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In This Issue:
The 2006 Thomson Leadership and Compassionate Care Scholarship award recipients.
WH staff, family and friends gathered last week for the seventh annual Dennis Thomson Compassionate Care Lecture and Award Presentation in celebration of the late Dennis Thomson. A former vice president of Public Affairs, Thomson dedicated his time to ensuring everyone at BWH felt connected to the hospital’s central mission of providing compassionate care.
"Dennis was an optimist and warm colleague who was deeply committed to caring for the Brigham family,” said Robert Goldszer, MD, MBA, associate chief medical officer and director of Primary Care. "He really helped to get BWH on the map of national prominence in the realm of superior patient care, teaching and innovation."
BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA, presented the Dennis Thomson Leadership Award to Janet Razulis, administrative director of Women’s Health and Specialty Services. "Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do as one of our leading voices," Gottlieb said to Razulis. "You are a deserving recipient of the Dennis Thomson Leadership Award."
Razulis said, "I'm doubly honored to receive this award having known Dennis." She believes delivering compassionate care is a team effort, and she hopes to ensure all BWH managers communicate daily to employees its core leadership values – character, composure, commitment, courage, competency and care for others. "Leadership for me is getting from point A to point B in a purposeful way," Razulis said. "The journey is as meaningful and value-laden as the end point."
Keynote speaker Hilarie Cranmer, MD, MPH, of Emergency Medicine’s Division of International Health and Humanitarian Programs, spoke of bringing BWH’s brand of compassionate care to displaced populations both nationally and globally in the U.S. Gulf Coast and to Indonesia, the Congo and Sri Lanka. The biggest problem in these regions is the lack of resources to maintain the sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and vaccination standards of a healthy community, she said.
Cranmer emphasized the need to deliver compassionate care with dignity. "We must understand that displaced victims are in a very fragile situation," she said. "Our care must not only improve victims' health and future, but it must do so in a dignified, compassionate manner."
Betsy Broadman and Jeff Thomson, wife and son of Dennis Thomson, joined BWH leadership in presenting the Compassionate Care Scholarships to BWHers for projects that will advance compassion among colleagues. Through the stipend provided, scholarship recipients will implement their proposed projects and further the compassionate treatment of patients.
Jeff Thomson offered a heart-felt thank you to BWH for carrying on his father’s legacy. “I’m sure my dad would really appreciate these awards,” he said. “I know my mom and I certainly feel honored on his behalf.”
Janet Razulis and Hilarie Cranmer.