Vera Solomon began her long career at Montefiore in 1972, leveraging her chemistry expertise as a lab technologist in Oncology. After a few years, she transitioned to the Hematology laboratory under the guidance of Dr. Ira Sussman. At the time, Montefiore, situated at 210th Street, lacked a centralized pathology department. Instead, there were separate anatomic pathology services and independent in-house laboratories for testing patient samples.
Fast forward to September 2023, when Vera bid farewell to an extraordinary 51-year tenure at Montefiore. On Thursday, September 12, dozens of colleagues, present and past, from across Montefiore Einstein gathered at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore to celebrate Vera’s retirement with cake champagne, and a touching video tribute.
Over five decades, as she rose to the rank of senior administrator of pathology, Vera had a birds-eye view of Montefiore's remarkable transformation from a small Bronx hospital into a vast healthcare system, today boasting 11 hospitals and dozens of specialty practices spanning across the Bronx, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and most recently, making its mark in Manhattan.
A colorful ride
In the world of pathology, each day unfolds uniquely.
In the late 1980’s Vera had a growing interest in management. Inspired by her peers who were pursuing advanced degrees and moving up, she enrolled in a healthcare administration graduate program at Long Island University. This advanced degree created the path for promotions, lastly into the senior administrator role.
Celebrating her retirement
In the tribute video, Vera’s longtime colleague, Dr. Ed Burns, associate dean of Einstein and professor of medicine, recalled Vera’s acumen for management.
"Vera quickly ascended to supervise the hematology lab, setting the standard for excellence in the city," Dr. Burns said. "She always maintained a pragmatic approach with her staff, coupled with a deep belief that the data provided by the labs were crucial to superior patient care. She adeptly balanced this philosophy with the integration of laboratory medicine into the age of robotics and increased throughput," he added.
A pivotal role in pathology’s evolution
In 1993, the unified department of pathology was formed when Dr. Michael Prystowsky, joined Montefiore Einstein, and served as the department’s ice chair. When Dr. Prystowsky was appointed department chair in 1995 with Dr. Sussman as his vice-chair, Vera assumed the significant responsibility of overseeing the consolidated pathology lab operations and helping to implement the leadership’s vision.
"Drs. Prystowsky and Sussman envisioned creating a robust pathology service line of business," Vera recalled. "We meticulously developed our logistics system and refined laboratory processing within Montefiore's walls."
Montefiore Hematology Department,1980’s
The pathology department has since burgeoned from a nascent service line to a $250 million entity, boasting a core laboratory and dozens more specialty laboratories that perform more than 10.5 million tests annually. Today, the unified department comprises over 700 dedicated associates, including lab technicians and technologists, phlebotomists, drivers, managers, clinical and research faculty, and administrative staff across Montefiore and Einstein.
Reflecting on her illustrious career, Vera expressed her pride in helping grow pathology into a world-class department, citing it as one of her most significant accomplishments.
“I loved my job,” Vera said. “I've had the privilege to lead, drive change, and enhance the lives of patients and colleagues.”
Recalling their 30-year relationship, Dr. Prystowsky lauded Vera for her dedication and contributions to the pathology business, spanning from human resources and finance to operations. “You unfailingly made yourself available to ensure both patients and staff were treated with care and fairness,” he said, in the tribute video. “You proved to be an invaluable member of the Montefiore pathology team.”
Starting over in the US
Given her family’s history, it’s no surprise that Vera describes herself as ‘tough.’
Born in Romania, Vera immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was 18 after graduating high school. Her father, Izsak, and mother, Elena Berkovits, were both holocaust survivors, whom she credits for her resilience and fortitude. When her father returned to Romania, he learned he was the only one of his 10 siblings who survived the camps.
Vera’s mother, Elena, miraculously survived internment in two concentration camps. An only child, she was 16 when she was deported to Auschwitz, in Poland, and later to Theresienstadt, a camp in the former Czechoslovakia, where she was finally liberated. Upon her release, she returned to Romania, got married, and raised Vera, her only child, until she was ready to go to college.
In New York, the family first settled in the Bronx, across the street from Bronx Community College, then moved to Elmhurst, Queens, where Vera live until she married her husband Alex, and they started their own family.
Following in her mother’s footsteps
While many Holocaust survivors rarely speak of their traumatic past, Mrs. Berkovits embraced sharing her stories. In her later years, she volunteered as a mentor at the Ferber Holocaust Center at Queensboro Community College, lecturing and educating students about the Holocaust.
Vera shared her mother’s knack for educating others. "What I absolutely loved about my job was the mentoring, coaching, and teaching," she said, noting that many staff she worked with changed careers and went on to bigger and better positions.
Her mother also played a significant role in the lives of Vera’s two sons and her two grandchildren, now 11 and 14, and talked to them about her past. “They grew up hearing her stories and fears," Vera recounted.
In fact, her mother, who passed away two years ago at 94, had written a diary detailing her life in her own words and handwriting—a cherished keepsake for her children and grandchildren, ensuring they never forget.
A passion for travel
Now, it's time to enjoy her free time, her passion for travel, and her family.
In October, Vera and her husband Alex, a semi-retired stockbroker, plan to travel to Turkey. Beyond that lies a future filled with new endeavors.
"I have an extensive list of projects I've never had time for,” Vera said. “I'm eager to visit numerous museums and spend more quality time with my grandchildren—although they're teenagers now, so it's a bit more challenging.”
After 51 years, will she pine for Montefiore? Vera said: "What I'll miss the most are the friendships and camaraderie.”
Posted on: Friday, October 20, 2023