This month, we are proud to highlight Dr. Ipsita Chauhan, an attending OB/GYN physician in the New Beginnings Unit at Flushing Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Chauhan has been a valued member of our staff since 2016. Her journey began here as a resident, and the strong sense of community and commitment to patient care inspired her to stay on as an attending physician.

Over the years, she has seen the Labor and Delivery unit transform into a modern facility that remains welcoming and supportive, with a home-like culture that makes it truly special. Patient safety and comfort are always her top priorities. Dr. Chauhan also takes pride in fostering a strong learning environment for our OB/GYN residents.

Beyond deliveries, she is passionate about helping women achieve long-term health and well-being. She focuses on managing PCOS, supporting sustainable weight management, and recently became certified in menopause care. One of the most rewarding aspects of her work is guiding patients as they transition from pregnancy to lifelong care—helping them feel empowered, supported, and heard at every stage of life.

We are honored to have Dr. Chauhan as a member of our New Beginnings team and look forward to her continued dedication for many years to come.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Sarah Kan, Executive Receptionist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.  Sarah has been working at the hospital for 14 years.

Sarah grew up in Queens where she attended the High School for Health Professionals and Human Services and is a graduate of Baruch College. She has two children, a girl who is 20 years old and a boy who is 16.  Sarah has one cat named Miso that she adopted from a shelter and one fish named Eden. Eden is an Oscar cichlid native to the Amazon Basin. Both of her pets are two years old.  In her free time, Sarah enjoys taking care of her plants, baking, playing with her cat, and keeping up on current events in the world. Sarah has also taken up painting. She enjoys traveling, especially with her family,  at least once a year.  A few of the places she has visited are Switzerland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Japan. She would like to visit Germany, Italy, Norway, the French Polynesia, and revisit Japan.

Sarah enjoys different types of cuisine. Her favorites are Japanese, Italian, steak and all types of desserts. She plays the piano, and her favorite type of music is classical.  Romantic comedies are her favorite  type of movies. She also enjoys stand-up comedians. Sarah likes to watch tennis.

Sarah enjoys working at Flushing Hospital because the employees are so pleasant and they work together well as a team. She receives great satisfaction from assisting patients and visitors, many of whom show their appreciation as they leave the hospital. We look forward  to Sarah continuing to work with us for many more years.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

This month, we are proud to highlight our New Beginnings team member, Ma Christina Lopez, a Labor and Delivery Unit Clerk. She has been working at Flushing Hospital Medical Center for 15 years. She was  initially hired as a postpartum evening clerk who cross trained in labor and delivery. After two years she was transferred to the inpatient pediatric unit where she stayed for 12.5 years. While in pediatrics, she was given the opportunity to learn and work in different units in the hospital. In July of 2024 she decided to move back to the labor and delivery unit.

Ma Christina enjoys being a part of a life-affirming process. It gives her great pleasure being a part of the patient’s incredible journey of childbirth, witnessing the miracle of life and supporting families during a significant and often emotional time. Ma Christina likes the constant activity and ever-changing situations that keep things interesting and challenging, ensuring no two days are ever the same. The labor and delivery unit is a high-stakes environment where she has the chance to learn quickly and expand her knowledge of medical procedures, terminology, and patient care.

Ma Christina appreciates the collaborative nature of the unit, working closely with nurses, doctors and other healthcare staff to ensure the best possible care for patients. She
feels a real sense of purpose in knowing that her administrative and organizational skills are contributing to the smooth and efficient operation of the unit, allowing the medical staff to focus on patient care.

She enjoys interacting with patients and their families, providing support and information when needed and helping to make their experience as comfortable as possible. Ma Christina understands that as a unit clerk, she is the invisible hands behind the doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, and physician assistants, and takes pride in that.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

We are proud to recognize our New Beginnings Team member, Lauren Shore, LMSW,  a social worker in Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Mother-Baby New Beginnings unit. Lauren began her career at Flushing Hospital 22 years ago, first working in the Women’s Services division of the Ambulatory Care Center,  then moving on to her current role in the Mother-Baby unit.

