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BWHers from across the hospital came together last week at an inspiring service to honor survivors of domestic violence and to speak out against it.
“Domestic violence flourishes in shame and silence,” said Chief Operating Officer Kate Walsh during the ceremony in Bornstein Amphitheater Oct. 29. “Reaching out and speaking out is the way to break the cycle of domestic violence that affects all of us.”
The annual ceremony is coordinated by Passageway, the BWH intervention program that offers assistance to employees and patients experiencing domestic violence. Each year, the hospital’s Domestic Violence Steering Committee also plays an instrumental role in organizing this event. Those who attended the service received a rose to place in a vase at the front of the room in honor of a survivor or caregiver. The melodies of Voices Rising, a women’s chorus, echoed throughout Bornstein as they sang, “No More Silence” and “Warrior.”
Idalia Carrasco, Passageway advocate at Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, and Lucila Leone, Passageway advocate, read in both English and Spanish the poem of a woman who attended Passageway’s therapeutic writing group and found it immensely helpful.
Asaf Bitton, MD, of BIMA, reflected on the impact of domestic violence on his patients. “I unfortunately found domestic violence to be tragically common among patients in my practice,” he said. “But we can act on it. Just by asking, you can help navigate patients and co-workers toward the wonderful resources that Passageway offers. And remember to keep asking and keep your door open because you never know when someone will be finally ready to talk about it.”
The call to reach out to victims of domestic violence resounded throughout the service.
“The notion of ‘no more silence’ is so critical,” said BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA. “Each one of us has a friend, colleague or relative whose life is destroyed by domestic violence. We must de-stigmatize domestic violence and enable survival and prevention.”
During the ceremony, a moment of silence was observed in honor of Sharon Glassman, a BWH employee in the Division of Trauma and Burns who died last month. The Division of Trauma and Burns arranged for each attendee to receive a flower bulb as a symbol of hope and remembrance, an annual tradition at the service.
“We hope this service is a renewal,” said Jackie Savage Borne, Passageway advocate. “By coming together, we build a community that fosters dignity and does not tolerate violence and abuse.”
Employees and patients are welcome to attend Passageway’s workshop “Healthy Legal Choices for Women in Relationships: Dispelling Myths,” Wednesday, Nov. 19, noon – 1:30 p.m. RSVP to Lucila at 617-278-0366 or Liz at 617-732-7052. The Legal Services Center at Harvard Law School co-sponsors this event.
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