Abdolazim Rashidi is being recognized for being a central figure in the development and success of the Rehabilitation Engineering Lab for over 15 years
Every year, a member of our staff is recognized for their unwavering support and commitment to the success of our institute.
This year was no exception.
In fact, the challenges presented by the pandemic emphasized the importance of consistency amidst a storm of uncertainty.
This year’s unsung hero, Abdolazim Rashidi, has been a central figure in the development and success of the Rehabilitation Engineering Lab (REL) at Lyndhurst for over 15 years. Last year, he was instrumental in the uninterrupted functioning of the lab despite renovations at the hospital and COVID shutdowns.
We had a short Q&A with Abdolazim and here’s what he had to say about the entire experience:
Q: How does it feel to be the winner of the Kite 2020 unsung hero award?
A: It’s a good feeling and a surprise. It seems like our NET Team members secretly nominated me. It gives me a sense of belonging and attachment to my colleagues.
Q: What's the most rewarding part of your job?
A: Learning and solving problems by working with talented researchers and staff.
Q: What were some of the challenges you faced this past year and how did you overcome them?
A: I believe whoever said that life is easy was lying. Does life mean anything other than challenges? I doubt it. I can’t name anything in particular other than the pandemic.
Q: Moving forward, what's your goal for 2021? Is there anything you will be doing differently, at work or beyond?
A: I will review delays in the lab work that have resulted because of the pandemic, and organize to catch up. In my personal life, I will read more, watch more, and meet more people to compensate for time lost during this pandemic.
Q: You've been a central figure in the success of the REL for over 15 years. What's next for the lab?
A: REL will have more research trainees in the coming years. We need to be prepared in terms of equipment and space. I will try to do my part in that expansion.
We also caught up with 2019 Kite unsung hero, Darek Wojtowicz, and here’s what he had to say:
Pictured in December 2019, Darek Wojtowicz and Kite Directorate
Q: Working in IT, 2020 must have been very challenging as almost everyone at Kite shifted to working from home. How did you handle it all?
A: From a technical perspective, iDAPT Helpdesk already had the infrastructure in place to facilitate remote access and support, which allowed us to rapidly change our process and help users as they transitioned to working from home.
Q: What do you love most about your job and what are you looking forward to this year?
A: One of the best parts of my job is having the opportunity to tackle new technologies and solve problems, I look forward to continuing to do this in the coming year.
Q: As someone who carried an entire IT department in 2019, what piece of advice do you have for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed during these unprecedented times?
A: My advice for managing stress during this time is to be patient, take breaks, and remember that your IT department is always here to help!
These unsung heroes give us lots of hope for the year ahead. Congratulations, Abdolazim, on your new win and thank you for all that you do.