Greenwich Hospital Celebrates Cancer Survivorship

Greenwich Hospital’s “Sailing into Survivorship” celebration brought together close to 130 former patients, volunteers and oncology staff to pay tribute to cancer survivors from throughout the area.

“We are doing a much better job of treating cancer and turning cancer into a chronic illness,” said Norman Roth, president of Greenwich Hospital, noting that 15.5 million Americans are cancer survivors.

Barbara Ward, MD, medical director of the Breast Center, presented the Greenwich Hospital Breast Center Award to the entire Radiation Oncology staff in recognition of the compassionate and advanced care they provide to patients each and every day.

“Not only do our patients feel well cared for by our radiation oncology staff, but this team has modernized our treatment regimen to go beyond what is considered state-of-the-art with treatment options such as stereotactic radiation therapy and intra-operative radiation therapy,” said Ward.

Dr. Paul Waters, MD, a thoracic surgeon, received an award recognizing his many contributions to enhancing the hospital’s oncology services. He has introduced new technology, such as the EBUS bronchoscope to perform minimally invasive biopsies, and expertise in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery using the da Vinci system. He also chairs the Institutional Review Board that oversees clinical research, the Oncology Quality Council and many other committees.

The celebration featured information about resources available at the hospital and numerous partners in cancer care, including the Yale Cancer Genetic Counseling Program, the American Cancer Society, the Good Dog Foundation, CancerCare and Healing Touch.

Dickerman Hollister, MD, a medical oncologist, described the event aptly: “This is a celebration of the journeys we have taken together. Every year, this group gets bigger and healthier.”

Greenwich Hospital is a member of Yale New Haven Health. Greenwich is a 206-bed (includes 32 isolettes) community hospital serving lower Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. It is a academic affiliate of Yale School of Medicine. Since opening in 1903, Greenwich Hospital has evolved into a progressive medical center and teaching institution representing all medical specialties and offering a wide range of medical, surgical, diagnostic and wellness programs. Greenwich Hospital is recognized throughout the healthcare industry as a leader in service and patient satisfaction excellence. Greenwich Hospital has the prestigious Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence. www.greenwichhospital.org