WHERE EVERYONE MATTERS

WHERE
EVERYONE
MATTERS
2012
Diversity Calendar
Dear Beaumont Community
Once again, I am honored to present our Annual Diversity Calendar for 2012. In last year’s calendar
we highlighted The Future Face of Medicine at Beaumont. We provided insight into our commitment
to inclusion in all aspects of the new Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
and our other investments in health care leaders of tomorrow. This year we honor the remarkable
contributions our employees make in creating an inclusive, respectful environment for all those we
serve. Thus, our theme for the 2012 calendar: “Excellent People Providing Excellent Care”.
This year’s calendar highlights examples of how Beaumont employees provide the best of care
to a wide range of patient needs through our Centers of Excellence. I truly believe that it is the
talented people who teach, mentor and support each other in our environment every day that makes
Beaumont successful. The different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds that our employees
bring to Beaumont contribute to the excellent care our patients receive. By integrating the tenants of
inclusion into all aspects of our Centers of Excellence we create a culture of respect and teamwork
that consistently contributes to extraordinary results for our patients, their families and our community,
where everyone matters.
As you read the stories in the center section of the calendar, I encourage you to think about and share
stories of excellence that bring our workplace and community together.
When we pay attention to significant holidays and observances noted in the calendar, we can’t help
but create an environment of inclusion. Please consider these dates when scheduling classes, work
deadlines, meetings and events. Out of respect for cultural observances, be sure to note that many
holidays begin at sundown and some holidays may be fasting days or involve dietary restrictions.
Thank you for embracing the principles of diversity and inclusion that result in a culture of
excellence for all.
Sincerely,
Gene Michalski
President and Chief Executive Officer
where everyone matters
Providing Excellent Care at End of Life across a Diversity of Faiths
Fr. Carl Buxo, M.Div., BCC, Director, Clinical Pastoral Education and Spiritual Care
A Beaumont caregiver’s vocation is dedicated to the art of healing. Just as life’s experiences impact the physical, emotional, spiritual, etc., so too our approach to healing addresses this plurality
of levels. We affirm and follow the time-honored injunction that excellent caregivers adopt a holistic
approach to healing: “As you ought not to attempt to cure the eyes without the head, or the head
without the body so neither ought you to attempt to cure the body without
the soul. For the part will never be well unless the whole is well.” – Plato
Across our Beaumont Health System we integrate our awareness of the
importance of a patient’s beliefs, values, religious and spiritual practices
into our care. We routinely take into account the ways in which core beliefs
– one’s process of meaning making – may shape their interaction with our
interdisciplinary team and treatment protocols. Our approach is multi-dimensional. It reaches beyond the physical to comfort the human spirit in
a time of crisis.
A reality of our vocation is that of reaching the point at which nothing more
can be done to sustain physical health and life. Death may be imminent
and we accept it as a natural process. But our care does not end there.
The patient is perhaps at the most vulnerable time of life. His spirit may
be in need of attention and healing requiring an extraordinary dimension of
informed awareness and sensitivity.
Compassionate companionship at the time of transition from this physical
life is highly regarded across a diversity of cultures and religions. There is
a commonly held understanding that as life ends the dying person desires
to know that (s)he has truly been seen by someone in this world, and that
his/her life has had value and meaning. Another is that calmness of spirit
at the time of transition forms a positive bridge into the life after. But there are times when the
dying person does not have a loved one physically present, whether by geographic separation,
estrangement, or having outlived significant others. It may also be that family members need a
time of respite from this vigil of love. This is where a dedicated group of volunteers step into the
breach so that the patient does not die alone.
Our program of providing companionship at the end of life is called No One Dies Alone (NODA).
It reclaims the ancient wisdom of countering the terrors of the death bed and brings peace to the
individual soul and the community. To use the words of the Psalmist, NODA companions volunteer to journey to “the valley of the shadow of death;” the wilderness of the soul, with another
human being.
Learn more about NODA on the back cover of this calendar.
Sister Charlotte Huetteman,
OSM, Chaplain Resident
Ning An
Lisa Behring
The Children of Beaumont’s Childtime Learning Center Present the Pediatric Rehabilitaion Department with Money from their Fundraising Activities
Royal Oak Pediatric Unit
Royal Oak Volunteer
Healthy Kids Program
Robotic MAZE Heart Procedure
Jai Georgy
J A N U A R Y
Poverty in America Awareness Month
To promote public awareness of the continuing existence of poverty and social injustice in
America. Individuals are encouraged to support efforts to eradicate poverty by increasing
their understanding of the causes and practical solutions and by active participation in
and support for antipoverty programs.
Sunday
1
Monday
3
Wednesday
4
1/1
5
12
19
26
Thursday
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
31
5
12
19
26
Friday
6
13
20
27
February
1 2
7 8 9
14 15 16
21 22 23
28 29
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
Saturday
7
JEWISH
JEWISH
JAPAN
CHRISTIAN
COPTIC, EASTERN ORTHODOX
CHRISTIAN, ORTHODOX
ARMENIA
CHRISTIAN (CATHOLIC)
PUERTO RICO,
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
U.S. INTERNATIONAL
Japanese New Year
5
December
1
6 7 8
13 14 15
20 21 22
27 28 29
6
New Year’s Day
2
Tuesday
4
11
18
25
Holidays and Holy Days
Guru Gobind
Singh’s Birthday
SIKH
Feast of St. Basil
Epiphany
Old Christmas
Solenmity of Mary
8
Shabbat (Sundown)
Three Kings’ Day
9
10
11
BUDDHIST
JAPAN
PUERTO RICO
Mahayana New Year
Seijin-no-Hi
Traditional Day
Hostos Day
12
13
Lohri
BUDDHIST, HINDU, SIKH
St. Knut’s Day
BENIN
NORWAY, SWEDEN
Shabbat
Christmas
Victory Over Genocide
Day
VIETNAM
14
Makar Sankranti/
Thai Pongal
HINDU
New Year’s Day
EASTERN ORTHODOX
CHRISTIAN
1/1
1/6
1/6
1/7
New Year’s Day
First Day of the year on the Gregorian
Calendar
Solenmity of Mary CHRISTIAN (CATHOLIC)
Honors Mary’s divine maternity. One of
six holy days of obligation observed by
U.S. Catholics.
Shabbat (Sundown) JEWISH
One of the most celebrated holy days for
Jewish people, starting from sundown
every Friday night to Saturday night.
Epiphany CHRISTIAN INTERNATIONAL
Commemorates the visit of the Magi to
the Christ child.
Christmas
COPTIC & EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
Christmas is celebrated by the Orthodox
Christians in Central and Eastern Europe
and throughout the world on the 7th of
January in the Gregorian calendar; 13
days after Christians.
1/14 Makar Sankranti HINDU
A Hindi and South Indian winter solstice
observation marking the beginning of
the Pongal festival.
1/16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day U.S.
Honors the life and work of Dr. MLKJ
the national acknowledged national leader
of the civil rights movement.
1/22 Emancipation Day
EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
15
Hangul
NORTH KOREA
World Religion Day
BAHA’I
16
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day
17
Constituition Day
18
19
PHILIPPINES
U.S.
Religious Freedom Day
20
21
ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX
CHRISTIAN
Martyrs’ Day AZERBAIJAN
U.S.
Timkat
U.S.
National Hugging Day
Barrow Day
BARBADOS
St. Sarki’s Day
ARMENIA
22
23
Emancipation Day
Lunar/Chinese New Year
EASTERN ORTHODOX
CHRISTIAN
CHINA, INDONESIA
24
(YEAR OF THE DRAGON)
25
26
27
28
Have Fun At Work Day
Australia Day
Vasant Panchami
U.S.
AUSTRAILIA
International Holocaust
Remembrance Day
Burns Night
SCOTLAND
Republic Day
INDIA
Duarte Day
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
29
30
Festival of Sadeh
IRAN
31
INTERNATIONAL
HINDU
Day in remembrance of the Emancipation Proclamation, it was signed in 1863.
1/23 Chinese Lunar New Year
INTERNATIONAL
The first three days of the first lunar
month observed by many Asian cultures
around the world.
1/28 Vasant Panchami HINDU, SIKH
A festival of spring celebrated in honor
of Saraswati, the goddess of learning,
wisdom, and fine arts.
Skip Eddy
Basem Almasri
A Beaumont Employee Volunteers as a “Celebrity Reader” at a local Elementary School
NICU Caregivers
Blood Donor
Pastoral Care
Employee Creates Oragami to Cheer Patients
Lanying Brown
F E B R U A R Y
National African American-Black History Month - Originally established as
Negro History Week in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson and evolved into the establishment
of February as “Black History Month” in 1976. Recognizing that accomplishments of
African Americans were not studied or documented, Woodson’s intent was to recognize
and celebrate the achievements of blacks in history books.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
1
8
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
30
Thursday
Holidays and Holy Days
January
3 4 5
10 11 12
17 18 19
24 25 26
31
March
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
4
11
18
25
Friday
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
3
4
U.S.
INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
CELTIC, PAGAN
HINDU
CHRISTIAN
JAPAN
Imbolc
Candlemas
Lunar New Year
Maha Shavartri
Setsubun
Mawlid al-Nabi’s
Birthday (Sundown)
3
10
17
24
31
Saturday
2
Groundhog Day
2
9
16
23
30
World Cancer Day
Mawlid al-Nabi’s
Birthday
ISLAMIC
National Day
SRI LANKA
ISLAMIC
5
Eating Disorders
Awareness Week
6
7
8
CHINA, TAIWAN
THAILAND, CAMBODIA, LAOS
JEWISH
Lantern Festival
INTERNATIONAL
Constitution Day
Maja Puja
Tu B’Shevat (Sundown)
Tu B’Shevat
9
10
11
World Day of the Sick
INTERNATIONAL
Kenkoku Kinen-no-Hi
(National Foundation Day)
JEWISH
MEXICO
JAPAN
Super Bowl Sunday
U.S.
12
13
14
15
U.S.
U.S.
INTERNATIONAL
U.S.
NAACP Founded
Brotherhood/
Sisterhood Week
Lincoln’s Birthday
St. Valentine’s Day
Race Relations Day
CHRISTIAN/JEWISH
17
18
SERBIA
(League of United LatinAmerican Citizens)
NEPAL
(Women’s Rights Movement)
U.S.
National Day
16
Susan B. Anthony Day
LULAC Founded
Rashriya Pra Jatantra
Divas
U.S.
Nirvana Day
BUDDHIST
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
World Day of Social
Justice
Mardi Gras
Ash Wednesday
Republic Day
Flag Day
Fiesta sa EDSA
U.S.
CHRISTIAN
GUYANA
MEXICO
PHILLIPINES
BANGLADESH
TIBET
CHRISTIAN
EGYPT
INTERNATIONAL
Presidents’ Day
U.S.
Maha Shivaratri
Shaheed Martyr Day
Shrove Tuesday
Losar
Abu Simbel Festival
HINDU
26
27
28
29
BAHA’I
EASTERN ORTHODOX
CHRISTIAN
TAIWAN
INTERNATIONAL
Ayyam-i-Ha
Lent Begins
Memorial Day
Pashtun Jirga Day
INTERNATIONAL
Leap Year Day
National Day
KUWAIT
American Heart Month
2/2 Groundhog Day U.S.
It says if the groundhog sees its shadow,
we’ll have six more weeks of winter.
2/2 Imbolc CELTIC PAGAN
One of the “Greater Sabbats” during the
Wiccan year. Celebrates light and the
coming of Spring.
2/2 Candlemas CHRISTIAN
Celebrates the presentation of the baby
Jesus, the Christian’s savior in the Temple of
Jerusalem 40 days after his birth.
2/3 Setsubun JAPAN
Bean-Throwing festival, celebrated before
the start of spring according to the Japanese
Lunar calendar.
2/3 Maha Shavarti HINDU
Shiva’s Night honors the Lord Shiva and the
dance of creation, preservation, and destruction.
2/4 Mawlid al-Nabi ISLAMIC
Honors Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
2/6 Lantern Festival CHINA, TAIWAN
Marks the end of the Chinese New Year
celebrations.
2/8 Tu B’Shevat JEWISH
Known as Israel’s New Year for trees. At this
time the age of trees are calculated for the
purpose of tithing.
2/14 Race Relations Day U.S.
Established in 1924 to encourage understanding and tolerance among all races.
2/14 Valentines Day U.S.
Celebrates the feasts of the two Christian
martyrs of this name.
2/20 World Day of Social Justice INTERNATIONAL
Declaration on social justice for a fair
globalization.
2/21 Mardi Gras CHRISTIAN
(also known as Shrove or Fat Tuesday) the
day before Ash Wednesday, celebrated by
eating all the favorite foods that will be
given up during Lent.
2/22 Ash Wednesday CHRISTIAN
The first day of Lent, a 40 day period of
penance and self-examination leading to
Easter Sunday.
2/25 Fiesta sa Edsa PHILIPPINES
People Power Day. Commemorates the
bloodless revolution in 1986 in which
President Ferdinand Marcos was removed
from office.
Michael Coello
Elaine Ng
Naturopathic Doctor from the Integrative Medicine Department points out food that can keep you healthy
First Aid at Arts, Beats & Eats
Neuro Interventional Radiologist
Orthopedic Nurse
Nanoknife Cancer Treatment
Lueria McCallum
M A R C H
National Nutrition Month - The National Nutrition Month® (NNM) is a nutrition education campaign sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association
(ADA) and its Foundation.
Women’s History Month - Founded in 1980, the National Women’s History project
has recognized and celebrated the rich and varied contributions of women to the history
and culture of the U.S.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Holidays and Holy Days
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
February
1 2
7 8 9
14 15 16
21 22 23
28 29
Thursday
1
St. David’s Day
WALES
Martenitza
BULGARIA, ROMANIA
Samijol
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
1
8
15
22
29
Friday
2
Read Across America
Day-Dr. Seuss’s
Birthday
U.S.
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
April
4 5
11 12
18 19
25 26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
Saturday
INTERNATIONAL
3
Hinamat’suri
JAPAN
Throne Day
MOROCCO
Jamahiriya Day
SOUTH KOREA
Greek-American Heritage Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
3/5 Casimir Pulaski Day POLAND, U.S.
Honors General Pulaski’s birthday, who
fought in the U.S. Revolutionary War.
3/8 Purim JEWISH
Celebrates the rescue of the Jews in
ancient Persia from the plot of the King’s
advisor to destroy them.
3/8 International Women’s Day
3/11
LIBYA
3/15
4
5
INTERNATIONAL
POLAND, U.S.
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
United Nations Day for
Women’s Rights and
International Peace
SOUTH KOREA
JEWISH
U.N.
World Day of Prayer
Casmir Pulaski Day
6
Children’s Day
7
Lent begins
Purim (Sundown)
Carnival
8
9
Hola Mohalla
SIKH
10
Employee Appreciation
Day
U.S.
Holi
HINDU, SIKH
BRAZIL
3/20
Purim
JEWISH
Magha Puja
11
Daylight Savings Time
Begins
12
13
14
IRAN
INTERNATIONAL
Chahar Shanbeh Soori
Deaf History Month
Begins
U.S.
Restoration of
Statehood Day
π (Pi) Day
3/17
BUDDHIST
15
World Day of Muslim
Culture, Peace, Dialogue
and Film
16
17
St. Patrick’s Day
3/25
IRELAND, U.S.
Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman’s Birthday
INTERNATIONAL
BANGLADESH
LITHUANIA
3/26
Moshoeshoe’s Day
LESOTHO
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Mothering Sunday
St. Joesph’s Day
Vernal Equinox
Emancipation Day
Vikram Samvat
U.K.
CHRISTIAN
(1st Day of Spring)
International Day for
Elimination of Racial
Discrimination
PUERTO RICO
HINDU
U.N.
U.N.
INDONESIA
National Day of
Memory for Truth
and Justice
29
30
31
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
U.S.
U.S.
INTERNATIONAL
Nowruz
IRAN, BAHA’I, PERSIA
Ostara
CELTIC, PAGAN
World Down Syndrome
Day
World Water Day
Nyepi
ARGENTINA
INTERNATIONAL
Benito Juarez’s Birthday
MEXICO
25
26
CHRISTIAN
INTERNATIONAL
Feast of Annunciation
Earth Hour
Independence Day
BANGALDESH
27
28
Boganda Day
Doctor’s Day
Cesar Chavez Day
Earth Hour
INTERNATIONAL
3/31
Acknowledges the contributons of working women. Honors the 1857 uprising
of female garment workers in NYC who
protested the conditions of the US textile
and garment industries.
Daylight Savings Time U.S.
(Begins)- the practice of temporarily
advancing clocks during the summertime.
Charshanbesuri IRAN
Iranian day of ritual to ward off evil and
misfortunes.
St. Patrick’s Day IRELAND, U.S.
Commemorates the patron saint of
Ireland, who converted to Christianity in
the year 432. The shamrock represents
Trinity.
Ostara CELTIC, PAGAN
The word Ostara is just one of the names
applied to the celebration of the Spring
Equinox.
Feast of Annunciation CHRISTIAN
Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin
Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God.
Earth Hour U.S.
Annual event where households and
businesses turn off their non-essential
lights and other electrical appliances for
one hour to raise awareness towards the
need to take action on climate change.
Cesar Chavez Day U.S.
Commemorates Cesar Chavez who was
a farm worker and labor leader that
co-founded the National Farm Worker
Association (UFW).
Pulkit Bhuptani
Tiffany Cukrowski
A Participant in the W.E.L.L. Program – “Women Exercising to Live Longer”
Beaumont Laboratories Earth Day Project
Troy E.C.Caregiver
Brachy Therapy Procedure
Donations for Haiti
Bashir Oloko
A P R I L
Cancer Control Month - By Presidential proclamation, cancer control efforts
encourage healthy lifestyles, promote cancer screening, increase access to quality cancer
care, and improve quality of life for cancer survivors.
Occupational Therapy Month - Each year in April, occupational therapists,
occupational therapy assistants, and students in practice, education, research, and science
host a month long celebration showcasing the importance of Occupational Therapy.
Sunday
1
April Fool’s Day
INTERNATIONAL
Palm Sunday
CHRISTIAN
Ramanavami
Monday
2
World Autism
Awareness Day
Tuesday
3
Wednesday
Holidays and Holy Days
March
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
Thursday
1
8
15
22
29
7
14
21
28
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
31
6
13
20
27
Friday
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
May
2 3
9 10
16 17
23 24
30 31
5
6
7
CHINA, TAIWAN
CHRISTIAN
BUDDHIST
INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
Siz De Bedar
Maundy Thursday
Sri Mahavir Jayanti
JAIN
IRAN
Theravada New Year
Good Friday CHRISTIAN
National Tartan Day
SCOTLAND, U.S., CANADA
Chakri Day
HINDU
5
12
19
26
Saturday
4
Qing Ming Festival
4
11
18
25
Autism Awareness Month - The (WAAD)
resolution encourages all Member States to take
measures to raise awareness about autism.
