got Talent this August! AGT airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. eastern on NBC.

If you’re inspired by the passion that our Northwell Health Nurse Choir has for bringing joy to others, join our team of 18,000+ nurses and discover a career well cared for. Explore nursing opportunities here.

U.S. veterans mentor students and share valuable career insights

Northwell Health launched a pilot student veteran mentorship program to deliver career insights and share life experiences between veterans and students.  With the initial program pilot, two participants from St. Joseph’s College, who were in their junior and senior year of college studying computers and biology, were paired with two veteran mentors in our organization.

The program goal is to give students who served in the military insight into our organization and help them to learn various career paths based on their major.  With plans to expand, the program is expected to continue to grow both mentor and student participants on a semester basis.

One of the mentors was Andy Roberts, senior director of corporate social responsibility in Human Resources Solutions, who helps plan for emergencies and ensures Northwell is ready for anything. Andy is also an Iraq war veteran who served in the U.S. Army. “I understand that the transition from military to civilian life can be challenging and I was eager to support the Student Veteran Mentorship program when I heard about it,” he says. “Mentorship programs offer insight into different careers and highlight opportunities many people may not normally be able to gain otherwise.”

Andy also gained a great deal during the program from his student. “Mentors can be reminded of the sacrifices our veterans have made and being a mentor can help you reinforce your own skills while providing a fulfilling opportunity to give back to someone making a career change.”

Northwell Health supports our veterans with a wide range of resources and opportunities for service members as they transition from active duty to civilian life as we strive to serve our patients, communities, and each other.

Make the transition to a civilian career with Northwell Health. Learn more about our commitment to veterans.

CNO Corner – A conversation with Christine Kippley

Christine Kippley, chief nursing officer (CNO), started her nursing career journey in Chicago, Illinois as a staff nurse on a medical surgical unit.  She obtained her MBA at Loyola University and soon became a nurse manager.  Christine managed both a medical surgical unit and an outpatient diabetes center where she became a certified diabetes educator. In 2010 she moved to New York where her first job was as a nurse manager at Plainview Hospital on the medical oncology unit, and later she transferred to Huntington Hospital to manage their medical surgical unit.

In 2013 Christine was selected for Northwell’s high potential program and became a Beginnings new hire orientation facilitator, where she obtained her nurse executive certification. From here, she earned a great opportunity to be the director of case management at Huntington Hospital before being selected to lead nursing at Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) as its chief nursing officer.

PBMC, which is located on Long Island’s beautiful east end, is a team of nearly 1,500 caring professionals who are delivering healthcare to Riverhead and the surrounding communities in Suffolk County and Eastern Long Island.

We learned more from Christine about what makes Peconic Bay Medical Center so unique for nursing and a wide variety of careers.

Tell us about the nursing team at PBMC.

The nursing team at Peconic Bay is inclusive of both experienced and novice nurses.  This provides a great environment for learning. Over the past few years, PBMC has added many new opportunities for nurses with experience and those new to the profession as we are experiencing significant growth.  As our services have grown, our nurses have spread their wings and have been offered new opportunities in the Cath lab, PACU, OB, ED and leadership.  Many of our nurses in these specialty areas started at PBMC on the medical surgical or telehealth units.

How does PBMC support growth and development for nurses?

Our nursing councils provide a platform for our nurses and leadership to share information and be involved in decision making.   The councils are comprised of nurses from each unit in our facility.  We are well on our way to achieving nursing excellence and pursuing Magnet status.   We were one of the 16 Northwell facilities that recently achieved American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Practice Transition Accreditation Program accreditation with distinction for our nurse residency program.  Many of our nurses are currently enrolled in BSN and MSN programs and certification is highly encouraged.

What exciting nursing initiatives are available at PBMC?

One example is our recent application and acceptance to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Age Friendly facility initiative.  This program will provide a framework for us to care for our most vulnerable and largest population.  Another example is our oncology services expanding to the east end, and with that, we have designated one unit for our oncology patients.  Educational opportunities are provided to the nurses staffing this area to care for this special population.

Why is unique for nurses working at PBMC?

One of the best things about working at PBMC is the friendly community feel of the hospital.    Being a smaller community hospital there are endless opportunities to explore new things and get involved.

What advice do you have for nurses either starting their careers or looking to continue to grow?

