Unsung Heroes: Health Center Appreciation Day

Accompanied by Athletic Director Liz Parry, Ms. Maher snuck into the Health Center during today’s broadcast, surprising our nursing team and counseling staff with gifts for their exceptional service during these challenging times. In addition, stacks of thank you cards from the community were shared, expressing our most sincere gratitude for the many ways they keep Emma running. 

The Health Center team, composed of school nurses and the counseling staff, promote the health and safety of students, intervene with potential and active health issues, and actively collaborate with others to advance student wellbeing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Center team has collaborated with the administrative team, faculty, residential and student life, and outside health professionals like epidemiologist Dr. Trey Dobson, to ensure public health guidance is being followed throughout campus. 

Along with treating health conditions and other common ailments, the Health Center team helps conduct weekly COVID-19 testing, jumping in at a moment's notice to initiate contact tracing for confirmed positive cases. Nurses also help administer various COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to educators and eligible students during on-campus clinics, while the counseling team assists students with navigating the social and emotional effects of unrelenting change.

As the pandemic has ebbed and flowed, our needs as a school have as well. Whether it is ensuring staffing levels meet the ever-changing needs of our community or partnering with another historic Troy institution, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, for surveillance testing, Emma Willard School is committed to providing the resources necessary to keep Mount Ida buzzing. This year, both the nursing and counseling teams have welcomed new members to support their collective efforts in creating and maintaining a safe and healthy campus community. 

While larger in-person gatherings have been scaled back, the Emma Willard School community shared their overwhelming appreciation for the Health Center team during the virtual celebration. Cheers and gratitude poured through the Zoom chat, echoing the praises of healthcare professionals around the world who have and continue to support us throughout these unprecedented times. 

Join us in celebrating the selfless efforts of our Health Center team and congratulating them on an incredible job well done. We cannot thank you enough for your commitment and dedication to everyone who calls Emma Willard School home.