4/1 April (All) Fools’ Day INTERNATIONAL
A day of practical jokes and humor.
Began in France in 1564. April 1st used
to be New Year’s Day but the New Year
was changed to January 1st that year.
People who forgot were known as
“April Fools”.
4/1 Palm Sunday
CHRISTIAN, COPTIC & EASTERN ORTHODOX
World Health Day
Passover Begins
4/1
JEWISH
Pesach
JEWISH
THAILAND
Pesach (Sundown)
4/5
JEWISH
8
9
CHRISTIAN
CHRISTIAN
Easter
Buddha’s Birthday
Easter Monday
10
11
12
13
Buddhist New Year
BUDDHIST
Songkran
(Vesak)
THAILAND
BUDDHIST
Good Friday
EASTERN ORTHODOX
EASTERN ORTHODOX
Vaisakhi SIKH
Palm Sunday
14
Sinhala & Tamil
New Year
15
CHRISTIAN
Leonardo da Vinci’s
Birthday
INTERNATIONAL
Pascha
16
Emancipation Day
17
Income Tax Day U.S.
Cultural Unity Day
INDIA, SRI LANKA, MALDIVES,
BANDGLADESH, NEPAL
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, U.S.
DeDiego’s Birthday
19
20
21
(Sundown)
INTERNATIONAL
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL,
TRANSGENDER
BAHA’I
Bike Day
Day of Silence
PUERTO RICO
Yom Ha-Shoah
Holocaust
Remembrance Day
EGYPT
JEWISH
BAHA’I
JEWISH
Sham el-Nessim
Festival of Ridvan
(Sundown)
4/7
Pan American Day
18
Yom Ha-Shoah
CHRISTIAN, COPTIC & EASTERN ORTHODOX
SRI LANKA
LATIN AMERICA
Easter
EASTERN ORTHODOX
4/6
Festival of Ridvan
Tiradentes Day
BRAZIL
4/8
4/8
4/13
4/19
EASTERN ORTHODOX
22
23
24
25
26
27
Earth Day
St. George”s Day
Yom Hazikaron
World Malaria Day
Arbor Day
INTERNATIONAL
CHRISTIAN
Yom Ha’atzmaut Israel
Independence Day*
Discovery of Brazil
BRAZIL
National Sovereignty &
Children’s Day
TURKEY
(Sundown) ISRAEL
Memorial Day
JEWISH
Martyr’s Day
ARMENIA
INTERNATIONAL
Administrative
Professionals Day
INTERNATIONAL
Yom Hazikaron
29
30
INTERNATIONAL
CELTIC
JAPAN
PUERTO RICO
Showa-no-Hi
Beltane
El Dia de los Ninos
Koninginnedag
NETHERLANDS
Take your Children to
Work Day
U.S.
ISRAEL
Gathering of Nations
Powwow
EGYPT
U.S., NATIVE AMERICAN
Sinai Day
World Day of Dance
JEWISH
28
4/20
U.S.
Freedom Day
SOUTH AFRICA
Akshya Tritiya
JAIN
The Day Jesus was given a king’s entry
into Jerusalem where palm leaves were
strewn before him. Beginning of Holy
Week.
Ramanavami HINDU
Celebrates the birth of Shri Rama, one of
the incarnates of the god Vishnu.
Maundy Thursday CHRISTIAN
Commemorates the institution of
the Eucharist and is the oldest of the
Observances during Holy week.
Good Friday
4/29
Day Jesus Christ was crucified.
Passover JEWISH
Eight day festival marking the liberation
of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt.
Easter Sunday CHRISTIAN
Marks the end of Lent and celebrates the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Vesak BUDDHIST
The Great Buddha’s Birthday.
Vaisakhi HINDU, SIKH, JAIN
First day of the Hindu New Year .
Yom Ha-Shoah JEWISH
Memorial of the six million Jews that
were killed in concentration camps
during WWII.
National Day of Silence LGBT
Recognizes the anti-LGBT name-calling
bullying, and harassment in schools.
Showa-no-Hi JAPAN
Honors the birthday of the Showa
Emperor (Hirohito) reigning Emperor
from 1926 to 1989.
Aabeen Hagroo
Yoshio Okumura
Bio Bank Researcher examines Pancreas Cancer Cells
Oncology Nurse
Neurosurgeon with Patient Family Medicine “Tar Wars” Program
Habitat for Humanity Project
Stephanye Horne
M A Y
Holidays and Holy Days
Older Americans Month
Continuing a tradition set in motion by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, President
Obama proclaimed in 2010, May is Older Americans month. The proclamation was
made to honor the ongoing contributions of older Americans and pledge our support as a
nation to the “wisest among us.”
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
1
May Day
Wednesday
2
1
8
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
Thursday
3
U.S.
Labour Day
World Press Freedom
Day INTERNATIONAL
National Day of Prayer
INTERNATIONAL
U.S.
Lei Day
April
4 5
11 12
18 19
25 26
Kenpo Kinen-Bi
U.S. (HAWAII)
June
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
3
10
17
24
Friday
MEXICO
Firefighters’ Day,
Star Wars Day
INTERNATIONAL
8
9
10
INTERNATIONAL
FORMER SOVIET UNION
(RUSSIA)
JEWISH
16
17
World Red Cross
VE Day
Victory Day
Lag Ba’Omer
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
30
Saturday
JAPAN
Swieto Narodowe
Trzeciego Maja
IRELAND/U.K.
May Bank Holiday
6
13
20
27
5
Hana-to-Midori no-Hi
JAPAN
7
5
12
19
26
4
Cinco de Mayo
Vesak Buddha Day
BUDDHIST
Kodomo no-Hi
Urini Nal
JAPAN
SOUTH KOREA
Liberation Day
POLAND
6
4
11
18
25
NETHERLANDS
11
12
Nurse’s Day
INTERNATIONAL
FRANCE, U.S.
National Teacher Day
U.S.
13
14
INTERNATIONAL
FRANCE
Mother’s Day
Juillet/Fête Nationale
15
Youth Day
SOUTH AFRICA
Golden Spike Days
World AIDS Vaccine
Day, International Day
Against Homophobia
18
19
TURKMENISTAN
INTERNATIONAL
Revival and Unity Day
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL,
TRANSGENDER
Ascension Day CHRISTIAN
U..S., ASIAN-AMERICAN
Armed Forces Day
Ataturk Remembrance,
Youth & Sports Day
TURKEY
Brown vs. Board of
Education Anniversary
U.S.
20
21
22
23
25
26
Yom Yerushalayim
(Jerusalem Day)
World Day for Cultural
Diversity for Dialogue
and Development
National Day
Declaration of the Bab
Corpus Christi
Shavuot (Sundown)
YEMEN
BAHA’I
ROMAN CATHOLIC
JEWISH
(Sundown)
JAMAICA
INTERNATIONAL
ISRAEL
U.N.
Victoria Day
CANADA
Declaration of the Bab
24
Labour Day
African Freedom Day
Independence Day
BAHA’I
National Maritime Day
ARGENTINA
U.S.
Jewish American Heritage Month
5/3 National Day of Prayer U.S.
Established as an annual event in 1952
by a joint resolution of the United States
Congress and signed into law by President
Harry S. Truman. It is founded on the
constitutional rights of freedom of speech
and freedom of religion and can be
celebrated by all Americans.
5/4 Star Wars Day U.S.
“May the Fourth be with you”, celebrates
Star Wars culture and film, yet deemed
from the anniversary of the election of
Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female
Prime Minister, in May 4, 1979.
5/5 Cinco de Mayo MEXICO, U.S.
Celebration of Mexican heritage and pride,
and to commemorate the cause of freedom
and democracy during the first years of the
American Civil War.
5/8 VE Day U.S.
Victory in Europe Day, where the Nazi
forces surrendered.
5/12 Nurse’s Day U.S.
Anniversary of the birth of Florence
Nightingale, who is widely considered
the founder of modern nursing.
5/13 Mothers’ Day U.S.
Established by Woodrow Wilson, day in
honor of mothers.
5/14 Golden Spike Day ASIAN, AMERICAN, U.S.
Commemorates the anniversary of the
day the final spike was driven into the
Transcontinental Railroad by over ten
thousand Chinese immigrants.
5/17 Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of
Education U.S.
A landmark decision of the U.S. supreme
court in 1954 outlawed racial segregation of
the public education facilities.
5/23 Declaration of Bab BAHA’I
Bab’s revelation that he was the herald of a
greater messenger of God.
5/26 Shavuot (Sundown) JEWISH
The revelation of the 10 commandments to
Moses on Mt Sinai.
5/27 Pentecost
CHRISTIAN, COPTIC & EASTERN ORTHODOX
27
28
29
JEWISH
U.S.
BAHA’I
CHRISTIAN
U.K.
Shavuot
Pentecost
Memorial Day
Spring Bank Holiday
Independence Day
AZERBAIJAN
Ascension of Baha’u’llah
(Sundown)
BAHA’I
Ascension of Baha’u’llah
30
31
Marks the end of the Easter season in the
Christian calendar.
