Letters Praise BIDMC Caregivers

The team that cared for Billy. (l-r) Roger Laham, M.D., Mark Rasmussen, B.S.N., R.N.-C., CCRN, Marie Bosak, R.N., N.P., Chrissy Carroll, B.S., BVT. Missing from photo: Peter Sharis, M.D.

The clinical staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is widely known for exceptional patient care and compassion. We receive an outpouring of letters thanking our caregivers for making a difference in the lives of patients and their families. The following three letters (reprinted with the authors’ permission) are just a sample:

A devoted co-worker helped lead her friend to our cardiology department for life-saving care:

When one of my co-workers, Billy, was given less than a year by cardiology experts across the South, we began searching for clinical trials. Billy’s year was quickly running out when I finally located a reference to angiogenesis, which led to Dr. Roger Laham. I wrote, but I honestly had no hope — and didn’t expect anyone with such a long list of impressive credits to even respond to someone in Mississippi....

What an amazing and remarkable man! We made it to Boston, and Dr. Laham and his Cath Lab team saved Billy. He and his team not only performed a procedure requiring amazing skill and ability, but they took time to explain and show [Billy] each step. Billy tells me that even those involved with the procedure were astounded by Dr. Laham’s skill, ability and technique.

What blessing to have such a healer. I saw Dr. Roger Laham (and his team) work a miracle — a man who is truly “A League of His Own.”
- Melanie Webb


A little TLC by our ED staff went a long way for one patient:

I was airlifted to your facility following a bike accident…I’d like to commend to your attention four outstanding members of your staff who made a very difficult passage much more bearable.

William Burke, P.A.-C., explained to my wife and I what was going on and what my condition was. His reassurance and calm was a blessing during this ordeal.

Lois Mangan, R.N., who works the night shift, always managed to find ways to make me as comfortable as possible and get what I needed.

What impressed me about Dr. Thorkild Norregaard was his precise communication and the fact that he never talked down to me nor treated me like ‘a patient.’

Finally… the wonderful Dr. Leonardo Claros! He really seemed to take a personal interest in my case, confiding that he was also a rider, and went out of his way to get me a much more comfortable collar. I not only felt like I was in good hands but also in the hands of a friend.

I’m sure I’ve left out many, my physical therapist, Laura Cence, comes to mind. They are doing a good job of representing your hospital.

- Dale C. Cook


When caring for a patient, our caregivers know that the patient's family members also need support.

The MacDonald family of Canton would like to recognize the staff at [BIDMC]. Our father, Kenneth, was sort of a frequent flyer at the institution. His illness began in January 1997, when he was admitted for chest pain. He was operated on by Dr. Robert Thurer. After several days in the SICU, he was rushed to the OR for emergency bowel surgery… For three weeks, both our family and the staff in the SICU kept the vigil for Dad. We can’t say enough about the nurses who cared for him — Margie Serrano in the SICU, Mary Ward on the Cardiac Unit — and all the other fabulous doctors, nurses and aides.

Shortly after discharge, we needed a cardiologist and a primary care physician for Dad… We found Dr. Gerald Smetana (PCP) and Dr. Kalon Ho (Cardiologist). They provided the most outstanding care for the next 5 years. Through many ups and downs, these doctors supported not only our Dad, but our entire family.

Kenneth A. MacDonald passed away on June 26, 2002. He was a special person, with an incredible will to live, despite unbelievable odds. Dad had the utmost respect for his doctors at BIDMC — he developed a unique relationship with each one of them. We wanted to express our deepest gratitude to BIDMC, Dr. Smetana and especially to Dr. Ho, who honored our entire family by attending Dad’s wake — we will never forget that gesture.

Although our family will grieve for some time, we felt it was important to let you know how much the staff at BIDMC assisted a great man and his family to make the most of his final years.

Thank you.
- The MacDonalds
(Eileen (Mom), Pat, Kenny Jr.,
Jim, Kevin, Bryan, Eileen,
Jane, Carol, Chris)

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