Hispanic Heritage Month: Our Future Empowered by Diversity & Legacy

With this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme, “Our Future: Empowered by Diversity & Legacy,” we wanted to hear directly from Northwell’s own team members about their career journeys and experiences as Hispanic and Latino Americans.

Meet Daritza Pena, Dr. Julie Gonzales, and Rafael E. Bou, who are part of our Hispanic and Latino BERG (Business Employee Resource Group). These individuals excel in their respective roles at Northwell and are committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity and belonging. Below are their stories.

Daritza Pena, Echocardiography Technologist, Imaging Services at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital

In her role as an echocardiography technologist at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital, Daritza Pena works with cardiologists to conduct tests, provide information that assists with diagnosing heart conditions, and she handles related paperwork including medical documentation that summarizes information found in the echocardiogram. Daritiza began her career at Northwell as a part-time echocardiography technologist. Within two years, she took on a full-time role as an echocardiography technologist.  Daritza was also given the opportunity in 2023 to be a member of her department’s Collaborative Care Council, where members of the department come together to discuss enhancement ideas for the department and hospital. Throughout her time on the Collaborative Care Council, she learned processes and procedures of the hospital, while working to improve her own department with the ultimate goal of improving patient care. Daritza appreciates the support she has received at Northwell and the fact that she has been able to meet and network with a diverse group of individuals.

Daritza reflects on the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month and how this year’s theme resonates with her. “This year’s theme highlights the idea that those who arrived in the United States before me were looking for a better future and made a difference. Today, it is our turn to pave the way for others.” Daritza is passionate about her role in the Hispanic and Latino BERG. She explained, “Being a part of the BERG has positively impacted my career. I have met colleagues with similar backgrounds and enjoy hearing their success stories. This has motivated me to grow in my own career.”

Dr. Julie Gonzales, MD, Attending Physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Today, Dr. Julie Gonzales, MD,  is the attending physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) at North Shore University Hospital who began her career journey with Northwell in 2015 as an attending physician at an OB/GYN practice in Garden City. Beginning in December 2024, Dr. Gonzales will be acting as Chair of the OB/GYN Department at Peconic Bay Medical Center. In her upcoming role, she will oversee the department’s outpatient and inpatient operations. At the same time, she will continue seeing patients at her new OB/GYN practice in the Riverhead area. In addition to this next step in her career journey, Dr. Gonzales also serves on the Patient Experience Council for the postpartum, neonatal intensive care and labor and delivery units at North Shore University Hospital which uses collective feedback to deliver quality care to patients and their families. She is also a member of Northwell’s Hispanic Physician’s Initiative, which is a platform for Hispanic and Latino physicians to build relationships with those who have similar career-related and cultural experiences. Their goal is to use their platform to assist individuals who have been impacted by lack of healthcare access, or experience language barriers.

As a member of the Hispanic and Latino BERG, Dr. Gonzales is able to meet and network with other physicians and individuals who share similar cultural experiences. “We mentor and support each other, working together to deliver exceptional patient care,” shared Dr. Gonzales. Being a Hispanic and Latino BERG member has been a platform for her to contribute to positive change. She added, “BERG members have brought current concerns in the Hispanic & Latino community to our forum. As a result, our dedicated members have engaged in identifying impactful solutions to tackle these issues together.”

Rafael E Bou, Senior Director, Social Work Services, Northwell Health At Home

As senior director of social work services for Northwell Health, Rafael is responsible for leading community case management services, ensuring that support is provided to individuals with complex behavioral health needs. He also oversees a team of case managers, manages program budgets and resources, and works to implement new service delivery models.  Rafael began his career journey with Northwell in 2014 as a care manager. In 2017, he was promoted to a supervisor before he started working as a senior manager of operations for outreach and enrollment for health home care in 2018. The following year, Rafael was promoted to director of outreach and enrollment for Northwell Health At Home. Then in 2022, Rafael moved into his current role of senior director of social work services in Manhasset, New York.

Rafael reflects on the impact his membership in the Hispanic and Latino BERG had on his career journey and overall growth into leadership positions with Northwell. “Being a part of the BERG has been transformative both personally and professionally,” said Rafael, reflecting on his experience in the Hispanic and Latino BERG. “It’s provided a space for me to connect with others who share my cultural background, fostering a sense of belonging and community. I am so glad to be part of a group where I can honor and foster my heritage.”

One of the ways that Rafael feels he has benefitted most from this BERG membership professionally is that it helped create a path for Rafael to participate in Northwell’s McKinsey Leadership Cohort, which provides valuable skills and knowledge for becoming a more effective leader. The program deepened his understanding of inclusion and equity in the workplace, provided him with practical tools and strategies to strengthen his leadership skills, and expanded his professional network.

At Northwell, we are proud to provide the opportunity for Northwell team members like Daritza, Dr. Julie, and Rafael, to connect with individuals from the same culture and share the same mission to advance diversity, inclusion and health equity for all.

