In honor of National Social Work Month, the Queensboro Council for Social Welfare has honored Flushing Hospital’s very own, Suzanne Kim-Kang, LCSW. On March 19, at the 19th Annual Reception Honoring Queens Social Workers, she was presented with a Certificate in Recognition of Excellence Service.
“I was quite surprised and honored by the recognition,” stated Suzanne. “I thought I was just doing my job. As social workers, we don’t usually get much acknowledgment but we make life long changes in the lives of the people who come to us for help.”
Suzanne has worked in the field for ten years, eight of which has been spent at Flushing Hospital. In that time, she has worked with substance abuse patients, children, seniors and individuals with developmental disabilities. She has also assisted those in need of immigrant services.
She is dedicated to her work, especially educating young women in the Korean community about domestic violence, making presentations to medical residents about child abuse and domestic violence, and working as a designated social worker for child abuse reporting for the Department of Health.
Suzanne was nominated by Denise James, Director of Case Management and Social Work at Flushing Hospital, for her desire to work together with others to make the facility a better place to work and a better place for patients to receive the medical care they need.
“To say that Suzanne exceeds the expectations of most employees would be an understatement,” said Denise. “Her service to patients and their families has far surpassed the requirements of the job. She has truly proven to be exceptional in what she does and always has the patient’s best interest at heart.”
Suzanne’s passion for social work began early in her life. Her family migrated to the United States in the 1970s. Many Korean husbands in her Sunnyside neighborhood were drinking and abusing their wives and children at the time, and her mother opened up their home to anyone who was in need of emotional support. Her mother’s compassion and willingness to listen has been a catalyst for her own love and commitment to the social work field.
