UM St. Joseph Medical Center Physicians and Nurses Honored

Four UM St. Joseph Medical Center physicians and three nurses were recently inducted into the hospital’s Class of 2019 Healing Hands Guild & Profiles of Compassion Society, respectively. This honor is bestowed annually on hospital clinicians who demonstrate an unflagging and wholehearted commitment to the hospital’s mission to provide loving service and compassionate care. This year’s Healing Hands Guild honorees included Sheppard Kaplow, MD (retired), Francis Khoo, MD, Joshua Forman, MD, and Andrew Rosenstein, MD. Profiles of Compassion Society inductees included Gail Fulford, RN, Karen Hacke, RN, and Patricia Saunders, RN (retired).

“I am humbled by their example,” says UM St. Joseph President and CEO Thomas B. Smyth, MD. “The experience, the dedication, and the heart that they have brought to their work here with our patients and colleagues, day in and day out, inspires us all to be greater. By committing themselves to UM St. Joseph—simply by being here, doing all that they do and have done—they affirm the value of our life-changing work. It’s our privilege to recognize them.”

The Healing Hands Guild was established in 2013 to honor select UM SJMC physicians who have shown truly extraordinary commitment to the hospital, to their patients, and to advancing in medicine. In 2014, at our doctors’ urging, the Profiles of Compassion Society was likewise established to pay tribute to our exceptional nurses. Each year, a committee comprised of staff and board members and volunteers reviews nominations received, interviews prospective honorees and chooses the very best among them. Every summer, these deserving staff members are honored during a summer induction ceremony. Says Dr. Smyth, “This wonderful event, honoring these outstanding caregivers among us, is one of our most eagerly anticipated gatherings each year because it celebrates the very best thing about UM St Joseph—our amazing people.”