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A Nostalgic Glimpse into the Past
Providence Hospital
Washington, D.C. 1975-1980
A Former Intern recalls his Friends and
Colleagues
Stephen J. Williams, M.D.
with Mary S. Smith, R.N.
Introduction
Some have asked me why in the world I’d want to write a booklet like this in the first place. I guess
it’s my personal philosophy – if I were a bird I’d always fly backwards, since I love seeing where I’ve
been but am not so sure I want to know where I’m going. The passage of time always softens the
miseries of residency and embellishes the good times we had. Now I’m safely away from night call
every third night and 36-hour shifts while subsisting on cafeteria food. Shaking sleeping patients
awake in the E.R at 3 AM to try to get a history was no fun, either. Now I can sit back and try to
share with you some of the positive memories I have about those who worked alongside me. For the
most part, we were a hard-working group of residents, all thankful to have found a job in a quality
teaching hospital. We had enthusiastic teachers and a solid support staff. Providence was a great place
to train.
I’d estimate we got about a 40% response rate to the questionnaire we sent out. It is a mystery just why
the figure is so low. Some folks have died, others had incorrect addresses, but many apparently just
didn’t want to participate. I want to thank those who did, however, because I was able to collect
enough facts to go ahead with this project. I had to rely often, though, on my own memory, sometimes
fuzzy and sometimes focused, to fill in the many gaps you will find.
I am not going to apologize for factual errors, having done the best I could with the material I had. In
some cases I was so desperate that I had to collect information from Google, sketchy at best. I will
apologize, though, to all those colleagues whom I have not mentioned. I’m sure there are many I’ve
left out entirely by accident. This booklet is heavily weighted toward the medical residency program,
of which I was a part, and little mention is made of the surgical and OB-GYN ones.
For the sake of uniformity, I’ve
chosen to call everyone by their first
names. This still feels awkward,
even after all these years. As the sign
in CCU used to say, “The Chief Is
Always Chief, Even In Bathing
Togs!” I hope no one is offended.
Abundant thanks are in order for my
co-author, Mary Smith, who supplied
the bulk of the photographs and lots
of research and helpful advice; for
RoseMarie Leone; for Pedro Pabòn;
and for Amy Freeman, who gave me a green light for this project. The really courageous people were
the ones who sent recent photos of themselves, and they deserve special thanks.
The thumbnail biographies you’ll find here can be both sweet and sour but, taken in their entirety, they
transmit a feeling of Providence Hospital as it was in my day. It is the story, as Mary Smith says, of
“committed people working together to give the best possible care.”
---November, 2013 ---
Abdullah, Sofia
Obstetrics & Gynecology
A graduate of Dhaka med school, Bangladesh, 1969 Sofie was
Chief OB-GYN resident 1976-1977 at Providence. A soft-spoken,
gentle doctor with some staff members as patients. And she
delivered some staff children, too. Just ask Dale Ann and
Mowaffak.
Ahmad, Iftikhar
Cardiology
[email protected]
Ifty did his cardiology fellowship at University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences Center and completed it in 1980.
He was one of four interns (Dr. Viji, Percy Tamayo and I were
the other three) in our “class” in 1975. Always friendly and ready
for a laugh, he was never afraid to speak his mind. He’s now quit
taking E.R. calls and is cutting back in the cath lab to do things he
really enjoys, like gardening, skiing, safaris on the Serengeti and
especially caring for his granddaughter, Hannah.
Above right: with wife Salima, a nuclear cardiologist
Right: Hannah and grandpa
:
Left:
Ifty with lawyer daughter, Naureen, who married a
lawyer. Ifty will be in good hands indeed!
2
Al Hamad, Mowaffak
General & Thoracic Surgery
Graduate of the University
of Damascus Faculty of
Medicine.
Internship at
Providence Hospital, then
residency
at
Alberta
Hospital. He is a voracious
reader and enjoys discussing many topics
including politics and the cultural differences
among Arab nations.
He married former Providence E.R. nurse, Dale Ann, seen in the photo. They have three daughters:
Miriam, Susannah and Rose. Miriam is studying medicine. He shared an office with June Gibbons in
the first medical building. Hayk Kaftarian reports having visiting with the Al Hamad family during a
skiing trip out west last winter. They belong to the same ski club!
Aleman, Cesar
Internal Medicine
1809 Golden Trail Ct, Carrollton, TX 75010
Cesar specializes in Internal Medicine in Carrollton, Texas. He is a graduate of
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. He was in the Providence residency class
with such stellar names as Silvestre and Depetris in 1976 and 1977. He was supposed to
be on call the last night before leaving the area to go out west but got away early and
still owes me that night of coverage in the wards. No wonder he hasn’t replied!
Anguay, John
Social Services
John was one of the most dedicated and compassionate social workers I ever knew. He also was an
expert in oriental cooking with his wok, which he was only to happy to demonstrate for his admiring
fans. He shared the office with Bonnie Behrens, Nancy Kessinger, Mary Lesster and the famous Susan
Osborne, whose brainchild “The Osborne Plan” allowed chronic indigent patients to be readmitted after
a brief furlough. This plan was adopted by other institutions, I’m told.
Ansari, Abulhasan
Internal Medicine
9135 Piscataway Rd, Clinton, MD
Dr. Ansari attended medical school at Gujarat University B.J. Medical College and graduated in 1971.
He was a medical resident at Providence Hospital and later at Philadelphia General Hospital. He is an
attending physician at Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton.
3
Augustine, Jose
Cardiology
Hernando Heart Clinic
14555 Cortez Blvd #1
Brooksville, FL, 34613
Jose was the first resident I ever met at Providence. He was doing a cardiology/ICU rotation when I
arrived, fresh from med school graduation, and made me feel instantly comfortable in my new
surroundings. His methodical approach to medicine and his quiet demeanor remain with me to this
day.
Jose attended medical school at Calicut University, Kerala, India, followed by residency at Providence
and then on to fellowship at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Cardiology.
Awapara, Luis
Neurology
Dr. Awapara was a favorite attending among the residents on the neurology service but served only
briefly. He died suddenly in 1977.
Axmann, Mary
Nursing
Following a stint at Walter Reed Mary came to Providence in 1966. She had been
an Army nurse in WWII in Burma and China, and then served in the Korean
Conflict. She was once honored as “Woman of the Year” by the D.C. Business
and Professional Women’s Club. She also volunteered many hours at Providence
teaching Candy Stripers and working in the library.
Bacchus, Shamina
Nursing
After working as head nurse on 5 East for many years
Shamina switched to 8 Surgery with Bonnie Mahon
and Sue Cadigan. She retired in 1995. Her family is
chock full of health care providers: her husband is an
internist and, of her many nieces and nephews, seven
are physicians and four are nurses. Shamina keeps up
with her former colleagues, especially Bonnie, who
lives nearby.
Photo: Shamina checks a dressing
4
Banez, Tita
Nursing
Tita retired from Providence in 2000
and has returned to the Philippines
annually with her husband on a
volunteer medical mission.
She
works in the O.R. there, where
numerous operations including repair
of cleft palates are performed for the
needy. At Providence she was a head
nurse on 2 South (I am reminded of
her every time it rains – my foot
throbs faithfully ever since she ran
over it with the Code Cart on the way
to an emergency one day). She also
worked the Recovery Room and
became certified in Post-Anesthesia Nursing. “I loved the direct patient contact and the instant
gratification in seeing a patient of mine transferred from ICU to the regular ward,” she says. Tita and
her husband Eddie have a daughter, Helen Grace, and two grandkids, one of which wants to become a
Physiatrist. Photo above: Tita on far left, Hope Calderone, Yong Yoon, Alison and Lee Kisse on right at Lee’s retirement
party.
Barnes, “Mike”
Nursing
Mike was head nurse and then director of the Operating
Room. She now has a nursing consultant service to
operating rooms and lives in Annapolis.
Photo: Dr. Goffredi, Jean Goheens, Sue Felder, and Mike Barnes at a
“Good Guy” award presentation.
