new york – Staffing issues have become a top priority for New York City hospitals as they treat acutely ill patients. Mental Health Crisis.
A large donation to one health system is helping turn things around.
Black Family Philanthropies, which has a history of donating millions to health care in the city, just donated $5 million to pay off the debts of more than 120 staff members in the behavioral health department of New York City Health and Hospitals.
Each recipient will receive up to $75,000 in student loan debt relief.
“A huge need that is currently not being met”
Hospital administrators and educators, including at Touro University, call it a win-win investment in their workforce.
“There is currently a large unmet need, so we need a supply of medical professionals and behavioral health workers to meet the overwhelming demand,” said Dr. Steven Lorenzette, dean of Touro University’s College of Health Sciences.
“This will help with recruitment and retention,” said Dr. Omar Fattal, chief of behavioral health at NYC Health + Hospitals. “This is a huge initiative, and we’re so grateful to Black Family Philanthropies for helping us take this program to a whole new level.”
“I can now save up to buy a house.”
Psychiatric emergency nurse Marie Lewiska loves her job, but the training she underwent has left her tens of thousands of dollars in debt.
“Many nurses are in school but still have a lot of loans to pay off,” Luiska said. “I’m now able to save for a house and my children’s future college fund. I don’t want them to go through what I went through.”
Lorenzette says helping people with their mental health is rewarding and can be done in a variety of ways.
“I want to be a psychologist. I want to study clinical psychology, I want to be a clinical mental health counselor. Maybe I want to be a social worker,” he says, “Someone who becomes a nurse practitioner or someone who becomes a PA would be good examples.”
