September 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 9
COVER STORY needs of the community best.” While there are many priorities Chambers Lewis has set for her hospital, tackling the coronavirus pandemic that is seeing a resurgence remains at the top of the list. After more than a year of hardearned experience, however, she is convinced that her team is more than up to the task of doing so. “This community was hit very, very hard and the team here had to learn and adapt in a time where there was no vaccine,” Chambers Lewis said. “We didn’t know where this was going, how contagious it was and the treatment has evolved so much. “The team feels much more prepared and I think that’s what’s changed,” she added of potentially facing a second wave of COVID. “Even if something changes again, we know how to pivot. We won’t get caught off guard.” Chambers Lewis said prioritiz-
ing the mental wellbeing of staff members is also a priority for her team. “We have to prioritize and make sure that we are taking care of our team members,” she said. “We are going to get a better outcome and it is going to be better for them.” COVID is still a top priority at the moment, but Chambers Lewis stresses that there are still other health issues that residents need to prioritize and encourages people avoid using the pandemic as an excuse to not tackle other needs. “I worry about advanced illness and advanced diseases not being diagnosed, not being addressed,” she said. “We want to make sure that people know there are still things to take care of other than COVID.” Chambers Lewis can often be seen roaming the halls of her new hospital, saying hello to patients and getting to know her staff members. She can also be spot-
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Lorraine Chambers Lewis speaks with a staff member. She said the mental well-being of the staff is a top priority for her. ted at various local events around the area. “In Queens, I think it’s really important to be a part of the community, for people to see you,” she said. “I would like to learn
more about this part of Queens. I think there’s always an opportunity to learn more, so I may ask a lot of questions sometimes and hopefully folks will see value in that.”
