Newton-Wellesley New: Spring/Summer 2023

World-class cancer care

Welcoming newborns into our family

Interventional radiology

“People here take the time to know patients and to realize what they need. It feels like a family.”

Kim Doyle, Nurse Navigator, Mass General Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley

Drs.Todd Francone, Theodore Hong and Lawrence Blaszkowsky

World-class cancer care

A personal journey reflects multidisciplinary approach

Drs. Lawrence Blaszkowsky, Todd Francone, and Theodore Hong

“When you’ve just heard you have cancer, the world is spinning at light speed,” reflects Rick Osterberg, one of the thousands of grateful patients of the Mass General Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley.

In 2018, after symptoms led him to visit his NWH primary care physician, Nicholas Mascoli III, MD, a CT scan followed by an emergency colonoscopy revealed a malignant mass in Rick’s colon. Only 44 at the time, he’d never imagined the possibility.

As he awoke from the GI procedure, his wife, Jessica Stokes, was at his bedside along with Laurence Bailen, MD, Chief of Gastroenterology, and nurse navigator Kim Doyle to share the news. Kim had already scheduled him to see the trio of cancer specialists who’ve guided his care: Drs. Lawrence Blaszkowsky, Todd Francone, and Theodore Hong.

Today, with his disease stable and virtually no toxicity to treatment, Rick enjoys an extremely high quality of life. His journey reflects the unique blend of highly personalized and collaborative care that patients with cancer are finding right here, close to home. Looking back, “Did I make the right decision going to NewtonWellesley?” he asks aloud. “1000%.”

A collaborative team of experts

Rick was born at NWH and grew up only a couple of miles away. He sees today’s Newton-Wellesley as continually “upping their game,” staying true to its mission as a community hospital while being a core part of Mass General Brigham’s efforts to bring the expertise of academic medical centers where patients are. One of Rick’s most vivid memories is meeting with the three lead physicians on his care team at the same time. “All three of them along with me and my wife were in this tiny exam room,” he recounts. They each had different styles, personalities, and approaches. “What I really

appreciated about them as a triad was how they were so in synch with each other,” he says.

In the past, patients tended to see specialists sequentially and get information in bits and pieces. Now, “we offer them a comprehensive, patient-tailored approach,” notes Dr. Francone, a colorectal surgeon and Director of Robotic Surgery at Newton-Wellesley. Being close together at NWH helps the team readily collaborate. They review patients’ cases together prior to clinic and come in with a plan.

“When patients see us together in the same room, they have a tangible feeling that their case is being discussed, ” he adds. It sends a message to their patients: “they’re worth it.”

“It’s natural for people to have fears, and we’re not always able to ease them,” he acknowledges. Yet he and his colleagues do their best to answer patients’ questions and provide reassurance that they’re in the right place. They leave knowing the team, the plan, and what to expect.

As Rick explains, “it’s magic when it happens.”

Multidisciplinary care for any cancer

Rick’s experience exemplifies the team’s approach with every patient. “All of us are seeing the initial results,” notes Dr. Blaszkowsky, Medical Director of the MGCC at Newton-Wellesley and the hospital’s Chief of Hematology/Oncology. “All of us believe it’s important to be actively engaged and informed.”

For NWH patients and their families, he explains, the arrival of medical oncology from Mass General in 2016 began a new chapter in cancer care. Ever since, the list of subspecialties at Newton-Wellesley has grown, including breast, colon, lung, and other cancers. The rise of multidisciplinary clinics has meant that patients benefit from a highly collaborative team of experts in their particular cancer.

“We take care of cases equally as complex as what I see downtown, and our team brings the same level of expertise to patients.”

Theodore Hong, MD, Radiation Oncologist

“Multidisciplinary care for any cancer is the standard of care,” Dr. Francone adds, in echoing his point.

“It’s a very different model from what’s existed in the past at community hospitals,” explains Dr. Hong, a radiation oncologist. While many hospitals describe themselves as having multidisciplinary approaches, he sees NWH as a very unique setup. “It’s unique to have the degree of specialization we have here,” he adds.

His own collaboration with Dr. Blaszkowsky began when he first joined him at MGH in 2005. They’ve built on that since becoming part of the MGCC at NewtonWellesley together seven years ago. “We’re fortunate to have other great colleagues here who want that same level of collaboration,” he says. “People have embraced working together to provide the best of care. We’re one of the most robust examples of how this can work when everyone’s on board.”

