Oct 12, 2020
This week, U.S. Army veteran and original FourBlock alumnus Andy Roberts reflects on his recent experience in the healthcare industry transitioning from his role in human resources, mergers and acquisitions to working on the ground and rapidly standing up testing sites in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Andy joins FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams to discuss his role in the healthcare space, share advice for how to successfully merge organizational cultures, and recount how his experience in the Army has informed his work in the civilian world.
Andy Roberts is currently a Senior Advisor in HR Emergency Management for Northwell Health in Lake Success, NY. At the time of this recording, Andy was serving as the Director of Human Resources, Mergers & Acquisitions for Northwell Health, the largest provider of healthcare in New York and one of the largest in the United States. In this role, Andy is responsible for leading the post-deal integration of hospitals and large practices that join Northwell, which includes the alignment of culture, processes, structure, policy and technology.
During the pandemic outbreak of 2020, he was tasked with standing up COVID-19 testing sites for Northwell Health and helped manage the rollout of antibody testing, which enabled 45,000 team members to be tested in about two weeks’ time. He is now standing up a new department at Northwell dedicated to emergency management within human resources operations.
Andy previously served as the Director of the Office of Military and Veteran Services for Northwell Health, during which time he oversaw a variety of programs that cared for military veterans and their families. Prior to working for Northwell, he served as the Deputy Director of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs and as the Membership Associate for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
Andy is a graduate of West Point and former Army Officer who deployed to Iraq from 2003-2004. In Iraq, he served with the 4th Infantry Division as a battery commander of about 90 soldiers. He is the recipient of numerous military awards, including the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge.
ABOUT US
Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.
General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.
But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.
FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.
Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, FourBlock founder, director of the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration, and author of two military transition books. He’ll be representing the military transition perspective.
Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey will be representing the civilian perspective of this issue.
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