As part of National Social Work Month, NYC Health + Hospitals honored 43 social workers from across health system for their commitment and dedication to their patients. The theme for this year’s month was “Breaking Barriers.” Social workers perform a variety of roles at NYC Health + Hospitals, including managers, therapists, researchers, discharge planners, and policymakers. In these positions they work closely with family caregivers, friends, neighbors and community-based agencies to help patients resume their life within the community. Nominations were submitted from across the system, and the 43 honorees were selected from this pool by their facility’s individual social work recognition committee. The honorees were recognized for their dedication to their patients and their passion for the mission of NYC Health + Hospitals.
“Social workers are a critical part of NYC Health + Hospitals, and I’m proud to recognize this year’s honorees,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Whether it’s helping someone apply for benefits or offering talk therapy, social workers have a rich and varied role in providing our patients with the highest level of care.”
“As part of the continuum of care, our social workers advocate for their patients to ensure that no barriers stand in the way of their healing process and recovery. They are the connectors, the glue, that makes the transition for patients from the clinical environment to the community that much easier,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President and System Chief Medical Officer Machelle Allen, MD.
“Social workers are essential clinical members of our care teams” said NYC Health + Hospitals Co-Deputy Chief Medical Officer and System Chief of Behavioral Health Omar Fattal, MD, MPH. “Every day, our social workers go above and beyond making sure that our patients have the services they need. I am grateful to our social workers for creating a safe and healing environment for our patients and their families”
Social work is one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are almost 720,000 professional social workers in the country, and that number is expected to surpass 800,000 by 2030.
“We are always looking for mission driven, talented social workers – like our honorees — to join our teams across the city. To learn more about social worker opportunities at NYC Health + Hospitals, please visit www.
