Dr. Elan "Lonny" Levy '00
Having worked on the front lines in NY City, I have seen this virus up close. The public health measures are a proven recipe for combating this virus.
1. Full Name: Elan "Lonny" Levy
2. Class Year: 2000
3. Job Title: Emergency Medicine Physician and Medical Director
4. Employer: Northwell Health
5. Years working in this industry (If applicable): 12 years
6. How has your role and your day to day responsibilities changed since the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Running an Emergency Room in New York City during the pandemic was and continues to be a challenge. We were most significantly impacted during the first wave in March and April. Being part of a large integrated health system, we, fortunately, did not experience a shortage of medical supplies, equipment, or personnel. We leveraged our operational and logistics expertise to continue to deliver high-quality care in a rapidly evolving environment. My team was steadfast in their dedication to serving the community despite great uncertainty and devastating illness surrounding them. Although New York fared better during the second and third wave of the pandemic, we are routinely confronted with new challenges including staffing, testing capacity and supplies, surge planning, employee wellness, and financial stability.
7. What are some of the challenges you and your colleagues are facing due to the pandemic?
The biggest challenge in my emergency room is balancing a return to normalcy while remaining vigilant and fearful that another surge could happen at any time. We are also trying to better understand the wants and needs of our patients and catering our design and patient flow to match that demand. Lastly and probably most important is promoting wellness and preventing staff burnout through numerous resiliency programs. My favorite is our recently opened resilience room outfitted with reclining chairs, soothing music, scented candles, and programs for yoga and meditation. I try to spend at least 15 minutes a day in this room with my phone on silent.
8. With this shift in your personal and professional life, how are you practicing self-care?
During the warmer weather months in New York, I would go on long walks with my wife and two young children and occasionally have a meal at an outdoor restaurant. I continue to lean on my social support system of family, close friends, and work colleagues engaging in frequent Zoom dinners and happy hours, fantasy football group chats, and a weekly remote trivia game with some other Country Day alums.
9. What advice or words of wisdom would you like to give to our Spartan community?
These measures combined with an effective vaccine makes for a formidable opponent to this virus.
Back
2. Class Year: 2000
3. Job Title: Emergency Medicine Physician and Medical Director
4. Employer: Northwell Health
5. Years working in this industry (If applicable): 12 years
6. How has your role and your day to day responsibilities changed since the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Running an Emergency Room in New York City during the pandemic was and continues to be a challenge. We were most significantly impacted during the first wave in March and April. Being part of a large integrated health system, we, fortunately, did not experience a shortage of medical supplies, equipment, or personnel. We leveraged our operational and logistics expertise to continue to deliver high-quality care in a rapidly evolving environment. My team was steadfast in their dedication to serving the community despite great uncertainty and devastating illness surrounding them. Although New York fared better during the second and third wave of the pandemic, we are routinely confronted with new challenges including staffing, testing capacity and supplies, surge planning, employee wellness, and financial stability.
7. What are some of the challenges you and your colleagues are facing due to the pandemic?
The biggest challenge in my emergency room is balancing a return to normalcy while remaining vigilant and fearful that another surge could happen at any time. We are also trying to better understand the wants and needs of our patients and catering our design and patient flow to match that demand. Lastly and probably most important is promoting wellness and preventing staff burnout through numerous resiliency programs. My favorite is our recently opened resilience room outfitted with reclining chairs, soothing music, scented candles, and programs for yoga and meditation. I try to spend at least 15 minutes a day in this room with my phone on silent.
8. With this shift in your personal and professional life, how are you practicing self-care?
During the warmer weather months in New York, I would go on long walks with my wife and two young children and occasionally have a meal at an outdoor restaurant. I continue to lean on my social support system of family, close friends, and work colleagues engaging in frequent Zoom dinners and happy hours, fantasy football group chats, and a weekly remote trivia game with some other Country Day alums.
9. What advice or words of wisdom would you like to give to our Spartan community?
These measures combined with an effective vaccine makes for a formidable opponent to this virus.
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