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11 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 1, 2021 HEALTHCARE HEROES AWARDS 2021 D r. Ronald Schwartz is a fellowship- trained geriatrician who is board certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine and hospice and palliative care medicine. He began his career at Masonicare in 1995. As senior director for Continuum Health Services, he serves as the medical director across the Masonicare continuum. Q: Why is he a HealthCare Hero? Dr. Schwartz volunteered to lead the team on our COVID isolation unit by providing direct medical care to residents afflicted with COVID. Additionally, he served as a leader on our Coronavirus Task Force, comprised of key individuals across the Masonicare continuum. He kept in close contact with local and state health authorities to keep the members of the task force apprised of the latest medical developments regarding COVID. Dr. Schwartz also led the organization's Vaccine Distribution Task Force, working with other vital members of the Masonicare staff to ensure that all appropriate residents across the continuum received their COVID vaccinations. Q: How has COVID-19 changed the way you do your job? As a doctor, you train to be prepared for a health crisis and to be the first to lead others if such a crisis were to occur. I have never faced medical practice in a pandemic before, but knew I had a duty to volunteer to lead the medical care for COVID patients on our isolation unit. D r. Daksh Rampal is an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-trained and board-certified emergency physician. He has been working as an emergency-room physician for over 10 years. Dr. Rampal is also the founder and CEO of Priority Urgent Care and has been working in this capacity for over four years. Q: Why is he a HealthCare Hero? As the pandemic struck, the healthcare industry asked for unprecedented fortitude, flexibility, compassion and hard work. Dr. Rampal took this immense challenge and brought to the chaotic times what it needed most — solutions to problems that the world had never faced. He and his team worked around the clock to come up with ways to treat, test and vaccinate. He and his teammates have vaccinated, treated and immunized thousands in the community and continue to do so. He left no avenue unexplored, including going to patients' houses, community centers and nursing homes to provide care to those who needed it most. Q: How has COVID-19 changed the way you do your job? It forced me to become a more flexible and innovative person and manager. This has been an unprecedented time, requiring out-of-the-box thinking to solve the challenges that came with it. I have stopped saying to myself and my team that something is not possible — it's always, "How can we make it possible." Dr. Ronald Schwartz Employer: Masonicare // Title: Senior Director of Continuum Health Services Daksh Rampal Employer: Priority Urgent Care // Title: CEO Winner Category: Physician Winner Category: Urgent Care Operator CLICK ON HEALTHCARE HEROES FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO REGISTER The Health Care Heroes Awards identifies outstanding leaders in the healthcare industry who are the epitome of a "hero." Whether they are companies, doctors, nurses, specialists or managers, join us in recognizing those who embody the word "hero" and prove their excellence in helping others. NOVEMBER 18 | 5:30 - 9:00 PM | FARMINGTON GARDENS EVENT PARTNER: SUPPORTING SPONSOR: PRESENTING SPONSORS: EDUCATION LEADERSHIP SPONSOR: MAJOR SPONSORS: GO TO >> HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM/HBJ-EVENTS