GI cancers are very complex. Today at Newton-Wellesley, “we take care of cases equally as complex as what I see downtown,” Dr. Hong says. “And our team brings the same level of expertise to patients.” From his vantage point, “integrated care delivery is going to be the future,” he predicts, and cancer care will continue to shift closer to where the patients actually live.

On the front lines

“Where we are now has greatly expanded the level of care,” Dr. Laurence Bailen reflects, building on Dr. Hong’s point. “What we’re seeing is the integration with Mass General Brigham while maintaining the uniqueness and specialness of a community hospital.” In talking to patients, he hears how much they value “having all of the same opportunities of an AMC and having it here, close to home.”

He appreciates being part of the increasingly collaborative culture and views it as a key to a truly multidisciplinary program where patients get comprehensive cancer care.

Along with Drs. Blaszkowsky, Francone, and Hong and others, he takes part in a GI tumor board conference every Thursday morning to discuss optimal care. Gathering virtually at 7 a.m., “we work closely together to collaborate and communicate,” he notes. While it’s typical of academic medical centers, “I don’t know how many community hospitals have that in place,” he adds.

He joined the Newton-Wellesley staff 20 years ago. While a version of a tumor conference existed early on, “today, the multidisciplinary model is much more organized and robust.”

“We as gastroenterologists are on the front lines for seeing patients and diagnosing a cancer,” Dr. Bailen reflects. He frames their role as “first responders, so to speak.”

When someone is first diagnosed, he has complete trust in Kim Doyle, the nurse navigator, to take it from there. “I know when I reach out to her that they’ll get what they need.”

A guiding hand for navigating treatment

To Dr. Blaszkowsky, the nurse navigator’s role sends a powerful message.

In the case of colorectal cancers, if something concerning turns up during a procedure, Kim Doyle will be paged immediately by the GI suite. As in Rick’s case, when patients are learning their diagnosis, she’ll often already be there. “I’ll introduce myself and my role, and explain that I’m here to coordinate your care,” she says.

Patient Rick Osterberg meets with Michelle Ciszewski, CNP, of Integrative Support Services in a follow-up visit.

Laurence Bailen, MD, Chief of Gastroenterology

Kim Doyle, nurse navigator, offer guidance to a patient. At right, Rick Osterberg raises funds for cancer care as a leading volunteer at events for Swim Across America.

“Sometimes I just sit down with them and hold their hand,” she says. Even if no words are exchanged, she wants them to feel, “We’ve got this.”

Her goal is to get the next steps scheduled right away so they get the care they need without delay.

“I’ll then connect with them later in the day and try to reassure them,” she notes. Thanks to her, “they feel taken care of, and they don’t get lost.”

She stresses to the patients: “This is the hardest time.” Some may call her 10 times. With every conversation, “I try to get a sense of where they are and how they’re coping,” she says. “They just need to know they can get a hold of someone.” She wants them to know that she’ll be there: “You’re my person.”

She’s been at Newton-Wellesley for 20 years. At only 4 years old, she lost her mother to cancer, and her sister was diagnosed with leukemia in her 20s. In Kim’s work, she’s taken care of a nursing colleague who was like a mom to her. “I consider getting to do this work as my silver lining.”

It’s not easy. It’s not straightforward. But it’s so rewarding. “I feel blessed at the end of every single day,” she shares.

Taking the time to know you

“There’s no ‘routine’ cancer,” as Dr. Francone puts it. Every case is individual. While Rick had his initial surgery at MGH with Dr. Francone, he’s relied on the MGCC at Newton-Wellesley for his own ongoing treatment. “I have all the same care and expertise in a smaller and more personal place.”

“I know all the nurses and staff. They know my wife. We have deeper, more personal relationships because of its size,” he says. “I like that I walk in, and people know who I am and know my history.”

At NWH, “it feels like a family,” adds Kim Doyle. She looks at both her patients and her colleagues as “beloved family,” true to the mission.

As she talks, she looks around the infusion room at the Cancer Center. “There’s hundreds of years of experience on the team here.”

“People here take the time to know patients and to realize what they need,” she says. “I’m not sure where else you’re going to get that.”

“I like that I walk in, and people know who I am and know my history.”

