Recently, Megan McCormick shared these comments (reprinted with her permission) as part of a patient satisfaction survey about her oncology care at BIDMC.

My surgeon, Dr. Clinton Koufman, was truly wonderful and took me right in for a biopsy and the surgery was a success as well.

My nurses, Jen McKenna, NP, and Carol Pilgrim, NP, and Dr. Roger Lange, all of hematology/oncology, were there every step of the way -- explaining things, writing letters when needed, holding my hand. The nurses who administered the chemotherapy treatments were also terrific: Julie Fioadelli, RN, Linda Yanes, RN, Paula Bachner, RN, Marie Mahony, RN, along with Practice Assistant Maureen DeFeudis, and the volunteers. There were also two special phlebotomists I would like to praise, Joanne Pascucci and Kim Blakely-Santos.

My visits with my radiation oncology nurse, Nancy O'Rourke, RN, were always great. Sam Figaro did a nice job drawing blood and checking me in and was very pleasant. Dr. Mary Ann Stevenson, my radiation oncologist, was very helpful, as were the nurses in that department.

The radiation therapists explained everything as we went along, were always on time and pleasant to be around. Thanks to Susie Graham, Denise Monks, Craig Allen, Marty Perry, Jason Morneau, Ingrid Pitta, Shawn Kirby and anyone else I did not mention, I apologize.

Let's also not forget Hester Hill Schnipper, LICSW, chief of oncology social work.  The support group Hester presides over is really important. As a breast cancer survivor, Hester truly knows what it is like. We really share. So keep it up, Hester, and thank you.

Please pass my praises on to everyone who helped me through this long road of treatments and, now, through my next chapter to recovery.

Very fondly,

—Megan McCormick

To submit thank-you letters, e-mail vgoldste@bidmc.harvard.edu.