Characters of the Village

Tracy Feiertag

By Brian and Joy Pape

Tracy Feiertag is the Vice President of Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital, responsible for the day-to-day operation of the hospital. We received permission to provide copies of Village View to all the hospital’s waiting rooms and emergency department. We asked Feiertag to share more of her connection with the West Village.

Tell us about your work with Northwell.
I was part of the team that opened the Northwell facility in Greenwich Village in 2013. I left at some point to do other work within Northwell, but returned in 2023. I absolutely love this neighborhood and the people that live and visit this area. I work very closely with many community organizations in an effort to understand the healthcare needs here. I have made significant efforts in meeting those needs and working with my colleagues throughout Northwell to ensure that the right services are provided.

I interact with the community a tremendous amount in the course of my day, and this is one element of my role that I really enjoy. I have been working in healthcare administration for over 30 years. I have worked for Northwell since 2011 and I believe it is definitely the best system in the New York metro area. In addition to Northwell being a top-quality healthcare provider, the organization also cares an incredible amount about its employees. We focus a lot on employee wellness and ensuring a great experience for our team members. I particularly focus on creating an environment where our team members feel a sense of belonging. I think it is really important to feel safe and comfortable in the place you work every day.

Where do you live?
I was born in Rockland County and grew up there. After undergrad, I moved to Westchester, and now I live in Putnam County. However, I spend a lot of my time in Manhattan and feel an extremely strong connection with the Greenwich Village/Chelsea community.

How did you get into healthcare?
My mother was a nurse and my father studied biology and nutrition. They both eventually went into finance where they built a successful tax and financial planning practice. They told me to pursue a career where I would love the work. I chose healthcare, studying psychology in undergrad and I spent ten years working in a psychiatric hospital. During this time, I started paying attention to the work that the operational leaders were doing and found that I had a real passion for administration as opposed to a clinical path. I pursued a doctorate in healthcare administration, running the operations including surgery, emergency medicine, business development and strategy. In my current role, I focus a lot on strategy, community outreach, marketing, finance/philanthropy, and supporting my senior leadership team.

What was the pandemic like for you?
At the beginning I was scared. At the start of COVID, I became a chief operating officer of the hospital I was serving. But as healthcare workers, we step up. We did whatever was needed in order to care for those with COVID and to keep everyone else safe. There was so much unknown at the time and we were extremely flexible as more information came to us. I was proud of the care our team provided. I think we were heroes then, and I think we are still heroes.

What is your favorite thing about work?
I love the people I work with – they are warm and caring, and want to always provide the best care possible. I love rounding with employees to see what I can do to help make their jobs easier.

I LOVE public transportation. I use the subway every day! I think it is such an easy and cost-effective way to get around the city.

What is your least favorite thing about work?
It is difficult to see our patients struggling and going through difficult times. Very often, people are scared and feel uninformed about what is happening with their illness or their care. It is hard to see people hurting, but that is why I view this job as a privilege. The fact that they come to us for help, and we have the ability to provide that.

Tell us about your passion.
In addition to my work, there are also things outside of work that I am passionate about. One of those things is playing darts on a professional level. I am currently the highest ranked American female in the World Darts Federation, which is the international sanctioning organization for darts. I am playing in the WDF World Cup this month, which is held in Seoul, South Korea. I am also trying to qualify for the WDF World Championship, which will be held in England in November. Right now I am ranked #6 in the world for women. I have been playing darts for over 25 years and it has shaped much of my life outside of work.

What is your best memory?
My mother passed away in 2017 from a pulmonary embolism. We had an extremely close relationship. My best memories are all with her. I think about her every day and always keep those memories close to my heart.

Your favorite places in the Village?
This is a tough one, because there are so many great places! The food is amazing; the people are unique and wonderful and there is always something happening. I really enjoy an environment that is non-stop!

I will give one special shout out to Flannery’s Pub, which is a dart bar on 14th Street at 7th Avenue where I have been playing darts for 25 years.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be part of this community. I believe that the Village is the best place to be and having the opportunity to serve here is even better!