Bender, Paul
Urology
Paul was a fixture at Providence for many years and maintained his office in Hyattsville. I remember
him as always affable and with a ready smile. He died suddenly at age 94 last spring while getting
ready for a dental visit. He had been living with his daughter Carmen. Two years previously he had
undergone heart surgery at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Pabòn and some Sisters of Daughters of Charity from
Providence attended the funeral.
5
Botello, Jaime
Internal Medicine
[email protected]
“Providence Hospital was a wonderful place to work. Although I only spent a short
amount of time at Providence Hospital, I have very fond memories of my fellow
coworkers. I am grateful to have completed my residency there with memorable group
of people,” Jaime says. He reports he is now retired. He and his wife Roxanne have
three children: Elena, Isabel and Jaime Albert. His office was in Clinton and he was
on staff at Greater Southeast and Southern Maryland Hospitals.
Bowers, Joel
Radiology
Joel followed Lewis Marshall in 1990 as President of the
Medical Staff.
He continues to practice radiology at
Providence in Metropolitan Radiology in the physicians’ office
building. After graduation from SUNY at Buffalo he did his
residency at GWU.
Photo: Dr. Bowers points out an amusing radiological detail to radiology
technicians Deanna Parsons and Terri Trimmer.
Brademas, Mary Ellen
Dermatology
“After my internship at Providence I began a Dermatology residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
My husband John Brademas was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. My chief at Hopkins,
Irwin Freedberg, who had been appointed to chief of Dermatology at NYU and had been aware that
John was in a tight race offered me a place at NYU in the Dermatology
program if John lost the election. John lost so I came to NYU with Dr
Freedberg. Later that year John accepted the position of President at NYU. We
have been in Manhattan since.” Dr. Brademas mentions that she maintains a
faculty position at NYU and teaches at Bellevue, as well as finding time for
volunteer services.
“My experience at Providence taught me the value of teamwork and the
importance of mentoring young doctors. It also made me aware that I don't do
well with sleep deprivation - probably why I chose Dermatology as my
discipline!”
6
Brancaccio, Michael
Pathology
He’s still practicing at Providence. He is a graduate of GWU Medical School and did his residency
there as well in anatomic and clinical pathology.
Brotman, Barry
Radiology
He continues to practice at Providence as part of Metropolitan Radiology. He is a graduate of SUNY at
Buffalo.
Bserini Wahid
Internal Medicine
He came to Providence as a second-year resident. Very studious. He may have
done a cardiology fellowship later but information is scarce.
Cadigan, Susan
Nursing
Sue reports that after spending 34 years at Providence she moved on to first Shady Grove and then to
Holy Cross, where she continues to work. She also does part-time work in federal office health units.
She rescued a Great Dane, “Joey,” eight years ago from the pound and remarks that he indeed is a
gentle giant! In her free time she likes to make Christmas ornaments and has thought about opening
her own table at craft shows. She often sees Bonnie Mahon at work. Bonnie opened the first Senior
E.R. in the country – and when Sue had a car accident last year she wants to know why the ambulance
didn’t take her THERE! I can’t forget seeing Sue in the ward with her starched nursing cap – now a
relic of the past – and her little plastic zipper bag full of pencils and erasers. She says she still has it!
Calhoun, Thomas
General Surgery
Although he has retired from his surgical practice he continues at Providence in an administrative
position. He is reputed to play a fine game of tennis and obviously has the physique for it.
Dr. Calhoun with drug rep on 4E
At Providence gala
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Cano, Miguel A.
Internal Medicine
Miguel was the nurses’ heartthrob!
Last reported sighting in Florida for you girls who still want to catch him!
Carreno, Elmer
General Surgery
A graduate of U. of Guadalajara in 1973, Elmer now practices in Silver Spring, MD. He did his
surgical residency at Howard and D.C. General.
Carrigg, Sheila
Unit Secretary
Sheila was the secretary on 7 South and also was the office manager for Drs. Ed Pacious, John
Finnegan, Armando Miranda, Frank Goldberg, me, and Marc Shepard at the offices downtown for
many years, followed by Dr. Pushkas in the De Paul office building. Her father was on the security
staff at Providence. It is rumored that Sheila had an extensive following among the constituents of all
these practices; they tended to go wherever she went! Her infinite patience, both with the patients and
with (most of) her employers, was legendary. Sheila is now retired and lives nearby.
Castillo, Orlando
Nephrology
4801 Culbreaths Isle Rd, Tampa, Florida 33629
cell 813 2948002
Orlando did his residency at Providence in 1978 and then moved on to Georgetown for his Nephrology
fellowship, finishing in 1981. He then moved to Tampa, Florida, and has been in private practice there
ever since. He’s doing only office and outpatient dialysis work now, having given up hospital practice.
He and wife Cecilia, both from Nicaragua, have
been married for 37 years and have two sons,
Orlando, a Catholic priest who lives in Peru, and
Jorge, a lawyer in L.A. From his Providence days
he recalls especially the incessant paging of
mysterious names like “ Miss Judy Shuda” and “Mr.
Kevin Alexander” over the loudspeaker, not to
mention “Dr. Pacious, 4584” and, best of all, “Dr.
Fingernail” (Dr. Fangonil never could get the
operator to say his name correctly!)
Orlando set an unofficial hospital record for the
number of months being assigned to the Private
Service. After a while we began to consider him
one of the private attendings!
Orlando on far left with Cecilia next to him and two friends.
8
Ceppa, Pedro
Surgery
After graduation from U. Nacional de Cordoba, Argentina, Pedro did his surgical residency at
Providence and remained there ever since, where he continues to practice. I met him in his greens in
the hallway outside the O.R. last July, and he looks exactly the same as 30 years ago. Nurse Debbie
Rybka recalls him frequenting 5 East in the old days and writing most of the TPN orders.
Chen, Molly
Nursing
Molly was head nurse on 6 East, beginning her Providence career in 1963. She
notes that when she had heart surgery back in 1993, Sister Carol and two of the
other Sisters prayed over her and, in her words, “God decided He didn’t want
me yet!” She and Dr. Tom Collins shared a great mutual respect and affection,
and she was always present at his bedside during his last days at Providence
following his heart attack. Molly Chen has two sons: Vincent, a physician and
the other, Clement, is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate.
Chisholm, Joseph
Pulmonary Diseases
Joe was a volunteer instructor of Providence residents and always had one or two
of us tagging along on his rounds. His main office was at the Washington Hospital
Center but he often had a few patients admitted to Providence as well. He looked
like a red-haired Harry Belafonte in those days and his enthusiasm for medicine
rubbed off on all of us. He came to Washington after graduating from the U. of
Chicago and then Meharry Medical College. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He died in
2009 of complications following a stroke.
Christiansen, Charles
Family Practice
929 Central Avenue NW, East Grand Forks, MN 56721
Charlie and his loyal band of FP residents trooped back and forth between
Varnum Street and Fort Lincoln in the days when the latter was being developed
as a model residential/medical facility. Drs. Wendy Shapiro, Russell Kay
(Concord, NH) and Susan Schlifer (Poulsbo,WA) were part of his group, which
shared overlapping duties with the regular medical residents. A sign of the times,
many sported the badge “Medicine for People, Not Profit” on their lab coats.
Cohen, Joel
Psychiatry
Habitue’ of the 8th floor psych unit, along with Drs. Garofano and Randall Clarke. Joel is practicing in
Silver Spring. He occasionally descended to the medical floors for particularly troublesome cases.
9
Collins, Thomas F.
Internal Medicine
Born in 1905, Dr. Collins opened his medical practice in his old boyhood home on H Street, N.E. In
the words of his son, Pat, “He had an eclectic practice. He was doctor to the Speaker of the House...the
Cardinal of Washington... many politicians local and national... but he also treated railroad
workers...tradesmen...plumbers...people at the Little Sisters of the Poor...and even circus
performers...In addition to rounds at the hospital he also made house calls, something unthinkable
today [before concierge practices existed – ed.]
My father had a strong affection for Providence Hospital. He sent most of his patients there for various
tests and treatments. He was instrumental in relocating Providence to Brookland...He thought by doing
that he could convince Catholic University to start a medical school...that was not to be...he worked
until his death in December 1981 at the hospital he loved.”