Learn more about Northwell’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

From patient care associate to a clinical laboratory technician, discover a new career path at Northwell Health

Are you looking to grow into a career in clinical laboratory? At Northwell, our team members can advance their careers, both clinical and non-clinical, through various personal and professional development programs, including educational opportunities through our Center for Learning and Innovation, mentorships, Business Employee Resource Groups (BERGs) and more.

Below, you can explore one of the many ways you can grow from a patient care associate to a clinical laboratory assistant to a clinical laboratory technician. For the complete job profiles of each role, we invite you to visit NorthwellCareers.com or click the link below to get started on this career journey as a patient care assistant and discover a career well cared for at Northwell today.

View our available patient care associate roles today.

Patient Care Associate

Patient care associates provide direct care as assigned for a designated group of patients. These team members perform functions requiring skill and competence such as, but not limited to phlebotomy, EKG, obtaining specimens and cultures, activities of daily living and simple wound dressings and vital signs. They also share accountability for quality patient outcomes.

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Requires one (1) to three (3) years of relevant experience.

As you move along your career path from a patient care associate, you can grow into a clinical laboratory assistant by pursuing various paths, such as working toward an associate or bachelor’s degree in laboratory technology, a science degree, or relevant certifications. An associate degree in laboratory technology will allow you to work toward obtaining a license to practice as a clinical laboratory technician or histology technician in New York State. You can also receive tuition reimbursement while you continue your education.

Clinical Laboratory Assistant

Clinical laboratory assistants process reference testing specimens and facilitate their submission to various external reference laboratories. They also ensure external receipt of specimens and return receipt of test results.

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Requires up to one (1) year of relevant experience.

As you transition from a clinical laboratory assistant to a clinical laboratory technician, you will continue advancing your laboratory skills, gaining expertise in diagnostic testing, lab procedures, and technology. This can also open doors to other roles within the lab environment, such as a specialized technician position in histology. Additionally, you may choose to further your education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science, which can lead to technologist roles, management, quality control, or education roles within the healthcare system. This path provides a range of opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

Clinical Laboratory Technician

Clinical laboratory technicians perform clinical laboratory procedures and examinations pursuant to established, approved protocols which require limited independent judgment and review. These team members perform routine cutting and staining of surgical specimens, frozen sections and special stains. They may also provide daily operational assistance to department leadership and provide clinical and operational guidance to support staff.

• Requires an associate’s degree.
• Requires current license to practice as a clinical laboratory technician or histological technician in New York State, plus specialized certifications as needed.
• Requires up to one (1) year of technical experience.

Meet Monique, Clinical Professional Development Educator, Connector and Health Raiser

Today, Monique Robinson is a clinical professional development educator at Northwell Health’s Institute for Nursing (IFN), but she held many nursing roles during her career—from a quality management registered nurse to a registered nurse case manager. What has remained the same is her passion for nursing and love of teaching others about quality patient care.

In her current role, Monique works with a team of nurse educators to prepare, onboard and teach Northwell Health team members, including overseeing orientations for in-patient care, patient support, and skills training.

Before Northwell, Monique was working in New York City and struggling to find work-life balance. She yearned to find work closer to home on Long Island so she could spend more time with her children while pursuing the next chapter in her nursing career. Monique started with Northwell Health in 2010 at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream (LIJVS) as a utilization management/quality management coordinator in critical care. In this role, she was able to leverage her background as a registered nurse to identify performance improvement opportunities through data analysis, develop performance improvement plans and implement them while also evaluating improvement effectiveness. She was most attracted to our organization because of the variety of nursing opportunities available that matched her professional experience.

Expanding her career into behavioral health, she worked as a registered nurse case manager in a float position from 2013 to 2018, before moving into a new role as a registered nurse case manager in orthopedics at LIJVS in 2018. Working for Northwell as a registered nurse case manager, Monique was able to practice across different clinical specialties. In this role, Monique acted as a link between her patient and their physician. She also worked to monitor, plan and evaluate the quality of care from admission to discharge. “It evolved my nursing practice through the ability to critically assess the patients’ needs and collaborate with members of the multidisciplinary care team,” said Monique, reflecting upon her time as a registered nurse case manager.

Throughout her career at Northwell, Monique is grateful for a work/life balance. Being closer to home has ensured she could be there for all of her children’s major milestones. With the help of Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program, Monique received financial support to go back to school and earn her master’s degree in nursing education from SUNY Stony Brook University in 2022. This led Monique to her current role as a clinical professional development educator, which she began in November 2023.

Monique is proud to work with such a collaborative team. She loves that she can hone her skills and learn new ones by working within different clinical specialties due to her supportive team. In discussing the evolution of her career at Northwell, Monique shared, “My clinical experience as a critical care and community health nurse allows me to confidently work for Northwell Health, knowing I align with their mission and values for providing excellent nursing care.”

At Northwell, our nursing team demonstrates their commitment to care by incorporating innovative thinking into their practice and consistently delivering excellence that elevates the healthcare experience. Discover a career well cared for with our nursing team and learn more about clinical development educator or RN case manager opportunities at Northwell Health.