January 21, 2000

Zuckerman receives the Macaluso award from Ives Erickson.

As Liz Johnson, RN, MSN, OCN, recounted the heart-breaking story of a 25-year-old patient she once cared for at the MGH, tears welled in the eyes of audience members at the Stephanie M. Macaluso, RN, Expertise in Clinical Practice Awards. Her former bone marrow transplant patient, "Mark," who came to the MGH for treatment in 1999, called Johnson to tell her that his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma had returned and that his life expectancy was limited. Apparently, Johnson’s compassion and understanding as a nurse made this patient’s stay at the MGH more pleasant, and he wanted to let her know that she had made a difference in his life.

Johnson was among four MGH clinicians to receive the Macaluso award, Jan. 6. Anecdotes were told about each recipient – Johnson; Sucheta Kamath, MA, CCC/SLP, of MGH Speech and Language Pathology; Sandra McLaughlin, MSW, LICSW, a social worker in the MGH Infectious Disease Unit; and Fredda Zuckerman, MSW, LICSW, a social worker with Obstetrics – leaving the audience with a clear picture of why these four earned this award.

"To an inpatient, the experience he or she has while at the MGH depends heavily on the clinicians who care for him or her each day," said Evelyn Bonander, MSW, director of MGH Social Services. "Clinicians deserve to be recognized for their work."

The award – which was created and presented by Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN, MS, senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nurse – was first presented to the late Stephanie M. Macaluso, RN, in 1996. "Stephanie had the uncanny ability to put herself in touch with others and shift the encounter to an intimate level," said Ives Erickson. "She epitomized the essence of what the profession of nursing truly is about. The award allows us to publicly recommit and celebrate our vision for the care of patients and families at the MGH and to the professional development of those in Patient Care Services who care for them."

Once again, the audience fought back tears when Mark Johnson, a patient who came to the MGH with a brain injury in 1998, spoke about one of his caregivers, Sucheta Kamath. "Her care is evidence to me of God’s care," he said. Johnson’s words, along with the narratives and words of respect read about each award recipient, demonstrated that clinicians’ work at the MGH is not only valued, but vital.