Rick Osterberg, Patient, MGCC at Newton-Wellesley

Welcoming newborns into our family

Building on a legacy as a center for maternity care

Smiling up at his parents on a spring visit to NewtonWellesley, baby Reed reminds Becky and Blake Staley of all of the miracles they experienced in the days before and after his birth.

In the 32nd week of a “totally normal and very easy” pregnancy, some unsettling symptoms brought the expectant parents into NWH over a fall weekend. While nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first, by Monday, they found themselves back again. This time, they sensed a different vibe. The team in the room grew, and a neonatologist explained that Becky was beginning to go into labor.

On that Thursday morning, after a long last night in Labor and Delivery, Reed came into the world at 4 lbs., 10 oz. In the course of less than a week, they experienced nearly every facet of Maternity Services, from Maternal Fetal Medicine to Labor and Delivery to the Special Care Nursery.

At each turn, they found comfort and reassurance in what they saw as small miracles when they needed them most—from having the childbirth educator whom they’d loved, Karen Mueller, CNP, as part of their team to having Blake’s own childhood pediatrician, Mark Blumenthal, MD, there to check on Reed.

While so much was new to them, “we always felt in good hands,” they reflect. As a hospital, “Newton-Wellesley overdelivered.”

“High tech/high touch”

Thomas Beatty, MD, chair of NWH’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has a long view of Maternity Services at the hospital.

For a community hospital, Newton-Wellesley has a large obstetrical program, with nearly 4,000 births annually. As a team, “we think of it as a perinatal program,” encompassing care before, during, and after the birth of a child. Importantly, “we’ve done it for decades,” he adds. The commitment runs deep.

Since he started in 1985, he estimates that he’s delivered 6,000 babies. And as he likes to say, “pregnancy is not an illness.”

He appreciates seeing how medicine and his own field continue to evolve. NWH has kept pace, such as adding Maternal Fetal Medicine in collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

What’s stayed the same? “Our attention to the patient experience,” he says. The team provides not only clinical expertise but also a warm and welcoming environment. It’s “high tech/high touch.”

Together, they strive to offer the same level of care as an academic medical center. “I take pride in the way in which we provide a personalized experience while behind the scenes, we have everything you need if something goes wrong,” Dr. Beatty reflects.

Rise in high-risk pregnancies

The presence of the Maternal Fetal Medicine team sends a message to patients, says its director, Lisa Dunn-Albanese, MD: “You don’t have to go to the city for world-class care. You can feel secure that you’ll have whatever you need here.”

As a team, they are here for every expectant mom as the source for prenatal screening and diagnosis. They do 8,500 to 9,000 scans a year.

Emily Newton-Cheh, MD, and Thomas Beatty, MD, chair, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

When a mom or baby has a risk factor or complication, the team provides care and consultation on areas such as delivery timing, medication, and other interventions.

Dr. Dunn-Albanese started in 2004 a day a week at Newton-Wellesley as part of a fledging collaboration with the Brigham. Now it’s her home four days a week. The robust service includes two doctors on staff every day and five ultrasound rooms.

Their phone is always ringing, she says. If there’s a recurrent theme for her, it’s the increase in high-risk pregnancies. “We’ve seen a change in acuity and more complex cases,” she explains. Today, 60 percent of pregnant women nationally have preexisting conditions

such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes that have the potential to lead to complications.

“Pregnancy can unmask a predisposition for future health issues,” she says. “It’s like a stress test for your body.” As she notes, heightened risks also unveil deeper societal issues such as healthcare disparities and systemic racism.

“The most gratifying part of caring for women with pregnancy risks or complications is that most patients do well and deliver healthy babies. It really is a privilege to help them through the more difficult times.”

If she had one wish, she adds, it would be “to make an impact pre-pregnancy and find a way to optimize the health of all reproductive age women.”

Patient-centered labor and delivery

When it comes to Labor and Delivery, “no day’s the same,” says nurse director Stephanie Felix, RN. After 22 years on the unit, she still loves the camaraderie among staff and seeing the joy on patients’ faces.

“And when it comes to maternal health, we don’t treat this as an ailment,” she adds, echoing Dr. Beatty. She sees that mindset as one of the keys to an exceptional patient experience.

“We have a team approach, and the patient is the primary member of the team. We allow them to have a voice in guiding their care,” she says, while leaning on their own extensive clinical experience to ensure patient safety.

