Outreach to Polish Community in the NY-NJ Metropolitan Area. World Trade Center Health Program

Many had worked long and exhaustive hours cutting down metal beams, operating massive excavators and cranes, and removing asbestos and other hazardous materials such as pulverized concrete, lead and debris. While the full scope of 9/11 health-related problems is still an increasing number of studies suggests that many workers and volunteers who were actively engaged in those activities have been exposed to substances and psychological stressors that put them at risk for certain conditions.

The World Trade Center  Health Program, established under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, provides free medical and mental health monitoring and treatment, as well as benefits counseling services, to all eligible 9/11 workers and volunteers. Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health at Mount Sinai is one of the six centers offering these services in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area.

Here at Mt.Sinai, our excellent and well-trained staff stands hand-in-hand with all Polish responders, as we dedicate ourselves to providing our 9/11 heroes with the best care possible. Currently, we have 10 Polish speaking employees, including doctors, social workers and administrative support staff, who are here to optimize and streamline the delivery of medical care in our program. To date, Mount Sinai has helped close to 1,000 Polish responders and will continue to do so with our expert staff members. We are ready to serve our Polish 9/11 heroes by providing expert monitoring and treatment services from physicians and staff familiar with the issues responders face on a daily basis.

Given the diversity of groups involved in the rescue, recovery and clean-up efforts, it remains quite possible that many individuals still are unaware of the program’s existence or their eligibility to obtain clinical care through the program. It continues to be crucial in encouraging 9/11 Polish workers and volunteers to keep track of their health over time and receive the necessary medical and mental health treatment.  Therefore, I would like to meet with you to see if we can coordinate our efforts to better spread the message about our WTC services among our Polish community.

If you have any questions, please feel free:

Patrycja Graczyk

Outreach & Education Program Coordinator
Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health
WTC Health Program - Clinical Center of Excellence

Tel: 212-241-1364Tel: 212-241-1364