Issue link: https://trevordayschool.uberflip.com/i/915972
Lizzy Strauss Schubert, LCSW '01 Licensed Clinical Social Worker How did you become interested in social work? My mother is a social worker and although she stopped working in this role when we were young, I grew up hearing her stories about being a youth worker at a community center in Brooklyn. I realized over time that being a social worker could mean many different things—from working with social policies, to directing service at an agency or school, to being a therapist in private practice. As a social worker, could you describe a typical day? Social workers do many different things. I work as a medical social worker at Mount Sinai Hospital, where I am a program coordinator within the organ transplant institute. I supervise other transplant social workers and do policy and program development. I am lucky to do this and to keep a small clinical caseload of individuals who require intestine transplant and/or surgical rehabilitation for intestinal failure. I love how varied my days are. A typical day includes some combination of working with patients in our outpatient office, rounding with the multidisciplinary medical team on the unit, trouble- shooting difficult issues with colleagues, and meeting one-on-one with social workers to provide clinical supervision. I have been doing transplant social work for almost seven years and can say with confidence that I have never had a boring day at work. While many of the same issues come up over and over again, every day brings new challenges. What leads you to your focus on liver transplant social work? I worked as a liver transplant social worker for many years and now continue to work in the field in a more administrative role. I came to medical social work intending to work in oncology or in a critical care setting (an ICU). However, I had the opportunity to join a seasoned group of transplant social workers early in my time at Mount Sinai and have never looked back. e world of organ transplant is fascinating—it involves both rich clinical practice as well as macro medical ethics work. Social workers have an integral role in transplant, as a psychosocial evaluation is required for anyone who needs an organ, an incredibly scarce resource. I've been lucky to work within the transplant team on the development and implementation of cutting-edge protocols for the care of patients with alcoholic liver disease. What were your pursuits, prior to becoming interested in social work? I did not decide to enter the field until my mid-twenties, when I realized that I wanted a change. Prior to going back to graduate school, I worked in investor relations at a startup hedge fund and as a residential real estate agent. I value this prior work experience before coming to social work because on my most difficult days, I am still confident that this is what I want to do. Do you keep in touch with any Trevor alumni or teachers? Yes! My best friends are Trevor alums— Cate Bell, Laura Rosenshine, and Liz Walsh. I'm in touch with Dan Feigin '84 and his wife, Stephanie, who I am now lucky to call friends (and the best cheerleaders through life's ups and downs). My supervisor and social work mentor is a Trevor parent: Felice Zilberfein, PhD, and proud mom to Ellana B. '19. And, by total coincidence, my baby was delivered by Trevor parent Dr. Isabel Blumberg, mom to Luke B. '24! How do you think your experience at Trevor has impacted who you are today? I know that my experience at Trevor shaped who I am in many ways. In particular, Trevor's focus on community has stayed with me. Since graduating, I've always sought learning and working in environments that value a strong community. Are there any interests or skills that you developed at Trevor that you still use? is also goes back to community for me. Specifically, the way in which e Center taught us to find solutions within our available resources. I learned how to engage needed members of the community, from administrators, to teachers, to older and younger classmates. I continue to use that skill every day. Outside of work, what are your passions or hobbies? I love spending time with my friends, family, and my dog, Doodles. What is your fondest Trevor memory? Being a member of the women's varsity softball and basketball teams—despite my limited athletic skills—made some of the best memories. It was through participation in these teams that I learned so many valuable lessons. We had the best times on softball pre- season trips to Florida with Ms. Gleason. Do you have any advice for Trevor students or alumni who may be considering a career in social work? Or any general advice for Trevor students? My advice is to follow what you are interested in and also to keep an open mind to what you may not even know exists! By doing that, I have landed in a job that does not even feel like work! n