How Veteran Lenore Brathwaite uses skills she learned in the U.S. Army at Northwell Health Laboratories
May 2021
Lenore Brathwaite is a six-year Army Reserves veteran, two years deployed during Desert Storm, and a project manager of operations at Northwell Health Labs.
Lenore gained vital skills in the military that help shaped her civilian career today. In the U.S. Army, she held many roles such as a sergeant, blood transfusion coordinator, and phlebotomy supervisor. She gained experience with communications and leadership, as well as the ability to work under pressure and problem solve.
“The military taught me to handle change and adapt to new situations in a short amount of time,” says Lenore. “My flexibility to adapt to changing environments allows me to stay productive and positive. As a section sergeant I always had to remain calm and be confident in my leadership decisions for my team.”
Transitioning into healthcare
Lenore’s interest in healthcare sparked when she was in high school and her mother was undergoing chemotherapy treatments. She saw how important it was to be the voice for the patient and to always have empathy and patience. This is what she practices with her team now as she helps lead projects.
She started her Northwell journey in 2012 as a point of care supervisor at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. This role gave Lenore the opportunity to coach her team to provide quality care. Throughout the years, she has grown her career in hospital laboratory operations. In her current role as a project manager, Lenore coordinates with senior leadership, assists in projects, and prepares financial and quarterly reports. And her clinical laboratory technologist experience enables her to help lead and pitch in to help her team when necessary, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lenore is also a member of Northwell’s veteran-focused Business Employee Resource Group VALOR (Veterans and Allies: Liaisons of Reintegration). Being a part of this group allows her to connect with other members of the military, veterans and their families. “VALOR has great resources to help veterans transition. We are a BERG comprised of fellow veterans from all roles across the organization. Who better to understand the hardship of transitioning from military to civilian status but us,” Lenore says.
Being a part of VALOR provided Lenore with a network of supporters. Her Northwell team members encouraged her to believe in herself and become commander of her post: Hunter Squires Jackson Post 1218 American Legion.
Lenore feels supported, encouraged, and honored at Northwell as a veteran and encourages fellow veterans to explore the limitless opportunities that are offered. “Northwell Health encourages you to jump out on your own. When you finally get the courage to jump out, you feel like you are flying like an eagle.”
Watch the video to learn more about Lenore and find your next mission at Northwell Health. Explore job opportunities.
How discipline and a call to service propelled veteran Cynthia LaRocca’s successful career at Northwell Health
May 2021
Serving country and community always came naturally to Cynthia LaRocca, director of clinical professional development at Plainview and Syosset Hospitals.
As a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, Cynthia served in a variety of roles including pharmacy technician and field medic. Her military path led to jobs at VA hospitals in Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Nebraska—experiences where “I found nursing and nursing found me.”
Cynthia’s transition to a civilian career at Northwell was eased by lessons learned during her eight years in the reserve. “Discipline is a skill that I have learned from the military and that serves me well at Northwell because it means seeing something through from beginning to end.”
In addition, the teamwork skills she acquired in the military translated easily to the Northwell Health value of being Truly Together: whether serving the country or serving the community, she says, “without your colleagues you cannot achieve your ultimate goals or complete your mission.”
Today, Cynthia manages the clinical professional development of orientations, annual training skills, new equipment and professional acumen for the clinical nursing staff at both Plainview and Syosset Hospitals. And by embodying the Northwell Health value of Truly Ambitious, she has seized opportunities to spread her wings and redefine what it means to work in health care, reaching career goals and achieving credentials including registered nurse (RN), registered nurse–board certified (RNBC) and doctor of nursing practice (DNP).
Work excites Cynthia every day because “I know what I am doing is helping others,” and appreciates that Northwell prioritizes ensuring all military employees feel supported, whether they continue to serve while on the job or are veterans who have completed their service: “The support Northwell gives to those who serve cannot be understated.”
Apply the lessons you learned in the military toward a Northwell Health career. Discover a career well cared for.
Northwell Community: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May 2021
This month Northwell Health celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Watch our latest Northwell Community series video and learn how we recognized the month, as well as more about how our Asian American BERG (Business Employee Resources Group) empowers our Northwell team members.
Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month at Northwell Health
May 2021
In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, we are proud to highlight our Jewish team members alongside our Jewish Bridges Business Resource Employee Group (BERG). The Jewish Bridges BERG creates a network of team members who are proud of Jewish tradition and passionate about cultural diversity.
We spoke with Rabbi Dr. Hillel Fox, director of spiritual services, chaplaincy care and education at North Shore University Hospital, and one of the Jewish Bridges BERG co-chairs, to learn more about this amazing BERG.