5/28 Memorial Day U.S.
Remembrance of the fallen soldiers.
Erica Surman
Nabil Hamam
Integrative Medicine provides seated massages at Beaumont’s Annual Cancer Survivor’s Day Celebration
Pediatric Hematology
Xray Recycling at Troy
Heart and Vascular Center
Heart Walk 2011 – Downtown Detroit
Veena Rajanna
J U N E
Holidays and Holy Days
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender (GLBT) Pride Month - June 2, 2000,
President Bill Clinton declared June “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month.” Chosen to
remember the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan signifying the beginning of the gay
liberation movement in the U.S. This month we recognize the impact Gay, Lesbian, and
Transgender individuals have had on the world. Gay and Lesbian groups celebrate this
special time as a memorial to those lost from hate crimes as well as HIV and AIDS.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
May
2 3
9 10
16 17
23 24
30 31
Thursday
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
1
8
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
31
July
4
11
18
25
National Caribbean American Heritage Month
Black Music Month
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
6/3
6/6
Friday
Saturday
1
2
INTERNATIONAL
ITALY
Children’s Day
Gawai Dayak Festival
Republic Day
6/7
6/11
MALAYSIA
6/14
3
4
INTERNATIONAL
IRELAND
Cancer Survivor’s Day
Penetecost, Trinity
Sunday
Bank Holiday
5
World Environment
Day
INTERNATIONAL
Constitution Day
ORTHODOX, CHRISTIAN
6
7
8
U.S.
CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN
INTERNATIONAL
D-Day
Flag Day
Corpus Christi
SWEDEN
DENMARK
Red Earth Festival
World Ocean Day
9
6/16
Red Earth Native
American Cultural
Festival
U.S. (NATIVE AMERICAN)
U.S., NATIVE-AMERICAN
10
11
12
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
U.K.
PHILLIPPINES
BAHA’I
U.S., HAWAII
All Saints Day
Race Unity Day
Camões Day
Queen’s Birthday
King Kamehameha Day
Independence Day
13
Declaration of
Independence Day
14
15
INTERNATIONAL
AZEBAIJAN
U.S.
ISLAMIC
World Blood Donor Day
Flag Day
Day of Salvation
Shab-e-miraj (Sundown)
RUSSIA
16
Martyrdom of
Guru Arjan Dev
SIKH
6/17
6/19
Queen’s Birthday
U.K.
Shab-e-miraj
PORTUGAL
ISLAMIC
17
18
19
20
21
Father’s Day
World Sickle Cell Day
Summer Solstice
National Aboriginal Day
Tuen Ng
INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
CANADA
CHINA
MALAYSIA
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, U.S.
INTERNATIONAL
Isra Miraj
Juneteenth
World Refugee Day
22
23
St. John’s Eve
CHRISTIAN, INTERNATIONAL
Litha, Yule
PAGAN, CELTIC
24
Feast of St. John
Baptiste
CHRISTIAN, INTERNATIONAL
25
26
27
28
29
INTERNATIONAL
CHRISTIAN
Versailles Treaty Day
Stonewall Rebellion
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL,
TRANSGENDER
St. Peter and Paul Day
30
6/27
Red Earth Native American Cultural
Festival U.S., NATIVE AMERICAN
American Indian artists and dancers
will gather to celebrate the richness and
diversity of their heritage with the world
held in Oklahoma city for three days.
D-Day U.S.
Day the U.S. troops landed on the
beaches of Normandy 1944.
Corpus Christi CHRISTIAN-CATHOLIC
Honors the sacrament of Communion.
King Kamehameha Day U.S., HAWAII
Kamehameha the Great was the monarch
of Hawaii between 1782 & 1819. He is
well-known and respected for uniting and
establishing the Kingdom of Hawaii in
1810.
Flag Day U.S.
Anniversary of the American flag in 1777.
Lailat al-Miraj ISLAMIC
Commemorates the night when prophet
Muhammad made the journey from
Mecca to the Dome of the Rock in
Jerusalem and then ascended to heaven
where his heart was purified and he was
filled with knowledge of faith, after which
he came back to Mecca-all in the span of
a night.
Father’s Day U.S.
Holiday honoring fathers proclaimed by
President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Juneteenth U.S. AFRICAN AMERICAN
The oldest known celebration of the
ending of slavery in America. It
originated in Galveston, TX when union
troops brought news of the Emancipation
Proclamation in 1966.
Stonewall Rebellion U.S.
Series of demonstrations against a police
raid that persecuted sexual minorities
which took place in 1969, at the
Stonewall Inn, in Greenwich Village,
NYC; the defining event that marked the
start of the gay rights movement around
the world.
EXCELLENT PEOPLE PROVIDING EXCELLENT CARE
As Beaumont Health System heads into 2012, our focus as an
organization remains on Excellence. We have become a regional and national leader, achieving a broad range of awards
recognizing our high performance in the areas of quality, research, technology, leadership, safety and efficiency across a
broad spectrum of patient care activity.
The reason we have been able to make these achievements
is because of the caliber of highly motivated people that comprise the Beaumont Health System. One person at a time, all
working together in teams, departments, on committees and
other types of groups; together we are an organization made
up of people from many different backgrounds, all of whom
are committed to providing exceptional care to the community we serve.
The 2012 Diversity Calendar highlights our physicians, faculty, employees, volunteers, students, and members of the
community who are dedicated to excellence. As a member of
the Beaumont Diversity Council for the past several years, I’m
pleased to share this information with you and I hope you will
enjoy this glimpse of the excellent people of Beaumont who
do excellent things every day!
Dianne Beloungea, Senior Human Resources Representative,
Beaumont Grosse Pointe
“Through Beaumont’s Centers of Excellence,
our excellent people provide excellent care.”
Providing excellence from the very beginning
About Beaumont’s Digestive Health Center of Excellence
The health system is named for one of the pioneers of digestive health, William Beaumont,
M.D., a surgeon who served in the U.S. Army. While serving at the Mackinac Island outpost,
Dr. Beaumont treated a young trapper who had been shot accidentally in the stomach. The
patient’s unique wound allowed Dr. Beaumont to conduct numerous experiments in human
digestion. He published several reports on his findings, including a book, Experiments and
Observations on the Gastric Juice and the Physiology of Digestion. Dr. Beaumont, who became known as the “Father of Gastric Physiology,” died in 1853 in St. Louis, MO.
Losing weight and gaining self respect
In less than a year, Diane, a Beaumont Weight Control Center participant, lost more weight
than she expected.
“Since I started the program in January, I have lost 80 pounds and I am going to go down
just a little bit more because I like the fact that I feel so much better,” she says. Diane is one
of thousands of metro Detroiters who have benefited from the weight loss programs offered
at Beaumont.
For more than 15 years, the team at the Beaumont Weight Control Center has helped people
like Diane feel better and gain positive attitudes about eating and exercise that are essential
for successful weight loss.
A Tale of Two Sizes: Bariatric Surgery
At a size 28 and weighing 350 pounds, Ida Nemzin was diagnosed
as morbidly obese. Her health was in jeopardy and she was being
treated for hypertension, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, acid reflux, diabetes, poor blood circulation and depression. Something
had to be done.
“I was finally prepared to talk to a doctor about my weight and
discuss bariatric surgery options. It’s something I was thinking about for a while, and I knew if I didn’t do something now,
I may eventually have the same battle to fight,” she says. “I’ve
struggled with my weight my entire life and was ready to make
a commitment.”
Oncology Excellence
Beaumont – The Preferred Choice
Excellent Care for Excellent Children
Children’s Hospital
Beaumont Children’s Hospital has a strong tradition of research and teaching, where new
technologies and treatments can be put into practice quickly for the benefit of our patients. Affiliations with the University of Michigan and Wayne State medical schools, as
well as the new Oakland University
William Beaumont School of Medicine, bring more than 400 residents
and fellows to our campuses each
year, each individual with a different
background and different talents.
We also host nursing students from
Oakland University. The continuing
emphasis on discovery, learning
and inclusion enriches our clinical
practice, enhances our patients’
experiences, and spurs continuing
improvement.
At Beaumont, we lead the way in linking technology and
health care to provide cancer patients, of all ages, with
the best treatment and outcomes. More than 3,000 physicians, who specialize in more than 100 types of cancer
treatment, staff the Beaumont Cancer Institute. Beaumont is a national
leader in cancer diagnosis and provides advanced treatment of breast
and prostate cancers.
We also offer a Community Clinical
Oncology Program that uses highly
trained cancer physicians in area
communities to bring the benefits of
the latest scientific research to more
people. The result, a shared responsibility of supporting quality patient
care and excellence in conducting
clinical research.
Beaumont’s Department of Radiation
Oncology has consistently received international praise for
developing innovative cancer treatments, including imageguided radiation therapy, adaptive radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy and a minority outreach program that provides cancer prevention education and health
care screenings to our minority community.
Heart and Vascular Excellence
Excellent Physicians Provide Student Heart Check
Screenings
Over the past eight years, more than 29 young people in
Michigan (usually student athletes) died from “sudden cardiac
death” as a result of exertion-related hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. To help detect young people at risk of sudden cardiac
death, Beaumont partnered with a local television station to
offer free heart screenings to Michigan high school students.
Screenings include medical
history, a physical examination by a cardiologist, a blood
pressure check and an electrocardiogram. These heart
screenings normally cost approximately $1,000 each and
are generally not included in
the routine physical required
before participating in school
sports programs.
