Salute Monmouth Medical Center Staff During Hospital Week
All Lax co-founders and directors Alex Marino, left, and Megan Douty, right, are shown with Monmouth Medical Center President and CEO Eric Carney and Vice President of Development Tara Kelly.
Long Branch, N.J. – Area Fire and Police Departments, along with other local EMS squads, led a “heroes’ salute” for Monmouth Medical Center staff on May 14 to recognize the incredible efforts of the physicians, nurses and entire health care team battling COVID-19.
The event was organized in conjunction with National Hospital Week – observed from May 10 to 16 – and featured 13 squads representing 12 towns including Atlantic Highlands, Deal, Eatontown, Highlands, Long Branch, Monmouth Beach, Ocean Township, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright and West Long Branch. Nearly 40 first response vehicles were on site at MMC, running lights and sirens to boost morale and salute staff entering and exiting the building at the 7 p.m. shift change.
In thanking the first responders for “an awe-inspiring show of support,” Eric Carney, President and CEO, Monmouth Medical Center, noted that the hospital in turn salutes the police and fire departments and EMS squads who also are at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
“Monmouth Medical Center deeply appreciates this salute to our selfless and courageous frontline staff and we in turn honor the contributions of our frontline partners in this crisis --- this ‘heroes honoring heroes’ event truly shows that we are all in this fight together,” he said. “This amazing public expression of support means so much to our frontline staff.”
For Monmouth Medical Center staff, he said the event also featured members of the hospital’s Management Team and Medical Staff standing in reception lines in the main lobby holding “Heroes Work Here” signs and cheering and applauding incoming and outgoing staff.
“This was such a great celebration of our staff and physicians for the incredible work they have been doing to take care of our community, and a great opportunity to let them know how appreciated they are by hospital leadership,” he said.
Members of the hospital’s Management Team and Medical Staff stood in reception lines to cheer and applaud incoming and outgoing staff, including shown here Monmouth Medical Center President and CEO Eric Carney and Dr. Meg Fisher, Chair of Pediatrics and Medical Director of The Unterberg Children’s Hospital.
Grab-and-go meals for the incoming and outgoing staff were provided courtesy of All Lax, a local organization that provides lacrosse programs designed to teach advanced lacrosse skills to help young athletes perform at an elite level. Led by co-founders and directors and standout high school and college lacrosse players Megan Douty, current member of the USA Women’s National Lacrosse Team, and Alex Marino, a US Lacrosse Level 1 certified coach, All Lax did a fund-raiser with their families and players and was able to provide 300 meals for the Frontline staff, working with area restaurants such as the Blonde Shallot in Little Silver and Tuzzios in Long Branch.
MMC staff and first responders from Long Branch and 12 surrounding towns came together for the Heroes Salute.
“Community is at the forefront of everything we do at All Lax LLC; through lacrosse, we try and teach our players the importance of supporting one another through times of success, but most importantly, through times of need,” said Megan and Alex, who were on hand at the event to cheer on the hospital staff. “Now more than ever, we felt it was crucial to get our community together to show our appreciation for all frontline staff at Monmouth Medical Center. Although so small compared to the heroic deeds of all health care heroes, we hope they felt our love and support as they continue to tackle this pandemic and keep our communities safe.”
To share a note of thanks or to make donations to Monmouth Medical Center’s Emergency Response Fund, visit www.rwjbh.org/heroes.
CONTACT: Kathy Horan
(732) 546-6317
Kathy.Horan@rwjbh.org