Today we’d like to introduce you to Laudy Burgos.

Hi Laudy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a young Latina born and raised in Harlem, NY I had big dreams but did not have the access that many people had to educational programs. In high school I was discouraged from applying to NYU, but I still applied and was accepted. I am a first generation Latina and the first to graduate college and grad school in my family. From a young age I had the calling to become a social worker. As a Brown woman my family and I had faced obstacles in navigating the healthcare and educational systems and I wanted to help others have access to the services they needed. I had also become aware of all the racial and economic inequities and wanted to advocate to change all these disparities that were keeping people of color from progressing in life.

Once in college, I became keenly aware that I had not had the privileges that many of my peers had grown up with. The biggest challenge for me was not seeing people who looked like me. It was extremely intimidating being the only brown girl in almost every class. I was fortunate to have a wonderful mentor who supported and encouraged me. Within a year, I was flourishing and was slowly healing through my own resilience. I was feeling brave enough to be successful.

Graduating with a BSW from NYU is to date one of the best moments of my life. While I yearned to continue on to obtain my MSW, I began worrying about how to pay for it. Once again, my mentor encouraged me to apply to the MSW program, reminding me that all challenges are opportunities for growth.

After graduate school I began working at Mount SInai Hospital as a social worker in Pediatrics working with children with asthma and other pulmonary diseases. In 2004 I began working as a social worker in OB/GYN. Several years ago I was promoted to manager and in 2022 to Associate Director. I have become an expert in perinatal mood disorders and I am presently on the board of Postpartum Support International and NY State Perinatal Association.

I have also worked in the child welfare sector per diem, and I also do immigration reports. I have also had the privilege of teaching and advising students at NYU, Columbia University, and Fordham University.

However, the two things I am most proud of in my social work career are my role as a mentor and my work in anti-racism and inclusion. In the summer of 2019, I assumed leadership of the Northeast Regional Alliance (NERA) Behavioral Health Undergraduate Social Work Fellowship at my institution. This is a pipeline program that targets disadvantaged college juniors majoring in social work or psychology to impact awareness and preparation for competitive application to graduate school programs in social work. Many of the students are people of color like me, who overcame obstacles and made it to college. Many of them benefit from learning professional and social work skills that will take them to the next level in their professional careers.

In the Summer of 2020 in response to the George Floyd murder, my colleague and I created safe virtual spaces for staff to express their rage, fear, outrage, and the need to dismantle racism within the institution. This led to us partnering with the Social Work Department leadership to create the Social Work Anti-Racism & Inclusion Initiative. We have created a reading club, a social justice workgroup, and several affinity groups.

Being a Latina means having to work extra hard to prove your worth but my passion has seen me through many obstacles.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Struggles include being judged by the way I look and my skin color. It took me a long time to get promoted at work and when I did there were some that did not celebrate me. As you move up you lose parts of your identity which can be very painful.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As an Associate Director at Mount Sinai Hospital in the Department of Social Work Services I supervise the OB/GYN and NICU social workers; lead the Social Work Ani-Racism Initiative, and manage the Northeast Regional Alliance (NERA) Behavioral Health-Social Work program. I have over 26 years of experience in the area of perinatal mood disorders; and family and children’s services.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As a young girl I enjoyed reading Nancy Drew mysteries and watching sitcoms. I was curious, happy, and ambitious. I also enjoyed taking a part in Latino traditions and visiting Costa Rica.