This program is designed for high school-aged children in the
9th through 12th grades. While we recognize there is a desire
by some parents for testing to begin at an earlier age, structural abnormalities and arrhythmias responsible for sudden
cardiac death (in particular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) are
more difficult to detect in younger students.
Among the 6685 students screened, 663 students were
referred back to their physician and 41 were advised to
stop participating in vigorous sports until they consulted a
cardiologist. Since the “Healthy Heart Check” began in May
2007, six students have been identified with potentially lifethreatening heart conditions. Beaumont holds these free
community screenings on an ongoing basis.
Excellence in Neuroscience
Epilepsy Clinic
The Epilepsy Clinic at Beaumont, Royal Oak opened as a Neurology
sub-specialty clinic in the Department of Clinical Neurophysiology. The
clinic is under the medical direction of epileptologist, Shaila Gowda,
M.D. Dr. Gowda specializes in the pre-surgical evaluation and medical
treatment of epilepsy in both pediatric and adult patients.
This sub-specialty clinic offers collaborative treatment for patients
suffering from intractable epilepsy, women of child bearing age with
epilepsy and other complex forms of the disorder. The clinic has a
comprehensive care approach to treatment offering evaluation and
epilepsy management options from excellent: Epileptologists, Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Psychiatrists, Neuropsychologists and
Social workers.
Providing Excellent Care in Our Brain and Spinal Cord Tumor Clinic
“The expertise of our medical team and rich resources, make our clinic one of the most
comprehensive and experienced in Michigan. Beaumont is a National Cancer Institute-designated Community Clinical Oncology Program. Our specialists use state-of-the-art neuro
imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Our Gamma Knife® radiosurgery program for brain tumors is one of the nation’s largest,
and we offer advanced spinal radiosurgery treatments.”
Excellence in Women’s Health
Excellence in Orthopedics
Wendy’s Story
Wendy Page of Bloomfield Hills knew the time had come
to finally have hip replacement when just walking from
the parking lot to her office had become a struggle. Degenerative osteoarthritis had made even sleeping painful. Wendy, a nurse who does discharge planning on
Beaumont’s neuroscience unit, had difficulty bending,
which made her gardening hobby less enjoyable.
Two total hip replacement surgeries in 2006 seven
months apart, “went beautifully,” Wendy says. “With the
second surgery I was off the walker at two weeks and
driving three weeks after surgery. The pain is now gone
and it’s remarkable, a real gift.”
Wendy is now “gardening with a vengeance” and walking -- pain free -- for exercise and
enjoyment now. “I had an excellent experience at Beaumont,” Wendy recalls. “Everybody in
the whole orthopaedic department was super.”
Cardiac Prevention Program
As a woman, Daryl Taylor Millender of Detroit always found
that while she always had time to take care of others, she
didn’t always take the time to care for herself. But when she
was found to have high blood pressure, she made time to take
part in a new cardiac disease prevention program at Beaumont that includes instruction on exercise, diet, and stress
management. The 26-week program, Women Exercising to
Live Longer, or WELL, made a huge difference in her life.
“I’ve changed my entire lifestyle. I look forward to going to
the gym. I sleep better. I have more energy. It’s like I’ve
been reborn.”
Rodney Corby
Avani Prabhakar
Beaumont Home Health Services
Covenant Community Care
Orthopedic Nurse
Beaumont Geriatrics Physician
Lorraine Headley Nursing Award Winner
Kongkrit Chaiyasate
J U L Y
Holidays and Holy Days
7/2
Sandwich Generation Month - Month is an annual commemoration and
celebration of the dedication, patience, and caring of adults who are part of the
sandwich generation- those caring for their children as well as their own aging parents.
The annual recognition is every July, with organizations and communities throughout
the United States holding events to raise awareness and provide support for members of
the sandwich generation.
Sunday
1
Foundation Day
Monday
2
SOMALIA
Canada Day
Tuesday
Wednesday
June
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
Thursday
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
30
Friday
3
4
5
6
BUDDHIST
U.S.
ISLAMIC
CZECH REPUBLIC
Asalha Puja (Dharma Day)
CANADA
Independence Day
Lailat al-Bara’ah
Nisfu Sha’ban
Jan-Hus Day
ISLAMIC
Tigran
6
13
20
27
3
10
17
24
31
7
Tanabata (Star Festival)
JAPAN
Pamplona San Fermin
PHILLIPPINES, U.S.
8
9
(Sundown)
JAPAN
Martyrdom of the Bab
BAHA’I
Festival of Lanterns
10
Martyrdom of the Bab
11
12
13
14
MONGOLIA
IRELAND
JAPAN
FRANCE
Naadam Day
Orangeman’s Day
O-Bon
4
11
18
25
Saturday
SPAIN
Fil-American
Friendship Day
IRAN
5
12
19
26
August
1 2
7 8 9
14 15 16
21 22 23
28 29 30
Bastille Day
BAHA’I
National Day
ARGENTINA
7/3
7/4
7/4
Canada Day CANADA
The Day Canada became a self-governing
dominion of Great Britain.
Asalha Puja BUDDHIST
A Theraveda Buddhist celebration of the
Buddha’s first sermon.
United States Independence Day U.S.
Anniversary of the signing the
Declaration of Independence from
England in 1776.
Fil-American Friendship Day
PHILIPPINES, U.S.
The day in the Philippines designated
to commemorate the liberation of the
country by joint Filipino and American
forces from the Japanese occupation at
the end of WWII.
7/9 Martyrdom of the Bab BAHA’I
Commemorates the arrest and execution
of the Bab, the prophet-herald of the faith
in 1850.
7/20 Ramadan ISLAMIC
The ninth and holiest month of the
Islamic year traditionally begins with the
sighting of the new moon. This time
of spiritual and physical purification
commemorates the revelation of the
Quran to Muhammad on Lailat al-Qadir.
7/24 Pioneer Day, Latter-Day Saints
MORMON
15
16
17
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL,
TRANSGENDER
International Drag Day
Muñoz Rivera Day
19
20
21
SOUTH KOREA
JAPAN
ISLAMIC
BELGIUM
ISLAMIC
IRAN
Constitution Day
18
Shab-e-Barat
Umi no-Hi
Tigran
Ramadaan Begins
National Holiday
Ramadaan (Sundown)
PUERTO RICO
Umi-no-Hi
ISLAMIC
JAPAN
Shab-e-Barat (Sundown)
ISLAMIC
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Parent’s Day
Emperor Haile Selassi I
Birthday
Pioneer Day
Saint James the Great
Day
Disability (ADA)
Awareness Day
Barbosa Day
Tisha B’av
PUERTO RICO
JEWISH
ETHIOPIAN, RASTAFARIAN
CHRISTIAN
INTERNATIONAL
EGYPT
CUBA
CUBA
U.S.
MORMON LATTER DAY SAINTS
Revolution Day
Moncada Anniversary
Moncada Anniversary
Commemorates the entry of Brigham
Young and the first group of Mormon
pioneers into Salt Lake Valley on July
24, 1847, where the Latter-day Saints
settled after being forced from Nauvoo,
Illinois and other locations in the eastern
US. Parades, fireworks, rodeos, and other
festivities help commemorate the event.
On Pioneer Day, some Latter-Day Saints
walk portions of the Mormon Trail or
re-enact entering the Salt Lake Valley by
handcart.
7/26 Americans with Disabilities Act Signed
U.S.
Signing of this act in 1990 provided
reasonable accommodation in work
situations and standards for physical
accessibility to buildings and public
transportation.
7/31 Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola
CATHOLIC, SPAIN
29
30
31
Feast of St. Ignatius
Loyola
SPAIN, ROMAN CATHOLIC
Celebrates the life of St. Ignatius who
founded the Jesuit order.
Ayad Abrou
Kim VanLacken
Israeli Ophthamology Resident from Emek Medical Centers, who studies at Beaumont as part of her Residency
Troy – Take Your Kids to Work Day
Appointment Center
Team Beaumont at Heart Walk
Medical Student and Resident Brother
Avdesh Buragadda
A U G U S T
International Day of Indigenous People - August 9th the day of the first meeting,
in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on
the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. In 1994, the General Assembly decided
that this date shall be observed every year to further the “strengthening of international
cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture,
education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
Lammas and
Lughnasadh
CELTIC, PAGAN
National Minority
Donor Awareness Day
Holidays and Holy Days
8/1
1
8
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
31
Thursday
2
Raksha Bandhan
July
4
11
18
25
September
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
2
9
16
23
30
Friday
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
Saturday
3
4
11
HINDU
Ilinden
MACEDONIA
U.S.
Confederation Day
SWITZERLAND
5
6
9
10
INTERNATIONAL
SCOTLAND, IRELAND
JEWISH
HINDU
INTERNATIONAL
CANADA
SINGAPORE
Friendship Day
Sister’s Day
Summer Bank Holiday
7
8
August Civic Holiday
Tisha B’av (end)
National Day
Verslunarmannahelgi
Krishna Janmashtami
International Day of
the Worlds Indigenous
People
ICELAND
U.N.
12
13
14
U.N.
U.S.