Twice a day, they have multidisciplinary team meetings to review the census and judge the acuity of the floor and situational awareness.

Her long tenure adds perspective. After starting as a surgical technologist, she went on to get a nursing degree and stayed on as new graduate. She spent seven years as permanent charge nurse before becoming nurse director a year ago. “It gives me an appreciation of how each member of the team is vital to our work and makes it run smoothly.”

As an advocate for safe, competent, and equitable care, she also appreciates that conversations about health equity have come to the forefront. She sees more patients learning to advocate for themselves, asking, “How are you going to keep me safe as a woman of

“Pregnancy can unmask a predisposition for future health issues. It’s like a stress test for your body.”

Lisa Dunn-Albanese, MD, Director, Maternal Fetal Medicine

Special Care Nursery team members are there 24/7 for their patients and families.

color?” As a staff, “we’re working to peel away the layers and be honest about where the deficits are.”

While the work is just beginning, “we’re invested in the community and holding true to our promise,” she reflects. In circling back to the idea of community, she returns to the message of “beloved family” at the heart of NWH’s mission. “Once you’ve delivered here, you’re forever part of our family,” she says. “It’s such a privilege to be part of your birth stories.”

When babies need special care

For thousands of local families, having a baby is their introduction to NWH. For many, “it’s the beginning of a lifelong connection and commitment,” reflects Sujatha Ramadurai, MD, director of the Special Care Nursery.

Once Becky Staley delivered, she and husband Blake felt an immediate sense of being part of the NWH family. Knowing their infant son, Reed, would need weeks of care before going home, “we were hoping passionately that he’d be able to stay at Newton-Wellesley,” they reflect.

Dr. Ramadurai was one of the first physicians they saw to discuss next steps. Sometimes her team’s role with a family starts in the delivery room. In other cases, if a potential need is identified ahead, they meet with parents prenatally, often in coordination with MFM. “We help reassure them and prepare them for what to expect,” she explains.

As a Level 2B SCN, Newton-Wellesley can keep babies who are born at 32 weeks or beyond, including those like Reed who need initial respiratory support. In 2020, the Special Care Nursery grew from 12 to 16 beds. It’s also grown in the level of complexity of the cases they can help with, including neurocritical and subspecialty care.

“For the right baby, our nursery provides a calming, nurturing environment,” Dr. Ramadurai says. When she talks about the long list of developmental caregivers, she lights up. Thanks to the multidisciplinary team, “we offer so much more than other community hospitals.” Along with having subspecialties based right at NWH, being part of Mass General Brigham provides ready access to any other needs of the patient.

The wider team of all of the perinatal departments—from Obstetrics to MFM to neonatology—meets monthly to promote integration and collaboration. “No one area is independent,” she says. “We function together.”

Personally, “I love interacting with the families we take care of,” she adds. After joining the SCN team 15 years ago, she took on the director’s role in 2018. “I understand how stressful it is to have a baby who needs special care. To have a baby period is stressful.” Within the nursery, “we hope to help families feel supported and know that they’re a very important part of the care team.”

Continuing an unforgettable journey

In the seven weeks that Reed spent in the Special Care Nursery, the Staleys became among its most devoted fans.

“Once you’ve delivered here, you’re forever part of our family. It’s such a privilege to be part of your birth stories.”

Stephanie Felix, RN, Nurse Director, Labor & Delivery

Becky herself was in the hospital for five days after giving birth. When she was discharged, “leaving him was absolutely the most gut-wrenching thing that we had to do.”

She remembers how one of the SCN nurses “really pulled us up from our darkest times.” To Becky, “she was our saving grace.” She comforted and empowered them as parents. “We’ll never forget her,” says Becky. “Never ever,” nods Blake.

In their minds, everyone went above and beyond. During their daily visits, all of the nurses were so empathetic. “They promised that soon enough this will be a blip in

our rearview mirror,” Becky recounts. “They helped us emotionally and taught us so much.”

In spending so much time there, the Staleys built relationships with everyone. “They took care of us as parents as much as they took care of Reed,” says Becky. “Not only did we feel treated like family, we witnessed how they were a family,” Blake adds. “We were able to peek behind the curtain, and what we saw was beautiful.”

