This month, we have chosen not one, but two employees of the month!  Both Brooks and Roberta V. were chosen because of the way that they helped resolve a crisis that we recently had in the New Horizon office, and their hard work and dedication to their patients here at New Horizon.

Employee of the Month: Brooks

Q: What is your job title and when did you start working here?

A:  “I started working here in November of last year, and I am the team lead for the behavioral department.”

Q: What is your favorite part of your job every day?

A: “I’m really happy here.  We see a lot of people here and it’s high volume of patients, and I really enjoy interacting with a big group of people everyday.  It’s cool to talk with such a variety of people.  A bonus is when people have a great week, or when people achieve a goal, to witness that and share in it is quite amazing.”

Q: What do you wish more people knew about your job?

A: “The behavioral component of treatment is really big, it’s a big part of treatment here, and most patients that I’ve worked with come to that realization.  I’m there for clients when they’re having a really rough time and I’m there when they have a victory as well.  I try to maintain a sense of optimism and encouragement at all times, if they’re having a hard time I’m a shoulder to lean on and lift them back up.”

Q: Can you tell me a little more about the medical crisis that we had at New Horizon a few weeks ago that you were a part of?  What happened, from your point of view? 

A: “I was coming in to work, just doing follow ups, and the employee who fell outside couldn’t do their visits, so we had to make a game plan.  Being able to remain calm and communicate in a situation like that and helping to figure out how to get back to a functional place as quickly as possible is important, so I took over and jumped in to some extra work.  It was nice to see that when bad things happen we’re all there for each other, we help the individual and also make sure that our patients get the care they deserve.”

Q: When you’re not working at New Horizon, what are you most likely to be doing?

A: “I love spending time with my dog, Lenny and my cat, Jackie. I also love spending time with friends, of course, and I’m from the Boston area so I have a really close group of friends. I’m lucky enough to feel established and have family and friends to spend time with.”

Q: What’s your favorite food?

A: “Ice cream, just any ice cream.”

Employee of the Month: Roberta V. 

Q: What is your job title and when did you start working here?

A:  “I’m a bariatric nurse practitioner, and I started work here in the beginning of October.”

Q: What is your favorite part of your job every day?

A: “My favorite part is getting to see the same patients every week, seeing their successes and getting to help them through their struggles.”

Q: What do you wish more people knew about your job?

A: “I wish more people knew that a facility like New Horizon exists and that in order to combat obesity we have to approach it from all angles… that’s the key to successful weight loss.”

Q: Can you tell me a little more about the patient crisis that we had at New Horizon a few weeks ago that you were a part of?  What happened, from your point of view?  (actually an employee?)

A: “Due to a medical condition, an employee passed out in the parking lot and went face first into the pavement.  So, because my background is in family medicine, I assessed her and made sure she was stable, made sure there were no other conditions we needed to worry about, and made sure she was okay to be picked up by her family and not an ambulance”

Q: When you’re not working at New Horizon, what are you most likely to be doing?

A: “Spending time with my family, my two sons and my husband.  When they are all home it’s fun to hang out with everyone.”

Q: What’s your favorite food?

A: “I used to cook for a living, so I love Italian food.  There really isn’t a food that I don’t enjoy.”