What is the Jewish Bridges BERG?
The Jewish Bridges BERG is committed to providing resources to promote Jewish education, health care, business collaboration, social action, professional growth and community partnerships at Northwell Health. The Jewish Bridges BERG started in December 2019 and we have conducted amazing events to bring awareness to this BERG.
What are some events that were held?
Because our BERG is new, most of our events—except our first menorah ceremony—are held virtually. The first menorah ceremony, held at North Shore University Hospital, celebrated and recognized the American Jewish people in our country and brought awareness to our community. The second menorah ceremony, held at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, was broadcast over Zoom.
In September 2020 we held a virtual event called “New Beginnings: A Fireside Chat,” where we discussed COVID-19, the safety and security of the Jewish community and the difficulty of spending holidays in a hospital setting.
In April 2021, we presented a Holocaust Remembrance Day lecture. Dr. Hedy Wald—a clinical professor of family medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and a faculty member at the Harvard Medical School Pediatrics Leadership Program—shared her observations as a medical educator and daughter of a Holocaust survivor. She also spoke about her recent experience teaching medical students at the Witten/Herdecke Faculty of Health in Germany about medical ethics and morally resilient professional identity formation by reflecting on the role of medicine during the Holocaust.
What are some of the initiatives your team has planned for 2021?
For the rest of 2021, we will continue to hold our quarterly meetings and produce our five-year calendar of holidays and events. We also will be producing a Holocaust memorial video commemorating this 75th year since the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps and the end of World War II in May 1945.
On June 17, we will be hosting “Let’s Talk about Racism: Confronting Hate and Antisemitism with Courage,” where we will reflect on current events, discuss effective techniques to speak as a victim or ally, and how to persevere through adversity as we work together to strengthen our communities to eliminate racism.
How does the BERG contribute to professional development within the organization?
The BERG is an opportunity to be a part of a small community and explore different cultures, as well as to create social connections with peers from different backgrounds and professional areas within Northwell. It is a great way to build relationships, define communication skills and learn about Jewish traditions.
What It’s Like to Interview at Northwell
May 2021
Searching for a new job can trigger a wide range of emotions—from hope to anxiety—and for many, the interview is the most intimidating part of the process.
But it doesn’t have to feel that way. After all, a request for an interview means your resume and application have spurred a company to want to learn more about you! The interview allows you to share more details about your experience and skills, as well as your personality. At the same time, you can learn more about the company and role beyond what you read in the job description.
Get to know Northwell’s interview process and read advice from our recruiters to help your next interview be a success.
What is the Northwell Health interview process?
While our most common steps are outlined above, your process may differ given the variety of positions at Northwell Health. Our Talent Acquisition team engages with candidates across a variety of ways such as texting, video, virtual or in-person interviews. For example, given the many pandemic-era adjustments that businesses and candidates have had to implement, virtual interviews are far more prevalent now than ever before. No matter how you’re interviewing with us, we’ve collected some great tips to help you prepare for a successful interview experience.
What’s expected in an interview
Whether you’re interviewing for an entry-level position or a more seasoned role, our recruiters recommend that you:
- Arrive on time
- Dress professionally
- Bring copies of your resume
- Come prepared with questions
First impressions matter. Vikash Ramnarine, a senior talent acquisition specialist, reminds you to treat a virtual interview the same way you would if it were in person: “Make sure you’re dressed professionally—and don’t forget the camera is always on!”
Talent Acquisition Specialist Sade Somorin says if you’re attending an in-person interview, “Have your resume on hand. And read your resume to be prepared to answer questions pertaining to your job history.”
Sade looks at not just alignment between the candidate’s background and the role’s requirements, but also “the value the candidate will bring to their team and the organization as a whole.”
That means being specific. Sade suggests, “When you share a team project or assignment you participated in, explain the task, action and result that contributed to its success.”
Attentive listening is important, but an interview is a conversation, not a one-way street. “Candidates should have questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview about the position to ensure it is a good match for themselves and the company,” says Nicholas Franzini, a senior talent acquisition specialist. Asking pointed questions also demonstrates that you’ve done your research and have a true interest in the role and the company.
Preparing for your interview
Our recruiters advise:
- Do your research on the position and the company
- Troubleshoot ahead of time
- Plan and arrange your setting
Senior Recruiter Shannon Skaee stresses doing research before the interview so you can better explain how your experience and the job’s expectations line up. “Demonstrating that you’ve done your research can set you apart from other candidates—and may impact the final hiring decision.”