Dr. Collins’ gruff exterior and strong opinions – which he was not afraid to state openly – at times
intimidated us residents, but those of us who got to know him learned that he was capable of great
personal warmth and compassion.
Conte, Lola Patrick
Nursing
A graduate of Sacred Heart Hospital Nursing School in Cumberland, MD, Lola worked at Providence
for over 25 years and was Nurse Manager of the operating room. She died in 2008. Someone
remarked that “Lola never had a best friend; everybody she knew was her best friend.”
Cosimano, Joseph
General Surgery
Joe, in addition to his excellent surgical skills, was a natural stand-up comedian and filled the post of
emcee for many Providence staff parties and gatherings. With his cigar in hand he struck a
resemblance to both George Burns and Alan King. His ability to needle Dr. Suraci was legendary.
For years every morning Dr. Suraci would enter the Doctors’ Lounge, near the page office in those
days, and pour himself a paper cup of coffee to take away to the O.R. When there were no plastic tops
left to seal the cups he would always get upset and begin whining.
Joe, always game for a prank and not one to let an opportunity slip
by, distributed bags full of plastic tops at each table during a big
staff dinner; on cue, he had all the attendees stand and toss
handfuls of plastic tops at Dr. Suraci, all the while yelling,
“Where’s the tops?!! Here they are, Al!” as they rained down
Photo: Joe crowns Tom Curtin with a dunce cap while Sister Irene looks on .
10
Crump, Carolyn
Family Practice/Radiology
Carolyn is listed as practicing in Forest Park, GA.
She and I were assigned to a memorable GI rotation with Dr. Rivera at Christmas.
She was given a day off for shopping and I wasn’t!
Cullinane, Theresa
Administration/Admissions
From 1968 Theresa was involved in computerization of the accounting and
admissions sections, working with “Doc” Fouts. In 1999 she became Director of
Admissions (now called “Patient Access”) until she retired in 2012. Since then she
has been volunteering at Carroll Manor, accompanying the patients to Mass and
visiting. She has coordinated the annual children’s Christmas party for over 30
years and is president of the PH chapter of Ladies of Charity. Her brother, a priest,
has a large parish in New Jersey.
Curtin, Thomas
Administration/Internal Medicine
After graduation from Georgetown medical school in 1945 Tom did his training at Providence,
eventually becoming Chief of Medicine and then Medical Director after private practice in the District
for 20 years. He also served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.
He was instrumental in establishing a teaching liaison
between Georgetown and Providence for the residents and
was a founder of the Archdiocesan Health Care Network,
which helped provide care for the indigent population of
Washington.
We residents had little direct contact with Dr. Curtin except
on our infrequent trips to the 8th floor, the hallowed inner
sanctum of Dr. Weiss and Sister Irene as well. Jeannie
Witmer was his secretary.
Dr. Curtin (R) accepts an award from Dr. Madarang
11
Depetris, Roberto
Internal Medicine
Roberto, a graduate of the Cordoba medical school in Argentina, was chief medical
resident in 1975-1976. He did a pulmonary disease fellowship at D.C. General
afterward. He now practices in Bowie. MD.
Devlin, William
Surgery
Bill was an authentic Irishman in anesthesia, alongside such classic figures as Dr. Wong,
who ate his weight in groceries every day in the cafeteria. He got a Gold-Headed Cane
Award for his long service to Providence. Jack Harrington liked to call him “Smilin’
Bill.”
Devore, Paul
Geriatrics
Paul often admitted patients to Providence and has his office in Hyattsville. He was a 1960 graduate of
the U. of Maryland medical school. He did his residency at Providence.
Dibble, Robert
Internal Medicine
Bob graduated from Howard U. med school in 1957 and practiced out of his office at the Washington
Hospital Center, though he often admitted patients to the Private Service at Providence. His
handwriting was one of a kind. He always toted a weathered leather medical bag around the 7th floor
with him.
Di Francesco, Vincent
Internal Medicine
Vince was one of the Italian medical mob at Providence, which also included names like Goffredi,
Sanzaro, Paolucci and the like. His patients were regularly processed through the Private Service by
the residents. One does not soon forget his epic poem about Providence’s daily life which he recited at
one of the Bullthrower dinners at Indian Spring Country Club (wish I could find a copy!). He had a
distinctive hairdo, too, with ringlet bangs. He hung out at the Medical Clinic along with Dr. John
Brennan and Nurse Mary Calarco on the ground floor.
Dineen, Beth
Nursing
Beth was head nurse on 7 East and used to make the intern’s lives hell with her paging and insistence
that her patents be taken care of, stat ! She ran a tight ship but the patients were all the better for it.
She seems to have disappeared.
12
Donovan, Michelle
Nursing
Michelle worked in the E.R. with Mary Gavin et al. Here she is
pictured with Sister Agnes Therese and a rather short Santa Claus.
Mark Todd stays in touch Michelle, who retired only about a year
ago.
El Khodary, Ashraf
Endocrinology
Ash came to Providence in 1970 as a consultant and teacher from Georgetown University and then
joined the Providence family in 1973, where he happily remained ever since. He is quick to point out
that “Providence has been the cornerstone of my professional and social life.” He retired officially and
completely in 2006, after having served as Chief of Endocrinology at Howard U. Hospital, Providence
and D.C. General Hospital. At our institution he was the chairman of the Department of Medicine for
eight years. Ash is proud of his daughter, Elizabeth, who now has two children and is a career
diplomat with the State Department. And he says that his wife, Sandra, has been a gift from God who
has kept him enjoying life. I had the privilege of meeting up with Ash and Sandra recently, and both
seemed to be thriving in their woodsy abode on Oregon Avenue. Ward rounds with Ash were always
enlightening and amusing, thanks to his genuine concern for the patients and his quick wit.
Epps, Charles
Orthopedic Surgery
Born in Baltimore, Dr. Epps worked his way through medical school in the
1950’s by driving a taxi and studying at every opportunity, even reading his
notes by penlight when he stopped at intersections. He went on to become
Dean of the Howard University Medical School and has an endowed chair
named after him. He was the first Afro-American president of the
American Orthopaedic Association, winning their Humanitarian Award in
2000 partly in recognition of the legions of minority orthopedic residents
that he taught over his long career. Among other activities he was also
chief of the area’s multidisciplinary program for limb-deficient children.
He once commented that during his father’s terminal illness (at age 41) he was impressed by the
kindness of his doctors and the calm, patient way that they interacted with the whole family – and he
learned that he wanted to be that type of doctor.
In the halls at Providence he was always even-tempered, gracious and treated us residents
as if we were seasoned colleagues, even though we were fresh out of medical school. And
he was always nattily dressed, putting those of us in scruffy blue jeans to shame.
He is married to Roselyn Epps, a medical school classmate at Howard. She became an
outstanding pediatrician with strong community involvement, serving as medical officer in numerous
clinics in the D.C. Dept. of Health. She became acting Commissioner in 1980. She was also professor
of pediatrics at Howard and has published extensively in professional journals. She was the first
African-American president of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia.
13
Fangonil, Alex
Urology
Alex is a 1963 graduate of the University of Santo Thomas and has been active in the Association of
Philippine Physicians in America, serving also as president. He has also held many medical staff
positions at Providence over the years and continues to practice there. As the photos below attest, he
finds time to enjoy himself between O.R. cases.
Left: Presenting
Karen Gonzalez with a golf
prize in 1987
Right: Tinikling?
Felder, Suzanne
Nursing
We saw Suzanne a few months ago at the Providence library along with RoseMarie
Leone and Dal Yoo. She told us that she was convalescing from recent health problems.
She was a Director of Nursing in my day.
Fer, Mehmet
Oncology
1221 Madison St Suite 1401, Seattle, WA 98104
After he finished residency at Providence in 1978
oncology at Vanderbilt, where he remained on the
An opportunity at the National Cancer Institute
program, and he moved to Frederick, Maryland for
that he really preferred clinical medicine to research
the faculty at the U. of Washington. Eventually he
practice at the Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle,
Mehmet did a fellowship in
faculty for three more years.
opened in the Biologics
two years. When he realized
he found a post in Seattle, on
switched to private oncology
where he continues to practice.