My advice to any new nurse is to just say YES to any opportunity, both clinical and educational, that comes your way.  Don’t be afraid!  Every experience will help you grow and prepare you for the next step, wherever that may lead you!

Explore nursing careers

The Motivation to Grow in a Northwell Career: Meet Senior Medical Assistant Samara Robb

“I know my future at Northwell is bright.” That’s a common view shared by Samara Robb, senior medical assistant at Northwell Health Physician Partners Internal Medicine of Woodbury, Long Island, who sees endless career opportunities ahead of her.

Samara’s optimism is fueled by her experiences at Northwell, starting with the support she receives to tackle any challenge. “It feels good to know I can reach out to leadership for guidance in areas where I lack the knowledge,” she explains.

Feeling valued plays another important part. For example, Samara has seen her feedback for a pilot program — both pro and con — considered and implemented by leadership. The level of respect between leadership and her team has inspired her to become a leader herself, by returning to school for a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration for leadership from Capella University. Northwell’s support extends to this effort as well: “Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program has been a great help,” Samara says. “It eases the financial burden.”

Samara embodies the Northwell core value of being Truly Ambitious as she pursues her dreams while taking care of patients, assisting physicians and training other medical assistants—highlighted by the relationships she builds with the patients she encounters. “Each day is another opportunity to put a smile on a patient’s face,” she says. “Whether it’s with a compliment or just a helping hand, it makes my day better knowing that I was able to help.”

That passion to help and support is integral to Northwell’s culture. Samara recalls a personal life challenge in which she had to miss work because of her grandfather’s passing. “Upon my return, my station was beautifully decorated with ‘I miss you’ and ‘We’re so happy you’re back’ messages,” she says. “It made me feel really appreciated and loved.”

Ask Samara for one (of many) reasons why she loves working at Northwell — and what makes Northwell a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For — and she’ll say, “Respect. Knowing you are respected by your employer motivates employees.”
At Northwell, all employees are encouraged to pursue what growth means to them. With benefits including tuition reimbursement, learning opportunities through Northwell’s Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI), and a positive Culture of C.A.R.E., the support for growth is everywhere.

Discover a career well cared for.

Answering the Call for Pediatric Cardiac OR Nursing

Anthony Bracco started his Northwell career four years ago as a registered nurse for adult open-heart surgeries, but he would eventually answer the call to join the pediatric open-heart team at Cohen Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) at Northwell Health. When asked about the opportunity to become a pediatric cardiac operating room registered nurse he says, “I couldn’t say no to a chance to help the pediatric population in the specialty I love.”

Working in a pediatric OR often means participating in life-saving surgeries. “I have the privilege of leaving work every day knowing we not only saved the life of a very young patient, but we also relieved the stress on the family,” Anthony says. He’s also excited about CCMC’s new operating rooms, which will offer more families access to the care he and his fellow OR nurses are passionate about.

Anthony says the cardiac OR team runs so smoothly because they all share the same devotion to saving lives. Witnessing that level of teamwork inspired him to pursue this career path, recalling a specific moment in an OR: “It was incredible to watch the scrub nurse and the surgeon move in perfect synchronization to protect the patient from being on the heart-lung machine for an extended period of time. In that instant I knew I wanted to be a cardiac surgery nurse.”

Declaring the operating room “an incredible place to work because you provide immediate patient care and are always learning,” Anthony encourages any nurse considering an OR opportunity to go for it. “Whether it’s removing a tumor, fixing a congenital heart defect or bypassing clogged arteries, the direct outcome you can have on a patient is incredibly rewarding.  There’s no better feeling than being able to help a neonatal, infant or pediatric patient by performing life-saving surgery.”

The days are busy, fast-paced and perfect for those looking to make an instant impact on patients’ lives. Anthony says the interdisciplinary teams he collaborates with at CCMC work in tandem, a manifestation of Northwell Health’s value of being Truly Together, which flows without ebb through the halls and ORs at the hospital.

From the moment Anthony joined the CCMC’s cardiac OR, he felt surrounded by professionals with the shared mission of delivering outstanding care to the youngest of patients, a “heartfelt” desire that’s not limited to the OR.

