(BOSTON) Avra Goldman, MD, the medical director of Boston Medical Center’s Family Medicine Clinic, was named a finalist for the prestigious Schwartz Center Compassionate Caregiver Award, given by the Boston-based Kenneth B. Schwartz Center.
The award, now in its 10th year, recognizes the Massachusetts caregiver who best personifies the mission of the Schwartz Center to “support and advance compassionate health care in which caregivers, patients and their families relate to one another in a way that provides hope to the patient, support to caregivers and sustenance to the healing process.”
“Avra’s patients are the city’s neediest and she becomes like a lifeline to many of them,” said Julie Rosen, executive director of the Center. “They hail from all over the world and are often quite sick, with multiple chronic illnesses. Some are political refugees who have fled abuse and torture in their native countries. She has an amazing capacity to put them at ease, creating an atmosphere of warmth and trust.”
Dr. Goldman’s commitment extends far beyond the hospital walls. She not only has a busy clinical practice but also does volunteer medical work in the southern African country of Lesotho; mentors medical students and residents; runs her department’s home visit program; and regularly testifies on behalf of her patients at asylum hearings.
A record 112 healthcare workers were nominated for the award this year, ranging from social workers to physicians to nurses. Five finalists were named: Dr. Goldman, Cynthia French, NP, UMass Memorial Medical Center; Marcela del Carmen, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital; Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow, Hebrew SeniorLife/Hebrew Rehabilitation Center; and Maripat Toye, RN, MS, Baystate Medical Center. The award was presented to Ms. French at the Center’s annual dinner, held. Nov. 12 at the Boston Convention and Exposition Center.
About the Schwartz Center
The Schwartz Center, established in 1996, is an autonomous, not-for-profit organization, which supports compassionate health care and seeks to strengthen the relationship between patients and caregivers. The Center achieves its goals through education, training and support programs. A statewide committee composed of physicians, nurses, social workers, community health workers, and patient advocates reviewed the nominations for the award.