He says, “I dedicated myself to the institution of marriage, perfecting it by trial and error, and am now
with my final wife, Demet, originally from Turkey.” His brother also immigrated to the U.S. and now
lives in Indianapolis. Mehmet wanted to visit Providence while he was in Frederick but never seemed
to find the opportunity and looks forward to an eventual reunion of old colleagues. To see him today in
action and living color: http://youtu.be/6xJUORG048Q
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Finegan, Eugene
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Gene was from New Jersey, attended Seton Hall and the
Georgetown Medical School. He was one of the founding fellows
of the American College of Gynecology. During WWII he served
in the Army Medical Corps in New Guinea and Australia. He was
on the staff of Providence and of Holy Cross hospitals.
Gene was a member of the doctors’ lounge coffee bunch every
morning for years and had a knack for telling funny stories, even
though he was rather reserved and let Jack Harrington do most of
the talking. I shall never forget an impromptu monologue that he
delivered at Burning Tree Country Club during a Bullthrower
dinner. He had been a recipient (most aptly so) of the infamous
“Bull Listener” award, actually a six-foot tall pair of bull horns, the year previously, and he was called
upon to tell how he managed to get them home in the car and into the house late at night without his
wife finding out. He told the story to a rapt audience, and it was clear from the start that he had
reinforced himself with a cocktail or two before speaking – I could never do justice to his delivery here,
and I still believe I have never heard anything funnier from any professional comedian in my life. He
brought the house down!
Gene died in 2008, having lived to the age of 98. He had resided for some years at Leisure World.
Photo above: Dr. Finegan and Dr. Harrington in the DePaul Building
Finnegan, John
Cardiology
Dr. Finnegan, who founded the internal medicine
practice of “Finnegan, Pacious and Miranda” on 19th
Street, NW, was an important figure in the
Providence family, both in staff positions and in
resident teaching. He loved to give lectures about the
interpretation of EKG’s and made us all squirm as he
walked around the room, randomly picking residents
to answer his questions. At staff meetings he often
expounded lengthily and passionately on items he
thought required attention, and he left the podium
with the air of one who had given the last word! He
had a leprechaun- like demeanor, fun-loving at times
but like a rigid schoolmaster at others. His secretary
for years on the 8th Floor was Barbara Fretwell.
Legions of elderly ladies in the Brookland area were
his ardent fans.
15
Fletcher, Jean
Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases
As a medical student at the University of Beirut Jean had seen war first-hand by the time he came to
Providence. His descriptions of the shellings, explosions and the like held us all spellbound. He was
an enthusiastic resident, always eager to learn and willing to work. After he left Providence he
eventually moved to Gainesville, Florida where he practiced Infectious Disease medicine until his
sudden death in 1998 of a heart ailment.
Flores, Prospero
Gastroenterology
Prospero practiced at Providence for many years. He is a
graduate of the University of the Philippines and did his
fellowship at a V.A. hospital.
Photo: a member of the Women’s Board pins a red carnation on his lab coat
in celebration of Doctors’ Day.
Foulks, Carl A.
Internal Medicine
We had the pleasure of seeing Carl and his wife at Dr. Weiss’ retirement party in 1993
at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown. He and his wife had driven up from
Fayetteville, N.C. for the occasion. Last report says that he has retired.
Fox, John A.
Hematology/Laboratory Medicine
Although one of the most influential mentors on the Providence faculty for years Dr. Fox, a Mayo
Clinic graduate, was always the most elusive when it came to social occasions, especially the annual
Bullthrower banquet, where many would have loved to have the chance to have some fun with him.
The more he refused to attend the more everybody wanted him to. And I don’t believe he ever did,
though there had been talk of organizing a kidnapping.
Photo: The actual Providence lab circa 1900.
His didactic style was as simple and as focused as the highest-power
objective on his teaching microscope, which we all came to know and
love. The first lesson on the Heme-Onc rotation was how to adopt
the correct seated posture in front of the scope, after which the
lessons got much more complex but always challenging and
rewarding. He ran the hospital lab with a dedicated and helpful staff
behind him, including Mrs. Patch, Mrs. Massey and Mrs. Victor, just
to name a few that I still remember. When I left Providence Jack had
already undertaken expansion of the lab beyond the walls of the
hospital to form PLA, the Providence Lab Associates.
16
Frawley, James
Obstetrics & Gynecology
A native of upstate New York, he was a graduate of the U. of Buffalo Medical School and did his
residency at Georgetown and Columbia Hospitals. He had served in the Army in the Philippines in
WWII. During his 40+ years at Providence Jim was director of the Providence ob-gyn residency
program and became president of the medical staff as well. He pitched in with the staff when he could,
even mopping the delivery room floor himself to speed up the access for the next patients!
Fry, Kathy
Obstetrics & Gynecology/ Homeopathy
Kathi was at Providence for one year, going on in 1982 to complete her OB-GYN
residency at MCV in Richmond. She eventually wound up first in Scottsdale, AZ,
then Boulder, CO where she developed an interest in holistic medicine. She was
President of the American Holistic Medical Association from 1999-2001. Recently
he published a book on her favorite subject: VITALITY! How To Get It and Keep It: A
Homeopath's Guide to Vibrant Health Without Drugs. It's available on Amazon.com
Gavin, Mary
Nursing
When one thinks of the E.R. the image of Mary always comes to mind. After all, she was the leading
figure there for 38 years – she retired in 1997. Although the E.R. was a stressful place for everybody,
particularly the residents, who dreaded the “4385” pages, Mary’s calm and collaborative air made our
medical and surgical “consults” as pleasant as they could be. She could make even the most hotheaded of us into lambs without ever raising her voice.
Group photo shows, as well
as E.R. staffers Irma and
Gloria, Ellen Howell, R.N.,
second from left, another
E.R. nurse. She and Mary
shared a home in University
Park and then after Mary’s
retirement, in Ocean City.
Ellen continued
(continued)
17
to work part-time in Bethany at the Beebe Satellite E.R. facility. In 2000 they bought a house in Ft.
Myers, Florida, and became snowbirds, spending four to six months a year there and enjoying it. In
2004 Ellen was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, underwent surgery and chemotherapy, but died in 2007.
Mary sold the Florida house in 2013.
Geary, John
Radiology
John was an outstanding radiologist in the X-ray department not only
because of his proficiency but also his height. He had a keen Irish sense
of humor and a long tenure with Providence.
In the photo (r) John is seen receiving the “Goldheaded Cane” Award for his many years of
service to the profession from Dr. Thomas
Calhoun in 1997 at a staff function. Most of the
recipients, like those who get the “Lifetime Achievement” awards in
Hollywood, tended to vanish from the scene soon after, making the prize
more feared than coveted in many cases!
Giammittorio, David
Obstetrics & Gynecology
David was a 2nd-year resident in OB-Gyn when I came to Providence in 1975.
He had graduated from the Medical College of Virginia. He now heads a
multiphysician and midwife group in Alexandria and recently acquired a new
home on the Potomac near Lorton. He and his wife Roberta have three children,
one of whom is a physiatrist. We had a small reunion last July in Alexandria,
attended also by June and Jim Gibbons. It is obvious that David loves his job,
even though he has cut back on clinical work to devote more time to
administration. Retirement? Forget it.
Below left: Gohari, Giammittorio, Kachikian, ?, Tousi, Rameau,
Alvin Robinson.
Below right: David and wife Roberta at a Skins game.
18
Gibbons, June
Gastroenterology
[email protected]
June retired from Providence in 2010 after directing the Internal Medicine
Residency Program all the way from 1994. She practiced Gastroenterology for 23
years and did her fellowship at Providence with Dr. Rivera. She and husband Jim
recently relocated to Hartford, Connecticut, to be closer to their daughter Megan
and their twin grandkids. Their other daughter Andrea lives in New Orleans. June
is loving retirement but enjoys recalling the “family” feeling at Providence
especially among the faculty members. As she points out, who could forget the old 6-bed ICU where
the residents essentially managed all the cases in the days before critical care specialists emerged, or
Dr. Weiss steaming into morning report with his Phillies panatela between his teeth and his flowing
black mustache, or the residents’ parties held in the small townhouse adjacent to the parking lot on 12th
Street, or Dr. Pacious and his little black bag going from one patient to another inquiring about their
intestinal function!?
