COVID-19 Series: NYU Wagner Alumni in Action - Healthcare
On Thursday, September 24th, NYU Wagner hosted the first in a series of events entitled “COVID-19 Series: NYU Wagner Alumni in Action.” Moderated by Gordon Campbell, Clinical Professor of Public Service and Director of EMPA-Public Service Leaders Program, this event focused on Wagner alumni working in the healthcare field and the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Israel Rocha, Jr. (EMPA 2018) relayed his experience as CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals - Elmhurst, including how he set up numerous task force teams that met every day to discuss goals to keep on top of constantly changing circumstances. Jon Sendach (MPA-Health 2004) discussed the massive shift in workload to focus on the medical intensive care unit at North Shore University Hospital, where he serves as CEO. As the CEO and COO of NYC Health + Hospitals - Harlem, Eboné Carrington (MPA-PNP 2004) spoke about leveraging the strengths of her team members to lead with confidence, which she calls “leadership in action.” Providing a unique vantage point, Brian Byrd (MPA-PNP 1999) talked about how to handle the ongoing spread of misinformation in his role as Senior Program Officer at the New York State Health Foundation.
In a group debrief, the panelists unanimously stated how their time at Wagner prepared them for their current leadership roles. Sendach reflected, “What NYU gave me tremendously is leadership skills, and I think I continued to develop them over the years that followed after my graduation. That’s certainly the part of the NYU education that I feel most strongly about.” Beyond leadership, Byrd also extolled Wagner alums as knowing how to get things done. “I can always tell when I’m working with somebody who’s from Wagner,” he says, “because they’re not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty.”
Leaving on an optimistic note, all four panelists recognized the challenges that still lie ahead with the pandemic, but expressed confidence in moving forward. Carrington specifically highlighted hope in the face of the health disparities we’re seeing: “What’s exciting [in the minority community response] is that people have gotten past some of the fear factor they have had as it relates to research trials…we are saying we would like to be a part of this, we want to know more so that we can be healthier. And we hope that offsets some of the inequities and disparities.”