The New Jersey National Guard arrives to assist with setting up the newly built hospital area for COVID-19 patients.
Continued From Page 12
Gov. Murphy toured the facility with Dworak
when it was under construction. Born and raised
in Edison, Dworak is a fellow of the American
College of Healthcare Executives. In 2017 she
was named President and CEO of the hospital.
She is pleased to have forged a partnership with
the state. “It feels good to be here… to truly serve
and make a difference,” she said.
She is especially proud of her 900 employees.
“It’s not easy coming to work every day,
knowing your life is on the line and still coming
back.” They were fortunate to have had enough
PPE—the personal protective masks, gloves and
gowns—to safeguard themselves as they cared
for the sick, Dworak added.
The hospital’s parent organization, Prospect
Medical, which owns and operates 20 hospitals
and more than 165 clinics and outpatient
centers across the country, kept supplies
coming, she explained.
At the peak of the crisis in April, most of the
beds were filled with COVID-19 patients. It’s
unprecedented, but for Dworak “what it really
is, is sad. However, at the end of this storm,
a beautiful rainbow will appear, and one day
we will look back and remember the purest
beauty that we have ever seen... the beauty of
humanity, and a family of healthcare providers
banding together to serve at the world’s most
vulnerable time.”
The East Orange community suffered a high
death rate because many people had underlying
conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and
heart problems, and they lacked healthcare prior
to the pandemic, making them particularly
vulnerable to the virus.
“We’re really proud in these challenging times
we stepped up to the plate,” Dworak said. “We’re
hoping and praying the road ahead is easier but,
if not, we’re ready.”
Diane C. Walsh is Executive Vice President of
Communications and Programs for the Commerce
and Industry Association of New Jersey.
June 2020 COMMERCE 13