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In This Issue:
In the Emergency Department, physician assistant Tara Itrich, PA-C, makes patients feel comfortable in a hectic environment with her easy bedside manner. Colleagues—everyone from physicians to nurses to other PAs on her team—say that they, too, are fortunate to cross paths with Itrich during their work day.
“She is skilled at quickly assessing patients and providing exceptional patient care,” said Kelli O’Laughlin, MD, MPH, of Emergency Medicine. “She does this in an efficient, professional and warm manner. Members of her team are always pleased to work with her, and her patients are always understanding of their plan of care and appreciative of the care she provided.”
On Oct. 6, Physician Assistant Services at BWH, Faulkner Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute honored the more than 200 PAs throughout the distributed campus with a recognition dinner, where PAs gathered with their supervising physicians, colleagues, friends and guests. During the event, Itrich and Joy Brettler, PA-C, Lisa Doverspike, PA-C, and Susan Buchanan, PA-C, were honored with 2011 PA Recognition Awards for their dedication and commitment to advancing the physician assistant practice.
“Susan goes above and beyond for her patients, her supervising MD, and the entire multi-disciplinary team,” said Deborah Yolin, PA-C, MS, of Buchanan. “She helped put together a phenomenal student rotation program at Dana-Farber that is now thriving, which is an example of her dedication and willingness to go above and beyond whatever she takes on.”
As the first PA hired in General Surgery in 2000 in response to resident work hour changes, Brettler took on an undefined position and over time created a General Surgery PA team that is essential to patient care, nursing staff, attending and residents. “A talented teacher and dependable colleague, Joy is incredibly valued by the residents,” said Daman Bedi, MD, in Brettler’s nomination materials. “Not only does she do her job well, but she teaches so many others how to do their jobs well, too.”
Doverspike, chief PA of the newly formed Women’s Cancer Program Inpatient PA Service, has handled the challenge of starting an entirely new service with grace and efficiency, wrote Colleen Thornton, PA-C, in a nomination letter. “Lisa has served as an educator, mentor and colleague. She keeps a level head on busy, acute days, and takes time to check in on us. She is always thinking of what she can do to help us do our work well,” Thornton said.
During the dinner, Stan Ashley, MD, chief medical officer, expressed his gratitude for the work of all physician assistants.
“I only wish we could give all the PAs an award,” Ashley said. “They are critical to our care model and are truly valued members of our team.”