Coaching legend Vince Lombardi once said, “If you are five minutes early, you are already ten minutes late.” That’s good advice on the gridiron as well as in the job market. “Candidates should also map out a route to ensure they arrive 15 minutes early,” says Nicholas.
This applies even if you’re interviewing from your kitchen table. You won’t have to worry about traveling to your interview, but you should still allow yourself at least 15 minutes to identify and address any technical issues that may arise, especially regarding your internet connection.
In a virtual setting, be mindful of your surroundings. Conduct the interview in a quiet location that minimizes background distractions and potential interruptions. A tabletop setting, such as a desk or dining table, works great because it provides a professional feel of sitting across from the recruiter. “Avoid using a phone for a video interview,” Vikash adds, “but if absolutely necessary, prop it up on something stable so that it’s not shaking.”
Other advice? Relax! Be confident about your skills. Let your experience and knowledge shine. At Northwell, we value being “Truly Ourselves”—expressing your personality during the interview can leave a positive and memorable impression on the interviewer.
After your interview, don’t forget to send a thank you note to everyone with whom you interviewed while you wait for your recruiter to reach out regarding next steps.
Now that you know what it’s like to interview at Northwell, it’s time to apply so you can become a Health Raiser! Explore careers today.
It is important to note that Northwell recruiters will always have an @northwell.edu email address and our communications will always be clear that they are from Northwell Health.
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An Appointment With: Patricia Flynn, Assistant Vice President of Employee Wellness
May 2021
Northwell Health’s Employee Wellness team helps enhance the well-being of every team member by delivering a healthy and safe work environment. Patricia Flynn, assistant vice president of Employee Wellness, helped develop the many programs that Northwell offers that guide our employees and their families.
Read our discussion with Patricia Flynn below to learn about the importance of well-being for our team members as we reflect on Employee Health and Fitness Month.
What is the significance of employee well-being at Northwell?
Caring for our patients begins with caring for our team members. At Northwell, well-being is so much more than a program; it is foundational to our culture – a culture that gives “permission” to be healthy! It includes healthy food choices, flexible leadership, resources for healthy living, and more. Well-being at Northwell is holistic – recognizing the physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial aspects of our team members.
How does your team champion Northwell’s culture of well-being?
It is an honor and privilege to lead the professionals on my team. We exist to serve the Northwell team members, providing resources to support good health. The team is from varied backgrounds, covering the spectrum of well-being disciplines. We have public health professionals, registered dieticians, exercise physiologists, psychologists, health coaches, licensed clinical social workers and physicians. Everyone on the team is dedicated to helping team members.
How has the wellness initiatives helped our team members manage their mental and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond?
In 2021 during the pandemic, we spoke with our team members, asked how this was impacting their overall well-being, and listened in order to create impactful programs to support them.
The Employee Wellness team partnered with a variety of departments throughout Northwell to support our team members, including but not limited to Employee Experience, Chaplaincy Services, the Employee & Family Assistance Program, Behavioral Health Service line and the newly formed Center for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery.
By listening to our team member’s wants and needs, the team came together to design well-thought out programs and resources that included:
- The well-being resource page – a focused well-being page that described all of our program offerings by topic area including emotional, mental, physical and spiritual.
- The Emotional Support Resource Call Center – a call line manned by the Employee Wellness team 24/7 where team members called in for emotional support and mental health referrals during the pandemic. Today, the Emotional Support Resource Call Center enables team members to speak with an Employee Wellness team member, a member of our Employee Assistance Program or Chaplaincy Services.
- An Employee Wellness YouTube channel – a channel that hosted over 100 videos including videos on guided meditation, deep breathing, self-care, healthy cooking, stretching, among others.
- Healthy Choice at Home cookbooks – developed by our own Registered Dietitian, these easy-to-make and heart-healthy recipes provided team members with a creative stress relief outlet through cooking.
- myHealthyBody Take 5 series – a series where team members could watch a pre-recorded stretch, have a certified personal trainer attend a team meeting, or join the myHealthyBody program and have a customized musculoskeletal program tailored to their needs. These were a hit among our team members and helped reinvigorate them before heading back to work.
- The first Healthcare Heroes challenge – a fundraising effort for our team members in financial crisis which raised over $25,000.
- And always a fan favorite among our team members, our “Walk to” challenge– an annual program our team members always look forward to and last year we continued our challenge virtually with Walk to the Parks.
What are some of the initiatives your team has planned for 2021?
