Einstein Students on the Front Lines
Earlier this year, when cases of the highly contagious COVID-19 Omicron variant surged, hospital systems, including Montefiore and Jacobi, were faced with rising patient admissions. In response, six Einstein fourth-year medical students—Iffath Islam, Pablo Cuartas, Valerie Fong, Benjamin Green, Reed Owens-Pochinka, and Rie Seu—stepped up to volunteer on the front lines.
![]()
Pablo Cuartas and Benjamin Green were among the students who volunteered at Jacobi.
Five of these students, who had each completed their required clinical rotations, elected to go to Jacobi to assist in the pediatrics, medicine, or emergency medicine departments, and one was assigned to an internal medicine COVID-19 response team at Montefiore.
Being Present to Do What’s Needed
When asked why she volunteered, Iffath, who is a Bronx native, said, “They needed more hands on deck. These are my people, the people that treat me and my family.” Her classmate Pablo said more simply, “They asked.”
![]()
Reed Owens-Pochinka and Iffath Islam are among the volunteers who graduated this year; Reed helped out at Jacobi while Iffath volunteered at Montefiore.
Helen Rhim, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics and one of the Montefiore site coordinators, said that the Omicron surge differed from previous variants because there was rapid spread irrespective of vaccination status, leading to a swift uptick in cases of those who thought they were protected.
“There was a clear need for additional people who had the training and ability to help with the health system and take care of the patients we serve here in the Bronx,” she explained.
Anurag Shrivastava, M.D., assistant dean for Montefiore Medical Center and associate professor of ophthalmology & visual sciences at Einstein, and attending physician at Montefiore, added, “The most recent surge was different; we had a much better understanding of how the disease behaves, and were far more prepared for a rapid surge in patient volume. What we didn’t know was how rapidly or extensively the surge would overwhelm our system… the students who stepped up were able to help us when and where our patients needed us the most.”
Putting Practical into Practice
While in the hospital, the students functioned as acting interns, each responsible for the admission, treatment, and discharge of multiple patients, with duties that ranged from ordering and following up on lab tests to performing physical exams. They worked under the supervision of residents and attending physicians.
![]()
Valerie Fong and Rie Seu also volunteered at Jacobi
“I felt able to be of help and to use clinical skills I’ve learned the past year,” said Iffath.
Pablo described being a fully integrated member of his medical team, noting, “The residents and I helped each other out with various patient needs.”
Both credited their readiness to taking on their responsibilities to the Einstein M.D. program. “They prepared us well, knowledge-wise and attitude-wise,” said Pablo. “Doing medical school in the Bronx, I’ve learned if there’s something that needs to get done, just do it.”
Mimoza Meholli, M.D., assistant dean for student affairs and assistant professor of medicine at Einstein and an academic hospitalist and palliative care physician at Jacobi who coordinated the student volunteers, observed, “We received great reports that the student volunteers were well-prepared to provide outstanding and compassionate care to patients. That’s what we aim to impart through their education, so we’re very pleased and grateful.”
The experience also provided a meaningful learning opportunity for all six students, three of whom began their medical residencies just months after graduation this May. Iffath—who is one such recently minted alumna—was grateful for the hands-on training in COVID-19 treatment, which she anticipated she’d be using during her internal medicine residency at Northwell-LIJ in Long Island, NY.
Pablo, who matched into a general surgical residency at SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn, NY, appreciated the chance to reiterate clinical decision-making fundamentals.
An Insider’s Perspective of Hospital Operations
Dr. Meholli pointed out that volunteering also gave students the unique opportunity to see how the challenges of a pandemic surge are handled in the hospital. “Being able to do that now as a student, so early on in their experience, is really remarkable,” she said.
In contributing to the greater efforts concerning the pandemic, Iffath took pride in how her efforts connected with her personal ties to the local community. She said, “You make a difference because you’re doing what needs to be done, and you’re helping out the hospital.”
Dr. Shrivastava, who helped organize the greater hospital effort to manage the surge, added, “It’s amazing the amount of work and dedication that our staff, associates, residents, and students have all put into taking care of our community during this entire pandemic. They’ve experienced things that you just don’t see during our normal functioning.”
He added, “These six student volunteers were part of an unprecedented and historic situation. It’s a time in their careers that they will be talking about forever, whether it be with their family or with colleagues that shared this experience. It is clear to me in hindsight that this pandemic has provided a unique learning environment from which the takeaway lessons are many.”
Making Positive Impressions
Dr. Rhim, who worked with Iffath personally, said, “I was so impressed with her commitment to helping our community in the Bronx and our community of healthcare providers.”
Dr. Shrivastava echoed this about all six students, stating, “You know, I was incredibly proud of these students. I was also proud of our hospital system—we adapted rapidly to the situation and worked together to build a robust environment for them to work and to learn.”
Posted on: Friday, September 23, 2022