Byrne Honors Healthcare Workers with Physician Assistant Week Resolution

Assemblyman Kevin Byrne (R, C, Ref-Mahopac) is pleased to announce he presented a legislative resolution to Northwell Health at Northern Westchester Hospital. The resolution named Oct. 6-12 Physician Assistant Week in New York. Additionally, recognition was given to Northwell Health with a separate proclamation for their employer award from the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).

“I extend my congratulations to all the PAs at Northwell Health and Northern Westchester Hospital,” said Assemblyman Byrne. “This has been an incredibly challenging year for frontline healthcare workers, and PAs have provided essential clinical care throughout our state’s healthcare system. My wife is a PA and worked through much of the pandemic until she delivered our son on May 18, here at Northern Westchester Hospital. I understand and fully appreciate how much work and dedication goes into the job. It is a pleasure to be here with this exceptional team of PAs at Northern Westchester Hospital and to recognize Northwell as an Employer of Excellence. Thank you to all our amazing Pas and healthcare workers.”

There are over 110,00 physician’s assistants practicing across the United States.  This legislation honors PAs by extending National PA Day to an entire week. The first PA day took place on Oct. 6, 1987 in honor of the 20^th anniversary of the first graduating class from Duke University. The job of a PA includes reviewing patient medical histories, examining patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostic test, giving treatment and prescribing medicine.

“On behalf of the more than 1,200 Physician Assistants in the Northwell system, I want to thank the leadership at Northwell Health and at Northern Westchester Hospital for their support and recognition of our role in delivering clinical care and to Assemblyman Byrne for advocating for this proclamation,” said Jason McGrade. “This year--more than ever-- PAs demonstrated the critical role they play within the healthcare team. We appreciate this recognition.”

“Our PAs are an essential part of our care team, and their knowledge, skill and expertise add tremendous value to the care we provide to our patients and community,” said Dr. Koroly. “We are particularly impressed with how they rose to the challenges presented during Covid-19 and adapted to a continually changing environment in order to meet the needs of our patients. We also extend our appreciation to Assemblyman Byrne for securing the proclamation in recognition of our team and all the PAs across Northwell Health and New York.”

This event took place at an outdoor ceremony and observed social distancing guidelines in the hospital’s Janet Fields Memorial Garden. This month, Northwell Health also received an Employer of Excellence Award from the American Academy of Physician Assistants for “creating programs that involve, empower and recognize PAs, who play a critical role in patient care.”

Read the entire resolution here.