A close-up with NJ COVID-19 Heroes Free Seminar Event
Purpose:
NJAS is recognizing NJ medical health care leaders that were on the frontline battling COVID-19 this past Spring 2020. They will share their stories during the pandemic. For example,
Dr. Ulloque led fifteen COVID-19 teams at RWJMS – Dr. Ulloque claimed, “It’s scary to be dealing with a novel disease. Recommendations changed what seemed like every hour, and our healthcare system was on the brink of breaking. Fast forward 90 days, and we still don’t have concrete answers. I can only hope and pray that the second wave is not as bad. I’m proud of every single member of my team, with hard work and resilience we managed to have the best COVID19-related hospital metrics in the state of NJ”.
Dr. Primiani statement during these difficult times, “Healthcare providers had limited information regarding adequate treatment for COVID19, and the unknown was difficult to handle on a day to day basis. With daily guidance from the CDC and the WHO, MedExpress took proper precautions on which patients they would see at different facilities to help flatten the curve”.
Mrs. Tabasko is a Physician Assistant who works in the emergency department. She has been on the frontlines caring for COVID-19 patients. When scrub caps became scarce, she learned to use a sewing machine to make her own for herself and others. She said, “When the going gets tough, the tough get crafting!”
Ms. Restrepo worked at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital during the pandemic. She stated, “During the pandemic, hospitals did away with visitation. So, while caring for COVID19 patients, one of the challenges I faced was watching them go through their disease process without any family member at the bedside. Patients were not only sick but lonely”.
Dr. Beckford joins us from Houston, TX – to give us information on how other states besides NJ are battling COVID19. Her thoughts on COVID19, “Defeating COVID-19: Stronger Together”.
Some of the questions addressed at this seminar will be:
- What are the biggest challenges you faced during this pandemic?
- How are administration and/or CEOs helped you prepare for COVID-19 patient surges?
- What lessons have you learned personally and professionally so far?
- Can you please explain what does the term ”Second phase “ of COVID-19 mean?
- How are you preparing for this second phase?
- What might health care look like a year from now? In what ways could this pandemic shape the health care system?
- What personal message do you have for the NJ Academy of Science Members
Speakers:
Rory Ulloque, MS, MD
Medical Director Non-Teaching Hospitalist Program
Medical Director Post-Acute Care Program Associate Professor - Family Medicine and Community Health Rutgers University – RWJMS
Lisa Primiani, MD
Attending Physician - ABOFM
MedExpress Urgent Care – Northern NJ
Tamara Beckford. MS, MD
Emergency Medicine Physician
Houston Methodist West Hospital, TX
Aradia Tabasko, MS, PA-C
Central Jersey Emergency Medicine Associates
Mariana Restrepo, BSN, R N, PCCN
Respiratory Care Unit - Hackensack Meridian Health
Respiratory Care Unit - Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
