Celebrating a Powerful LegacyBWH Nurse - For and about the Nursing Staff of Brigham and Women's HospitalCelebrating a Powerful LegacyBWH Nurse - For and about the Nursing Staff of Brigham and Women's Hospital

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Celebrating a Powerful Legacy

Thomson Awards

2005 Compassionate Care Scholars and Projects
Offering Compassion to the Full Family

The legacy of the late Dennis Thomson, former vice president of Public Affairs, was celebrated in true BWH fashion last month. BWH staff and former colleagues, friends and family of Thomson gathered in the Bornstein Amphitheater on March 31 for the Annual Thomson Lecture and Award Presentation.

Those in attendance were treated to the presentation of the Compassionate Care Scholarship Awards and the Thomson Leadership Award, as well as a moving keynote address from Rev. Gloria White Hammond, MD, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Boston, a pediatrician at the South End of Community Health Center and a missionary in Sudan.

“Carrying on the compassionate spirit of Dennis Thomson, BWH strives to provide, promote and reward compassionate care even in the most sensitive of circumstances,” said BWH President Gary Gottlieb.

“Compassionate care was important to Dennis Thomson and is carried out everyday by many dedicated individuals at BWH,” added Dr. Robert Goldszer, chair of the nominating and planning committee for this year's Thomson Lecture and Award Presentation, who introduced Chief Nursing Officer Nancy Kruger, DNSc, RN and Chief Medical Officer Anthony Whittemore, MD to distribute the Compassionate Care Scholarships.

The all-nurse 2005 Dennis Thomson Compassionate Care Scholarship roster includes Cynthia LeMay, RN, BS; Sandra Harmon, RN, BSN; Caryn Douma, RN, BSN; Marie Beaulieu, RN, BSN; Kristen Taylor, RN; and Kelli Smith, RN. Each received a stipend to carry out her proposed project in their respective discipline to help instill compassion among colleagues.

The scholarships were presented following the presentation of the 2005 Dennis Thomson Leadership Award to Nawal Nour, MD, MPH, the founder and director of BWH's African Women's Health Practice, and a powerful lecture from White Hammond.

This year's event was another special opportunity for those who knew Thomson to recognize and reward key individuals at BWH to help carry on his legacy.