Nine Named First Annual Care Bravely Awards Honorees

LifeBridge Health recently presented its first annual CARE BRAVELY Awards, honoring team members who reinforce the organization's mission and purpose and inspire others to CARE BRAVELY each and every day.

Congratulations to the inaugural honorees:

Michael Tangrea, Ph.D. (CARE BRAVELY Award for Innovation)

Dr. Tangrea is senior scientific director of oncology and the award-winning LifeBridge Health BioIncubator, which he co-founded in 2016. The BioIncubator inspired the creation of the Innovation and Research Department at LifeBridge Health and continues to be a place to accelerate cutting-edge medical innovation and foster collaboration between startups and healthcare providers.

Aziza T. Shad, M.D. (CARE BRAVELY Award for Commitment to Excellence)

An inspiration to kids around the world, Dr. Shad has established many innovative psycho-social programs for patients and their families since arriving at The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai in 2015.

The Ellen W.P. Wasserman chair of pediatrics, director of the pediatric hematology/oncology division and head of the children's hospital, Dr. Shad recently started a cancer survivorship program designed to help pediatric cancer patients and their families, clinically and emotionally, with what they need now and what they will need in the future.

Lindsay Derby (CARE BRAVELY Award for Patient Impact at Sinai Hospital)

When Lindsay, a physical therapist at Sinai Rehabilitation Center, learned that an immobilized, speech-impaired stroke patient was worried about the welfare of his dog, she sprang into action. The patient had limited social support and no one to look after the dog, and so Lindsay retrieved the dog from a shelter and took care of it at her home while the patient was in rehab, allowing him to recover with a peace of mind knowing that his best friend was safe, even bringing the dog to visit him. Lindsay also initiated a program at Sinai where animals can be brought for visits with patients on certain units.

Martin Motley (CARE BRAVELY Award for Patient Impact at Northwest Hospital)

One evening, a male patient who had been at Northwest Hospital for more than a month and was hospice-bound wanted eggs and toast-his favorite meal-for dinner, but his daughter wasn't sure the staff could accommodate him before morning.

Martin Motley, a member of Northwest's food and nutrition department, graciously obliged and made him a special order of scrambled eggs and toast. The meal would be the patient's last. The patient's grateful daughter called Martin "an angel with a heart of gold" for his generous deed.

Lisa Henson (CARE BRAVELY Award for Our Community)

A nurse navigator at Carroll Hospital, Lisa exemplified what it means to "Care Bravely" in helping a patient avoid readmission after discovering he had been admitted to the hospital 4 times in five months.

Lisa arranged many doctor's appointments on the patient's behalf and even attended appointments with him to make sure he understood how to stick to his care plan. In addition, she helped arrange home delivery of his medications and kept in contact with his doctor to share her observations, which eventually led to the diagnosis of an underlying health issue. The patient is now receiving the appropriate care and is actively engaging in his care. He has not been readmitted to the hospital thus far in 2019.

Bernie Weiner (CARE BRAVELY Award for Impact)

Known as the "Candy Man," Bernie has been a volunteer at Levindale for more than 20 years. He loves the people there and they love him. Every Tuesday, Bernie makes the rounds delivering sweet treats from his candy cart to residents, patients, visitors and staff. Any money he makes from the candy cart is put toward activities for Levindale residents.

Jeanette Linder, M.D. (CARE BRAVELY Physician Impact Award)

Dr. Jeannette Linder is medical director of the Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute at Sinai and Northwest hospitals, chief of the Weinman Family Department of Radiation Oncology and vice president of the medical staff. She supports a holistic approach to cancer survivorship: mind, body and spirit.

Dr. Linder has been instrumental in securing the latest medical equipment for LifeBridge Health, including the Varian Edge, a noninvasive radio-surgery system at Sinai Hospital that can pinpoint specific areas for tumor treatment. Dr. Linder and her staff commissioned a local artist to paint a mural with images inspired by scenes in and around Baltimore on the ceiling of the Varian Edge so patients can have something colorful, interesting and fun to look at during their treatment.

Dr. Linder is a host of the annual Cancer Survivors Day picnic at Sinai, in which hundreds of survivors and their loved ones gather to eat, have fun and share stories of inspiration. She treats the complex conditions of her patients with knowledge and compassion.

Danny O'Brien (CARE BRAVELY LifeBridge Health Partner Award)

Avila Home Care, a LifeBridge Health partner, was inspired by the father of its founder and CEO, Danny O'Brien. Danny's once healthy, vibrant father was suddenly in need of immediate care following his cancer diagnosis. Danny tried to find trained, competent, skilled caregivers for his father, but encountered roadblocks. This motivated Danny to change things for other families in similar situations, thus Avila Home Care was born. Companion and personal care is at the core of the range of services provided at Avila.

Bernard Gerst (CARE BRAVELY Neon Award)

An 8-year-old boy who needed help with his behavior and had been in the emergency department at Sinai Hospital for a long time just wanted to get away for a bit. Not wanting the boy to wander around alone, the ED team called Bernie Gerst, LifeBridge Health assistant vice president and chief of security and parking. Bernie came and struck up a friendly conversation with the boy. The patient had to be in a wheelchair, so Bernie escorted him outside and around the hospital to give him a change of scenery. At the end of the tour, Bernie gave the boy toy cars, coloring books, candy and snacks in a kit labeled "Behavior Rewards."