An Appreciation for All That You Do

Dear Colleagues,

Two weeks ago, I made it to the gym for the first time in months. It was worth it—and not just because I had some "down time" on the treadmill. While at the gym, I ran into an acquaintance, who told me about the remarkable care his mother had received during her recent stay at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. His story speaks eloquently to this season of Thanksgiving.

From the moment he and his mother entered the hospital, they were treated with kindness, competence and respect. My friend's voice swelled with gratitude for the people they encountered: the attentive person behind the information desk, the environmental services team that took meticulous care of the facilities and the expert caregivers who recommended a therapy option to his mother that was not presented by doctors in her home state. Her surgery, he told me, was a "huge success." My friend and his mother will be forever grateful for her care and the abundance of goodwill that carried them through a difficult time.

It occurs to me that this story and so many others I have heard reveal the enormous store of appreciation that patients and their loved ones have for our faculty and staff members. Each story is an affirmation of your commitment to exceptional care and attention to every detail of a patient’s experience. This is true in both the outpatient and inpatient settings, regardless of whether the interaction is measured in minutes or days.

I, too, am thankful for your hard work and all that you do.

In this same spirit, let's continue to be grateful for our own community of employees and patients from Baltimore and around the world, and their rich diversity of races, ethnicities and faiths. We are fortunate to work in an environment enhanced by a multitude of voices and beliefs.

I wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving.

In gratitude,

Redonda

Redonda G. Miller, M.D., M.B.A.
President, The Johns Hopkins Hospital