Key priorities for 2021 are emotional well-being, supporting our team members’ families, a safe and healthy pathway back to the workplace and a continued focus on reducing chronic disease. We will also be launching another “Walk To” destination challenge. Last year over 20,000 team members participated in our Walk to the Parks.
In 2020 we also made progress in de-stigmatizing mental health – but much more work is needed. In 2021 we will continue to normalize the conversation around these issues.
This year, the Employee Wellness continues to bring a wealth of resources and support to our team members. We continued to ask our team members for feedback and listened to their needs through the Well-Being Support Survey, a collaborative survey with Employee Experience and the Center for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery.
As a result of what we heard, we are launching or have launched programs that include wellness workshops; projects around the importance of self-care and community; resources and programs for mental health; and an inspiration call line for our team members to receive uplifting messages of hope and encouragement.
What else should someone know about Northwell’s dedication to employee well-being?
A key success factor in any workplace well-being program is leadership commitment. At Northwell, it is real! Well-being IS the well in Northwell! Another key success factor is the integration of well-being into the plans of many partners and that has been critical here at Northwell. We partner with many teams across the organization.
Meet Truly Compassionate Physician Assistant (PA) Kayla Core
May 2021
For Kayla Core, PA, one of the most important parts of being a good PA is seizing every opportunity to emphasize the “care” in healthcare by providing patients and families with the invaluable gift of feeling loved. It’s a core value of her clinical practice that has only grown and evolved throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kayla’s path to her career began 20 years ago when her dad was diagnosed with skin cancer. As she learned more about his diagnosis and managing his care, Kayla became determined to be there for other patients the same way she was there for her dad. This led her to her desire to enter the medical field and become a PA.
She began her career at Northwell Health as a physician assistant student on rotation through various specialties of medicine. It was during her MICU rotation that Kayla discovered delivering ICU care was where she was meant to be. Since then she has become a PA on the critical care float team at North Shore University Hospital, where she was trained. Today, she practices in multiple ICUs.
“Northwell provided me with preceptors who genuinely took the time to teach me the culture of the ICU and how to perform procedures by the bedside,” says Kayla. “It is a hospital system that gives Advanced Clinical Providers the opportunity to be part of the patient’s care firsthand while collaborating with a supervising physician. These qualities make Northwell stand out to me, and I am proud to be a Northwell PA.”
At Northwell, Kayla has had the opportunity to work in multiple specialties throughout her career and explore the different fields of medicine she’s interested in. She cites her team and fellow employees as her favorite thing about Northwell. People who she says are incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and truly support one another. It’s a collaborative environment that goes beyond teamwork when physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, speech pathologists, dieticians, and many others share knowledge and expertise to provide the highest quality of care for patients.
However, it was while working in the COVID ICU throughout the pandemic that Kayla witnessed the toll the virus can take on patients firsthand, despite doing everything you can as a healthcare provider. It was this experience of delivering critical care to patients who were unable to have visitors due to COVID regulations that taught Kayla the importance of being a rock for families when they were unable to see or hold their loved ones. In turn, she has a greater appreciation for her own rock–her team. “My experience has made me stronger as a PA and I am fortunate to be a part of a team who is my rock,” says Kayla. “I have learned that if we can be there for each other and get through this together, then we can get through anything.”
And the impact that Kayla has had on her patients’ lives goes beyond their clinical care. Alongside her mother, Kayla created a program called Hearts for Hope, crocheting hearts to give to families who might need a little extra love and comfort. While working in the COVID ICU, Kayla was inspired to continue to grow the program due to the grateful reactions of her patients so she enlisted members of the community for help. The overwhelming number of responses to her call for assistance with crocheting more hearts only proved to Kayla how much love exists in the community.
It was these moments of raw emotion that made Kayla realize how special the crocheted hearts are and how she, her team and her community could work together to spread even more love and compassion. “The patients’ eyes would fill with tears as they would say thank you,” says Kayla. “Their families would clench the heart in their hands as they reflected on the cherished moments they’ve had with their loved ones.”
We at Northwell are equally proud to call someone as compassionate, dedicated, and inspiring as Kayla one of our own. And we can’t wait to see what she does next. If you’re inspired by Kayla, become a Health Raiser and discover a career well cared for at Northwell Health.
Why Northwell Health is once again a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®!
May 2021
Northwell Health has been named to Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the second year in a row, ranking 19 on the prestigious annual list. We are also the only New York health system ranked, recognized for our commitment to employee health amid COVID-19 crisis.
With a workforce of more than 76,000 based at 23 hospitals and 830 outpatient facilities throughout New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, Northwell was selected from among thousands of companies nationwide.
