Hempstead, NY – Micaela Gallagher has been working in a hospital in Suffolk County that, like many hospitals across Long Island and in New York, has seen very high numbers of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. With how many Long Islanders have already contracted the disease, and given how contagious COVID-19 is, Gallagher's hospital isn't taking any chances when it comes to its medical staff.
"We've had to open up other units to handle the number of patients, and we have patients in almost every unit that are diagnosed with COVID-19," Gallagher said. "But as far as equipment and supplies, we're doing okay. I've followed the news and heard from friends about how it is in the city, so I'm fortunate that our hospital is well stocked on supplies."
Gallagher is incredibly grateful for the warm reception she and her fellow physicians have received from the community. From people sending her home-made masks to kind words of thanks and encouragement, the outpouring of love and appreciation has been very uplifting for her in this time of extraordinary crisis.
A midfielder/forward for the Hofstra field hockey team from 2009-12, Gallagher believes her time as a student-athlete has helped her remain calm in high-pressure situations such as treating COVID-19 patients for 12 hours a day, and has given her a very strong, resilient mentality.
"Being a student-athlete is tough, especially at the Division I level, and balancing the demands of playing college athletics with school takes a lot of mental toughness," Gallagher says. "I used to think the toughest thing I'd ever have to do was play Division I sports and balance that with an incredibly competitive nursing program, but that's definitely changed. Being able to take on the challenges at work, both now and before COVID-19, I feel that I can handle it because of the mental toughness I developed from being a student-athlete at Hofstra."
Those wishing to support our student-athletes during this time can do so by visiting our Student-Athlete Emergency Fund. This fund was created to assist our student-athletes who have been financially impacted by this massive public health crisis and is designed to assist with travel, moving costs, housing, and other essential support. Thank you for your continued support of Hofstra Athletics and our terrific student-athletes. #HofstraStrong