Now, when they bring Reed to see Dr. Blumenthal, it’s at the same pediatrics office that Blake went to growing up. “We’re continuing the journey and legacy,” he says. “We feel an ocean of gratitude.”

“I understand how stressful it is to have a baby who needs special care. To have a baby period is stressful.”

Sujatha Ramadurai, MD, Director, Special Care Nursery

The Staley family visited the Special Care Nursery at NWH this spring to thank their caregiving team in person.

“It is an absolute honor and privilege to lead this incredible hospital, your hospital,” Ellen Moloney reflected in addressing the hundreds of guests at Newton-Wellesley’s annual Gala this May.

It’s a sentiment she’s often repeated in joyfully representing the hospital at community events this spring.

In March 2023, Ellen became Newton-Wellesley’s first woman president after serving as the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer since 2014. She describes her new role as President and COO as the “capstone” of her 26-year career at NWH.

“For generations, Newton-Wellesley has been here when our neighbors need us most,” she says. “I want everyone in our community to know that we always will be here.”

The best candidate

In 1997, a Newton-Wellesley team called on her as a consultant to help find the best candidate to fill a key position. To make a long story short, as she recounts, the supervisor decided she’d be the best person.

Ever since, she’s appreciated how so many wonderful leaders have given her the opportunity to learn and grow.

Her initial NWH role has led to increasingly responsible leadership roles as Senior Vice President for Outpatient Services and then COO. She also served as Interim President from December 2015 to September 2016. She has been a guiding force in the design and implementation of countless strategic initiatives.

Always learning

A believer in remembering where you come from, she traces her first exposure to the medical world to family dinners. Her grandmother was a nurse, and her grandfather was a general practitioner. They met in the back of an ambulance. During her childhood in Beverly, Mass., “he delivered half of my friends,” she says with a laugh.

After earning her BS from Rivier University, she began her own healthcare career as a medical technologist in the laboratory at Salem Hospital, where she rose to supervisory and management positions. She later earned her MBA from Bentley University.

In everything she does, she strives to be an active listener and approach her daily work with humility and humor. “In a complex, rapidly changing world, you have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” she adds. “I learn something new every day.”

What remains constant

During her career at Newton-Wellesley, “I have seen and experienced the power of change,” she says. “What remains constant is our patient-centered culture, the dedication and skill of our caregivers, and our community focus. These are all so deeply rooted here.”

To her, “Newton-Wellesley has always offered the best of both worlds.” It’s small enough to get to know people and maintain a warm and friendly culture. Yet at the same time, it offers a world-class staff as well as access to the extraordinary resources of the Mass General Brigham system.

“When I think about our many strengths, I count NewtonWellesley’s place in the Mass General Brigham system among them,” she adds. “We are a critical component in its current and future success.” For any leader, “building relationships is critical,” she says, and she’s built them across the hospital and the system.

At the heart of everything

Ultimately, she sees herself as a steward of NewtonWellesley. “We have a clear and powerful identity and sense of place,” she reflects. “At the heart of everything we are a community hospital.

Looking to the future, “we aspire to be the best hospital we can be,” she says. “I’m excited by the legacy that we’ll leave behind.”

“For generations, Newton-Wellesley has been here when our neighbors need us most. I want everyone in our community to know that we always will be here.”

Ellen Moloney, President and Chief Operating Officer

A gala celebration

More than $1 million raised for community health

At the 2023 Gala, nearly 400 guests joyfully celebrated the place that NewtonWellesley holds in their hearts. “Connections” provided a perfect theme for the event, held May 12 at Boston’s Intercontinental Hotel. The evening inspired more than $1 million in support of NWH and the Community Collaborative.

Advances in interventional radiology

What minimally invasive, image-guided therapies offer

To patient Kim Hornung, interventional radiologists and their team are among the “unsung heroes” of Newton-Wellesley.

In February of 2000, a dangerous blood clot led her to the NWH Emergency Department. She vividly remembers how Shams Iqbal, MD, reassuringly shook her hand when they met late that night. She feels indebted to him for immediately resolving the issue. “For me, it was lifesaving,” she says.

Like many people, she’d never heard of interventional radiology. In sharing her story, “I want others to know that IR is a hidden gem,” she reflects. She describes everyone on the entire IR team at NWH as consummate professionals—from the doctors and nurses to the surgical team to the administrative staff. “I couldn’t be more grateful for their stellar care,” she says.

