'A Brooklyn Hospital Mourns the Doctor Who Was ‘Our Jay-Z’' diff viewer (0/1)

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A Brooklyn Hospital Mourns the Doctor Who Was ‘Our Jay-Z’	A Brooklyn Hospital Mourns the Doctor Who Was ‘Our Jay-Z’
2020-05-18 16:42:19 UTC	2020-06-01 22:12:30 UTC (14 days later)
In the first weeks after the coronavirus pandemic hit New York, Dr. James A. Mahoney barely slept.	In the first weeks after the coronavirus pandemic hit New York, Dr. James A. Mahoney barely slept.
When he was not working his day shifts at an intensive care unit at University Hospital of Brooklyn, he was working nights across the street at Kings County Hospital Center. When he was not at a hospital, he was conducting telemedicine sessions with his regular patients from home, making sure they were wearing masks and washing their hands.	When he was not working his day shifts at an intensive care unit at University Hospital of Brooklyn, he was working nights across the street at Kings County Hospital Center. When he was not at a hospital, he was conducting telemedicine sessions with his regular patients from home, making sure they were wearing masks and washing their hands.
He would run from crashing patient to crashing patient, always at the bedside where it was most dangerous. He rushed in to help when his boss, Dr. Robert F. Foronjy, was struggling with a patient sick with the virus, doing chest compressions and switching out a blocked endotracheal tube. Then he was off again.	He would run from crashing patient to crashing patient, always at the bedside where it was most dangerous. He rushed in to help when his boss, Dr. Robert F. Foronjy, was struggling with a patient sick with the virus, doing chest compressions and switching out a blocked endotracheal tube. Then he was off again.
“There were people who were really reluctant to go into the rooms, and you could understand why,” Dr. Foronjy said. “He saw another human being in need, and he didn’t hesitate to help.”	“There were people who were really reluctant to go into the rooms, and you could understand why,” Dr. Foronjy said. “He saw another human being in need, and he didn’t hesitate to help.”
After nearly 40 years as a physician, Dr. Mahoney, 62, could have retired. Others his age, including his older brother, also a doctor, stopped seeing hospital patients as the pandemic loomed, worried that age or health issues put them in greater danger than younger colleagues.	After nearly 40 years as a physician, Dr. Mahoney, 62, could have retired. Others his age, including his older brother, also a doctor, stopped seeing hospital patients as the pandemic loomed, worried that age or health issues put them in greater danger than younger colleagues.
Friends, family and fellow physicians begged Dr. Mahoney to do the same. He had been on the front lines for AIDS, the crack epidemic, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Hurricane Sandy. Why not skip this one, they asked. Take a break, save yourself.	Friends, family and fellow physicians begged Dr. Mahoney to do the same. He had been on the front lines for AIDS, the crack epidemic, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Hurricane Sandy. Why not skip this one, they asked. Take a break, save yourself.
He would not do it. Dr. Mahoney belonged on the floor, and that is where he would stay, until the end. On April 27, he succumbed to the virus he had fought so vigorously.	He would not do it. Dr. Mahoney belonged on the floor, and that is where he would stay, until the end. On April 27, he succumbed to the virus he had fought so vigorously.
The pandemic has devastated the ranks of New York’s health care workers. While the city has not released comprehensive data on infection and mortality rates among hospital staffers, doctors and nurses have said there were times during the surge last month when hundreds were out sick. The head nurse at Kings County Hospital’s emergency room, Maria Guia Cabillon, died just a day before Dr. Mahoney.	The pandemic has devastated the ranks of New York’s health care workers. While the city has not released comprehensive data on infection and mortality rates among hospital staffers, doctors and nurses have said there were times during the surge last month when hundreds were out sick. The head nurse at Kings County Hospital’s emergency room, Maria Guia Cabillon, died just a day before Dr. Mahoney.
Numbers alone cannot convey the full extent of the loss when doctors, nurses and paramedics die from Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.	Numbers alone cannot convey the full extent of the loss when doctors, nurses and paramedics die from Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
“One of the sad stories of this pandemic is that we’re losing people that we couldn’t afford to lose,” Dr. Foronjy said.	“One of the sad stories of this pandemic is that we’re losing people that we couldn’t afford to lose,” Dr. Foronjy said.
For a place like University Hospital, a chronically underfunded state-run institution that serves a mostly poor, black Brooklyn community, the loss of Dr. Mahoney was shattering. He started as a student at the hospital’s teaching college in 1982 and never left. He rose to become a pulmonary and critical care physician and a professor at the same college, which is part of the State University of New York system.	For a place like University Hospital, a chronically underfunded state-run institution that serves a mostly poor, black Brooklyn community, the loss of Dr. Mahoney was shattering. He started as a student at the hospital’s teaching college in 1982 and never left. He rose to become a pulmonary and critical care physician and a professor at the same college, which is part of the State University of New York system.
For students, particularly black ones, he was a legend.	For students, particularly black ones, he was a legend.
“As a young black man, I looked at this guy and said to myself, ‘Twenty years from now I want to be like him,’” said Latif A. Salam, who is now a doctor who works in internal medicine at University Hospital. “When a black medical student, a black resident sees him, he sees a hero. Someone that you can be one day. He’s our Jay-Z.”	“As a young black man, I looked at this guy and said to myself, ‘Twenty years from now I want to be like him,’” said Latif A. Salam, who is now a doctor who works in internal medicine at University Hospital. “When a black medical student, a black resident sees him, he sees a hero. Someone that you can be one day. He’s our Jay-Z.”
