For Claudette Hill, RN, director of operations for community health at Northwell’s Staten Island University Hospital, each day brings new challenges and opportunities. As a lifelong Staten Island resident, Hill combines her professional responsibilities with a personal commitment to the well-being of her neighbors.
In an interview, Hill discussed the scope of community health programs at Staten Island University Hospital. She said, “Our programs support the health and wellness of all Staten Island residents. My team’s mantra is ‘stay healthy because we care,’ and that care does not begin at admission or end at discharge. Our programs emphasize health education and disease prevention and management. Two examples are Wellness on Wheels (WOW), our elementary-school program; and sPROut, through which we teach kids about healthy eating, mindfulness and exercise. Each kid goes home with a bag of carrots and a cookbook with 15 recipes in English and Spanish.”
Hill described additional initiatives targeting older students: “We also have Jr. PRO, a six-session program for middle- and high-school students that provides career exploration opportunities in the emergency department, pharmacy, pediatrics, and more. They go inside an ambulance and even crush Smarties candy to learn about compounding medication. And we have a pop-up pantry in two schools every month. In 2024, we supplied 19,000 pounds of food and helped 2,700 families.”
Reflecting on her nearly two decades as a nurse, Hill noted the significance of her current role: “I’ve been a nurse for nearly 20 years, and overseeing these programs has been the most rewarding job I’ve held. To have such a positive impact on the community where I live — with my neighbors, my friends and my family of six kids and 11 grandchildren — I love it.” She acknowledged challenges in building trust within the community: “The biggest challenge was earning the community’s trust. We did listening tours to hear people’s concerns, and then we set out to prove that we’d keep our word and show up.” She added that her team frequently partners with local organizations to provide health information sessions or screenings throughout the year.
During peak months from May to September, Hill’s team participates in up to 20 events monthly across Staten Island communities.
