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In This Issue:
Half a Century of Service to BWH
When Norma Appleyard arrived at work 50 years ago, BWH, Boston and the world was a much different place. The rock and roll movement was just getting started and in fact, BWH itself didn’t even exist.
Appleyard’s years of service tell many stories – such as the transformation of BWH’s predecessor institutions and their growth into what has become today one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. She has witnessed the advancement of medical research and a revolution in patient care from the first successful organ transplant to the first quadruple organ transplant. Appleyard has committed a half-century of service to a single institution – focusing her energies and commitment to support the hospital’s medical staff and not only making BWH, but witnessing it become, what it is today.
“Norma has achieved legendary status with her 50 years of service, and having worked for many of our institution's directors, her knowledge regarding the inner workings of an evolving hospital is unparalleled,” said Andy Whittemore, MD, chief medical officer, who first met her when he was a surgical resident. “While some of us have been encouraging her to write a book about the BWH, others are afraid she just might!,” he added. “We are all deeply appreciative of Norma’s devotion to the medical staff, and we wish her the very best during her next fifty years.”