Support from Northwell doesn’t start and stop with your shift — it tracks with your personal and professional aspirations. Through the relationships built and the knowledge gained while working at Northwell, Anthony has felt inspired to continue his education; he’s now enrolled in a family nurse practitioner master’s degree program. CCMC has also granted him the space to innovate and share ideas by supporting his desire to conduct research. “Currently, I am working on a research project to increase communication and teamwork in the operating room by using white boards for communication.”

The nurses at CCMC are driven to excellence, passionate about having a direct and immediate impact in a young patient’s life, and selfless in regard to helping others — whether it’s colleagues or the patients they treat.

Join our cardiac OR team and find your next passion.

Northwell Community: Celebrating Pride Month

Continue celebrating Pride Month with us by watching our latest Northwell Community series video. Learn how our Expressions BERG (Business Employee Resource Group) provides opportunities for our LGBTQIA+ employees and their allies to connect and promote inclusion in the workplace. Our BERGs are active resources that help to create an informed work environment where everyone feels welcomed, accepted, and respected. Northwell Health is made stronger by the differences in backgrounds and experiences of our employees.

Growing a Wellness Garden at Northern Westchester Hospital when it was needed the most

How an idea designed to give Northwell Health employees a place to decompress in the middle of a pandemic also advanced the culinary experience for patients at Northern Westchester Hospital.

Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) is now home to 35 garden beds that hold organically grown vegetables. Started in June 2020, the garden was created to be a therapeutic space where employees could unwind during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The idea came from Rebecca Martin, committee member and the senior director of food and dining services at NWH and Phelps Hospital. Rebecca presented the project to the Wellness Resilience and Recognition Committee that Richard Mellor, associate executive director of Human Resources, put together during COVID to support our hospital team members. The project was met with positive remarks from senior leadership, and the planning process was set to begin.

Local Eagle Scout Zachary Couzens, whose parents had been COVID patients at NWH, felt compelled to somehow give back to the hospital that took the best care of his parents during such a worrying time. While in search of an Eagle Scout project, Zachary decided to collaborate with the Wellness, Recognition and Resilience Committee and other employees at NWH to create the wellness garden, donated by the Patient Centered Innovation Fund.

Bryan Tompkins, an environmental services team member at NWH, worked to create the vision of the wellness garden. Then Zachary, along with NWH culinary and food service employee volunteers and the committee, built the framework of each garden bed, filled each bed with a compost and soil mix, and planted the vegetables. “It was all really a team effort,” says Rebecca Martin. “It was also nice seeing Zachary’s parents in such great health helping create the beds with the other volunteers.”

All foods grown in the garden are donated to patients leaving the hospital who are food insecure or vulnerable. The garden contributes to healthy, nutritious meals for patients and advances their culinary experience with farm-to-table cooking that enables our culinary staff to deliver delicious meals.

Managed by 35 volunteer hospital staff members, the garden also provides a serene setting for employees and patients and families alike when a calming environment is needed. Although the garden is new and will be completing its first harvest this week, it has already proven to revitalize the spirit of the food and dining team members at NWH.

“We are a team that cares about each other and cares about our patients,” says Rebecca. “This is a team that takes incredible pride in what they do. They work so well together, and they are always there for each other.”

Become a Health Raiser and join our culinary and food services team

How the culture at Northwell has provided opportunities for LGBTQ+ employees and allies to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community

Jared Oliveira has been with Northwell Health for more than five years and is a gay member of the LGBTQ+ community. Having the security of a safe workplace is important to him and is something that Northwell has always provided. “I believe that Northwell is determined to better the experience for the LGBTQ+ population,” he says.

Jared is a program manager in corporate community relations. He is also a proud member of the leadership team for the Expressions BERG (business employee resource group). He defines this BERG as, “an employee group that is dedicated to influencing a culture of inclusion and advocacy throughout Northwell to support the LGBTQ+ community.”