We had the privilege of meeting June and Jim in Rome some years back, touring the city with them and
dining at Harry’s Bar on Via Veneto. This year they visited us on our trip back to D.C., where we also
enjoyed the company of Ash and Sandra El Khodary, Dal Yoo, and David and Roberta Giammittorio.
Goetcheus, Janelle
Family Practice
Dr. Goetcheus came to Washington in 1976 with her minister husband and founded
Columbia Road Health Services to provide care for the very poor local population.
In 1985 they founded Christ House, a respite care 35-bed facility for the homeless,
and moved in to live there with her husband and three children. Unity Health Care,
Inc., grew from a tiny organization which she helped found into a large endeavor
with 25 local health care centers around the city and health vans as well.
She was elected “Doctor of the Year” in 1991 by the American Academy of Family Practitioners and
presented the AMA “Pride in Profession” award in 2002. Dr. Stuart F. Seides, Chairman of the District
of Columbia Medical Society, neatly captured the “Mother Theresa of Washington,” saying, “She is an
inner city missionary, utterly selfless. She sees God in all these people who have fallen through the
cracks of governmental social systems.”
Goffredi, Louis
Surgery
The new Operating Suite at Providence, dedicated in
2001, bears the name of Lou’s name, and quite
rightly so. After graduation from GW Med School
in 1938 he did his surgical residency at Providence,
finishing in 1942. He eventually became Chief of
Surgery and remained so for many years, retiring in
1998 at age 86. Originally from New York state,
Lou died in 2002. His wife Jeannette died last year.
19
Goheens, Jean
Nursing
Jean was the Head Nurse of the Recovery Room. She began her career at the old hospital. After going
to Varnum Street she also worked as head nurse on 5 East. She was a much-loved person at
Providence (see photo p. 4 of Jean receiving the “Good Guy” Award)
Gomez, Lucy
Internal Medicine
Lucy was the medical director of the E.R. and had a private practice of cardiology as well. She is
memorable for her quick temper, her rapid decision-making ability under stress, her cigarillos and her
black pedal pushers.She is now reported to be living in Jupiter, Florida and managing several rental
properties. I’ll bet nobody is behind in the rent!
Gonzalez, William and Karen
Ophthalmology and Dental Surgery, respectively
Bill introduced the resident staff to implantable lenses for cataracts, coming
into common use when I met him. He also taught us the basics of emergency
eye care (i.e., send all patients to him immediately, but not after 5 PM!) and all
with a characteristic sense of humor. He was elected Bullthrower one year, an
elite circle of incorrigible yarn-spinners, even in espanol.
His wife, Karen (see photo with Dr. Fangonil) worked in the Providence Dental
Clinic for years, along with the memorable Dr. Jesse Blatt.
Griffin, Calvin
Rheumatology
Calvin maintained an office in the Physicians’ Office Building, built after 1975 but long before the
DePaul Building. He was in practice with Lew Marshall at one time. He died in January 2006.
Grysavage, Sue
Nursing
I believe Sue was a nurse in the Critical Care area when I was a resident. I’m
told she is now in the computer programming and informatics department.
She is shown here, with Janet McDermott on the right.
20
Guzmàn, Millie
Nursing
Millie was the head nurse on 4 South. She lived across Varnum Street and walked to work in her
uniform with white cap and navy sweater, sometimes accompanied by her black and tan collie. Pedro
Pabòn remarks that she was from his home town in Puerto Rico. I recall her compassion toward her
patients. Others noticed, too – that’s why she won the Sr. Anne Robb Award.
Gyftopoulos, Anastasia
Cardiology
Anastasia came to Providence as a
resident in Internal Medicine in 1977 and
has never left the place for long since. She
is now doing cardiology in the Physicians’
Office Building. I wonder if she still
jumps into the air whenever the pager in
her pocket buzzes. She is a 1974 graduate
of Kapodistrian University in Athens, has
39 years of experience, and did a
cardiology fellowship at St. Vincent’s in
Bridgeport in 1981.
She collaborated
with the mythical Frank Finnerty in local
hypertension research.
Photo: Clara Heffess, June Gibbons, Luis Heffess, Harold and Barbara Weiss, Anastasia, and Jim Gibbons in
1992.
Haider, Riaz
Cardiology
Riaz came to Providence in 1974 after deciding in favor of clinical practice instead of full-time
academia as he had been doing at GWU. Proctor Harvey helped him to make
his decision, which he says proved to be the right one. As part of the core
faculty at Providence he combined resident teaching with innovations like the
Swan-Ganz catheter, echo lab and exercise stress testing.
As president of the National Capital Affiliate of the American Heart
Association from 1990-1992 he received the “Heart of Gold” award.
Though he is now retired Riaz says that he has “exited one lane and entered
another,” playing tennis regularly along with his wife Yasmeen, also an
accomplished player, and serving on the board of the International Student House near Dupont Circle.
He now has time for reading and for keeping up with his three daughters, Nadya, Aliya (lawyers) and
Saira, graduate of the London School of Economics.
(continued)
21
He recalls how the residents used to be extremely sleep-deprived until recent legislation mandated
changes in their work schedule. During one of his 4 PM lectures he noticed one resident in the front
row holding a cup of coffee in his hand. After some minutes he realized that the fellow was sound
sleep, yet still sitting upright and holding the cup without spilling. Afterwards he changed to lecture to
noon!
He also mentions that there was a 94 year-old patient with congestive heart failure with frequent
hospitalizations. He had a 72 year-old son who used to come to visit him in the hospital. One day Riaz
happened to drop by when the son was visiting him. It was funny seeing the father ordering his son
about and admonishing him as if he were still an adolescent. And the son was trying his best to be “ a
good boy”.
The annual Staff Outing at a local country club provided a venue
for friendly sports competition among those still in good shape.
Afterwards an awards banquet dinner with the Bullthrower Award
presentation followed for the entire medical staff, regardless of
what shape they were in. Photo: Looks like Bob Hamm has just snatched
defeat from the jaws of victory on the clay court.
Hamm, Robert
Radiology
Who could forget his pioneering visual presentations at our conferences,
always with two screens and complementary images projected? Or his
stock phrase, “. and the striking finding IS a huge. . .”
Bob is a 1968 graduate of the Washington U. School of Medicine and did
his fellowship at the U. of Miami.
We saw Bob briefly last summer
while he was busily working and trying to get the new MRI unit
functioning. One assumes he keeps up with his tennis in his free time, if
he has any.
Harrington, John
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jack was reputed to have delivered the first Providence baby in 1956, Jeanne Marie,
to staff nurse Susan Winkler and husband Dr.John Winkler, on the attending staff.
He did his residency at Providence after graduating from Georgetown Medical
School. He was chairman of the OB-GYN section for some years and served as
president of the Medical Staff as well. He served in WWII and Korea in the Air
Force. In 1986 he delivered his last Providence baby. He retired in 1990. He was
a vocal member of the coffee bunch in the Doctors’ Lounge every morning and
enjoyed riding herd on Gene Finegan and Seamus Nunan, for starters.
22
Heatley, Gladys
Internal Medicine
After graduation from SUNY Medical School in Buffalo Gladys came to Providence in 1977. She is in
practice at 6001 Landover Rd., Hyattsville and admits to Prince George’s Hospital in Cheverly.
Heffess, Luis
Oncology
Luis, known as Maestro to many contemporaries, is a 1964 graduate of the U. of
Buenos Aires. He was a year ahead of me in our residency at Providence, and I
remember his inexhaustible supply of energy, and in particular the many trips we made
down to the radiology reading room together under his wise admonition, “You HAVE
to see the X-ray!” He, too, continues to practice on the Providence campus. His wife,
Clara, is a pathologist.