Lauren truly enjoys working with our patients and being able to take care of them from the start of their journey into parenthood. She takes pride in working as a social worker. Her position allows her to support families during the most challenging and transformative times in their lives.

Welcoming a new baby can bring both joy and stress, especially when medical complications arise. She finds being able to provide emotional support, resources, and guidance to parents navigating the NICU experience is incredibly fulfilling. She finds purpose in helping families feel heard, empowered, and connected to the care they need. Witnessing their strength and resilience and knowing that she can make a difference during this critical time makes her work deeply meaningful. Lauren feels grateful that she is surrounded by an amazing team and has learned so much from her colleagues.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Sandra Rodrigues, LMSW, a social worker at Flushing Hospital Medical Center where she has been employed for the past 11 years.

Sandra grew up in Corona and currently lives in College Point. She attended elementary school at Our Lady of Sorrows then went on to John Bowne High School. Sandra obtained her Master’s degree from Hunter College.

Sandra has three children, a son who is 26 years old, one daughter who is 33 and another daughter who is 18. She also has two dogs whose names are Boe and Bailey.

In her free time, Sandra enjoys reading all types of books. Going to Broadway shows and to the movies are also her favorite  things to do.  She enjoys traveling and has been to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. She hopes to travel soon to Israel and Greece. Her favorite types of food to eat are Italian and Spanish. Sandra’s faith is very important to her, it inspires her to do volunteer work and do community outreach.  She also likes to listen to  Christian music. She is a huge basketball fan, the team she follows closely  are the Golden State Warriors.

Sandra likes working at Flushing Hospital because it affords her the opportunity to give back to the people in the neighborhood where she spent her early years. She feels fortunate to work with wonderful people on a daily basis who do their best to give our patients a pleasant experience. We look forward to having Sandra work with us for many more years.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

This month, we are proud to recognize our New Beginnings Team member, Ingrid DeFreitas RPA-C, Director of OB/GYN Physician Assistant Education at Flushing Hospital Medical Center. Ingrid joined the staff at the hospital in February 2024. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. John’s University in 2004 with a Bachelor’s of Science and Certificate for Physicians Assistant Studies.

Ingrid feels that working at  Flushing Hospital has been an ultimate rewarding experience. She has never felt so engaged with the community as she does now. The energy in Flushing Hospital is palpable with the nurses,  attendings, and all staff are always ready. The staff is exemplary.  Flushing Hospital allows Ingrid autonomy in providing efficient quality care to her own panel of OB/GYN patients.  As a native speaker of Spanish, she has been able to establish a closer connection to our patients. Screening the community for housing, utility difficulties, food insecurities, transportation needs, and financial strains definitely allows her to provide a collaborated approach to overall improve the quality of life for our patients. She is grateful to work for a hospital that embraces her culture and background.

Ingrid was initially afraid to start in a new facility,  but she was fortunate to be given an opportunity to build something better. She is able to mentor incoming new OB/GYN PAs and teach them safe effective ways in handling a strenuous labor and delivery. Throughout her life she was always told to remember be humble, respectful and compassionate, it goes a long way.   Ingrid truly feels with commitment, hard work and dedication, success is obtainable. She disciplined herself through education to become a master of her craft and will continue her best to lead by example and uphold all values she learned throughout her career to strengthen others.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

This month,  we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Brenda Rodriguez, manager of the Emergency Department Registration. Brenda began working at Flushing Hospital Medical Center 23 years ago. She started her career as a dietary worker, and then began working in the ACC registration area, which eventually led to her position as a manager in ER registration. While Brenda has been a part of the Flushing Hospital team for several years, her story at the hospital began years before that. Her mom was employed by the hospital for 32 years and often Brenda would come to visit her as a young child.

Brenda grew up in Queens. She attended P.S. 154, Parsons Junior High School, and Queens Vocational High School. She currently lives on Long Island. Brenda has a 26 year old daughter and a dog named King. In her free time she likes to unwind by watching tv with her dog. Her favorite tv shows  are old sitcoms, documentaries, sports and reality shows. Brenda enjoys going to see movies, mostly romance films and she is also a big Disney fan. Brenda also likes going to concerts to see old R&B and Freestyle groups. Recently, she started going to see Broadway shows with her daughter. Together they have seen Alladin, The Wiz and Wicked which was her favorite.

