Hofstra/Northwell Med Students Give Back With ‘Thank A Resident Day’

NEW HYDE PARK, NY. — The lobby of the Katz Women’s Hospital in New Hyde Park transformed into a wellness center Friday, as the 18 members of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell put in a team effort to say thank you. It was “Thank a Resident Day” at the Zucker School of Medicine, and the honors society students went all out for the resident physicians who have made their journey through med school possible.

Kicking off at noon, the fourth-year medical students had a wide array of activities for residents to choose from, including rock painting, chair yoga, reiki, massage chairs and food. The rocks painted during “Thank a Resident Day” will live on the Katz Campus and at the Zucker School of Medicine, giving med students a bit of a symbolic reminder of the connection between the two institutions.

For one resident who had worked a double shift during Sunday and Monday’s blizzard — staying at work for over 24 hours — the day was a great opportunity to unwind after a stressful week.

“Honestly, I’ve had pretty rough week, so it was a nice pickup,” the urology resident said. In her “Thank a Resident Day” activities, the resident decorated a rock with a message: “Urine Good Hands.”

(Tom Gambardella/Patch) Painted rocks, commemorating "Thank a Resident Day."

She also took part in chair yoga, where an instructor told practitioners that they ought to move their spines in six directions each day: Bending forward, backward, left and right, and then twisting left and right. The spine mobility, the instructor said, is especially important for healthcare professionals who can be on for 12 — or sometimes 24 — hours at a time.

For Honors Society students, the giveback day was a reminder of the community that exists wherever they wind up plying their trade. Everyone at every hospital, one student named Jeffrey said, is dealing with their own set of circumstances.

“It feels pretty good. Part of the reason we're doing this is because we want to remember [that] everyone in the hospital — like a patient or a worker — we all have our own struggle,” the honors society member told Patch. “So I think it feels pretty good to show gratitude where we can, you know?”

(Tom Gambardella/Patch) Care packages were also made for residents at the Zucker School of Medicine Friday.

Jeffrey said he was hoping to go into psychiatry after graduating from med school. When asked if there was anyone in particular that he wanted to thank Friday, he highlighted a pair of Zucker school professors: Dr. Carmen Rodriguez and Dr. Taranjeet Kalra Ahuja, faculty advisors for the honors society.

Rodriguez, a clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, said it

“It’s amazing. It’s rewarding to see that they’re actually doing what the goal of the honors society is all about, which is to be kind to people, to be compassionate,” Rodriguez said. “And, what better way to give show it than to thank the residents?”

For those residents who got thanked, the message seemed to get across.

“I felt really appreciated,” One resident said. “I actually put a picture of it on my story and my mom screenshotted it [and said] ‘this is so nice!’”