Leah Croll, MD

"In order to find the strength, agility, and courage to step up to this pandemic, we really do need to make sure that we are recognizing and validating all the challenges and psychological burdens that the pandemic is serving us.”

Throughout the pandemic there has been an increasing number of studies that have examined the effects of COVID-19, its pathology, and how it may impact measures ranging from neurological state to comorbidities. Mixed in the shuffle has been information on how the pandemic has taken a toll on faculty who have spent a majority of their time dedicated to working on the frontlines since its early stages.

Leah Croll, MD, and other members of the NYU Langone Health Department compiled a survey for all neurology faculty and house staff to better understand the psychosocial impact the pandemic has had on categories such as fear, depression, and anxiety. They found that nearly half of the faculty and more than half of the house staff reported increases in all 3 categories. On the other hand, a large majority also felt as though the services provided from the hospital were sufficient and helped with their emotions.

, Croll details why the mental health of clinicians is so important during the pandemic, as well as how her experience as a resident was altered during that time.

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The neurology resident at NYU Langone shared her thoughts on the need for publication of clinician-based data and why maintaining a high level of mental health remains a top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Leah Croll, MD: Importance of Mental Health of Clinicians During COVID-19 Pandemic

This combination of having this big unknown disease process and being out of my comfort zone as a neurologist was so anxiety-provoking.

Members of the NYU Langone Health Department, including Leah Croll, MD, put together an anonymous electronic survey to all neurology faculty and house staff to assess the potential psychosocial impacts of COVID-19. The report outlined the psychosocial concerns of the faculty as well as the multifaceted support services that the department and institution were offering in response.

Results showed that 48% of faculty and 60% of house staff self-reported having increased fear, anxiety, and depression during the pandemic. Additionally, most respondents reported that the institution had provided adequate counseling and support services and that the department had rendered adequate emotional support.

Croll, a neurology resident at NYU Langone and leading author of the study, noted that she was proud to share her results with 

. In this interview, she detailed the findings of that survey, as well as her personal experience and takeaways from her time during the pandemic.

Croll, L, Kurzweil A. Hasanaj L, Serrano L, Balcer LJ, Galetta SL. The psychosocial implications of COVID-19 for a neurology program in a pandemic epicenter. 

. published July 14, 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2020.117034.

The neurology resident at NYU Langone described psychosocial implications that physicians faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the toll it takes on them. 

Leah Croll, MD

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Leah Croll, MD: Importance of Mental Health of Clinicians During COVID-19 Pandemic

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