Moses, one of the preeminent leaders in Jewish history, can serve as a model for facilitative leadership, according to Dr. Amy Kressel, the Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Stewardship at Eskenazi Health.

When Moses was bombarded with questions from the Israelites in Sinai, his father-in-law Jethro advised him not to try to solve everything on his own, Dr. Kressel said. Moses was encouraged to listen to experts and elders in the community. 

“That’s what happened with this pandemic response,” Dr. Kressel said. 

Dr. Kressel’s own successful facilitative leadership is part of why she is being recognized as a Jewish Community Hero. Her leadership of the COVID-19 taskforce at Eskenazi Health has been exemplary, according to her coworker, Inpatient Pharmacy Manager Andrew Fritschle.

A Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Kressel serves on several committees and is an appointed member of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America/Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Outbreak Response Training Program Advisory Panel.

In late January, Dr. Kressel began initiating conversations about COVID-19’s potential spread. While it was her job to forecast the spread of the disease, she knew she needed diverse voices and expertise to help determine how to respond. She designated leaders from key departments across the hospital to form a rapid response team. From the start of the spread, COVID-19 posed a unique set of challenges to hospital systems and their infectious disease doctors, Fritschle said.

Very little research was available on COVID-19 when it first made its way to Indiana. This was difficult for healthcare workers who practice evidence-based medicine. New data about treatment was released daily, and at some points even hourly during the spring. Fritschle said Dr. Kressel’s flexibility and dexterity proved to be crucial during such a chaotic period in healthcare and in the world at large.

“Assembling a team of hospital leaders, Dr. Kressel immediately assisted the organization with development of infection prevention and control strategies for both inpatient and outpatient care settings, aided in allocation and supply management for limited personal protective equipment – ensuring limited product was best utilized to keep both our patients and healthcare workers safe, and developed (and revised) clinical treatment algorithms as new data emerged in the treatment of the novel coronavirus,” Fritschle said. 

The novel coronavirus left healthcare workers scrambling with questions. What should they wear: do they need N95 respirator masks or surgical masks? Do they need gowns? What cleaning procedures should be in place? Is hydroxychloroquine helpful in treating the virus? If so, what dosage do they prescribe and to whom?

The answers to these questions had a critical impact on the Eskenazi health system, especially when their number of ICU-level beds tripled and the number of mechanically-vented patients grew to five times the average. Eskenazi Health saw as many COVID-19 patients as any other hospital in the city, according to Fritschle. They were hit hard, especially because they are known to treat all patients regardless of ability to pay. Those most vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19, including African American communities and low-income communities, look to Eskenazi Health for treatment. 

Even when the number of COVID-19 patients skyrocketed, Dr. Kressel never ceased to persevere. This commitment to patientcare makes Dr. Kressel a hero, Fritschle said.

According to Dr. Kressel, it is not enough to simply lead in a modern world, and particularly in modern healthcare. One has to communicate, to advocate for others and to build people up, Dr. Kressel said. Having vision does not mean carrying it out alone. Jethro’s advice is a perfect example of this. Moses could not have done his job without the wisdom of his peers and elders. 

Even now that the number of new COVID-19 patients in Indiana has decreased, Dr. Kressel is preparing for a second wave and assessing testing-strategies. Her rapid response team still meets weekly to discuss the pandemic and to adjust the treatment algorithm. 

“Dr. Amy Kressel is beyond deserving of the honor of Community Hero by the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis,” Fritschle said. “Her leadership, clinical expertise, resilience, and service to the Indianapolis community shined bright during the darkest moments of this pandemic.”