Though he was raised by a military father and spent his childhood on Air Force bases, Dr. Mahoney had no patience for the strict hierarchy of the hospital. He preferred eating lunch with his nurses or assistants, and once chided his sister for reserving all the best tables at one of his birthday parties for physicians. Each year, he used his own money for Christmas bonuses he gave to all of his staff.	Though he was raised by a military father and spent his childhood on Air Force bases, Dr. Mahoney had no patience for the strict hierarchy of the hospital. He preferred eating lunch with his nurses or assistants, and once chided his sister for reserving all the best tables at one of his birthday parties for physicians. Each year, he used his own money for Christmas bonuses he gave to all of his staff.
To his friends, he was known as Charlie, a nickname one of his father’s buddies gave him as a child. He was a large, intimidating man to look at, but would always crack a joke to put people at ease. Residents, typically fearful of approaching senior physicians with rookie questions, had no problems coming to Dr. Mahoney.	To his friends, he was known as Charlie, a nickname one of his father’s buddies gave him as a child. He was a large, intimidating man to look at, but would always crack a joke to put people at ease. Residents, typically fearful of approaching senior physicians with rookie questions, had no problems coming to Dr. Mahoney.
Dr. Julien J. Cavanagh said on one of his first nights as a resident, he was anxious about summoning Dr. Mahoney at 3 a.m. for help with a young stroke victim. Most senior physicians would have dismissed their subordinates and finished the procedure themselves, he said.	Dr. Julien J. Cavanagh said on one of his first nights as a resident, he was anxious about summoning Dr. Mahoney at 3 a.m. for help with a young stroke victim. Most senior physicians would have dismissed their subordinates and finished the procedure themselves, he said.
“He never gave up on us,” Dr. Cavanagh said. “He kept telling us what to do. Teaching us a few tricks with the ultrasound. He stayed there telling us what to do until we got it done. I thought this was remarkable.”	“He never gave up on us,” Dr. Cavanagh said. “He kept telling us what to do. Teaching us a few tricks with the ultrasound. He stayed there telling us what to do until we got it done. I thought this was remarkable.”
Black doctors are still uncommon enough that Dr. Mahoney would sometimes be mistaken for someone else. Even when he was a senior physician, residents would sometimes contradict him, a huge breach of protocol. Once, another doctor, mistaking him for a local resident in Brooklyn, admonished him for parking in the physicians’ lot. Such slights rankled him, friends and colleagues said.	Black doctors are still uncommon enough that Dr. Mahoney would sometimes be mistaken for someone else. Even when he was a senior physician, residents would sometimes contradict him, a huge breach of protocol. Once, another doctor, mistaking him for a local resident in Brooklyn, admonished him for parking in the physicians’ lot. Such slights rankled him, friends and colleagues said.
His patients, though, adored him, colleagues said. He gave them his pager number and his cellphone number. If patients were too sick or too busy to come to the hospital for routine checkups, he would make house calls. Even after he got sick, he would call longtime patients to monitor them, said Michelle King, who was his officer manager for two decades.	His patients, though, adored him, colleagues said. He gave them his pager number and his cellphone number. If patients were too sick or too busy to come to the hospital for routine checkups, he would make house calls. Even after he got sick, he would call longtime patients to monitor them, said Michelle King, who was his officer manager for two decades.
“Not only did he heal people’s bodies,” Ms. King said, “he healed their minds and their souls.”	“Not only did he heal people’s bodies,” Ms. King said, “he healed their minds and their souls.”
On the rare occasions that he took time off, he and his three children would often join his two brothers and two sisters on cruises in the tropics. He and his wife divorced about a decade ago.	On the rare occasions that he took time off, he and his three children would often join his two brothers and two sisters on cruises in the tropics. He and his wife divorced about a decade ago.
His brother, Dr. Melvin Mahoney, was five years older but said he looked up to his younger sibling. “Any problems I had with my patients I’d bring to him,” he said. “He’s very patient, in contrast with me. I will bend over backwards for the patients, but he had another gear.”	His brother, Dr. Melvin Mahoney, was five years older but said he looked up to his younger sibling. “Any problems I had with my patients I’d bring to him,” he said. “He’s very patient, in contrast with me. I will bend over backwards for the patients, but he had another gear.”
When reports about the new coronavirus began to circulate among doctors, everyone knew it would be bad. Dr. Melvin Mahoney, who had retired in 2014 but was still seeing patients, decided it was time to leave.	When reports about the new coronavirus began to circulate among doctors, everyone knew it would be bad. Dr. Melvin Mahoney, who had retired in 2014 but was still seeing patients, decided it was time to leave.
	Updated June 1, 2020
	Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
	States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
	Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
	Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
	If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
	More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said.
	Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.
	Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
	The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
	If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
	If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
	Charity Navigator, which evaluates charities using a numbers-based system, has a running list of nonprofits working in communities affected by the outbreak. You can give blood through the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen has stepped in to distribute meals in major cities.
His brother, he said, refused: “He worked on the front lines to the end.”	His brother, he said, refused: “He worked on the front lines to the end.”
It was the second week of April, the height of the surge in New York City, when Dr. Mahoney sent a text to his boss with the news that he had a fever.	It was the second week of April, the height of the surge in New York City, when Dr. Mahoney sent a text to his boss with the news that he had a fever.