Brenda enjoys travelling and has visited Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Aruba. Being of Puerto Rican descent, she has a fondness for that type of cuisine. In particular she likes rice and beans with pork chops and pernil. She enjoys playing softball and is a member of an all women’s softball league. Her favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees.  The best way she can spend her free time is with her daughter, niece, family and friends. Spending time with her loved ones is very important to her.

The people at Flushing Hospital have become like a family to Brenda. She is thankful for the opportunities the hospital has given to her to advance her career. Working with the staff, the patients and the friends that she has made makes this an incredible experience. We are fortunate to have Brenda as a member of our team and we look forward to her continuing with us for many more years into the future.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Jimena Grimaldi is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant on the New Beginnings Unit at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.  Her interest in this field came from having come to the realization that a woman can provide optimal nutrition for her baby after childbirth and it gives newborns a healthy start in life.

Flushing Hospital serves a very diverse community. With all the differences in cultures and beliefs, breastfeeding is still a priority for many of the new moms. It gives Jimena great satisfaction to be able to instruct the new moms on proper breast feeding techniques and to watch for the first time mother and baby bonding in this manner. Jimena enjoys meeting all of the new moms at Flushing Hospital and feels fortunate to work with the team on the New Beginnings unit who share the passion for breastfeeding.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

This month, we’re excited to feature David Gordon, RT, RRT-ACCS, Assistant Director of Respiratory Care at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, in our Employee Spotlight.

David has been a valued member of the Flushing Hospital team for six years. Originally from Miami, Florida, he moved to Brooklyn at the age of nine. He pursued his education at New York City College of Technology, earning an Associate’s degree in Art and Advertising, before obtaining a second Associate’s degree in Respiratory Care from the Borough of Manhattan Community College. David then completed his Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration at California Coast University.

Now residing on Long Island, David is a dedicated father to four daughters and two stepdaughters, whose ages range from two to twenty-two. He cherishes the time spent with his family and friends. Although he loves animals, he currently doesn’t have any pets, though he does keep six egg-laying hens. In his spare time, David is passionate about volunteering. He devoted a decade as an EMT in Brooklyn and now serves as an inflight respiratory therapist with an Air Emergency Response team on medical transport flights.

David is an avid traveler who enjoys visiting places with beautiful beaches and warm weather, with Aruba being one of his favorite destinations. He appreciates a variety of foods, especially a well-cooked steak or a great slice of pizza. Music is another passion, and he enjoys a broad range of genres. When it comes to movies, David gravitates towards comedies, dramas, and action films, and he’s a big fan of football.

David’s experience at Flushing Hospital has been exceptionally positive. He values the family-like atmosphere and the strong sense of teamwork fostered by the friendly interactions among different departments. We are thrilled to have David as a key member of our team and look forward to his continued contributions in the years ahead.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

This month, we would like to introduce you to our Assistant Head Nurse in the NICU, Isabel Ortiz, RNC. Isabel began her career in the Flushing Hospital Medical Center NICU 36 years ago.

Isabel’s nursing career began in Puerto Rico where she received her bachelor’s degree in nursing and worked there for the first three years of her nursing career. Her entire career at Flushing Hospital has been spent working in the NICU which she finds to be very fulfilling on many levels. Taking care of NICU patients can have many challenges but is very rewarding when she sees her patients thrive and go on to live happy lives.

In addition to caring for her patients, she also spends  a lot of time with assisting their parents. Isabel feels a strong connection to the community. Being bilingual (English and Spanish) helps her to communicate well with many patients and families.

Isabel enjoys working with the NICU team. They have become like family to her. They teach one another and are always learning new techniques that benefit patients.  Isabel’s passion for taking care of the NICU patients and their families is well known and we are very happy to have her as a member of the New Beginnings Team.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.