In his role as program manager, Jared is responsible for overseeing community-based programs, such as managing pop-up COVID-19 testing clinics and assisting with the organization of vaccine distributions during COVID. That passion for impacting communities excited Jared about taking on a lead role in this year’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) survey – a national LGBTQ+ benchmarking tool that evaluates the policies and practices related to equity and inclusion for patients, visitors and employees of healthcare facilities. The HEI survey is an important annual initiative for him and his fellow Expressions BERG team members, such as Kimberly Schwalb, manager of operations for the Cancer Center at Mather Hospital

Kimberly is a proud ally and the executive coordinator for the Expressions BERG. Like Jared, she wants to help in any way that she can to ensure that all employees feel heard and accepted. She believes advocacy is made easier because Northwell is an organization where everyone unites behind the commitment to diversity and inclusion. One of Kimberly’s fondest memories was marching along with a contingent of over 750 Northwell employees down 5th Ave. for World Pride. It was a moving and powerful moment that brought employees together. “Northwell celebrates the diversity of all our team members,” she says.

In her role at the Cancer Center at Mather Hospital, Kimberly is responsible for the management and coordination of all practices for the cancer program. She also supports the planning and implementation of programs and processes essential to two cancer accreditations. Kimberly combines her expertise in management and coordination with her passion for celebrating diversity in the work she does for the Expressions BERG: “I partner with team members from across the health system to implement activities that focus on LGBTQ+ inclusion and that follow through on Northwell’s commitment to diversity.”

Together with the rest of the Expressions BERG leadership team, Jared and Kimberly enjoy curating events that celebrate all LGBTQ+ national awareness days. The BERG also helps promote practices that respect gender identities and pronouns and they collaborate with the health system as a whole to help increase the clinical services available for the LGBTQ+ community at Northwell.
Jared says, “Northwell puts employees first. For me, I am able to be who I am comfortably, regardless of my identity, and I am respected across the health system by my colleagues.” Kimberly adds, “Northwell celebrates our differences and is committed to the communities we serve.”

Discover a career well cared for, where employees are encouraged to be Truly Ourselves.

An Appointment With: Joe Molloy, Vice President, Workforce Safety

As vice president of workforce safety, Joe Molloy is responsible for ensuring a safe work environment for our 76,000-strong Northwell employees. Joe started his career with Northwell in 2005 as corporate director of benefits with prior job experience in employee safety in hospital settings in addition to expertise in benefits and employee wellness. In 2014, Joe’s role and proficiency resulted in the creation of the workforce safety department that carries out Northwell’s commitment to safety in the workplace.

We spoke with Joe Molloy to learn more about how this department keeps safety a top priority.

What is the role of workforce safety at Northwell Health?

Workforce safety is committed to reinforcing a culture of safety for everyone from patients to team members, and ensuring that we are all advocates for a safe work environment as employees across the health system. Patient safety starts with team member safety, so our department has developed many programs and educational modules to reinforce the importance across the organization. As a result, we have award-winning programs that have been recognized by New York State and nationally for their success.

What are some of the different positions on the workforce safety team?

A few teams operate under the workforce safety umbrella. We have roles that include safety training, communications, programs and care coordination, OSHA compliance, workers’ compensation, and industrial hygiene.

We take our mission to enforce a safe environment for all very seriously and really appreciate the partnerships we have throughout the health system, including with the safety officers, the office of legal affairs, security, HR, risk, engineering and the organization as a whole. We couldn’t drive safety without everyone’s participation. Workforce safety’s efforts are made easier by the culture of Truly Together that permeates every corner of the health system.

How did your team make an impact during the pandemic?

Like many departments at Northwell, our team members were re-deployed around the health system to help with the COVID-19 response. In addition, we organized the re-fit testing of more than 40,000 employees to ensure proper safety, fit and use of PPE. Further, the team made yeoman’s efforts to support wherever there was a need.

What advice would you offer someone thinking of a career in workforce safety?

If you are the kind of person that enjoys taking care of fellow team members, or, you have an interest in how we keep our team members safe, you may want to consider a career in workforce safety.

Edie Marden, Assistant Vice President of Operations for the Northwell Health Trauma Institute, has a career journey that spans nearly three decades all at Northwell Health

“I have been working at Northwell Health for almost 28 years and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” says Edie Marden, assistant vice president of operations, Northwell Health Trauma Institute.

Edie’s Northwell career comprised many roles, starting in 1993 at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) as a registered nurse in the medical intensive care unit (MICU). She then transitioned to medical oncology where she advanced to become assistant nurse manager. With that leadership experience, she transitioned to nurse manager of various units at NSUH. She then progressed to become the assistant director of Department of Surgery, where she was responsible for quality management, and then assistant director of clinical services. Today she is an assistant vice president of the Trauma Institute and the Department of Surgery.

