Thursday, April 26, 2018

Remembering Joe Keelty and Celebrating Our Donors


This week, we had our annual Keelty Society dinner at Hayfields Country Club. The Society recognizes lifetime financial giving to GBMC of $250,000 or greater. This year, we welcomed 12 inductees. The inductees were:
  • Dr. and Mrs. Albert L. Blumberg
  • Mr. Phillip Dunk
  • Mr. Louis and Mrs. Phyllis Friedman
  • Mr. Lowell Glazer
  • Mr. and Mrs. H. Hudson Myers Jr. 
  • Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Lynne O’Donnell
  • Perinatal Associates
  • Mrs. Nancy Smith
  • Mrs. Emmy Lee Steigelman
  • Dr. Robert Bond Welch
  • The estate of Elizabeth M. Christhilf
  • The estate of Andrew Trost

Joe Keelty was a very accomplished, yet very humble man. He would have been proud of these members of our community who have generously supported our HealthCare system. But Joe would not have wanted any attention given to him. He gave to help others, not to be recognized for his philanthropy. We miss him, but his spirit lives on.

Passing of A Titan
For over 20 years, Dr. McGibbon served as GBMC’s chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery. During his surgical career at GBMC, he mainly performed reconstructive breast surgery, following breast cancer, and toward his later years, performed a significant amount of general cosmetic surgery. He retired in 2002 to spend full time as a professional artist.

He was also the founder of the annual GBMC Golf Classic. The event was initiated by Dr. McGibbon who realized the need for a special occasion to encourage togetherness among the GBMC family.  Since 1988, the annual event has generated tremendous camaraderie among the participants and has raised approximately $4 million to support our clinical programs.

In 2013, Dr, McGibbon was honored for his service as a GBMC surgeon and as the founder of The GBMC Golf Classic with a portrait located on the paneled wall behind the reception desk adjacent to the hospital’s General Operating Room registration and waiting areas. Dr. McGibbon’s picture is alongside other significant GBMC physicians James H. Dorsey, M.D., former chief of the Department of Gynecology, Pedro Garcia, M.D., former chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology and Geary L. Stonesifer, M.D., the first chairman of the Department of Surgery.

GBMC and the entire medical community benefited greatly from his presence and his actions. We will miss him dearly.

Kudos to Dr. Sternlicht!
Congratulations to Jeffrey Sternlicht, MD, on being named the 2018 Physician of the Year by the Maryland Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). Each year, this award is given to a Maryland physician who has made significant contributions in the field of emergency medical services (EMS).

The award acknowledges Dr. Sternlicht as a leader who motivates, inspires, and challenges his team while encouraging others to make the most of their strengths and using weaknesses as a chance to improve. His leadership and insight have taken his department to a higher level of emergency care.

Dr. Sternlicht is, without a doubt, deserving of this award and we are grateful for his service and dedication. Congratulations!

And It's Medical Laboratory Professionals Week!
This week is Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. According to The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, there are almost 300,000 practitioners of medical laboratory science in the country. This group of medical professionals have a vital role in the diagnosis and prevention of disease and are key members of any healthcare team. We are truly blessed and lucky to have an outstanding team of pathologists, technicians, phlebotomists, and staff. These behind-the-scenes heroes are essential members of the patient care team. I am so proud of our lab team who have always demonstrated excellence.

Thank you!!!
I want to thank everyone who participated in our third Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®:  The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence. We had about 250 participants and we raised approximately $37,500 for our SAFE and Domestic Violence programs. On Saturday, male and female participants walked a mile around GBMC’s campus in high heels (or red tennis shoes) to shed light on this problem and to show support for the victims.

I am proud that GBMC continues to be a leader in helping the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and in educating the community to reduce these attacks. I want to thank the GBMC Foundation, our Volunteer Auxiliary and all parties who worked together to make this year’s event another success!

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