Ginny Field: Going the Extra Mile for Her Colleagues and Her Patients
For three decades, Ginny Field has led and inspired the Manhattan Region of VNSNY’s certified home health agency. As Regional Vice President for the borough, she oversees VNSNY Home Care’s busiest geographical region, guiding 14 interdisciplinary teams of clinicians who care for hundreds of patients on any given day. Today, as Ginny is about to step down from her long-time leadership post, her tireless dedication to her team members and their patients stands out as a shining legacy.
Ginny’s devotion to her clinical staff stretches back to her earliest days as a VNSNY manager. In 1979, she was hired as a Patient Service Supervisor at VNSNY. She brought with her a skilled background as a clinical nurse—including a year working as a VNSNY field nurse in the mid-1970s—and the natural empathy of a born leader. As Ginny moved into the post of Patient Service Manager and later regional director, she has continued to lift those around her, and today the individuals she’s mentored can be found across the organization.
Her equally strong devotion to VNSNY’s patient population is reflected in Ginny’s hands-on supervision of care delivery to Manhattan’s diverse service area, which includes very low-income neighborhoods as well as some of the city’s most affluent pockets. A particular moment that stands out in people’s memories is her calm and focused leadership during the horrific 9/11 attacks in New York City, when Ginny guided her staff as they navigated closed streets to call on their patients in lower Manhattan, pulling out every stop to get food and water to both the patients and her clinicians who were caring for them. “At a time when everyone was uncertain, she never got anxious—she commanded the floor, and directed us in what we had to do,” recalls a colleague.
In the words of Marki Flannery, President and CEO of VNSNY, “Ginny has lived through all the challenges VNSNY has faced over the past 40 years, as well as all the high points. She’s been with us through thick and thin.”
“An Excellent Leader and Mentor and a Tremendous Role Model”: Staff Tributes to Ginny
We asked a few of Ginny’s colleagues to share their reflections about what working alongside Ginny has been like. As you can see, the tributes were, not surprisingly, keenly heartfelt and poignant. We know that this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you’d like to contribute a tribute to Ginny, please send your quote to Frontline and we’ll post it.
A Wonderful Friend and Colleague
“Whenever a challenging issue comes up, Ginny is the first person to offer help. She always gives her colleagues 100 percent, and she’s incredibly loyal to VNSNY—if one of our Board members has a question about home care, Ginny is the one they call. On a personal note, Ginny has been a wonderful friend and colleague, and I feel thankful and privileged to have known her and worked alongside her.”
—Marki Flannery, President and CEO
Putting the Patient First and Nurturing Staff
“Ginny always puts the patient first. She’s nurtured an extremely dedicated and loyal staff, and is an incredibly talented clinician herself. Her commitment to VNSNY’s mission over the years has been a great stabilizing factor during all the changes that VNSNY has gone through.”
—Susan Northover, Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services
A People Person, Always There to Help
“When Ginny first moved to the administrative level in the 1980s, she asked me to become a clinical team manager. I didn’t think I was ready, but she really pushed me, telling me, ‘You are ready.’ She gave me that boost of confidence I needed. There’s no greater attribute as a leader than being able grow your staff and help them to fly. That’s something Ginny has done for me, and I’ve watched her do it for countless others over the years. Ginny has always been someone who is available and approachable. You can ask her anything. She is a people person first, always caring and sensitive to what was going on with her staff, and always there to help troubleshoot, both personally and professionally. She has a great ability to assess and identify talent in her staff, and provide you with those opportunities to grow your skills and grow as an individual. She’s a patient advocate, and she’s also a clinician advocate—a people advocate—in terms of making certain we have the right resources and the right knowledge.”
—Yvonne Eaddy, Home Care Regional Vice President, Brooklyn and Staten Island
My Role Model
“Ginny is my role model. She helped me go from a field nurse who knew nothing about managing to become our region’s clinical director. She’s given me a lot of encouragement, and I would even say a push, to go back to school and get my Master’s degree in nursing. She cares about everybody, and remembers everybody. She knows everything about my family—she knows my husband, my niece, my dog. She’s like a sister to me!”