Fewer risks, quicker recovery

Newton-Wellesley began building a dedicated IR team five years ago, working in partnership with Mass General. The move reflects the broader goal of offering high-end services in the community, explains Anand Prabhakar, MD, chair of the Department of Radiology.

Interventional radiologists are specialists trained in minimally invasive, image-guided therapies. “IR is one of the most advanced and innovative specialties in radiology,” he adds.

Real-time imaging techniques allow these specialists to see inside the body and precisely treat a wide array of conditions. By often requiring the smallest of incisions, IR procedures allow patients to face fewer risks of complication and recover more quickly than after traditional surgery.

In the past, acute cases had to be referred to MGH. Now, patients can get even the most complex care locally, says Sanjeeva Kalva, MD, chief of Interventional Radiology for Mass General Brigham and a guiding hand in developing the NWH program.

“IR is one of the most advanced and innovative specialties in radiology. It’s a discipline that touches every single discipline.”

Anand Prabhakar, MD, Chair, NWH Department of Radiology

Patients are getting older and living longer, he adds. At more advanced ages, some may no longer be fit for surgery. In many cases, IR offers treatment that can be done more quickly and with less trauma.

Since its introduction, demand has grown 30 percent year over year. Looking ahead, Dr. Prabhakar sees IR as naturally aligned with a growing focus on access to care. Already, “we’re helping patients to get the care they need and get home faster,” he says.

Passion for patients and the field

Dr. Iqbal was the team’s first hire in 2019, brought on board because of the breadth of his experience and expertise. To Kim, his passion for both his patients and his field shows through in every interaction.

As he says emphatically, “We love what we do!” In a field known for innovation, the challenge excites him. “We are the ones who think outside the box,” he reflects. He appreciates bringing different resources and approaches to tackling medical conditions.

He breaks from his reflection to jump into a liver biopsy procedure. The team already has their patient prepped as he enters the small treatment room within the Radiology space. He makes a 2 mm incision—“you won’t be able find tomorrow”—through which he deftly uses a tiny needle to take a biopsy. He uses ultrasound to guide him, frequently pausing to be sure of the patient’s comfort. A pathologist is on hand to collaborate, making sure they get what they’ll need for an accurate diagnosis.

Forty years ago, the patient would have undergone two hours of open surgery, Dr. Iqbal notes. Today, it takes less than half an hour and is much less invasive.

Treating every part of the body

While interventional radiology is just beginning to gain visibility, “it’s at the center of medicine,” reflects his IR colleague, Sishir Rao, MD. “We’re able to treat every part of the body from head to toe.”

Today at Newton-Wellesley, patients with cancer are a major beneficiary. Along with being called on for biopsies and placing ports for infusion, IR also offers a means in a significant number of cases to treat tumors at their source.

The specialty traces its roots back to the early 1960s and the development of angioplasty and catheter-delivered stents. Blood vessel disorders—and clotting disorders

“It’s one of the most technology-driven fields in medicine. We’re using tech to provide innovative care that lets people get home and on with their lives.” Sishir Rao, MD

such as Kim experienced—are an ongoing focus.

The team also offers treatment for uterine fibroids, often on an outpatient basis, as well as for prostate issues. Other procedures help with musculoskeletal issues, relieving pain in the knees, back, and shoulders.

“You pick an area of the body, and IR is helping,” Dr. Rao concludes. Like his colleagues, he’s excited by even greater possibilities on the horizon.

“It’s one of the most technology-driven fields in medicine,” he adds. “We’re using tech to provide innovative care that lets people get home and on with their lives.”

“The best of the best”

Interventional radiologists continually collaborate with other specialties—from oncology to neurosurgery to cardiology. “It’s a discipline that touches every single

discipline,” Dr. Prabhakar reflects. A team approach is critical. “We all work together to better our patients’ lives,” adds Dr. Kalva, echoing the point.

Being part of the wider MGB system enhances collaboration as well among interventional radiologists themselves. “We have great relationships,” says Dr. Rao. Ultimately, “what’s really wonderful about it is being able to bring high-end care out into the community.”

For patients, “living in the Boston area, we’re privileged to have the best of the best when it comes to medical care,” Kim believes. She’s thankful to NWH—”my lifelong hospital”—for adding IR as a new dimension of lifeimproving and life-saving care.

And she’s simply grateful to be alive.