“My day-to-day role varies and that is what is exciting to me,” Edie says. In her current role, she directs the system-wide development, coordination and administration of the Trauma Institute along with its policies, guidelines, services and programs across the health system. She spends most of her time collaborating and guiding team members at each of Northwell’s seven trauma centers. “I focus on employee engagement to ensure the team gets the support and direction they need from leadership,” says Edie.

The support of Northwell

Northwell provides many opportunities for professional and personal growth. With Northwell’s support, Edie obtained her master’s in healthcare administration at Walden University. She continues to develop her skills and leadership by attending Northwell’s educational courses at the Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI) and served as a mentor for Northwell employees. “Northwell has been supportive throughout my career,” Edie says, noting encouragement by her leaders to attend national conferences — she was even a speaker at several events. “The support of leadership is paramount and having leaders I could talk to and get advice from has helped me achieve these goals.”

“I’ve had the opportunity to advance my career without having to leave Northwell,” says Edie. “There are so many avenues to explore and different roles to pursue.”

Explore a career well cared for and apply today!

Northwell Health’s 2021 Innovation Challenge Brings in Breakthrough Ideas From Employees

Northwell Health was proud to once again hold its annual Innovation Challenge after a one-year pause due to the pandemic. The competition encourages Northwell employees to be Truly Innovative by submitting ideas with the potential to change the future of medicine and patient care.

There were a variety of driving forces behind the decision to participate in this year’s challenge, but a few threads connected them all:

• The notion that there is always room for improvement
• The desire to improve treatments and experiences
• The knowledge that Northwell invests time and money into health care advancements
• The passion to do more for patients in need

There were two categories this year: Innovation in Science and Innovation in Care Delivery. Read about the top two ideas in each category and the inspiring Northwell team members who helped develop them.

Innovation in Science

The winning project for this category was “Treating Bleeding via Ultrasound Stimulation of the Spleen,” led by Jared M. Huston, MD, FACS, associate investigator at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Asked about the medical impact of the project, Dr. Huston says, “We expect this innovation can decrease complications related to bleeding and improve outcomes for millions of patients.”

The category’s runner-up project was “Novel Stilbenes: Science against HPV,” led by Mario Castellanos, MD, associate chair of research in the Department of Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH). Dr. Castellanos has been passionate about finding a therapeutic to treat cancer-causing HPV infections since his days as a medical resident at SIUH. “My passion for research and the patients I encountered in my medical practice drove me to want to do more for them.”

Innovation in Care Delivery

The winning idea in Care Delivery was “Infrared Thermography (IRT) for Early Detection of Tissue Pressure Injury,” led by Alina Segal, acute care physical therapist at SIUH, who says this project takes into consideration improved patient care and decreasing health care costs. According to Alina, “it may also be a valuable tool for managing surgical wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, burns and amputations, among other uses.”

The runner-up project was “Let Sleeping Patients Lie,” led by Theodoros Zanos, PhD, head of the Neural and Data Science Lab at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, who explains that his team, “developed an AI algorithm based on a large volume of Northwell clinical data to safely and accurately determine for each patient whether it is safe to forgo overnight vitals.”

Dr. Zanos says, the project’s impact could lead to “uninterrupted sleep to more than 50 percent of patient nights and improved patient experience and outcomes, shorter lengths of stay and reductions in clinician workload.”

We asked the winners and runner ups how Northwell prepared them for this big moment

Alina Segal says, “Northwell Health provides great educational opportunities and encourages personal growth.”

Dr. Zanos credits his preparedness to the support and leadership at the Feinstein Institutes. In combination with “a uniquely large and diverse clinical dataset,” leadership helped the team pursue this innovation.

Dr. Huston says his team benefitted from “the invaluable mentorship from many of our Feinstein Institutes and Department of Surgery colleagues.”

Dr. Castellanos cites the long history of support at Northwell for researchers, whether junior or seasoned. The kind of work that goes into developing new ideas in medicine often takes a lot of collaboration. “Northwell’s support facilitated key connections both within Northwell and externally, including the NIH, industry and the biotech communities.”

The sharing of ideas is embedded as an important part of the culture at Northwell. According to Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, “Innovation and creativity are the essence of good organizations who strive to excel and move forward.”

Discover a career well cared for.