Luncheon Honors Dr. Richard Viscarello

National Doctor's Appreciation Day is on March 30th. One beloved local physician, Dr. Richard Viscarello, got an early thank you from many of his former patients. 

One grateful Darien mom and former patient of Dr. Richard Viscarello of Maternal Fetal Care, PC in Stamford, casually emailed a few friends (also former patients) to see if they’d like to join her for lunch with the obstetrician.  The power of social media took over from here—friends emailed or Facebooked or texted other friends about the event, and over 60 women from all over Fairfield County RSVP’d yes for the February 1^st luncheon. Though they may live in different towns and have children of different ages, all of these women have a deep gratitude for Dr. Viscarello in common. They were delighted to have the opportunity to thank him for caring for them during their high-risk pregnancies and for safely bringing their children into this world.  And this group was just a small sampling of his past patients.

The lunch was held at the Wee Burn Country Club in Darien.  The room was filled with miracle stories, tears, laughs, and cheers.  One by one, they hugged Dr. Viscarello and reminded him of how special he was—and still is--to them.   Ciara Thurlow of Darien remarked, “Dr. Viscarello is the only reason I have my twin boys today. He saved their lives when I went into labor at 17 weeks.  I am glad I am here to honor this man.”  

Dr. Richard Viscarello has been in practice in our area for over 20 years as a maternal-fetal specialist (also known as a perinatologist). Most of the women who see Dr. Viscarello are expected to have a high-risk pregnancy due to factors like their medical history or age, or the fact that they are carrying multiples.  As a perinatologist, Dr. Viscarello feels a deep commitment to care for his patients all the way to the finish line, which is why he delivers the babies.

Since he received his medical degree in 1984, Dr. Viscarello has cared for over 2500 women through their high-risk pregnancies and has delivered over 3,000 babies.  One of his former patients, Leelee Klein of Darien, remarked, “Everyone here has a deep sense of gratitude for this wonderful man. He has committed his life to the type of medicine that so many doctors would avoid due to the large insurance costs.   The women that came to this lunch wanted to say ‘hello’ to their old doctor and friend and wanted to thank him once again for the blessings he has given them.”

 Another Darien mom and former patient, Tara LeClerc, said, “I was thrilled to be able to thank and honor Dr. Viscarello for all his years of hard work and dedication. He is an amazing doctor and deserves nothing but the highest praise!”  Pilar Steinborn of Rowayton said, “As the old saying goes, ‘It takes a village to raise a family.’ You need first the care and love to nurture the beginnings. With Dr. Viscarello's knowledge, we are reaping the rewards of two healthy beings!”   

Some of Dr. Viscarello’s current patients, such as Darien’s Linda Costello bonded with his former ones. Costello commented, "It is amazing to look around this room and know that this is a small portion of the lives that Dr. Viscarello has touched.  This is a group of women who truly appreciate how fortunate we are to have access to someone like Dr. Viscarello here in Connecticut."

His private practice in Stamford is a real family affair. His wife Shirley, a specially trained high- risk obstetrical nurse, is intimately involved in the care of most of their patients. The Viscarellos are proud parents of two school-age children, both the result of high-risk pregnancies.

For more information, go to www.maternalfetalcarepc.com.