Nurses, doctors and other essential workers gathered at St. Barnabas Hospital Monday to reflect and remember the start of the global pandemic two years ago. 

A ceremony was held, and the group held a moment of silence for beloved family members, friends and New Yorkers who lost their lives to COVID-19. 

Like many of his fellow front-line workers, Dr. Ernest Patti says one of the hardest parts during the height of the pandemic was having to witness patients dying alone without their loved ones by their side.

“That was probably one of the hardest things for us - not having people around those folks who were dying. We had to be the surrogates. It took its toll on all of us emotionally,” said Patti.