Hemelt, Mary
Nursing
Mary reports that she retired in 2007 after being Head Nurse on the orthopedic floor, 4 South for over
20 years and then on to In & Out Surgery for another 18. Now she’s involved in constructing her
retirement home with her sister and brother-in-law in Lewes, Delaware, an area on the shore where
many of her nursing school classmates have retired. She is busy crocheting baby outfits for her nieces
and nephews, as well as babysitting some of them. She enjoys cooking, especially baking cookies, and
is a baseball fan. She was a close friend of the Sanzaros and often accompanied Frank on doctor visits
as long as he was mobile. Mary also says she managed to travel rather extensively, even to New
Zealand as well as Europe and the Caribbean.
Howard, Estelle
Nursing
Ms. Howard, whose tenure lasted for over 40 years, was a Nursing
Supervisor for many of those and insisted that her staff be always
professional and patient-centered. She also acted as the E.R.
Ombudsman for some years. In the photo she is seen at her
retirement party with the late Dr. Miranda. Ms. Howard was the
classic figure of a nurse, with starched white uniform and cap at all
times.
23
Khachikian, Grigor
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Grigor recently told Mary Smith that he has closed his Alexandria office and now
works only in Woodbridge, doing deliveries only at Potomac Hospital – now
known as Sentara Potomac. He has a son who practices OB-GYN at Fairfax
Hospital, a daughter who is a teacher and another daughter who is a graphic
designer and lives in Armenia. He was a third-year resident in 1975 when I came
to Providence.
Kaftarian, Hayk
Pediatrics
[email protected]
Hayk has moved to Calalbasas, California since his retirement a few years ago to be close to his family
in the Los Angeles area. He has two daughters, one son and six grandchildren. He and Mowaffak Al
Hamad belong to the same ski club and meet every year on the slopes of the Rockies! Hayk’s pediatric
rotation was my first upon arriving in 1975, and it was a great one-on-one learning experience. We
saw a great range of problems in a short time, from jittery narcotic-laden newborns to a tragic spina
bifida case that was transferred to the WHC. Mary Smith used to call with the occasional complicated
delivery, and Hayk and I would hastily don our gowns and rush to the delivery room to assess and treat.
I did mostly watching while Hayk did most of the work, which I was glad
of, since the responsibility seemed enormous for a student fresh out of
school! I still remember with sadness the not infrequent arrival of babies
who were immediately sent to St. Anne’s for adoption without ever
knowing their parents. Nurse Penny Valeski was a delight to work with in
the older kids’ clinic downstairs, and Angie Pulio and her staff in the
newborn nursery made life there very pleasant for all.
Keehan, Sister Carol
Nursing
Sister Carol came to Providence in about 1976 as a Vice President for Nursing, eventually becoming
president and CEO of the hospital in 1989, where she remained for 15 years. In
her quest to obtain broad health care for the poor she strove to find solutions
which would be satisfactory to both the clerical and secular contingents. This
earned her a place in Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in
America” in 2010, and she still has the reputation of being the ultimate authority
in Catholic health care. She assumed leadership of the Catholic Health
Association in 1995.
24
Khan, Anwar
Internal Medicine
Anwar came to Providence as a second-year resident in 1976. I have been unable to
trace his whereabouts, though I think he went on to a fellowship at Georgetown in GI.
Kisse, Lee
Nursing
Photo: see page 4
Lee retired in 2011 but still misses nursing “because it was a big part of my life for so long.” Now she
has time to travel with daughter Alison – they have been to Europe four times, with some river cruises.
Lee worked first on 7 East with Beth Dineen and then in ICU for 8 years, followed by her major stint in
Labor & Delivery with Mary Smith for 25 years. She mentions that colleague Sylvia Royal retired
from L&D shortly before she did. Lee lives in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Krauss, Sister Irene
Administration
Having grown up in Philadelphia, Sister Irene entered the Daughters of Charity
order in 1941 and later earned a nursing degree at Catholic University after teaching
elementary school in Richmond, Virginia.
She became an operating room
supervisor and rose rapidly to become administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes
Memorial Hospital in Binghamton, NY. She administered several hospitals,
including Providence from the early 1970’s. In 1986 she became CEO of the
Daughters of Charity National Health Service, an enterprise including 36 hospitals
nationwide.
Sister Irene was known both for her religious commitment and her “impish” sense of humor, possibly
inherited on both counts from her father, who had been an executive with the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Sister Irene died in 1989 at age 74 in Emmittsburg, Maryland.
Kuchinski, Viola
Switchboard
“Vi,” , red-haired and forever seated in front of the switchboard in the page office,
had a voice as well known as that of Lauren Bacall. I can still hear her today,
calling names like “Mr Strong” and “Captain Red” and I not having the faintest
idea who they were at first. She always had a smile and a wry comment for
residents who poked their head into her office. In spare moments she even sewed
the buttons back on their lab coats. Who can forget her pursuit of “Dr. Fingernail”
and the elusive Dr. Miranda – she would call him “Albert” or “Alfonso” on the air,
hoping to get his attention. From Pennsylvania, Vi lived close to the hospital. She died in 2010.
25
Leone, RoseMarie
Librarian
RoseMarie began at Providence Health Sciences Library in 1976 following
Sister Frances Healy’s tenure. After leaving to work at the GW and
Washington Hospital Center libraries she returned to Providence, where she
has remained ever since. We toured her new, big library last summer and
were very impressed. Hard to believe that good old Index Medicus and
Medline are all things of the dinosaur age.
Lesster, Mary
Social Services
One of many members of Providence Social Services, Mary was a dedicated, tireless
worker and became a designated Discharge Planner, which was in the days when the
dreaded Utilization Review was cutting its baby teeth on the many hapless patients
who ended up on the wards with little or no community or family support. Her job, in
short, was to perform miracles. And she did.
Madarang, Cesar
Internal Medicine
One of the busiest private attendings, Cesar always
had plenty of admissions for the residents on service.
He had a huge following of patients in his office on
Rhode Island Avenue, NE. His sunny disposition
charmed the staff and patients alike.
Once he took Percy Tamayo and me with him to a
D.C. Medical Society meeting to learn about ACE
inhibitors, which were in their infancy. Afterwards
we all went to a memorable lunch at Duke Zeibert’s
Restaurant in Cesar’s Mercedes convertible, not
shown here!
He was a graduate of the Santo Thomas medical school. He has a son, Alvin, who is in private practice
locally. Cesar died in 2011.
26
Mahon, Bonnie
Nursing
[email protected]
As head nurse on 5 South, the surgical floor, Bonnie,
along with Jan Martin,. Catherine Stakem and Shamina
Bacchus pampered the post-op patients back to health.
After leaving Providence Bonnie founded the country’s
first Senior Emergency Center at Holy Cross Hospital,
having had much experience with the elderly during her
long career on Varnum Street, in part thanks to
attendings like myself, Dr. Pacious, Dr. Shepard, Dr.
Miranda and several others who admitted slews of
geriatric patients. Bonnie sees Sue Cadigan frequently
at work.
Photo: she is seen doing first aid nursing at the MCI Center, where she looks after injured hockey players!
Marshall, Lewis
Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases
A great role model, Lew was a Howard graduate with fellowship at Johns Hopkins.
As he once told us, “In the hospital you guys see only complicated cases – in the
office you’re going to see relatively healthy people and you’ll hardly know what to
do with them!” Things have changed since
then, with less emphasis on hospital care
and much more on ambulatory care.
Martin, Jan (Telford)
Nursing
Jan retired in 2008 and now enjoys spending time with her two
grandchildren, ages 17 and 13. The younger is a brown-belt in
Karate. Reportedly Jan is an ardent Red Sox fan, too.
The photo shows Jan doing some pre-op teaching on 5 South.
Martino, Alberto
Nephrology
Al, a popular mentor to the residents and a physician who painstakingly followed his patients even by
telephone on his days off, was an excellent role model for us. His presence in the hospital was signaled
by his arrival in his huge Lincoln Town Car, barely small enough to fit in the doctors’ parking lot. He
had a pager which sounded off loudly during all conferences, jolting many of us into wakefulness. I
had the privilege of presenting him with the Harry F. Bernton Award for teaching excellence during an
annual medical staff outing at Indian Spring.