ISLAMIC
ISLAMIC
PAKISTAN
International Youth Day
V-J Day
Lailat ul-Qadr (Sundown)
Lailat ul-Qadr
Independence Day
15
16
CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Assumption Day of
Virgin Mary
Independence Day
Restoration of the
Republic
17
18
ARGENTINA
ISLAMIC
San Martin Day
Independence Day
Eid al-Fitr (Sundown)
INDONESIA
INDIA
O-Bon
Korea Liberation Day
JAPAN
NORTH & SOUTH KOREA
Brazzaville
CONGO
19
20
Eid al-Fitr
St. Stephen’s Day
ISLAMIC
HUNGARY
Jeshn
21
22
23
24
Samvatsari,
Dashalakshani-Parva
JAIN
AFGHANISTAN
26
27
U.S.
U.K.
Women’s Equality Day
Summer Bank Holiday
28
29
30
31
Merdeka (Freedom) Day
MALAYSIA
Consitution Day
KAZAKHSTAN
Solidarity Day
POLAND
25
1
8
15
22
29
National Minority Donor Awareness
Day U.S.
This day is designed to increase awareness
of the need for more organ/tissue donors.
The annual observance reaches out to
minorities and focuses on the various fears
and obstacles associated with donation.
Lughnasadh, Lamas CELTIC, PAGAN
The cross-quarter festival that heralds the
start of the autumn quarter of the year
and the end of the summer quarter. Bread
is eaten to give thanks.
8/9 International Day of the Worlds
Indigenous People U.N.
This date offers the world community an
opportunity to reiterate the principles of
respect for human rights enshrined in the
Charter and to find solutions to alleviate
the plight of indigenous people.
8/13 V-J Day U.S.
Victory over Japan Day, Celebrates the
surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945,
ending WWII. In Japan it is known as
Shusen-kinenbi, or Memorial Day for the
end of the war. It is known as Liberation
Day in the Nations such as Korea due to
participation of their exiles in war against
Japan for 40 years.
8/14 Lailat ul-Qadr ISLAMIC
Night of Destiny, the night Allah revealed
the Qu’ran, the holy book, to the Prophet
Muhammad.
8/15 Assumption of the Virgin Mary
8/1
CHRISTIAN
Commemorates the taking of the Virgin
Mary’s body and soul into heaven.
8/19 Eid al-Fitr ISLAMIC
Feast of the Breaking of the Fast, the
celebration of the end of Ramadan fast
and a time of goodwill to all.
8/26 Women’s Equality Day U.S.
A day set aside in 1974 to honor the
ratification of the 19th Amendment to
the Constitution in 1920 granting voting
rights to women.
Joann Cain
Brett Read
Beaumont Health Services, Ambulatory Care Services Green Team
Family Medicine
Pediatric Radiologist with a Resident
Oncology Nurse
White Coat Ceremony, First Medical School Class
Lacey Sapkiewicz
S E P T E M B E R
National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th thru October 15th) - The term
Hispanic, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the U.S. of any race. September 15 was
chosen as a starting point for the celebration because it’s the anniversary of independence
of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and
Nicaragua. They all declared independence in1821. In addition, México on the 16th,
Chile on the 18th and Belize on the 21st celebrate their independence.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
Thursday
Holidays and Holy Days
Labor Day U.S.
Honors working people and the
contributions of their labor.
9/9 Grandparents Day U.S.
Established by presidential proclamation in
1979 in honor of all grandparents.
9/11 Enkutatash
9/3
August
1 2
7 8 9
14 15 16
21 22 23
28 29 30
3
10
17
24
31
4
11
18
25
7
14
21
28
Friday
1
8
15
22
29
October
2 3 4
9 10 11
16 17 18
23 24 25
30 31
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
Saturday
1
Israel Miraji Ascent of
Prophet Muhammad
COPTIC & ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
9/11
9/16
ISLAMIC
Ecclesiastical Year
(Begins)
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
Revolution Day
LIBYA
9/17
2
3
4
U.S., CANADA
JAIN
Labor Day
Anata-Chaturdasi
Ksamavani
5
6
7
SWAZILAND
BRAZIL
Somhlolo Day
Independence Day
8
International Literacy
Day
9/17
U.N.
JAIN
9/19
9/21
9
Grandparent’s Day
U.S.
10
World Suicide
Prevention Day
INTERNATIONAL
11
Patriots’ Day
12
13
U.S.
14
Pchum Ben Day
CAMBODIA
Enkutatash
16
17
Constitution &
Citzenship Day
U.S.
Independence Day
MEXICO
National Day
MALAYSIA
Rosh Hashanah
18
National Hispanic
Heritage Month (Begins)
U.S.
9/22
Selichot Service
COPTIC & ETHIOPIAN
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
Stepfamily Day
15
JEWISH
19
20
21
22
Ganesh Chaturthi
Paryushana Parva
HINDU
JAIN
International Day of
Peace
(1st Day of Fall)
U.S.
U.N.
JAPAN
INTERNATIONAL
Keiro no-Hi
World Alzheimer’s Day
Rosh Hashanah
Autumnal Equinox
9/22
Mabon, Ostata
PAGAN, CELTIC
Oktoberfest
GERMANY
9/24
28
29
9/25
U.S., NATIVE AMERICAN
JEWISH
JEWISH
(Sundown)
JEWISH
23
24
25
26
SAUDI ARABIA
SOUTH AFRICA
JEWISH
JEWISH
30
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, PERU
Shubun no-Hi
JAPAN
National Day
Chuseok KOREAN
Sukkot (Sundown)
JEWISH
Heritage Day
Our Lady of Mercedes
Day
Deaf Awareness Week
INTERNATIONAL
Yom Kippur (Sundown)
Yom Kippur
27
Native American Day
Tish’a Bav
Moon Festival
CHINA
Ethiopian New Year, gifts of jewels, relates
to fine jewels offered to the Queen of Sheba
for her homecoming after her visit with the
King Solomon of Jerusalem.
Patriot Day U.S.
Honors those individuals who lost their
lives in the terrorist attacks of 9-11-2001.
Rosh Hashanah (Sundown) JEWISH
Marks the beginning of the Jewish New
Year and commemorates the creation of
the world. It is the beginning of a period of
penitence and spiritual renewal that ends
with Yom Kippur on Sept. 25.
Citizenship Day U.S.
Honors those from other countries that
became U.S. citizens.
Constitution Day U.S.
Honoring the Anniversary of the Signing of
the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
Ganesh Chaturthi HINDU
Day of offering to Lord Ganesh, god of
wisdom, success, and remover of obstacles.
International Day of Peace U.N.
A day of global cease-fire and nonviolence
and an invitation to all nations and people
to honor cessation of hostilities.
Mabon INTERNATIONAL, CELTIC, PAGAN
On this day the Northern and Southern
hemispheres receive the same amount of
sunlight. Not only that, each receives the
same amount of light as they do dark- this
is because the earth is tilted at a right angle
to the sun and the sun is directly over the
Equator.
Oktoberfest GERMANY
Two week harvest festival celebrated by
feasting, drinking, music, and other folk
customs.
Deaf Awareness Week U.S.
International Week of the Deaf is the last
full week in commemoration of the first
World Congress of the Deaf that was held
that week in 1951.
Yom Kippur (Sundown) JEWISH
Also called the Day of Atonement. The
holiest and most solemn day of the Jewish
calendar.
Patricia Carson
Adrian Melicor
Troy Beaumont utilizes the first in Southeast Michigan, Dilon Gamma Cameras, for Breast Imaging
Times Square features Royal Oak Facebook
Donor Transplant
MPI Study
Troy Cashier
Research Coordinator for Bio Bank
Center for Human
Development
Leela Ganganithi
O C T O B E R
Diversity Awareness Month - Numerous diversity-related initiatives have been implemented and nurtured on all Four Diversity Fronts- Creating a Welcoming Environment,
Building Culturally Competent Health Care, Enhancing Workforce Diversity, and
Increasing Vendor Diversity. This month we celebrate our commitment to diversity and
inclusion with numerous activities to educate and raise awareness, including an annual
diversity conference which offers awarness/education to all employees.
Sunday
Monday
1
Sukkot
JEWISH
Child Health Day
INTERNATIONAL
Vegetarian Day
Tuesday
2
International Day of
Non-Violence
(Mahatma Gandhi’s
Birthday) U.N., INDIA
Mehregan IRAN
Wednesday
Holidays and Holy Days
September
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
Thursday
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
Friday
November
1
6 7 8
13 14 15
20 21 22
27 28 29
Saturday
3
4
5
6
GERMANY
LESOTHO
INTERNATIONAL
EGYPT
Unity Day
National Day (Tangun)
SOUTH KOREA
National Holiday
Feast of
St. Francis Assisi
World Teacher’s Day
National Diversity Day
Armed Forces Day
U.S.
U.S., CHRISTIAN
INTERNATIONAL
National Day
CHINA
7
Shemini Atzeret
(Sundown) JEWISH
8
Columbus Day,
Observed U.S.
Thanksgiving Day
CANADA
Shemini Atzeret JEWISH
National Children’s Day
U.S.
Simchat Torah (Sundown)
9
Simchat Torah
JEWISH
Cirio de Nazare
BRAZIL
Hangul
10
World Mental Health
Day
INTERNATIONAL
Double Tenth Day
TAIWAN
11
National Coming Out
Day GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL,
TRANSGENDER
General Pulaski
Memorial Day
12
Our Lady Aparecida Day
13
BRAZIL
Confucius’ Birthday
CHINA
SOUTH KOREA
Leif Ericcson Day
Beginning of
Independence Wars
U.S.
