Honoring Boston, Supporting Beth Israel

Naturally, the marathon falls on a state holiday giving students the day off from school. Aside from the race itself, the day’s events include a morning Red Sox game, ending at a time that allows for the crowd to join the celebration at the finish line. In Boston, year after year, you find your way to Boylston Street.

On April 15, 2013, I found myself in an unusual situation.  I wasn’t at the marathon, because I was at work.  I was fortunate to be working as an Internal Medicine resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an institution that holds humanity at its core.  After the bombings, Boston, full of grit and desire, was in need of compassion and action.  The response was immediate and it was palpable across the hospital.  The medical center functioned seamlessly. It was a second nature response echoed by every employee in the building. It was something to behold and something to be proud of. This tragedy required our hospital to be functioning at its very best.

After the events of last year, I decided that this was the year to run.  The difference now is that I’m not running the marathon to reach an accomplishment. I’m running to support my city, to support my hospital, and to give back in a very small, but tangible way.

I have worked at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center since graduating medical school in 2010. I completed my residency in Internal Medicine, and have joined the faculty as a Hospitalist in the Department of Medicine.  In a city that is at the cutting edge of medicine, I am extremely proud to be a part of a medical center that provides the quality of care that is accomplished on a daily basis at BIDMC.

The proceeds that are raised in my support will go towards the BIDMC Annual Fund, which is used to achieve the hospital's mission of providing compassionate patient care.  This fund is used for a wide range of needs such as research projects investigating cancer genetics, funding for social worker positions, and expansion of clinical spaces. It is also used to fund career development opportunities for staff, such as continuing education scholarships for nurses, and funding fellowships for the next generation of physicians in growing service lines.