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In This Issue:
Scholarship recipients Annie Geoghegan, LICSW, Britt Medoff, RN, Mary Baracewicz, RN, Laura Lubetsky, LICSW, Holly Hughes, BSN, RN, Sandra Harmon, MSN, RN, and Eileen Molina , MS, RN
When the Thomson Compassionate Leadership and Scholarship Awards ceremony came to an end, Robert Julien approached this year’s leadership award recipient Louise Ivers, MD, MPH, to show his appreciation for her work and commitment to the people of Haiti.
“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done for my people in Haiti,” Julien, a pharmacy technologist, told Ivers.
Ivers was honored with this year’s Thomson Compassionate Leadership Award for her work in Haiti with Partners In Health for more than seven years and her compassionate care to hundreds of patients in the aftermath of January’s earthquake.
“I’m humbled by your choice to give me this award, and I’m proud to carry the name and legacy of Dennis Thomson, a man who I never met in person but whose reputation continues long beyond his time,” Ivers told those gathered in the Bornstein Amphitheater, including Thomson’s widow, Betsy Broadman, and son Jeff Thomson.
During her remarks, Ivers held back tears as she thanked her colleagues, friends and BWH for the support. She also expressed hope that this award will not bring her personal visibility, but rather highlight the work that many people do in countries like Haiti and the need to continue to support it.
“We try to bring health to the destitute poor, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with the forgotten; we practice pragmatic solidarity in the darkness, and our efforts are meant to be an antidote to despair,” said Ivers.
Howard Hiatt, MD, associate chief and co-founder of the Division of Global Health Equity, introduced Ivers and spoke on behalf of Paul Farmer, MD, PhD, chief of the BWH Division of Global Health Equity and co-founder of Partners In Health, who was unable to attend the ceremony.
Louise Ivers speaks with Robert Julien after the ceremony.
Hiatt described Ivers’ seven years in Haiti, where she has helped establish an HIV/AIDS clinic. He praised her heroic leadership in the aftermath of the country’s recent earthquake, when she escaped a crumbled building and immediatly began caring for injured survivors with any resources she could find, creating splints out of license plates when she could.
BWH President Betsy Nabel, MD, spoke about Ivers’ passion to help others. “In Dr. Ivers, we know that the country of Haiti has a fierce advocate for the sick and injured, a selfless and devoted leader and a true friend to all in need,” said Nabel.
The event opened with remarks from Christian Arbelaez, MD, MPH, a physician in BWH Emergency Medicine and a prior Thomson Leadership Award recipient, who acknowledged the two Compassionate Care Scholarship Award recipients. “The work of our Thomson scholars this coming year will help expand compassionate care in two areas with vulnerable patients,” Arbelaez said.
Sandy Harmon, MSN, RN, and her team will use their scholarship to conduct patient/family focus groups in the Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery. Eileen Molina, MS, RN, will conduct a project called project “Guided Imagery” to explore the effects of visual artwork and music on reducing patients’ stress and pain on 5A and 5B Oncology and Pain/Palliative Care.
Betsy Nabel and Christian Arbelaez greet Betsy Broadman.
Photo Gallery online at: www.bwhpikenotes.org