What special care is all about: David McSergi works as hospital liaison

by Sarah Barr

Staff Writer

Courtesy Photos

David McSergi is a human conduit. If the Rocky Hill resident went back in time, he would be a telephone switchboard operator plugging in lines to connect people, or a courier hand-delivering important messages, or perhaps even a newsboy shouting, “extra, extra!”

In today’s fast-paced, high-tech world, he’s an old-fashioned relationship liaison – a people person.

As the provider relationship liaison at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, it’s been his job for the past two years to make sure people, organizations and communities know about the wide range of services that HFSC provides and the experts who supply them.

Family always comes first for Rocky Hill resident David McSergi, seen here with his daughter Lotus, wife Kelly and son Enso.

Not only does he enjoy connecting practitioners and patients, but he also sees a lot of progress aligning his Rocky Hill friends and neighbors with his colleagues and collaborators in the Hardware City.

“It’s personal connections making a positive impact,” McSergi said.

He is originally from Long Island, N.Y., earning a communications degree from Marymount Manhattan College and a master’s degree in communication and leadership from Washburn University.

He worked in health care in Florida and then wanted to pursue health care at a major university.

“I was lucky to have Yale call. I left sunny Florida, believe it or not,” he said.

That’s when he realized a lot of people from Rocky Hill were traveling to receive services in the Elm City.

He and his wife Kelly, who still works at Yale, then moved to town during COVID – of all times to make such a change. They chose this town for what they called its excellent school system. The couple has two children, son Enso, 6 and daughter Lotus, 4.

McSergi then looked to make another change to do more community health and collaboration. Call it synergy or call it alignment. HFSC called.

“This hospital, since I’ve been here, has tried to be more local in our events and what we offer,” McSergi said of its wide range of services, which are “listed from A to Z” from autism to wound care.

“I use my position here at the hospital to benefit my town, where there are services, but could be more.”

Working the room and making connections is how McSergi lives his professional life.

You will see McSergi at places like the Rocky Hill Library, schools, senior centers, anywhere where the quality of life is important.

“There’s no one way to reach different audiences,” he said.

“I try to go to departments of health, talk with community influencers like PTAs, superintendents, the mayor’s office. These places have ways of communicating with people and embrace public health. It’s satisfying to see so many people respond to the message.”

Even if they don’t remember his name, people around town will know him for his children, his job and his events. But sharing information isn’t the only way McSergi connects with people. He volunteers – a lot.

“I’m really involved with the Wethersfield Dad’s Club. A lot of Rocky Hill dads are members. That’s where a lot of my free time goes,” he said.

That organization has performed clean-ups at Mickey’s Place, redone boardwalks, decorates Main Street and gets involved in parades.

One can always count on the Hospital for special care and David McSergi to provide information at public events.

“It’s more of a network for dads who share child care advice, fathering tips, networking and navigating having kids.”

More volunteer opportunities are arising. His son is now in Boy Scouts. As his children participate more in sports, there’s the Skyhawks Sports Academy as well as the town’s Park and Recreation Department.

As for what’s next, professionally, outreach always continues. As he says, there’s always something new. Personally, he’d like to do more.

“I’d be involved with the parks department, make sure people have the green space and leisure activities to enjoy living here [in Rocky Hill]. I want to make sure summer camps are still great – fresh pickle ball courts …” he goes on and on.

For more information on the Hospital for Special Care go to hfsc.org.