Friday, June 30, 2017 – Words can’t express our profound shock and sadness at today’s shooting at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, where 350 CIR members work.  Many of our members would have been at the hospital this afternoon, along with other physicians, nurses, orderlies, and other staff, as well as hundreds of patients.  

Current reports are that several people were shot, and at least one has died.  Our thoughts are with everyone at the hospital and within the surrounding community this evening.

Our hospitals are places of healing. Our patients come to us with hope and trust, look to us and to our colleagues to heal them and give them guidance.  The idea of someone using a hospital as a setting to commit this level of violence is horrifying and deeply disturbing, and stands in opposition to everything that we strive for as physicians.

We know this event will be traumatic for many, including those who work at Bronx-Lebanon and those at other hospitals.  Members of the CIR Executive Committee will be at Bronx-Lebanon over the weekend to speak and lend support to fellow members, and we’ve reached out to all of the residents and fellows at the hospital with specific resources that they can access. If there are other ways that we can support each other as a union or issues we need to raise collectively, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your CIR Delegates or Contract Organizer, or email info@cirseiu.org.