Emergency Medicine PAs Achieve 100 Percent Philanthropic Participation

J. Stephen Bohan, MD, receives a framed letter from department PAs.

J. Stephen Bohan, MD, has always been an unwavering advocate for physician assistants (PA). A decade ago, he had the vision to create the PA program in the Emergency Department at BWH, which has helped to transform care delivery and enhance teamwork in the department.

"Over the years, he has been more than our administrator. He has been a mentor, advisor, teacher and friend," said Jessica Britnell, PA-C, in Emergency Medicine.

When Bohan announced that he would be stepping down from his role and preparing for retirement this summer, the PAs sought to find a proper way to honor their champion. They decided that theirs would be the first group to reach 100 percent participation in the BWH Hippocrates Society Committee's goal to achieve 100 percent philanthropic participation by physicians and scientists across the hospital by the end of 2014.

 "Dr. Bohan always pushes philanthropy and emphasizes the importance of giving back and supporting the hospital," Britnell said. "We thought this would be a meaningful way to honor him."

It took just five days for the 25 Emergency Medicine physician assistants (spread across BWH, BWFH and the department's Urgent Care Center in Foxborough) to achieve 100 percent participation. Ron Walls, MD, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, noted that the Hippocrates Society goal did not anticipate PA contributions, and commented, "Our PAs have always been leaders, both in the department and beyond. They are truly our partners, and this achievement is yet another reflection of their extraordinary commitment, as they stepped up and matched the faculty's achievement of 100 percent participation."

The PAs scheduled a special meeting with Bohan, where they played a video they made to express their deep affection and respect. At the conclusion of the meeting, they presented him with a framed letter about how much his leadership, friendship and support has meant to them.

"He was so touched when we told him that we had all donated to the fund in his honor," Britnell said. "It was the best way we could thank our boss and give back to BWH in the process."

The letter concluded with these words:

Many of us began our careers under your tutelage. Many of us feel we owe our careers to you, and that you helped shepherd us down roads we may not have had the courage to travel without your guidance. We all feel that your stewardship of the Physician Assistant program has led to a practice environment that is stimulating and rewarding; one in which we are able to provide the best possible care to our patients, who as you are quick to remind us, are the reason we all do what we do.