27
Matta, Carlos
Pathology/Nuclear Medicine
He was famous for whistling along with classical music
in the background while doing autopsies. We had a topnotch pathology department with him and Dr. Benny
Morales. Carlos is retired and living in Connecticut with
a son, according to Pedro Pabòn.
Matus, Roberto
Gastroenterology
Roberto was Dr. Rivera’s GI Fellow when I came in 1975. After
over 20 years in practice he retired in 1998 and took a
administrative post with NIH, where he stayed for another 7 years
before retiring completely. Since then he and his wife, Mercedes,
who is a psychiatrist at a clinic in Arlington, have more time to
enjoy their two grandchildren. They are close friends of Pedro and
Anita Pabòn as well as Clara and Luis Heffess.
Mayle, Francis
Neurology
Frank and his neuro group, including Drs. Norman Luban and Gary London, were often consultants at
Providence. Frank's outspoken manner always impressed me – as well as his many comments tossed
out for our enlightenment, such as “90% of the time a doctor knows what’s wrong with the patient after
hearing his story for 30 seconds.” Not only is there some truth to this statement but I appreciate any
doctor who will listen to his patient for that long a time without interrupting!
Mazique, Edward
Internal Medicine
Ed was from Natchez, Mississippi and got his M.D. from Howard Medical School in
1941. He came to Providence in 1955 and was a major figure there, serving as
president of the medical staff in 1983-1984. In 1968 he helped organize the health
services for the Poor People’s March on Washington. He was also part of the
executive health committee of the NAACP.
Ed was noted for his great personal charm, which earned him unconditional affection from his many
patients. Sometimes they would balk at suggestions from consultants but would quickly acquiesce after
Ed put his arm around them and told them, in his famous avuncular manner, that he thought they really
needed to do what the consultant recommended. Although he was sometimes at odds with the medical
(continued)
28
residents’orders on the chart he would never cross them out but
would call the resident aside and, in that same manner, convince
them (usually) to do things his way! He would have made an
excellent ambassador abroad, with skills like that. He was elected
Bullthrower at the annual staff outing at Indian Spring one year and
mesmerized the audience with his presentation.
Photo: this image graced the doctors’ lounge, along with its English counterpart,
for several years. The translation of chiacchierone, an Italian word, is pretty close to “chatterbox” rather than teller of
implausible tales, but the Bullthrowers as a rule tended to be a bit of both.
McCoy, Kenneth
Laboratory Medicine
Dr. McCoy, now 97, immediately replied to my e-letter asking for information, saying the he was about
to depart on a photographic trip with former head of the Providence pharmacy, Paul Johnson, and that
he would respond upon return. I recall both of them being asked by Dr. Weiss to make “lab rounds”
with the residents to help them learn to select appropriate tests and drugs on the wards. No one could
forget Dr. McCoy’s infinite patience and reassuring manner with us.
McMahon, Thomas
Pulmonology
Tom, the inveterate tennis player, often admitted his patients to the Private Service, where he usually
put the residents fully in charge right away. He was a champion of reducing in-house costs, and rightly
so. I remember him arriving at one staff meeting with a pile of charts concerning an acutely-bleeding
patient, much like Ronald Reagan arriving in Congress with that now-famous cartload of tomes on the
federal budget. Tom criticized the residents for a seemingly inordinate number of H&H’s ordered by
them. This, however, was taken out of context and was quite justifiable in that particular case.
McQuillan, Father
Chaplain
Father McQuillan responded to Code Blue calls faster than many of the house staff and took his job
extremely seriously, whatever he was called upon to do. He seldom smiled or engaged in chit-chat but
was always available, regardless of the patient’s religion, what time he was summoned, etc. Every
evening we cleared a path for him to deliver the sacrament to the ward patients.
Mecca, Maria
Nursing
Maria was one of the stars among the nurses. She started on 7
East with Beth Dineen, working with a largely geriatric
clientele, and then moved on to Labor & Delivery with Mary
Smith. She loved working in the nursery with high-risk
newborns. Originally from Scranton, she enjoyed talking
about her southern Italian heritage. One quickly learned not to
make fun of her passion for Barry Manilow music. Her
family, including 8 grandchildren, lives in Bowie.
Photo: Maria (right) with Bonnie Mahon
29
Meyer, Jerry
Cardiology
A native of Joliet, Illinois, Jerry rejected Horace Greely’s advice
and moved east, arriving at Providence by way of GWU, where he
joined practice with Dr. Haider. He continues to practice and do
resident teaching.
We saw Jerry a few months back,
after a 30-year hiatus, and he was as
youthful as ever. I saw him also at
30,000 feet on an in-flight Fox News segment once, expounding lustily
on the virtues of a glass of red wine a day. Wine evidently has favorable
cosmetic as well as cardiological benefits.
Photos:
-- Above: Jerry gets a carnation for Doctors’ Day
-- Right: He and the Mrs. cut a rug at a Providence Gala
Miller, Eunice
Social Services
Eunice received a “Mission of Providence” award some years ago for her
outstanding commitment to patients and their families, often confused by their new
responsibilities after a loved one returned home or entered the last stages of illness.
She doggedly pursued all available avenues of support for them. Her pro-active
style got results.
She has been a field instructor for Catholic University School of Social Work for
many years, helping students to learn the profession..
Miranda, Armando
Internal Medicine
(photo: see Howard, Estelle)
Armando brought a distinctive Latin flavor to the medical staff, though there were several other staff
physicians also from Puerto Rico. He was quite outgoing and friendly, roaming the Providence halls
with his medical bag tucked under his arm and speaking with his characteristic accent. He once
remarked that a heavily-jaundiced cirrhosis patient looked “berry Jello.” I was privileged to be
Armando’s associate in my early years in practice. He was a genuinely kind man and his patients loved
him for it. After leaving Providence he worked for a time in the D.C. Department of corrections with
inmates. He died in 2010.
30
Mirasol, Melinda
Unit Secretary
Melinda worked for over 30 years as unit secretary on 4 East and in the evenings on
7 East, where she and Henrietta “Pappy” Parker, the day secretary, shared
responsibilities. For her unfailing service to her coworkers and patients she
received the Providence Mission Award in 1999. Melinda died shortly after
Christmas in 2000.
Moody, Louise
Family Practice/Emergency Medicine
An Alabama native, Louise did her residency at Georgetown after graduating
from Temple U. med school. In the 1980’s she worked in the Providence E.R.
She is in private practice in Gaithersburg, MD. She stays fluent in Spanish
and has a following of Spanish-speaking patients.
Many different physicians worked the E.R. when I was there, including Abdul
Rauf, Jaime Quezon, and Roberto Castrence, just to name a few. Dr. Lucy
Gomez was the director of the department.
Morris, Margaret
Nursing
Margaret worked in the Providence Operating Room for 36 years. She is now retired and living in
Annapolis.
Napoli, Louis
Radiology
“What’s up?” is the phrase I was most likely to hear from Lou when I wandered into the radiology
reading room. He was always willing to give us residents a hand with difficult readings, and
sometimes even with the simple ones! A graduate
of SUNY at Syracuse, Lou did his residency at
Georgetown. He was always good-humored, an
attribute which earned him the Bullthrower award
one year. Visiting the department in those days
when he, Bernie Hillig and Al Coccaro were there
was like walking into a fraternity house on
Saturday night. And poor John Geary got teased a
lot but could give it back as quickly as he got it.
Photo: Jean Hillig attaches a carnation to Lou’s greens on
Doctors’ Day.
31
Neilan, Lee
Psychiatry
Lee was a very dynamic resident, seemingly tireless and bringing lots of mothering to
her patients. Her chart orders often included such reminders to the nurses as patient’s
particular diet preferences or urinary hesitancy problems if the curtain were not pulled
completely around the bed! Patients loved to see her coming because they knew they
would be treated well. There are unconfirmed reports that Lee was in practice in West
Virginia and that she died some years ago. She was honored by a memorial gift to the
Nisei Japanese-American Student Relocation Fund in 2011.
