22 Oct Jaimee O’Connnor, MD: A 2025 Unsung Hero

Since joining the Emergency Department at Staten Island University Hospital in 2004, Dr. O’Connor has played an instrumental role in shaping our department into the highly functioning, academically driven team it is today. As one of the first EM-residency–trained physicians hired at SIUH, she helped usher in a new era of evidence-based emergency care. Over more than two decades, she has shown excellence in her clinical practice, professionalism, and compassion. Her commitment to quality care and leadership has made her a cornerstone of the department’s culture and a role model for generations of physicians, residents, and physician assistants who have followed.

Dr. O’Connor’s impact is defined not only by her longevity but by her unwavering dedication to the most challenging shifts—nights and high-volume swing shifts—where her calm expertise and compassionate approach have guided countless patients and colleagues. For more than 12 years as a nocturnist, she carried the department through the quiet but difficult hours when support is sparse, and decisions are complex. Her ability to thrive under those circumstances, while maintaining human warmth, is rare. As the department has grown exponentially—with new trainees, programs, and demands—Dr. O’Connor has adapted seamlessly, continuing to teach, mentor, and model excellence while providing leadership in the most demanding clinical environments.

Recipient Bio:
Dr. O’Connor joined the Emergency Department at Staten Island University Hospital in 2004, immediately after completing her Emergency Medicine residency at Downstate/Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. At that time, the department was small and still developing its modern identity. As one of the first EM-residency–trained physicians to join SIUH, Dr. O’Connor helped establish a foundation for the hospital’s future in emergency care.
Her strong clinical acumen, procedural skills, and approachable demeanor made her a fast favorite among staff and patients. For more than 12 years, as a nocturnist—an exceptionally demanding role that requires resilience, adaptability, and exceptional judgment, ability to provide high-quality care in the face of logistical and clinical challenges has long earned her the respect of her peers.
As the department has grown to include dozens of attending physicians, an EM residency, a PA fellowship, and a thriving academic mission, Dr. O’Connor has remained a model of stability, compassion, and excellence. Now working swing shifts—among the busiest in the hospital—she continues to manage complex cases with efficiency and empathy, while teaching and supporting trainees at all levels.
Dr. O’Connor represents the very best of emergency medicine: a clinician who combines skill, humility, and dedication to service. Her legacy at SIUH is one of quiet leadership, mentorship, and enduring commitment to patients and colleagues alike.

– Joshua Greenstein, MD