Kevin O’Keeffe, Hilary Charles, and Cathy Vasquez are all licensed social workers at Albany Medical Center. They shared their experience about being medical social workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss the importance of the social work profession. Social Workers are Essential Workers.
Kevin O’Keeffe, Hilary Charles, and Cathy Vasquez are all licensed social workers at Albany Medical Center. They shared their experience about being medical social workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss the importance of the social work profession. Social Workers are Essential Workers.
Bios:
Kevin O'Keeffe is a LMSW who graduated with his MSW in 2015 from U-Albany. He has been working at Albany Medical Center since August 2017. He has experience in providing Social Work interventions on Medical/Surgery Floors, and in the Emergency Room. He is currently the social worker on the Medical ICU, where he works with the Critical Care Team to provide families and patients support & guidance during a critical time in their lives.
Hilary Charles is an LMSW who graduated with her MSW in 2015 from Arizona State University. She has been working at Albany Medical Center since August 2018 initially assisting any unit that needed support and in May 2019 working on the Infectious Disease Unit. She has experience working with various populations across the lifespan. In her role as the Infectious Disease Medical Social Worker, Hilary assists patients by connecting them to resources within their communities and provides social and emotional support to patients and their families.
Cathy Vasquez is a LMSW who graduated with her MSW in 2017 from CUNY Hunter College in NYC. She has been working at Albany Medical Center since May 2018. She began as a medical social worker working in the outpatient pediatric hematology office and then switched over to the inpatient side of the healthcare field. She has experience in providing Social Work interventions on Medical/Surgery Floors on the Pediatric and Adult units. She is currently the social worker on the Medical Unit, where she works with the Interdisciplinary Team to provide families and patients support & guidance through safe discharge planning.