CUBA
JAPAN
16
17
18
19
20
U.S.
JAIN
AZERBAIJAN
(Sundown)
U.S.
U.S.
Taiiku no-Hi
JEWISH
14
Ally Week
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL,
TRANSGENDER
15
National Hispanic
Heritage Month
(Ends)
U.S.
National Bosses Day
Navaratri (Durga Puja)
Mahavira Nirvana
HINDU
Day of State Sovereignty
Alaska Day
Birth of the Bab
BAHA’I
U.S.
Sweetest Day
Birth of the Bab
BAHA’I
National Heroes Day
Compilation of
Holy Scriptures
JAMAICA
SIKH
21
22
23
24
25
26
Labour Day
Chung Yeung
Dussehra
Eid-al-Adha
NEW ZEALAND
CHINA
Hajj (Begins)
Waqf al Arafa
HINDU
ISLAMIC
KAZAKHSTAN
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL,
TRANGENDER
Abu Simbel Festival
EGYPT
Chulalongkorn Day
THAILAND
ISLAMIC
United Nations
Charter Day
U.N.
28
29
U.S.
TURKEY
Mother-In-Law Day
Reformation Day
Republic Day
30
31
Halloween
U.S.
Reformation Day
PROTESTANT, CHRISTIAN
CHRISTIAN (PROTESTANT)
GREECE
CELTIC, PAGAN
Ochi Day
Samhain
Republic Day
Eid-al-Adha (Sundown)
ISLAMIC
Intersex Awareness Day
2
9
16
23
30
27
3
10
17
24
German-American Heritage Month
National Italian-American Heritage Month
Polish-American Heritage Month
10/1 Sukkot JEWISH
An eight-day festival called the Feast of
Booths. It commemorates the divine
protection given to the Israelites during
their 40 years of wandering in the desert.
10/4 Feast of St. Francis of Assisi CHRISTIAN
A Christian feast day in honor of Giovanni
Francesco Barnardone, founder of the
Franciscan Order. Born in Italy in 1181,
he is the patron saint of animals.
10/5 National Diversity Day U.S.
A day to celebrate and embrace who we
are, embracing our differences.
10/8 Shemini Atzeret JEWISH
“The eight-day of assembly” is a Biblical
Jewish Holiday that follows the Jewish
festival of Sukkot. It is written: “On
the eight day you should hold a solemn
gathering; you shall not work at your
occupation” (Numbers 29:35)
10/9 Simchat Torah JEWISH
Means “rejoicing the Torah” and immediately
follows Sukkot. Celebrates the conclusion of
the public reading of the Torah.
10/10 Double Tenth Day CHINA
A day on which families visit the graves of
their ancestors.
10/11 National Coming Out Day GLBT
Commemorates the 1987 march in
Washington, D.C. to support gay and
lesbian rights.
10/20 Birth of the Bab BAHA’I
Remembers the 1819 birth of Siyyid Ali
Muhammad, who took the title of “The
Bab” and is recognized as prophet-herald
of the Baha’i faith.
10/24 Hajj ISLAMIC
Begins on the eighth day of the lunar
month of Dhu al-Hijjah as the pilgrimage
to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
10/24 United Nations Day U.N.
Commemorates the establishment of the
United Nations in 1945.
10/26 Eid al-Adha ISLAMIC
Festival of Sacrifice, marking the day after
Arafat. The Day of Arafat is the most
important day in the Hajj ritual.
10/28 Ochi Day GREECE
Anniversary of the “No”, commemorates
Greece’s rejection of the ultimatum made by
Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1940.
Jay Bonnell
Pamela Vinson-Washington
Beaumont Pediatric Dietitian offers Parents tips on building a better School Lunch
Royal Oak – Take Your Kids to Work Day
MRI Safe Pacemaker
News Story on Student Althlete Screenings
Nurses Week Talent
Student Concussion Screening
Poonam Mishra
N O V E M B E R
Holidays and Holy Days
11/1 All Saints’ Day
CHRISTIAN, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS MEXICO
Native American-Indian Heritage Month
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating
November as National Native American Indian Heritage Month, to recognize the
significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth
of the United States.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
October
2 3 4
9 10 11
16 17 18
23 24 25
30 31
Thursday
December
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
2
9
16
23
30
Friday
3
10
17
24
31
4
11
18
25
2
3
CHRISTIAN
CHRISTIAN (CATHOLIC)
JAPAN
(Day of the Dead)
JAIN
Dia de los Muertos
MEXICO
All Soul’s Day
Lokashah
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
11/11
Saturday
1
All Saint’s Day
5
12
19
26
1
8
15
22
29
11/12
Bunka no-Hi
11/14
Dzyady
BELARUS
4
5
6
U.S.
U.K.
U.S.
Daylight Savings Ends
U.K. Guy Fawkes Day
Election Day
7
Day of Reconciliation &
Consent
8
9
World Freedom Day
10
11/17
INTERNATIONAL
RUSSIA
11/20
11/24
11
12
13
14
15
U.S.
BAHA’I
(Festival of Lights)
INTERNATIONAL
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
Veterans Day
Remembrance Day
Birth of Baha’u’llah
Diwali
BUDDHIST, HINDU, SIKH, JAIN
INTERNATIONAL
Armistice Day
World Diabetes Day
Al Hijra/Muharram
(Sundown)
ISLAMIC
New Year’s Day
FRANCE
Birth of Baha’u’llah
Nativity Fast
Proclamation of the
Republic Day
16
International Day of
Tolerance
U.N.
JAIN
Children’s Day
ISLAMIC
INDIA
JAPAN
21
National Revival Day
National Adoption Day
Al Hijra/Muharram
BAHA’I
World Peace Day
INTERNATIONAL
AZEBAIJAN
BRAZIL
(Sundown)
17
Shichi-Go-San
11/26
18
19
20
22
23
24
Fête de l’Independence
Discovery Day
Universal Child Day
Thanksgiving Day
Kinro-Kansha no-Hi
MOROCCO
PUERTO RICO, HAITI
U.N., CANADA
U.S.
JAPAN
Martyrdom of
Guru Tegh Bahadur
Transgender Day of
Remembrance
Ashura (Sundown)
ISLAMIC
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL,
TRANGENDER
MEXICO
25
26
Day of the Covenant
BAHA’I
27
28
Birth of Founder
Guru Nanak
SIKH
U.N.
National Day
Ascension of
Abdu’l-Baha
BOSNIA
BAHA’I
Day of the Covenant
(Sundown) BAHA’I
29
30
Saint Andrew’s Day
CHRISTIAN, SCOTLAND
Bonifacio Day
PHILIPPINES
11/15
SIKH
Ashura
ISLAMIC
Revolution Day
International Day for
the Elimination of
Violence against Women
11/24
U.S.
11/28
Remembering known and unknown
Christian saints. Called “Day of the
Dead” in Mexico, a celebration that blends
Christian and Aztec traditions to remember
departed souls in a spirit of joy instead
of sorrow.
Veteran’s Day U.S.
Formerly known as Armistice Day,
commemorates the end of WWI. This day
is set aside to honor soldiers, present and
past, for serving our country.
Birth of Baha’u’llah BAHA’I
Marks the birth of Prophet-founder of the
Baha’i faith, born Mirza Husayn Ali in
1817.
Children’s Day INDIA
This day was established to encourage all
countries to institute a day to promote
mutual exchange and understanding among
children and promote the welfare of the
world’s children.
National Adoption Day U.S.
A celebration of all families that have
adopted children. On this day efforts take
place to raise awareness of children in foster
care waiting for permanent families.
Transgender Day of Remembrance GLBT
A day to remember those who were killed
due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
Thanksgiving Day U.S.
Celebrated the fourth Thursday in
November as a day of national
thanksgiving honoring the first harvest of
Plymouth Colony in 1621 that originated
with three days of prayer and feasting.
Ashura ISLAMIC
The tenth day of the first Islamic month
dedicated to the martyrdom of Hussein, the
grandson of the prophet Muhammad.
Day of the Covenant BAHA’I
Commemorates Baha’u’llah’s designation of
his son as center of his covenant.
Hijra ISLAMIC
Islamic New Year, marks the migration of
the Prophet Mohammed and his followers
from Mecca to Medina.
Guru Nanak’s Birthday SIKH
Commemorates the birth of Guru Nanek,
founder of the Sikh religion, in the fifteenth
century.
Jamie Lynch
Adli Yakan
Beaumont Pediatric Neurologist with a young, successfully treated Patient
Grosse Pointe Pediatric Unit
Healthy Kids Program
Grosse Pointe Teenage Volunteer
Troy Anestheia Team
Sandra Helen Milton
D E C E M B E R
Universal Human Rights Month - Inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt’s belief that “The
destiny of human rights is in the hands of all our citizens in all our communities,” the
General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights on December 10, 1948. The text states that, “All human beings are born free and
equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should
act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
Holidays and Holy Days
Novemeber
1
6 7 8
13 14 15
20 21 22
27 28 29
Thursday
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
6
13
20
27
Friday
7
14
21
28
January
1 2 3
8 9 10
15 16 17
22 23 24
29 30 31
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
Saturday
1
World AIDS Day
INTERNATIONAL
National Day
ROMANIA
Rosa Parks Day
U.S.
2
Advent
CHRISTIAN
National Day
LAOS, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
3
International Day
of Persons with
Disabilities
4
5
International Volunteer
Day
6
St. Nicholas Day
INTERNATIONAL
U.N.
Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day
U.S.
Consitution Day
U.N.
7
8
Bodhi Day
BUDDHIST
Immaculate Conception
ROMAN CATHOLIC
(CHRISTIAN)
SPAIN
Hanukkah (Sundown)
JEWISH
9
10
JEWISH
U.N.
Hanukkah
Human Rights Day
11
Constitution Day
12
13
MEXICO
MUSLIM
RUSSIA
SWEDEN, U.S.
Fiesta of Virgin of
Guadalupe
Constitution Day
THAILAND
Jamhuri Day
Al Hijra/ Muharram
Ends
14
15
Bill of Rights Day
U.S.
Santa Lucia Day
JAMAICA
16
17
Las Posadas
Wright Brothers Day
Solstice
MEXICO
U.S.
INTERNATIONAL
Bijoy Dibosh
18
19
20
CELTIC, PAGAN
23
24
25
26
JAPAN
CHRISTIAN, U.S.
CHRISTIAN, U.S.
AFRICAN AMERICAN
30
31
ZOROASTRIAN
PHILLIPPINES
INTERNATIONAL
BAHAMAS
Rizal Day
22
Yule
BANGLADESH
Tenno no-Tanjobi
21
Christmas Eve
Independence Day LIBYA
New Years Eve
Christmas
Kwanzaa
Boxing Day
INTERNATIONAL
Zarathosht Diso
Junkanoo
27
28
Día de los Inocentes
PUERTO RICO
29
Anniversary of the
Wounded Knee
Massacre
U.S. (NATIVE AMERICAN)
12/1 Rosa Parks Day U.S.
Commemorates the arrest of Rosa Parks in
1955 for refusing to give up her seat to a
white passenger on a public bus. This led to
a boycott of the bus system and the end of
segregation.
12/1 World AIDS Day U.N.
A day when governments, faith
organizations, community organizations
and individuals around the world bring
attention to the global AIDS epidemic and
emphasize the critical need to universal
access to essential care.
12/2 Advent CHRISTIAN
Marks the beginning of the Christian
Liturgical calendar year. It begins on the
fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends
on Christmas Eve.
12/3 International Day of Persons with
Disabilities U.N.
Promotes the integration of persons with
disabilities into the workforce and society.
12/6 St. Nicholas Day INTERNATIONAL
Celebrates the life of St. Nicholas, a
Christian bishop who lived in what is now
Turkey. In many European countries, gifts
are exchanged on this day.
12/8 Bodhi Day BUDDHIST
Celebrates the day of Buddha’s enlightenment, when Siddhartha Gautama reached
awakening and was named Buddha; the
Enlightened One.
12/9 Hanukkah JEWISH
Eight-day festival commemorating the
recapture of the Temple in Jerusalem in
165 B.C.
12/15 Bill of Rights Day U.S.
Ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791.
12/21 Solstice INTERNATIONAL, YULE CELTIC, PAGAN
The shortest day of the year.
12/25 Christmas CHRISTIAN
Celebrates the birth of Jesus. One of the
most joyous days of the Christian year.
12/26 Kwanzaa AFRICAN AMERICAN
Seven-day celebration started in 1966
to honor African Americans. Each day
is dedicated to one of seven principles:
unity, self-determination, collective work
and responsibility, cooperative economics,
purpose, creativity and faith.
12/26 Boxing Day INTERNATIONAL
In the past this was when people who had
to work on Christmas celebrated the holiday. They were given boxes containing gifts
or donations in appreciation for their work.
12/31 New Year’s Eve INTERNATIONAL
Last day of the Gregorian calendar,
traditionally a night for merrymaking to
welcome in the New Year.
Understanding Cultural and Religious Beliefs to Assist the Dying
Fr. Carl Buxo, M.Div., BCC, Director, Clinical Pastoral Education and Spiritual Care
Beaumont NODA volunteers honor the fact that each individual is unique. While both
volunteer and the dying person’s lives have been influenced, guided perhaps by differing
values it is the dying person’s values that inform and shape the NODA volunteer’s intervention. The primary question in the mind of the NODA volunteer is “What would bring
Judaism
Hinduism
It is a matter of the greatest respect to watch
over a person as (s)he passes from this world
on to the next. No person should be left to die
alone; every effort should be made that loved
ones, or even a caring stranger, be present.
The time of a person’s death is understood to be
the culminating moment of his or her mission in
life. “Better is the day of death than the day of
birth” declares King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. It is then that the sum-total of his or
her achievements in this world come to fruition.
Judaism holds that the moment of yetziat neshamah (“departure of the soul”) is a most lofty moment, and should be utilized for two fundamental
actions: the affirmation of G-d’s unity; the saying
of Shema and Teshuvah, repentance and return.
Not only does Judaism also teach that a person should not die alone; following death, the
deceased person’s body should not be left
unattended. Shemira, literally “watching” or
“guarding”) is practiced out of respect for the
dead. This also comforts for the surviving loved
ones. The shomrim sit and read aloud comforting psalms spiritual texts, or texts about death
throughout. This comforts both the spirit of the
departed who is in transition and the shomer
(male) or shomeret (female). Shomrim are also
encouraged to meditate and pray. Shomrim are
prohibited from eating or drinking in the shemira
room out of respect for the dead who can no
longer do these things.
Death is viewed as a natural aspect of life; unavoidable, and the doorway to moksha, (enlightenment), the ultimate spiritual goal. Death
is best achieved in quietness and peacefully,
that it may be maranam mukti, both holy and
liberating.
Hinduism teaches that the Dharma (primary
duty) of a person is to be compassionate. The
dharma of compassion is considered to be the
first cardinal aim because it is at the root of and
upholds everything. A dying person’s next life is
determined by his last thought in the present life.
The Bhagavad Gita says: “For whatever objects
a [person] thinks of at the final moment, when
(s)he leaves the body - that alone does (s)he
attain, ... being ever absorbed in the thought
thereof.” And the last thought of the dying person inevitably reflects his inmost desire. Thus in
Hindu religious thought it is important that the
dying person be in an environment that elevates
the spirit in order that the soul may become absorbed in Brahman, (the Divine).
Keeping vigil until the great departure, the companion sings hymns, prays and reads scripture
to the dying person. If the dying person is unconscious at departure, the companion chants
or plays a recording of a mantra softly in the right
ear. If none is available, the phrase, “Aum Namo
Narayana” (In the Name of God, the Supreme
Being) or “Aum Nama Sivaya” (In the Name of
God, I honor the divinity within myself) is intoned.
These are intended to be reminders of God’s
most intimate relationship with humanity.
meaningful comfort and support to this person?” Amidst the diversity of approaches to
companioning the dying, three principles guide our vigil of presence: empathy, attentiveness, and respect. And often, knowing the appropriate cultural and religious supports
are vitally important for a meaningful vigil. Here are some examples.
Islam
Muslims are encouraged to be present when
persons, Muslims as well as non-Muslims are
actively dying. The person companioning the
dying individual should be kind and patient, and
should never leave the dying person alone. The
person keeping this vigil is recommended to
pray for and speak comforting words aloud in
the presence the one who is dying, not allowing him/her to descend into despair because of
pain or panic. These positive words eases the
process of dying, instills a sense of hope and
healing of the soul, reframing the experience of
death as “the last adventure of life.” The Prophet
(p.b.u.h) said: “If you are in the presence of a sick
or dying person, you should say good things,
for verily the angels say ‘Aameen’ to whatever
you say.” They should be prompted very gently
every now and then to say the Shahaada: “La
ilaaha illa-Allah”, which means ‘There is no God
but Allah,’ as these may be the dying person’s
last words. This prompting is known as talqeen,
or encouragement without insistence.
The Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) also said:
“Whoever last words at the time of death was
Laa ilaaha illa-Allah will enter Jannah (Paradise)
one day, irrespective of what happens to him prior to that.” The talqeen is necessary only when
the dying person is unable to utter the shahaadah. Companions should make Dua’ (supplication) to God to help the dying person go through
situation easily, and to bring the dying person
into a state of reconciliation with God, others and
(her)(him)self.
Christianity
The Christian faith teaches that death is not only
an end to “earthly” existence; it also is the passageway to eternal life. In the words of the ancient
preface of the funeral liturgy, “Lord, for your faithful people, life is changed, not ended; and when
the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death, we
gain an everlasting place in heaven.” Yet, the
mystery that shrouds death causes fear for many.
Through the faith and ministry of the Church, God
continues to reach out in compassion to suffering
humanity.
For Christians, to be present to others and keep
vigil while they suffer and die is the greatest gift
of love a human being can experience. Christians
are challenged to find our place near “the Cross”
of another person’s suffering and death. To experience one individual keeping vigil in the presence
of a dying person is reminiscent of St. John, the
beloved friend and apostle of Jesus who, with
Mary, Jesus’ mother kept vigil at the foot of the
Cross. Such an act provides the greatest opportunity to honor the Christ in all human beings.
This encounter offers both the dying person and
the companion the opportunity to bring the most
troubling and heart-wrenching questions of human existence to God who provides the way to
understand and address the most difficult circumstances of life.
The compassionate presence of the NODA volunteer strengthens the failing human spirit and where needed, gives courage to the dying person to
embrace that which one cannot change. This gift of time and compassionate presence is an important component of the continuum of care, providing
a dimension of care beyond price – a dimension of excellence that Beaumont people give to patients—time and loving attention.