—Anny Wan, Home Care Clinical Director, Manhattan Region
A Wonderful Manager and Mentor
“As a field staff member, Ginny was a wonderful manager to work for. She was extremely supportive, and very knowledgeable clinically. This was back before we had cell phones, so I would come into the office every day and talk to her about any clinical questions I had. Ginny made me the manager I am today. She is an excellent leader and mentor and a tremendous role model. Her door is always open—you can go in and ask her anything. She’ll also use humor in stressful situations, which you really need sometimes! She’s the kind of leader you just want to do a great job for.”
—Patti Russell, Home Care Branch Director, Manhattan Region
You Will be Missed!
“When I first started at VNSNY over 18 years ago, I didn’t know if I was coming or going, I was getting ready to quit, when Ginny pulled me in and told me, ‘By looking at you, I feel if you are given the proper tools and we train you well, you will be a great asset to VNSNY.’ I made her a promise that she would not regret giving me this opportunity. Here I am, 18 years down the line, going stronger every day. Ginny doesn’t focus solely on the work aspect—she cares about our emotional state. By that I mean that when my sister, who worked as a Patient Service Manager for the Lombardi program in the Manhattan region, was diagnosed with breast cancer that metastasized to her spine, liver and lungs, Ginny supported me until my sister died. She even took time out to attend her funeral in Long Island. How can we thank you, Ginny, for everything you have done? You will be missed!”
—Martine Benoit, RN, VNSNY Home Care Manhattan Region
A Great Resource and Positive Influence
“Ginny has been a great resource and positive influence for the Manhattan staff. I have always admired the breadth and scope of her knowledge, her ability to articulate and administer the Manhattan office, and the positive force that she has been for the entire Visiting Nurse Service of New York.”
—Marilyn Liota, former Regional Vice President for Queens
An Angel in Disguise
“Ginny has put her heart and soul into Manhattan VNSNY. When I had a personal trauma at home, Ginny was right there for me, making sure I had everything I needed and keeping my family in constant prayer. When I heard Ginny was leaving, I had to really choke back tears. In all my time at VNSNY, she has shown me nothing but kindness. She is always supportive, always caring, always making sure that the patients have what they need. She’s an angel in disguise.”
—Connie Evans, Home Care Clinical Field Manager, Manhattan Region
Always Compassionate, She Made a Bad Situation Much Better
“I first met Ginny in the mid 1980s while I was the AIDS social worker at Beth Israel and she was assigned to our hospital for home care referrals. I always found her to be compassionate about each of our AIDS patients’ situations, and she did the best she could to make sure they went home with the services needed. She made a very bad situation much better, not only for the patient and their family but for our staff as well.”
—Alan Rice, Population Health Specialist, VNSNY CHOICE SelectHealth
Ginny, a Wonderful Boss and Teacher!
“In my tenure as a manager for Manhattan Acute Care, she gave me a lot of encouragement and support.
Because of her, I was able to lead a group of wonderful team members to provide excellent care to the Lower East Side population.
Because of her, I was able to obtain my FNP degree while working as a team manager, a very busy job.
Because of her, I learned how use the statistics numbers to guide our practice and operation strategies.
Because of her, I learned how to keep calm even facing a crisis.
I still remember when I graduated from my FNP program, Ginny pulled me into her office. She told me that I was holding two tickets. I could use either one of the tickets to go through the door and I would do well. Today, I am using one of the tickets and going on my new journey. I will try my best to do great and not make Ginny disappointed.
I will deeply miss you Ginny, a wonderful boss and teacher!”
—Weiyi Pan, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Queens Region
Always Supportive, Always an Inspiration
“Ginny will be greatly missed by all of us, but she retires leaving very fond and long-lasting memories as both a mentor and a supervisor. I have known and worked under Ginny for over thirty years. In my professional life she has always been supportive and an inspiration to me, encouraging me to give my best to VNSNY. We all wish her the best of everything in her years ahead.”
–Elizabeth Sesselberg, Patient Service Manager, Manhattan
The Beating Heart of the Manhattan Home Care Team
“Starting in 2013, I had the opportunity to work with Ginny Field for two years as the Business Operations Supervisor for the Manhattan team. I learned so much working with Ginny—words cannot explain. I grew to admire her drive and respect her as an individual, and I quickly realized that she was the beating heart for the Manhattan’s CHHA Home Care team. The experiences I had are memorable and definitely ones to share with others. I am happy to say that I had the pleasure and opportunity to work with such a force named Ginny Field. I wish her continued health, strength, and happiness. You will be missed but never forgotten.”
—Patrina Copland, Manager, Medical Management Operations, CHOICE MLTC