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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Meet Ralph Thomas, a program manager for Clinical Transformation who is responsible for implementing strategic initiatives focused on process improvement, operations and performance across our organization.

First starting at Northwell as an intern with our IT Project Management Office in 2015, Ralph collaborated closely with cross-functional teams and received a great introduction to tech project management in healthcare – an introduction that would make a lasting impression on him. After gaining experience elsewhere, Ralph knew he wanted to return to Northwell and to the work that we are doing here every day to make a difference in our communities.

Accepting a position as a project manager on the Clinical Transformation team in 2017, Ralph had the opportunity to successfully advance clinical programs such as his work on the Sepsis Taskforce which works to reduce sepsis mortality within the organization. Ralph also plans and coordinates two internal learning sessions a year to gather all task force members to discuss and report out on breakthroughs. Since the inception in 2008, the task force has successfully decreased Northwell’s sepsis mortality rate by 64%. It’s an important project that Ralph still works on in his role as program manager.

And as program manager, Ralph is continually creating and implementing new clinical programs that help increase the skills of our team members and the efficiency of our facilities in innovative ways. Recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ralph developed and taught the first virtual improvement science program for the Behavioral Health service line that included educational sessions, interactive activities and coaching.

Northwell’s Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI) also played a major role in teaching him new skills and developing the leadership qualities his own manager saw within him. CLI provides development courses for all our team members, including project management classes and programs Ralph enrolled in such as LEAN, Six Sigma, Intro to Project Management and the Change Acceleration Program. He credits these programs for teaching him processes that help him identify opportunities and barriers in a project and effectively brainstorm to create new solutions.

Along with providing Ralph important tools and methods for project management, CLI’s programs gave him the opportunity to work on projects within the organization. As part of the Six Sigma program, Ralph was assigned to co-lead a project at Glen Cove Hospital that created a standardized discharge process for patients from inpatient to subacute rehabilitation facilities. Ralph and his team used the tools he had learned in the Six Sigma course to work on this project which successfully led to a decrease in unnecessary transfers to the ED and readmissions while improving patient satisfaction.

According to Ralph, in order to succeed we must always be continuously learning. “Northwell has a wonderful resource for employees to develop their skills in the Center for Learning and Innovation. These classes were beneficial to building my professional skillsets along with learning the organizational structure.”

Beyond leading projects, Ralph is co-chair of Northwell’s African American/Caribbean Business Employee Resource Group (BERG). Open for all team members, the role of our BERGs is to provide resources to ensure we have an inclusive environment where all feel accepted and respected. For Ralph, one of the most exciting parts of being a co-chair is being able to cultivate a trusting and safe work environment for all.

Beyond supporting diversity and inclusion within our organization, Ralph is passionate about the work our BERGs do to organize and drive events for the individuals we serve within our regions. “Being a co-chair of a BERG allows me to be a part of a bigger initiative that directly impacts our communities in and out of the workplace,” says Ralph. “I suggest all team members join a BERG to engage with others across the organization while making an impact on disparities in our communities.”

The experience Ralph has gained at Northwell has expanded what he does outside of our organization as well. Ralph not only serves as the Diversity and Inclusion Chair for Healthcare Leaders of New York but is an active member of the National Association of Health Services Executives, a prominent non-profit association of Black health care executives. Last summer, he participated in the Greater New York Hospital Association Summer Enrichment Program where he mentored a graduate student through a 10-week program to discuss professional development, work/life balance in the healthcare industry, and future planning.

“Healthcare and our world are changing every day, and I am part of the next generation of leaders that will elevate the delivery of quality healthcare services,” says Ralph. “I’m proud to work for a truly patient centered organization where we think about the communities near our hospitals and the NYC metro region as a whole.”

Join the next generator of leaders at Northwell Health. Explore career opportunities today!

At Northwell, we stand united together, celebrating our differences and respecting each other being Truly Ourselves. February is Black History Month, and we sat down with Kaye-Lani Brissett, Project Manager at the Katz Institute for Women’s Health and Bernard Robinson, MHA, Regional Director at the Center for Emergency Medical Services to learn about their background, leadership journey, inspirations and the importance of reigniting humanism in healthcare.

BERNARD: I am African American. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY. My family can be traced to Harlem, Mississippi and Virginia.
KAYE-LANI: I was born in Jamaica, Montego Bay and came to America when I was six years old to live with my father. Both parents were born and raised in Jamaica, Montego Bay.

