Mahler, Bohan Honored at Thomson Award Ceremony
From left, Carrie Braverman, Miriam Mahler, Yvonne Michaud, Charlene Palmer and J. Stephen Bohan were honored at the Thomson Compassionate Care Celebration.
BWH recognized and honored Miriam Mahler, CNM, MPH, director of Midwifery, and J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MSc, vice chair of Emergency Medicine, in June for their compassionate leadership and care during the tenth annual Dennis Thomson Leadership Award and Compassionate Care Scholar Ceremony.
Since joining the BWH Emergency Department in 1993, Bohan, MD, MSc, has served as a trusted mentor invested in developing the talent of new physicians and physician assistants, an exemplary leader guiding the department through change, a compassionate care provider and, above all, someone who will listen.
"Steve has an amazing capacity for people, for really listening to their problems and helping them," said Ron Walls, MD, chair of Emergency Medicine. "It doesn't matter the slightest bit whether these people are patients, colleagues, staff, residents or chance encounters. He has this inexhaustible energy for giving that is at once moving and inspiring."
Prior to joining BWH, Bohan honed his leadership skills as executive officer of the Naval Hospital in Newport. During his 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy, he was honored with two National Defense Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals and the Distinguished Service Medal.
In his 16 years at BWH, Bohan has helped launch the ED Observation Unit, redesign the layout of the ED and roll out the Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant program. Despite the department's hectic pace, Bohan consistently extends a helping hand or kind smile to everyone who walks through its doors.
"When patients walk through the door, they are here because they need our help," Bohan said. "Regardless of how they got here or what they are here for, we should offer our hand to try to help."
Like Bohan, Mahler is a strong patient advocate. Since joining BWH as a staff midwife in 1989, she has become a powerful advocate and care giver for underserved patients at 10 community health centers and a dedicated leader and colleague for the hospital's 20 nurse midwives.
Robert Barbieri, MD, chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, introduced Mahler, CNM, MPH, as the recipient of the Thomson Leadership Award, emphasizing her "courage of the heart" in describing the way Mahler perseveres in challenging situations combined with love for her patients.
"For each woman Miriam cares for, the care begins and ends with a hug," Barbieri said. "In between those book ends is high quality, evidence-based care."
Mahler recently took on an initiative to translate patient consent forms into Vietnamese, Haitian Creole and other languages reflective of the patients at the health centers. The diversity of her patients enthralls Mahler, who loves learning about the different cultures and personal stories that shape each of her patient's lives.
Patrick Egan, medical director of Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, said that the number of patients at the health center who select BWH for their prenatal care has more than doubled since Mahler began working there three years ago.
"I think this is a reflection of both the excellent care she provides and the lovely way she interacts with her patients," Egan said. "She is warm and supportive of young women nervous in their first pregnancy, as well as women who have a wide variety of questions and concerns that arise despite their previous experiences."
J. Stephen Bohan