Neighbor to Neighbor: From uncertainty to opportunity

Neighbor to Neighbor is a series highlighting how Main Line Health stepped up to ensure uninterrupted care for the Delaware County community in the wake of the Crozer Health closure while also welcoming many displaced Crozer employees as they continue their careers in healthcare.

When Crozer Health closed its doors, many longtime healthcare professionals were left wondering what would come next. Some, however, were fortunate enough to see that uncertainty quickly turn into an exciting new beginning at Main Line Health.

Dawn Lombardo was among them. After 27 years with Crozer, including more than 20 in outpatient care at Taylor Hospital and four in home care, Dawn found herself navigating the same uncertainty and loss that so many of her peers were experiencing.

“Our outpatient facility closed in 2021 without warning, and more departments just kept closing,” Dawn said. “There was no loyalty, no help trying to relocate employees. It made everything feel uncertain.”

She accepted a position as a physical therapist at Main Line Health HomeCare & Hospice in April, shortly before Crozer’s closure was formally announced.

“I made the decision with a lot of tears. But when the closure became official, I felt so fortunate to already have a job at Main Line Health,” she added.

Today, she’s part of a supportive team once again and said the onboarding process at Main Line Health was “structured, efficient and incredibly welcoming.” Though she still thinks about the colleagues she left behind, Dawn has paid it forward by reaching out to others to share job opportunities and offer support during their own transitions.

“I’m thankful to Main Line Health for giving me the opportunity to continue doing the job I love and for giving my family stability,” Dawn said.

Lauren Haeberlen, BSN, RN, another longtime Crozer nurse, began her career with them in 2001. After starting on the oncology floor at Delaware County Memorial Hospital, she moved into hospice care and eventually became manager of the inpatient and community hospice programs. In recent years, as Crozer Health changed, she took on more responsibilities, at one point serving as the sole hospice liaison for multiple hospitals.

Crozer’s hospice program closed, and Lauren’s last day was April 28. Just weeks later, she was fortunate enough to join Main Line Health Hospice as a field nurse.

“I’m happy to be working in the field I love,” Lauren said. “Everyone here has been incredibly welcoming and supportive. I’m looking forward to continuing my career with Main Line Health.”

For both Lauren and Dawn, the transition from Crozer to Main Line Health marks more than a job change. It’s a chance to keep doing the work they love in a welcoming place that values them.