Doctor James A. Mahoney had dedicated his life to helping some of New York’s most vulnerable communities. Thanks to his remarkable career, many are following in his footsteps.

In 1982, James Mahoney began studying to become a doctor at University Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. By the time of his graduation in 1986, he knew that he wanted to remain in that hospital for as long as he could.

He would hold a position in University Hospital and the neighboring Kings County Hospital Center for the next three decades.

He soon stood out to the patients and the medical workers for his incredibly friendly demeanor.

Over the years, Doctor Mahoney became more and more accomplished at treating patients. He would eventually become a pulmonary and critical care physician. He also became a college professor at University Hospital.

Many of the medical students that he taught looked up to Mahoney as a hero. The students aspired to be just like him. They saw how hard-working, compassionate and considerate he was.

The people that worked with Doctor Mahoney have countless stories of how he looked out for everyone.

In fact, every Christmas, he would use his own income to give his staff members bonuses. Clearly, he was not in medicine for the money but to make the world a better place.

And every time New York City faced a crisis, Doctor Mahoney rose to the challenge.

First, he graduated during the height of the AIDS crisis. Then he treated a surge of drug addiction in the city. On 9/11, he was in the hospital treating the injured. When Hurricane Sandy hit the city, he didn’t flee. Instead, he stayed in the hospital, determined to help anyone who was injured.

In 2020, Doctor Mahoney was planning to retire, when once more, New York City plunged into crisis.

Mahoney, now 62 years old, saw the strain that coronavirus was putting on the hospitals and the people he loved so much. He decided to hold off retirement and fight the disease.

By late March, Doctor Mahoney was barely sleeping. In the days, he was in the ICU in University Hospital, tending to the most critical patients. At nights, he was helping in Kings County Hospital.

And even when he was not officially working, he would conduct telemedicine sessions with patients.

Doctor Mahoney’s friends and family urged him to retire, for his health. But Mahoney refused. He just could not step aside and let others die.

Then, in the second week of April, Doctor Mahoney got a fever. At first, Doctor Mahoney fought off the disease. He self-isolated and continued to consult patients over the phone. After Easter, his condition deteriorated.

On April 20, he struggled in to University Hospital’s emergency room.

Over the coming days, a few of his colleagues were able to visit him in the COVID ward. Whenever they spoke to Mahoney, they were amazed to see that he was still positive. To calm their nerves, he reassured them that he was starting to feel better.

Sadly, on April 27, Doctor Mahoney succumbed to coronavirus. Five of his colleagues were with him as he died. He left behind two brothers, two sisters and three children.

Coronavirus has been devastating. People like Doctor Mahoney have made the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to ensure that others could live. He is nothing short of a hero.

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Source: People, The New York Times