Children's Hospitals Today - Winter 2022 - 30

VITALS MEET A MEMBER
Communitydriven
provider
This
doctor builds
trust to help lift the
overall well-being
of a community.
Suzette Oyeku
transforms care
to reach the
community.
While the COVID-19 pandemic
has stressed health care
systems, worsened burnout
and elevated behavioral health
issues to a national emergency,
it's also created opportunities
for innovation. Suzette Oyeku,
M.D., M.P.H., division chief of
academic general pediatrics,
and her team at Children's
Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM)
mobilized and transformed
care to reach new populations
in new ways.
CARING FOR THE WHOLE
CHILD: As the pandemic
exacerbated disparities and
anxiety grew, Oyeku and
her team began providing
resources and screenings
for a variety of behavioral
concerns and social needs.
CHAM prioritized these
efforts, regardless of a virtual
or in-person appointment,
to expand the reach of care.
The team connected patients
and families to food pantries,
behavioral health providers
or any other resources a
family might need-whether
it be coats, baby formula or
crayons. " We had an existing
integrated behavioral health
program and generous
donors that provided a strong
foundation for us to include
these other screenings, " says
Oyeku. Additionally, CHAM
prioritized vaccination efforts
for newborns to 6 year olds
despite growing hesitancy to
visit health care offices. Thanks
to consistent communication
with caregivers, Oyeku and her
team ensured everyone's safety
and comfort while maintaining
vaccination rates at the height
of the pandemic.
CARING FOR FAITH
COMMUNITIES: As a Deacon
at Grace Baptist church in
Mt. Vernon, New York, Oyeku
provides educational sessions
on Sunday mornings about
health issues. In the spring
of 2020, there was a natural
shift toward addressing
COVID-19-related topics-
including safety protocols and
vaccine updates-to keep the
congregation informed. " This
allowed us to share trusted
content with trusted leaders
in trusted spaces, " says
Oyeku. This led to support and
action from the Conference of
National Black Churches, in
collaboration with the CDC and
other partners, where Oyeku
assisted in training over 1,000
leaders across the country,
laying the groundwork for
churches to provide information
and host vaccine clinics. " I
was reminded of the power of
community, " says Oyeku. " And
it also gave us a chance to
dispel any misinformation. "
CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER:
Fifteen years into her career,
Oyeku understands the
value of rest and resilience.
And as a frontline provider
through a pandemic, she's
only reminded of their
importance. Leaning into
her faith community, family,
friends and team members is
essential, according to Oyeku.
" It sounds simple, but shifting
my perspective to operate
from a space of gratitude and
extending that to my team
as frequently as possible has
helped, " says Oyeku. Whether
it's giving kudos to team
members, checking in on each
other or ensuring everyone
takes time off, Oyeku's " CHAMily "
as they call it, has
been indispensable.
Know someone we should
meet? Email magazine
@childrenshospitals.org.
30
CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS TODAY Winter 2022
http://www.childrenshospitals.org
Children's Hospitals Today - Winter 2022

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