Celebrating Mentorship

MDs Honor RNs at 4th Annual Medical Housestaff Awards

Together with their colleagues in the Department of Nursing, members of the Department of Medicine celebrated the 4th Annual Medical Housestaff Awards on Friday, May 24. The Anesthesia Conference Room could barely contain the large crowd that gathered to honor those nurses, who not only provide great patient care, but also take the newest members of the hospital’s medical staff under their wings during the residents’ first days and months at BWH.

“In the spirit of celebration, we thank you for an amazing three years of residency,” said Emma Morton-Eggleston, MD, MPH, medical resident and chair of this year’s event. “You are our teachers, providing a sense of stability throughout this roller coaster ride we are on together.”

“This is one of the most fitting tributes we can pay to acknowledge the outstanding contribution that nurses make in the lives of their physician colleagues,” added George Ruiz, MD, chief medical resident.

Of the 30 nurses nominated, Katie Murphy, Xiao Chen, Luis Da Silva, David Fitzgerald, Kathy Cazeault, Lisa Preston, Nancy Murphy and Maureen Debler were selected by a committee of medical residents to receive 2004 Medical Housestaff Awards. Offering anecdotes about their experiences, the medical residents personally presented each award to the nurses they nominated.

While each nurse was recognized for his or her unique contribution to mentoring and patient care, the common characteristics among all nominees and winners were clinical skill, teamwork and a positive attitude that has helped to guide these medical residents through their first days and months as doctors.