On the verge of The Floating Hospital’s 160th anniversary, external and internal changes that have occurred this year have been as reinvigorating as they have been challenging.

The year’s end marks a milestone for The Floating Hospital, with the retirement of Vice President of Communications and Marketing Barbara LaPlaca.

The time for giving | Coats, toys and pjs, oh my! | On an international stage | In the long run

Welcome back to Leadlines, a collection of recent articles highlighting topics that are relevant to The Floating Hospital’s mission. We hope it will provide a fuller understanding of the issues that drive our work each day.

What started with a vision of The Floating Hospital waiting room filled with patients reading books has turned into a reading program that travels from the main clinic to our other sites at family shelters in the Bronx and Brooklyn.

When our new clinic opened in 2021, it took center stage in our model of patient care. Our bright and cheerful waiting areas and exam rooms along with a teaching kitchen and classroom for kids and adults have reassured and even delighted patients, many of whom are experiencing the most difficult challenges of their lives.

In many young adult lives, opening a checking account (or savings, if you’re lucky) is a rite of passage. But paying taxes, stretching a paycheck to cover monthly expenses, finding, building and managing credit or applying for loans or mortgages, are not innate skills.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month | Candy Cane dreams | A day for women’s wellness | Loukoumi Make a Difference Foundation | Website redesign: A new look

Andre. She is chief medical officer and executive vice president of clinical administration for The Floating Hospital. He is the head of marketing, North America for Biocon Biologics. Between them, they have received numerous awards and distinctions for their work and they are both fierce advocates for health equity.

For one week in August, a group of 101 teens, ages 12 to 15, living in temporary housing had the time of their lives as they learned important lessons about themselves and their developing bodies and minds.

The “Giving Gals” of Montrose, Pennsylvania have been sewing dresses and quilts for our young patients for many years. This month, they had a moment in the spotlight. Monica Morales, an Emmy award-winning investigative reporter for PIX11 News, is the host of Monica Makes It Happen, which highlights social issues such as food insecurity and human trafficking.

This month’s selection is reflective of health policy on a federal level and the challenges our patients face locally regarding health, food insecurity, and other socio-economic issues.

Measles | Covid 19 and other vaccines | Cancer rates increasing in young adults | Food insecurity

In a scene familiar from numerous historical works of fiction, a once healthy girl or woman takes to bed, clammy from fever and frail from a racking cough. She rarely survives the next chapter.

Kevin Douglas, our new director of philanthropy, will lead a team that will “continue to tell our story with clarity and heart—so every donor understands the real human impact of their support. This isn’t just about dollars raised; it’s about deepening trust and building a sustainable movement of care,” he said.

The Floating Hospital interns | HRSA Improving Access to Care badge | Marathon: A race for health and hope | Women’s Wellness Days | Summertime is Story Time | Loukomi’s ‘Career Day’ | Staff step challenge

For the first time this year, The Floating Hospital asked its staff to come up with a t-shirt design for the annual summer picnic and Employee Appreciation Day.

Anxiety, hypervigilence, sleep disturbances, depression or difficulty engaging in life—these are several of the manifestations of trauma brought on by gun violence, and reported by our behavioral health team in the communities that we serve.

It's always stunning how quickly we move from the height of summer to the rush of “back-to-school” season — that cusp between summer fun and business as usual. But is this a “business-as-usual” year?

The Floating Hospital’s summer camp season is off to an exceptional start, with a successful inaugural run of Journey, our new day camp for 10-11 year olds, and the second season of SOAR, our day camp for Spanish speakers, happening this week.

Lower prices to save lives | Stories of Hope | Summer Staff Appreciation Day Picnic