Gita Lisker has been one of SAR High School’s most enthusiastic volunteers. It’s no surprise that when the pandemic struck, she was one of the first to reach out in support.

Gita is Medical Director of the Respiratory Care Unit of Long Island Jewish Medical Center, part of Northwell Health. At the height of the crisis, Gita founded CROWN (Coronavirus Related Outpatient Work Navigators), a home-care based ambulatory protocol for moderate to high risk COVID-19 patients and continues to serve as the Director of this program..

Since March, Gita has been co-chair of SAR’s Medical Advisory Team and counsel to administrators, nurses, and the Board of Trustees. Gita proposed a partnership between SAR and Northwell Laboratories for on-site testing, facilitating discussions with Northwell to enable this relationship. She is responsible for implementing the inclusion of a Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP) as part of our testing protocol, allowing us to identify other standard viruses when negative Covid results are confirmed. She has been a great relief to many.

Gita has been a source of expertise for our school nurses; hosted and participated in SAR Town Halls; was a member of SAR’s Coronavirus Hotline Team; and contributed to the Academy and High School’s Fall 2020 Reopening Guide.

Gita enjoys sharing her passion for SAR as a High School Parent Ambassador, and along with her husband Jay, has hosted Prospective Parent Parlor Meetings. She served on the High School Parent Liaison Committee for three years, and attended Machon Siach’s spring convening for the last two years.

She and Jay live in Jamaica Estates and are parents to Micki (Grade 5, Har Torah), Talya (HS '18), and Bailey (HS '22). Gita is forever indebted to her family, whose love and support allows her to contribute the time she does to so many in need. Being “Mommy” is her number one hobby!


FOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE HONOREE

Q. What is the one insight you have gained from this year that you would like to share?

A. I’ve always been proud to be an SAR family, but being part of the school’s response to the crisis, and having a front row seat to how it has cared for the community, is remarkable.

Q. What is one favorite or positive SAR-related memory from these past months?

A. Walking into my home after another incredibly long and stressful day, one hour before Pesach began, to find that my daughters had completely prepared for us to have a beautiful, rich, meaningful seder.

Q. SAR’s theme of the year is ‘achrayut.’ In your opinion, what is our responsibility to one another during complicated times?

A. We have a shared responsibility to keep everyone safe, and that means we need to be diligent in all the different areas in our lives to keep our students, our families, our schools, and our communities safe.

Q. What is/who are your heroes? Who do you look up to and why?

A. My husband, and my girls. Jay is a cardiologist who was pulled into caring for covid patients. My girls made Pesach, Talia and Bailey helped care for MickI, the youngest, over these months, and MickI who is only in fifth grade has been an exceptional student, working responsibly and independently.