BERNARD: I have always been drawn to the medical field. My father is a retired FDNY EMS Lieutenant. I remember him telling me stories of operating at the emergency scene. I knew then that I wanted to do the same.
KAYE-LANI: Growing up I was surrounded by family members working in the healthcare field. Through their influence I knew I wanted to be in healthcare as well. Although I thought nursing was my route, I still  have a passion to help and care for others. I soon discovered the option of obtaining my Masters in Health Administration and having the option to help and care for people.

BERNARD: For me, the best part is being able to affect change that impacts the entire organization. When I was a paramedic, my decisions would impact one patient at a time. As a director, I’m able to develop polices, and make decisions that will impact every one of our EMTs, paramedics and the patients.
KAYE-LANI: The best part of my job is that I have the pleasure of being a part of a faith-based initiative called Bridging Communities of Faith and Health. This enables me to practice my passion for helping clergy. leaders by coordinating educational programs, lectures and training for their congregations and surrounding community.

BERNARD: It makes me reflect on the contributions that black people have made to this country. It’s a chance for all Americans to celebrate and remember what black people have been able to accomplish and contribute, in spite of the circumstances we’ve faced.
KAYE-LANI: When I think about “Black History Month” I think about the triumphs, resiliency and people putting their life on the line to enable change for their community and country. I think about change makers and like-minded people coming together and hearing the stories of people who have paved the way for the people.

BERNARD: Rev. Jesse Jackson is an inspiration to me. I was a teenager when he ran for President and I remember how he would encourage everyone, young and old, when he spoke. He inspired me to believe, “I am somebody.” My current day inspiration is Robert F. Smith. For a black man to return to a historically black college/university and wipe out the debt of the graduating class stands as a reminder of how far we’ve come.
KAYE-LANI: There are quite a few inspiring and fearless leaders that I look up to, especially Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ella Baker and Maya Angelou.

BERNARD: It is important that we not only conduct business but that we are an active part of the communities we serve. My department has been establishing relationships in many communities through various projects. We have been operating as an Explorers Post in Hempstead Village for eight years, helping to introduce high school students to the world of EMS through training and mentoring by our EMTs and paramedics. We just started a second program at Lenox Hill Hospital and a third will be starting in Queens. We also hold food and clothing drives and other great community-based projects, such as our Packages of Hope initiative where our staff hands out care packages to homeless men and women who they encounter while working. We have great relationships with the communities we serve, and that’s what healthcare should be about.
KAYE-LANI: Reigniting humanism in healthcare is essential because human beings are at the core of everything healthcare related. It is imperative that the people we care for and employ are protected. As Ella Baker said “Give light and people will find the way.” At the Katz Institute for Women’s Health I do this by coordinating educational lectures and trainings for houses of worships to educate and empower them to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Northwell’s Center of Equity of Care awarded its first-ever Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Awards. This system-wide award recognizes team members who are making a difference in our communities, locally or abroad, through service.

Four winners were chosen from nominations that came in from all around Northwell telling stories of goodwill, humility and compassion. Nominators highlighted how each team member embodies Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “D.R.E.A.M:”

The winners were recognized at a special reception and awarded $1,000 to be donated on their behalf to an organization of their choice!

Meet our 2020 winners:
Josephine Guzman, Senior Director, Physician Relations

Josephine “Josie” Guzman has volunteered her time as a co-chair of the Bridges LatinX BERG and member of the Diversity and Health Equity System-Site Council. She has developed and implemented programs at Lenox Hill Hospital, such as the “Vida SI, Diabetes NO!” (Life YES, Diabetes NO), a bi-lingual, long-term health program designed to address diabetes. In partnership with her BERG co-chair and members, Josie recently coordinated “Rise Against Hunger,” a global service initiative where team members across the organization gathered and packed over 20,000 meals to be served to various communities across the world.

Beyond Northwell, Josie spends her time volunteering, preparing 200+ meals a week to distribute to homeless individuals in Manhattan and coordinating a Christmas event to feed and provide gifts to over 1,500 individuals who are either homeless or living in shelters. She’s also a member of RAIN, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide services for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and physically challenged.