Shams Iqbal, MD, and Carlos Giron, PA-C, work hand in hand on the Interventional Radiology team.

Philanthropy in Action

A breakthrough in detecting heart disease

Now for the first time, a powerful new imaging tool is enabling early diagnosis of heart disease through Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography at Newton-Wellesley.

As Stefan Parpos, MD, FACC, leads a tour of the new Siemens Force Cardiac CT Scanner, he excitedly explains how “this is the highest level of noninvasive diagnostic testing that we can do for the heart.”

The entire teams from Cardiology and Radiology—and their patients—have a core group of visionary donors to thank. Together, more than $3 million in combined gifts made the project possible.

The department’s respective leaders, George Philippides, MD, FACC, and Anand Prabhakar, MD, have been among the leading advocates for bringing the innovative technology to Newton-Wellesley. As Dr. Philippides explains, the scanner’s ability to detect coronary artery disease will effectively eliminate unnecessary admissions or the needless transfer of patients to other hospitals for invasive cardiac catheterization.

For the community, it’s a life-saving gift. “What our donors have done is incredible,” reflects Dr. Parpos, Assistant Chief of Cardiology.

Join Team NWH for MGCC Eversource 5K

This September, be part of “Team NWH” and contribute directly to the Mass General Cancer Center at NewtonWellesley.

For the second straight year, we’re joining forces with the Mass General Cancer Center Eversource 5K Run-Walk, to be held Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, on the Charles River Esplanade.

Every dollar our team raises will help the MGCC at NewtonWellesley to create a brighter future for patients with cancer and their families.

Sign up today by registering on the Team NWH fundraising page.

By the numbers

The impact of the Community Collaborative

Thanks to many generous donors, the initiatives of our Community Collaborative and its eight Councils benefit thousands of individuals and families.

By the numbers

2,250 area students directly impacted by the Resilience Project’s programming

600 physicians and nurses trained in Serious Illness Conversations by the Palliative Care team

Philanthropy in Action

1,850 local seniors attended virtual health and wellness webinars since 2020

100 students explored healthcare careers through Summer Internship Program

Keeping Boston’s sports heroes healthy

At this June’s Spring Conversation, Robert Nascimento, MD, and Matthew Leibman, MD, shared a firsthand look at caring for Boston’s championship sports teams. At the invitation of the Development Office, the two distinguished orthopedic surgeons presented a fascinating glimpse of their work at keeping elite athletes and weekend warriors in the game.

734 survivors of domestic, family, or sexual violence received free, confidential services

354 firefighters took part in training to prevent heart disease, the leading cause of on-duty deaths

The gathering drew leading donors, fellow physicians, and devoted friends of Newton-Wellesley, inspired by the topic and the opportunity to reconnect. It underscored how philanthropic investment allows Newton-Wellesley to remain a leader in orthopedic health for our community.

1,500+ new moms referred for evaluation and care for postpartum depression and anxiety

2,700 patients treated in the Substance Use Clinic

From the best in regional spine care to outpatient joint replacements to game-changing sports medicine, our specialists are committed to providing world-class care to help restore mobility, strength, and hope to every patient who comes through our doors.

To watch the event recording, visit the NWH YouTube channel.

The impact of the Community Collaborative

Philanthropy in Action

Every gift makes a difference

When you give to the NWH Fund, you make a difference every day for our patients, their families, and your community.

By contributing today, you’ll have an immediate, missioncritical impact.

You’ll keep us at the forefront of medicine—helping to build and sustain our world-class team of caregivers, cuttingedge facilities and equipment, and life-changing community initiatives.

With a gift of $1,881 or more, you’ll be welcomed into the 1881 Pillar Society, honoring the true “pillars” of our community and the year of NWH’s founding.

To give now, visit giving.nwh.org/

A legacy of heartfelt support

From the time their kids were young, “Newton-Wellesley has had a special place in our hearts,” say Steve and Rebecca Sullivan. Like so many local families, they treasured having high-quality care minutes away.

Wishing to make NWH a focus of their generosity, they became champions of community support for a budding program in Palliative Care. “Our sense was this could benefit so many families,” says Rebecca, thinking in part of her own elderly mom.

In addition to a five-year gift commitment, they chose to make a gift in their will to endow the Chief of Palliative Care’s position “so it will always be there.” Looking forward, “we’re excited to think about the impact it will have in ways small and large.”

