Tuesday, April 14th, 2020
Dear Members of the Hospitals Staff of the Hudson Valley,
Although I can no longer experience first hand what each and every one of you is going through every day, I have a fairly good idea of what it’s like: the crush of patients growing larger every day, the scarcity of needed supplies not to mention dwindling stockpiles of vents and PPE, the paucity of scientific knowledge about the virus and optimal treatment, confusing signals and lack of a national direction from Washington, confronting unanswerable questions like how long will this last and most importantly for all of you, the knowledge that you risk the health of you and your loved ones every time you come to work. Yet despite personal risk and sacrifice you keep on coming to work every day, doing your utmost for your community.
Some of you might remember a sign across the old main lobby entrance at Vassar Brothers Medical Center that read, “Through these doors every day pass the finest health care professionals in the world”. The sign is long gone but for all our hospitals, the message rings truer today than ever. I stand in awe of each and every one of you.
Daniel Z. Aronzon, M.D.
Former Vassar Brothers Medical Center CEO
