Healthcare Hero: Joshua Miller, Assistant Dean for Clinical Integration; Medical Director of Diabetes Care
Stony Brook University. University Libraries
I received a call from Dr. McGovern in early March outlining the need for a community-facing on-site COVID-19 testing location at Stony Brook University’s South P-lot, and I was asked to help oversee clinical operations. Prior to the pandemic, my job as medical director of our Clinically Integrated Network was (and still is) to ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care anywhere they go within the health system. I also oversee Stony Brook Medicine’s diabetes program. But when I got that call about the testing site, every appointment on my calendar needed to be pushed to focus on this high-priority initiative. And the testing site wasn’t the only priority. We quickly realized the profound impact that COVID-19 has on hospitalized patients with diabetes. I found myself at the testing location in the mornings and at the hospital in the afternoons, rounding with our diabetes team on critically-ill COVID-19 patients with diabetes in the ICU. And then meetings, of course, were done at night. While things seemed to be looking up for a while over the summer months, we are now in the midst of a second and more challenging wave. Many are exhausted. But healthcare workers cannot give in to COVID fatigue; we must persevere. We are continuing to fight this virus to help our patients and our team get through these challenging months ahead. All we ask is for people in the community to continue to be diligent about safety measures and help to prevent the spread. I am inspired by my colleagues in healthcare who have given tirelessly to help patients and support one another through these unprecedented challenges and remain #StonyBrookStrong.
Stony Brook University. University Hospital
Documenting COVID-19: Stony Brook University Experiences
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