Creating a gift in your will is a powerful way to leave a meaningful legacy. To explore your options, visit giftplanning.nwh.org or contact Susan Salcetti, Director, Gift Planning, at 617-243-6438 or nwhdev@partners.org.

Responding to a crisis in youth mental health

More than 5,000 children and teens and their families turn to NewtonWellesley each year to help them overcome mental health challenges. In a time of escalating needs, many generous donors have gratefully stepped up to support increased access to care.

The good news: nearly all pediatric mental health illnesses are treatable, and most are curable, explains Elizabeth S. Booma, MD, The Michael S. Jellinek, MD, Chief of Child Psychiatry. Access to early diagnosis and treatment is critical. Investing in our caregivers, programs, and outreach efforts will help us make it a reality for thousands of children and families in need.

More good news: An anonymous family foundation has stepped up to expand psychiatric care and invest in sustaining the team’s impact. Over and above their own investment, they have created a 1:1 matching challenge to inspire new philanthropy and build the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Endowment Fund. “Your support would be life-changing,” Dr. Booma reflects.

For more information on needs and opportunities for support, please contact Jaime Mulligan, Managing Director of Philanthropy, at 617-831-7753 or jmulligan5@mgb.org.

To register or learn more, visit the tournament webpage at www.nwh.org/golf

Good neighbors

A conversation with Trustee Seth Alexander

Whenever Seth Alexander needs to take one of his three kids to Newton-Wellesley, it’s quicker to walk than to drive. Living on the edge of the hospital’s campus, he’s always valued having access to the best of care literally at his doorstep. Moreover, “I think the hospital has worked hard to be a good neighbor,” he adds.

After serving on its Neighborhood Council, he became one of the newest members of Newton-Wellesley’s Board of Trustees this past year.

He has a deep understanding of mission-based organizations from his longtime role as President of the MIT Investment Management Company, which manages the Institute’s endowment. Prior to joining MIT in 2006, he spent 10 years with the Yale Investments Office. His community involvements include serving on the Board of Directors of the Whitehead Institute.

An impulse to give back

While he’s very deliberate about where he commits his time, he accepted Newton-Wellesley’s invitation to serve in part because of an impulse to give back and his respect for the trustees whom he’s known. He appreciates the different perspectives and experiences that his fellow board members bring to the table. With so many exciting possibilities ahead, he believes their collective voices can serve as a powerful resource to senior leadership.

In his early meetings, he has been impressed with the level of transparency, including the seriousness with which quality and safety are taken at the system and local level. “They’re at the heart of our board conversations.”

Our biggest strength

From Seth’s perspective, “the balance of world-class care and community focus at Newton-Wellesley is far and away our biggest strength,” he reflects. “And many other strengths flow from that.”

Given its mission and vision, “we need to make certain the voice of the community is always heard,” he adds. He sees Newton-Wellesley’s leadership as invested in making that happen. The responsiveness to community needs and the commitment to seeking input has helped the hospital to leverage its strengths and have the greatest impact.

At the leading edge of medicine

For hospitals, “the enormous changes underway within the healthcare landscape create extraordinary opportunity,” Seth suggests. Newton-Wellesley’s strategic position within the Mass General Brigham system presents the opportunity to be at the leading edge of medicine.

On a personal level, being married to a primary care physician gives him a sense of the complexities involved in healthcare and the human side of the profession. His wife, Cristina Alexander, MD, works in a community health center within the MGB system. He’s seen firsthand how caregivers wholeheartedly live out the core value of putting patient firsts. Knowing the tough environment that they face, “anything I can do to support them, I want to do.”

His family’s hospital of choice

Like many area parents, he says that many of his Newton-Wellesley memories center on their children, now ages 9 to 16. In interactions through the years, he’s marveled at the staff’s ability to make every child feel safe and well cared for.

Ultimately, “it’s where my family chooses to get our care,” he notes. To him, “that says it all.”

“I wish every community had a hospital just like it,” Seth adds, breaking into smile. “That would be a wonderful world.”

“The enormous changes underway within the healthcare landscape create extraordinary opportunity.”

Seth Alexander, member, NWH Board of Trustees

“The balance of world-class care and community focus at Newton-Wellesley is far and away our biggest strength.”

Seth Alexander, member, NWH Board of Trustees