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Since 2000, the Thomson Leadership Award has recognized seven BWHers who exemplify leadership as defined by the late Dennis Thomson, vice president of Public Affairs from 1991 to 1998. The qualities embodied by Thomson and Thomson Leadership Award recipients include character, composure, commitment, courage, coaching, competency and care for people. BWH Bulletin catches up with past recipients to find out how these qualities define a leader. This week, Maria Damiano, who received the first annual Thomson Leadership Award, discusses the importance of competency.
Even 25 years ago as a radiologic technologist in Cardiovascular Radiology, Maria Damiano was a competent leader. When the cost of cine film—used for displaying images of coronary angiograms—doubled, Damiano had an idea of how to compensate for the increase.
Confident in her knowledge, she approached the medical director of the Angiography section in Radiology and suggested that acquiring images at 30 frames per second instead of the standard 60 frames would offset the doubled cost of production. The decrease in exposed film also minimized patients’ exposure to radiation, as well as potential exposure to staff. Damiano’s suggestion was tested and implemented at BWH, and today it is standard international practice. Her perspective has been included in several publications, including the “Handbook of Interventional Radiologic Procedures.”
“If people look to you because of the example you set, it is important to raise the bar and demonstrate competency and the importance of excellence,” said Damiano, who is now corporate manager of Information Systems and director of administration for Medical Imaging IT. “As a leader, the most important thing is to believe in what you do and make sure others are confident in their own abilities.”
Damiano has proven a competent leader in every job she has held since joining the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in 1978. “My approach to work has always been about technology, processes and people,” she said.