Faculty and Alumna Supports Hospital Staff As They Cope with Coronavirus Patients

Dr. Patricia Tordik displays the different face masks she helps distribute to doctors and nurses at University Hospital.

After a day at work in RSDM’s emergency dental clinic, faculty member Dr. Patricia Tordik has another job. She volunteers at University Hospital in the “PPE canteen,’’ helping doctors and nurses find the right personal protective equipment .

Tordik stepped up as soon as she heard the call for volunteers at the hospital, which, like others in New Jersey, has been overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. “I said, I’ll go wherever you need my services,” says Dr. Tordik, who is also an RSDM alumna (Class of 1990).

Dr. Tordik does weekly six-hour stints distributing the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), along with referrals for testing to ensure the gear fits correctly. “It’s a lot of prep work. There are all different types of masks, and sometimes people come and they don’t know which one they need. We also help the hospital keep track of inventory,’’ says Dr. Tordik, a professor in RSDM’s Department of Endodontics.

Despite the nationwide shortage of PPE, staff at University Hospital have just enough, she says. “It’s nice to see that the hospital is taking good care of them.’’

For Tordik, an important part of the job is boosting staff morale. “When they come down from the ICU, I’ll ask them how’s it going and the answer is always the same. ‘I’m exhausted. There are so many patients. I’m tired,’’’ Dr. Tordik recounts. “I try and chat with them to say thank you, and keep up the good work, and we’re all very appreciative of what you’re doing. Every little bit helps. Sometimes they just want people to ask how they’re doing.’’

Although many healthcare workers nationwide have become infected with COVID-19, Dr.Tordik seems unconcerned about any risks she might face. “I guess I have a different mindset. I don’t really consider that I’m putting myself at risk. It’s something I’ve always done. I’ve been a healthcare provider for 30 years and take all recommended precautions,’’ she reflects.

She attributes her attitude, in part, to years spent in the military, serving as a dentist in the Navy and supporting the Marines for more than two decades. “In the service, you’re always just part of a team and everybody has an individual job but the strength is in the team. And I have that same approach in life,’’ she says.

Dr. Tordik feels the same sense of duty when it comes to treating emergency patients at RSDM during the pandemic. “A dentist is important during times of tension or conflict. The problems we treat can become exacerbated when people get stressed. Some patients are suffering from pain and infection. Some play essential roles in their workplace and need treatment so they can get back to work. Others just need to be reassured that they are going to be OK.”