Bernard Robinson dedicates most of his time with projects that fulfill the needs of underserved communities through charity and education. Every year, Bernard organizes annual food and winter clothing drives within Northwell’s Center for Emergency Services (CEMS) department to serve charities in Nassau County and Queens. During Thanksgiving, the entire CEMS team also partners with a church in Hempstead, NY to prepare and serve meals. His work experience also led him to starting an Explorer’s Post in Hempstead Village that allows students from the Village to train with, learn and be mentored by EMTs and Paramedics. It was also Bernard who presented the idea for Northwell’s Bridges African American/Caribbean Business Employee Resource Group to participate in the African American Heritage Parade in Harlem, NY.

Bernard embodies all of Northwell’s values on a daily basis. Through his innovation, his department’s leadership is able to communicate with their staff of over 800 EMTs and Paramedics through weekly meetings via a livestream platform. He has also established a “virtual suggestion box” which gives each team member a voice by allowing them to give feedback through a link which is then sent directly to leadership. In addition to his community outreach, he has also organized CEMS’ “Bring Your Child to Work Day.”. Bernard often says, “As an EMS agency, we should be a part of the communities we serve.” He works extremely hard at establishing relationships throughout his region and encourages his team members to do the same.

Dr. Hernandez is the true definition of a caring, compassionate and empathetic physician with a genuine passion for helping others. This passion is not limited to patients in the hospital, but extends to communities at large through his volunteering and community service. Though born and raised in New York, he has always maintained a strong connection with his ancestral home of Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Maria struck, Dr. Hernandez was dedicated to becoming a part of the Northwell team deployed to Puerto Rico to assist those devastated by this disaster. He spent two weeks selflessly providing patient care under dire circumstances at the Caguas Hospital in San Pablo, Puerto Rico. Dr. Hernandez participated in the Medical Scholars Pipeline Program sponsored by the Zucker Hofstra School of Medicine for underrepresented students interested in a career in health care. This program is designed to provide exposure to the numerous career paths available in the healthcare industry while enhancing the skills that will set up students for success. Dr. Hernandez was also invited to be the keynote speaker for the closing ceremony for the NERA-HCOP Program, designed to assist college minority students in becoming more competitive applicants for medical school by providing various enrichment courses.

Josie Ruiz has been a vital component to the success of Northwell Health’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. program. In her role as co-chair, she has supported the Center for Equity of Care in coordinating program logistics, managing entertainment and guest speakers, and leading volunteer efforts throughout the program. Josie has been a huge advocate for all team members at North Shore University Hospital. Her annual efforts of organizing Adopt a Family, a holiday program designed to support families in need who have experienced a tragedy or crisis during the past year, have gained the support and participation of over 3,000 team members at her site. She has even been known to have donated her own time and money to assist families who were not selected through this program. Josie was selected by the Center for Equity of Care’s senior leadership team as this year’s recipient.

Weaving together a life of creativity, dedication to community and entrepreneurship takes talent, focus and plenty of energy. Adrian Morel, an outreach worker at the Center for AIDS Research and Treatment (CART) in Manhasset, spends his time working for Northwell out in our local communities educating folks about HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and providing free and confidential rapid HIV testing while balancing a career as a clothing designer.

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Adrian has long been committed to helping others, serving in a variety of volunteer positions prior to joining Northwell Health.

“I’ve always been involved in LGBTQIA+ volunteer work, especially on behalf of Latinos,” explains Adrian. “It was natural to move from volunteering to working at Northwell Health, where I continue to help the community. Being a proud Latino Gay man, I add a different perspective to the HIV advocacy work done at CART. Not only do I get the opportunity to educate people in my community about their sexual health, I am also taking part in the efforts to end the HIV epidemic.”

Adrian’s work spans beyond helping patients at Northwell. He also is a highly creative designer and artist who uses his talents to further his advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community. He first became interested in costume and fashion design while in high school. This led to obtaining degrees in design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles and the California College of the Arts, prior to working in theater.

“Here at CART, my coworkers and managers have encouraged and supported the differences of all individuals on our team,” says Adrian. “I’ve always been celebrated for my cultural and creative background. Being able to use my strengths towards things I’m passionate about has been very rewarding. Northwell allows me as an employee to be personable and utilize my interests to encourage people. Being allowed to be myself opens the door for me to humbly appreciate the individual uniqueness of others.”

During his college years, Adrian honed his creative skills, designing many costumes for drag performers and other artists who appreciated his ability to create show-stopping costumes. This led to him launch his own costume design business called Adrian Morel which he continues to run today.