Ninety percent of Northwell’s respondents reported being “proud to tell others” where they work and 84 percent said that “taking everything into account, they would say it is a great place to work.” The responses given during the ongoing pandemic reflect that Northwell team members feel more supported psychologically and emotionally, believe that Northwell cares about creating a good working environment, and that executive leadership embodies the best of Northwell.
A commitment to employee health and safety!
Another major factor contributing to the ranking included our commitment to employee health, both emotional and financial. For example, recognizing that frontline employees were under immense pressure, the health system created tranquility spaces using tents outside hospitals during the surge. Behavioral health professionals were available free of charge, as well as chaplaincy services, well-being resources and more. This provided safe and calming environments for employees to reflect, meditate, or pray before or after a shift.
The tents have now been replaced with indoor spaces as a permanent feature at Northwell hospitals.
To mitigate the worry many employees had of bringing the coronavirus home to their families, Northwell established partnerships with IHG Hotels, Ronald McDonald House, and various universities to provide housing so employees could physically distance from loved ones. Those who found alternative accommodations outside of this program were reimbursed for their expenses. Northwell also partnered with a transportation company to provide dedicated shuttles, so no one had to worry about potentially infecting other public transit passengers or being infected themselves.
Supporting families through a crisis
To aid employees with young children the health system offered crisis care reimbursement and a subsidized in-person childcare program for the 2020-2021 school year to help offset financial strain on families.
Recognizing the need for additional help, the Northwell Heroes Caregiver Support Fund was created to provide resources to employees who were financially impacted by the pandemic, such as a spouse’s job loss or a family member’s death. To date, the fund has disbursed $1,056,208.
In addition, the health system set up the Northwell Heroes Memorial Fund to support the families of employees who died from COVID-19, including help with funeral expenses, memorials, and other related expenses. The fund has raised more than $323,000 to cover salary and benefits that affected families continue to receive.
Delivering the COVID vaccine
On December 14, 2020, Northwell was the first health system in the United States to immunize its frontline workers against COVID-19, and has continued to roll out its vaccination efforts to team members.
While Northwell is focused on protecting team members, it is also at the forefront of the vaccination effort throughout the communities it serves with partnerships with county agencies, other health care providers, and community and faith-based organizations the vaccine is reaching as many as possible.
Northwell’s Best Companies to Work For recognition comes on the heels of the health system being named to Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Health Care & Biopharma list, earning the No. 2 spot for the category of large health care organization.
Raise yourself and expect a career well cared for.
Become a Health Raiser at Northwell Health.
The Importance of a Strong Personal Brand
May 2021
A personal brand is an important opportunity to showcase who you are as a potential employee in a way that authentically reflects who you are as a person. Building a strong personal brand ensures that when employers search for candidates they find much more than a name and a resume—they find you. The following tips can help you create a personal brand that sets you apart and demonstrates the unique skills you bring to the table.
8 Tips for Building a Strong Personal Brand
1.
Develop a professional social media presence.
Review your social media pages to ensure that your information is filled out, you have profile pictures selected, and your bio reflects your professional goals. Remember, every social channel provides a new opportunity to let your personality and accomplishments shine.
2.
Make your LinkedIn profile work for you.
Highlight your industry skills, add recommendations and endorsements from peers, and quantify your accomplishments.
3.
Become a thought leader on your social feed.
Start a dialogue by curating news articles and other relevant content to share with your network to help position you as an expert in your field.
4.
Connect with fellow professionals and peers.
Join Facebook groups, comment on posts you find interesting, engage meaningfully and professionally. Get started by joining Northwell’s Talent Community for news and events tied to your industry.
5.
Prepare an elevator pitch.
Can you give a quick synopsis of your background and experience? Your elevator pitch is a great way to share your expertise and credentials quickly and effectively with people who don’t know you.
6.
Keep all of your information up to date.
Your online information may be the first impression a recruiter or manager has of your career history. Regularly check your resume and profiles to ensure your latest accomplishments and contact information are reflected.
7.
Stay up-to-date in your industry.
Follow prominent and inspiring figures in your industry to not only stay updated on news and industry information but to network with others who may be sharing, posting, or commenting in your industry.
8.
Your personal brand isn’t just an online persona.
Make sure your brand is present at offline events, in the workplace, and throughout your day-to-day responsibilities.
Once you’ve built a strong personal brand, you’ll be prepared to put your best foot forward with any and all potential employers. And if you’re looking for a career well cared for, explore our opportunities at Northwell Health. Apply today!
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