Formanek Receives Bizzarri-Schmid Compassionate Care Award

Wilfred Schmid, left, joined Vlad Formanek, Marge Pothier, Charles Vacanti and members of the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine for the presentation of the Marina Bizzarri-Schmid Compassionate Care Award to Formanek.

When anesthesiologist Vlad Formanek, MD, was diagnosed with brain cancer following a seizure in December 2008, he thought of his late colleague, Marina Bizzarri-Schmid, MD, who had passed away in 2007.

“I thought of her so many times when I got sick,” said Formanek.

Now there’s another link between the two as Formanek in December received the first-ever Bizzarri-Schmid Compassionate Care Award established to honor a member of the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine who demonstrates the attention to detail, the warmth and the love shown both to patients and colleagues as Bizzarri-Schmid did throughout her career.

“We are blessed to draw the most talented and smartest candidates to train and practice here, so much so that we’re in a position where we only bring in the nicest and most compassionate people,” said Anesthesiology Chairman Charles Vacanti. “Marina represents that ideal.”

Her colleagues, including Formanek, remember her compassion for patients.

“She was a visionary. Today we talk so much about patient safety, but that was always utmost in Marina’s care of patients. She always had the patient at the center of her care,” Formanek said, adding how surprised he was to receive the award on Dec. 9.

Wilfred Schmid was on hand for the award ceremony and shared memories about Marina with his late wife’s colleagues. “I know how highly regarded she was here, that was always clear,” he said.

Bizzarri-Schmid thought highly of Formanek, as well. “Marina always asked, ‘Why can’t more people be like Vlad?’” recalled Marge Pothier, a certified nurse anesthetist and close friend of Bizzarri-Schmid.

Bizzarri-Schmid and Formanek shared compassion for patients and both are “universally loved by everyone in our department,” Pothier said.

In December 2008, Formanek suffered a seizure in the OR just as he was ready to begin a case. Most of the tumor was resected, and through intense physical therapy, he has progressed from a wheelchair to a cane to completing a five-mile Jimmy Fund Walk in September. Thirteen cycles of chemotherapy were to end in January.

He plans to join Team Neuro in another walk this year. “I’ll walk and raise funds in honor and memory of Marina,” he said.