Adrian’s business makes custom looks focused on creative and innovative designs. His clients look forward to a design consultation with Adrian followed by several fittings from the conception of the look to the final product. His website and Instagram page give visitors a clear idea of his talent and creativity.

As both an outreach worker and a designer, Adrian is busy, but appreciates the opportunities he has found to support his community while being able to utilize his artistic talents. Recently, this included designing costumes for “Drag Me to Brunch,” an event sponsored by Northwell Health.

“I’m passionate about my work,” says Adrian. “It’s work by day, and costume design by night. It’s what I love.”

At Northwell Health, we’re excited to have the privilege of working in some of the most culturally diverse communities. By creating a space that is welcoming to all, no matter race, religion, or creed, we’re fostering an inclusive workplace where we can accomplish amazing things being truly together.

For two years in a row, our organization has been recognized for our commitment to diversity and inclusion by Great Place to Work for demonstrating excellence throughout our diversity initiatives. Here are 10 reasons why we’ve been named to the Best Workplaces for Diversity’s list for 2020:

1. We’ve been named one of the nation’s top health systems for diversity according to DiversityInc’s Top Hospitals & Health Systems for Diversity for the seventh year in a row, ranking us second nationally and first in New York State.
2. We have a commitment to veterans and have been named A Military Friendly® Employer for six consecutive years, and a top 10 employer for the past two.
3. Team members have the opportunity to join one of our many Business Employee Resource Groups (BERGs) which enhance engagement, innovation and talent development while promoting an inclusive culture by celebrating our differences and commonalities.
4. Our Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI) and Center for Equity of Care (CEC) partner together to create training and education programs that foster cultural humility, critical thinking and self-awareness. These trainings contribute to a more inclusive environment in which team members from every background can feel comfortable.
5. We have been a recipient of the National Association of Colleges & Employers Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award.
6. Our Emerging Leaders Diversity & Inclusion Council champions voices within our organization to ensure we are effectively prioritizing and focusing our efforts in the right ways.
7. We partnered with NYC Pride to showcase our support of the LGBTQ communities and ensure each member, regardless of sexuality feels comfortable within our family.
8. Our Path to Inclusion program offers an integrated and comprehensive approach to training, hiring and supporting individuals with disabilities by driving mutual understanding.
9. We believe in advancing women in their careers within the health community. Our Women’s Mentorship Program has seen participants receive promotions while creating strong professional bonds between mentees and leadership.
10. When it comes to being Truly Ourselves, our spirit of caring and celebration is there for every holiday. From legal holidays to meaningful religious observances to national days, our team members make a point to make each holiday special.

For the third straight year, Northwell Health has been named one of America’s most diverse companies by Fortune magazine and the lone New York health care organization to make the 2019 list.

Northwell ranks 69th on Fortune’s annual 100 Best Workplaces for Diversity, a partnership between Fortune and Great Place to Work that measures how well organizations create inclusive cultures for women, different cultural and ethnic communities, the LGBTQIA+ community, older employees and workers with disabilities.

Northwell Health, New York State’s largest health system with 70,000 employees, operates about 750 outpatient facilities, including over 200 primary care practices and 23 hospitals. The health system moved up 11 spots from Fortune’s 2018 rankings based, in part, because 82 percent of surveyed employees called Northwell a great place to work.

“We are honored to be included again this year in Fortune as a Best Workplace for Diversity,” said Jennifer Mieres, MD, senior vice president of Northwell’s Center for Equity of Care and the health system’s chief diversity and inclusion officer. “At Northwell, we are committed to fostering and maintaining an inclusive work place culture, advancing the integration of diversity and health equity into our health care delivery model.”

Dr. Mieres’ cited a diverse workforce which informs and improves Northwell’s understanding of the health care needs of the communities it serves. Half of Northwell’s workforce is made up of the historically underrepresented and 72 percent are women, according to Fortune’s diversity survey.

“This recognition validates the journey we are on and the manner in which we accomplish it. It lives and breathes in the values of Northwell and the 70,000 strong who personify it,” said Joseph Moscola, senior vice president and chief people officer.

Fortune relied on employee surveys as part of its criteria. Among the employee-based findings:

The Best Places to Work certification qualifies Northwell for several workplace-quality lists, including the Fortune 100 Best Places to Work and other credentialed lists for millennials, women, and other industry-specific lists.

Are you Made for working at one of Fortune’s 100 Best Workplaces for Diversity? Apply today!