Helping the health care heroes At the height of the crisis, Robin Hood donors funded programs to feed medical workers.
On February 10, Dr. Eric Wei and his wife welcomed their third child, a boy, at Bellevue Hospital. “It’s just crazy to think that we were bringing a new life into the world while coronavirus was spreading, unbeknownst to us and New Yorkers, throughout our city, and mere weeks later Bellevue was one of our receiving hospitals for transfers of critically ill COVID- 19 patients from across the system.” Dr. Wei is the Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer for the Robin Hood- supported NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health care system in the U.S. Because there was a newborn at home, in addition to a 3- and 5-year-old, Dr. Wei and his wife made the heartbreaking decision that he would isolate from the family. So he moved into an apartment downstairs from his wife and kids while working 18-hour shifts. If New York City was the epicenter, Health + Hospitals was the epicenter of the epicenter. The system serves 1.1 million patients a year, in the neighborhoods most struck by poverty. “COVID was disproportionately affecting Black and Latinx communities. Socio- economic status was playing a huge part. These were essential workers who had to keep riding the subway. Those are our patients. That is our mission. We are the
safety net here for anyone who comes through our doors, without exception.”
One day, about a month into the pandemic, Dr. Wei and his kids saw each other for the first time, separated by a glass door. “That was the closest we could get.” Meanwhile at work, things were exploding. “It was like somebody opened the floodgates and turned on the fire hose,” he said. The hospital staff’s greatest needs were food, transportation, child care and housing. Philanthropy money — including from Robin Hood’s tireless donors — arrived, and the hospitals were able to give everyone meals. BlackRock made a significant donation, and Element Capital matched it. Catering com- pany Great Performances donated food, and Equinox arranged for free meditation. Thanks to Robin Hood’s donors, these brave workers were able to keep doing their jobs. “To the people who sent these comforts to our health care heroes, we’re incredibly grateful,” said Dr. Wei. Seven weeks after he started isolating, Dr. Wei was finally able to rejoin the family and see his infant son. The baby felt a lot heavier than he had at 3 weeks old. And holding him, said Dr. Wei, “was amazing.”
“TO THE PEOPLE WHO SENT THESE COMFORTS TO OUR HEALTH CARE HEROES , WE ’RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL .” — DR . ERIC WEI
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