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Melissa Duarte, DO ‘08
Internal Medicine/Hospital Medicine
After practicing for several years as a hospital medicine doctor, I made the decision two years ago to accept a non-clinical role working as a physician advisor. I continued to work per diem at my local community hospital in CT to remain active as a clinician. When this pandemic started, I knew I had to head in to the hospital more to help where I was most needed and I’m thankful that I have the skill set to do that. I have never been more proud of my path and my education than I am now.
Michele Gilsenan, DO ‘88
Family Practice /Sports Medicine
In 2017, I elected to work part time and was employed with CityMD Urgent Center based out of NY and NJ. However, in March 2020, everyone at CityMD worked many hours and many days to fight the pandemic.
We were one of the first centers to test for Coronavirus (mid-March 2020) via nasal swab. Being at the epicenter of the pandemic in Northern NJ, we were seeing all patients (as primary care and specialist offices were closed) in addition to Coronavirus patients. In a 12-hour day (that spilled into 14-hour days) CityMD Urgent Center was seeing 100-125 patients 7 days a week with a solo provider and sometimes only two providers.
Unfortunately, some patients avoided seeking medical care from ERs and came to the Urgent Center. So we were treating CVAs, MIs in addition to respiratory distress/ bilateral pneumonia from the virus.
Presently we are still seeing high volume with both PCR nasal swab and IGG testing.
Dr. Gilsenan at CityMD