Norton, Sister Catherine
Administration
Sister Catherine began as a nurse graduate from St. Joseph College in
Emmittsburg and advanced to become assistant administrator and finally
president and CEO of Providence from 1983 to 1989. She had entered the
Daughters of Charity in 1952. During her tenure Laboure Hall’s name was
changed to St. Catherine Hall. Coincidence?
Photo: Colleen Patton receives 25-year certificate from Sister Catherine 1n 1995.
Nunan, Seamus
Obstetrics & Gynecology
As the son of the Irish ambassador to the United States, Seamus grew up locally and did his medical
training at Georgetown. He served in the USAF during the Korean War. He practiced in Silver Spring
and at Providence and Holy Cross. He was one of the Irish-rooted triumvirate of the doctors’ lounge:
Harrington, Finegan and Nunan. He died in 1998 following a stroke.
Pabòn, Pedro
Anesthesiology
[email protected]
Pedro retired from practice after being a member of the Providence family from 1968 to 1994. He is
famed for his ardent support of the nursing staff, partly because his wife, Carmen, also worked at
Providence first in Labor & Delivery and then as the first IV therapist. Never afraid to state his
opinions, Pedro says he valued the camaraderie among the physicians and nurses at Providence. He is
proud of his three children and ten grandchildren.
Pacious, Edward
Internal Medicine
I was Ed’s partner for four years and have a great respect
for his total commitment to medicine and his Catholic
faith. When folks commented that he always seemed to
be working, he mentioned that he was the father of
eleven children and therefore must have gone home at
some point! Despite his busy schedule and the endless
(continued)
Photo: Ed and friend enjoy a power lunch.
32
pages (“Dr. Pacious, 4584!!”) over the loudspeakers. Ed still found time to attend Mass every day in
the chapel and looked after most of the Providence clergy. His ability to fill up a chart with
information, all written diligently in longhand and comprising every possible nuance of the review of
systems, was legendary. He was also what you would expect a doctor to look like. And act like.
Except that he seldom, if ever, wore a bow tie. Sheila Carrigg was his office manager at the Eye Street
location, and it was always entertaining to watch the interaction between these two titans. It was never
clear who gave orders to whom! Ed moved to Florida some years ago, though he often vowed his real
home was in Boston. He has reportedly been in poor health and is 88 years old.
Padmanabha, Vani
Pathology
Dr. Vani and Mike Brancaccio formed, along with Dr. Fox, the core of the laboratory and pathology
sections. Vani did her fellowship in Baltimore at the U. of Maryland. She was always a willing
collaborator with us residents, especially when planning our weekly Friday Case Conferences in which
a case of interest to all was discussed in depth, with attendings and faculty present as well.
Paolucci, Felix
Surgery
Phil was a native of Brooklyn, NY. He served in the Navy in WWII and afterward went to
Georgetown Medical School and graduated in 1947. In 1954 he joined the surgical staff at Providence
and stayed on until 1986, serving as chief of surgery as well as in other roles. In
the doctors’ lounge he often reminisced about the “old” Providence and about his
months in quarantine after contracting TB from a patient. He was justifiably
proud of his triumph over alcohol addiction and was known for the “Dry Doc”
personalized license plate on his car. He was also proud of his family, including
his wife, who was a nurse, and his twelve children, just edging Ed Pacious out by
one! Phil, too, was a deeply religious man and even made a pilgrimage to
Medjugorie, the Bosnian site of the apparition of Mary, with Lou Goffredi and
family.
Patton, Colleen
Communications
Her angelic voice on the loudspeakers gently chided us to answer our
pages. I have always suspected, though, that she installed a pressure
device in our pillows in Laboure Hall to signal the operator to page us
immediately as soon as we put our heads down! She adds that one day
the chaplain found an OB resident asleep in the confessional in the
chapel. Colleen became Director of Communications. She retired in
1995 and now lives in Cresaptown, Maryland.
Photo: Ed Saunders and Colleen in 1986
33
Priego, Victor
Oncology
[email protected]
Victor came to Providence as a medical resident in 1977 and eventually went on to a fellowship in
Oncology at Georgetown. He is now in private practice in Bethesda, where he occasionally crosses
paths with Harold Weiss and Carlos Matta. Venice is a favorite vacation spot, especially since he has
friends there, and he’s been studying Italian conscientiously for several years. He has six children, the
youngest entering college.
Pushkas, Peter
Oncology
Clad in bow tie and armed with a healthy dose of cynicism Peter no doubt was responsible for at least
some of us residents taking up oncology as a specialty. He used to fascinate us, in idle moments, with
descriptions of the Soviet invasion of his native Budapest in 1955, although he was barely old enough
to remember it. In 1994 he took over Ed Pacious’ practice in the DePaul building, with Sheila Carrigg
staying on as office manager. When he, too, retired in 2010, he returned in true Frank Sinatra fashion
to work two weeks later as a member of a utilization review organization, a sort of medical KGB, only
more feared. His son and daughter, Judith and Adam, are both married, and at least one of his
grandchildren will carry on the redoubtable Pushkas name.
Rameau, Serge
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Serge, from Haiti, was in charge of the Center for Life after he completed his Providence
residency. He died in 1990 of heart problems. He was a great friend of Mary Smith. He
and I took the FLEX exam together in 1977 in a freezing mid-.January at the D.C.
National Guard Armory in our overcoats and scarves and trying to hold our pencils with
gloved hands since the heat had failed – and, to boot, the place was decorated with tinsel
icicles hanging from the ceiling. We both passed, even in those trying circumstances!
Rankin, Tony
Orthopedics
His long career at Providence began in 1977, after residency at Walter
Reed and then assignment as Chief of Orthopedics in 95th Evacuation
Hospitals in Vietnam. His talents eventually led him to become president
of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2002, and he
received the Advocate Award for his work with the homeless through
Unity Health Services. An orthopedic ward was named in his honor in
2012 on the 5th floor at Providence. His son, Marc, practices with him.
We enjoyed seeing Tony again last summer, when he graciously took us on a tour of the hospital,
where we would have certainly gotten lost without his help!
34
Rayford, Linwood
Surgery
After his internship at DC General Linwood did a surgical residency at Freedmen’s
Hospital and went into private practice. In 1962 he became deputy medical
examiner for D.C., performing thousands of autopsies and testifying in court cases.
He taught surgery, physiology and bioethics while on the faculty of Howard and
Georgetown and was the author of many academic articles. He served as governor
of the DC Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. He died in 2004 at the age
of 78.
A golfer, Linwood accepted no less than four trophies during a one staff outing at Indian Spring – one
for himself and the others for three who had to get back to town early.
Restrepo, Gustav
Surgery
[email protected]
Gus says that ever since he came to Providence to do his residency in surgery in 1966 he has always
had a special fondness for the place and considers it his home, even though he worked at many other
hospitals. He recalls learning from mentors Goffredi, Boland and Manning, to name a few. He has
seven children, six born at Providence. His daughter Maria is a family practitioner and has an office in
Greenbelt next to his. He has reduced his practice to two days a week, in his office. Debbie Rybka
worked for him some years back. Gus has always been, in particular, the endocrinologists’ choice for
being able to find those elusive parathyroids when nobody else could!
Rhine, Lorraine
Nursing
Lorraine was head nurse on 6 East for twelve years and moved on to Admissions
and Utilization Review. She is a D.C. native and did her training at St. Joseph’s in
Baltimore.
Rybka, Debbie
Nursing
Debbie fondly recalls those glory days on 5 East and in ICU and stays in touch with her colleagues like
Danette Travaglini, Ann Krolak, Sharon Tennant, and Lee Kisse. Attempts to track down Lynette
Palmer so far have failed. Debbie worked for seventeen years at Providence until 1994, when she
moved to North Carolina, working in Fayetteville and then Salisbury in ICU and cardiac cath lab
settings. Eventually she “became a government employee” by signing on at the local V.A. hospital.
She says she has two spoiled dogs and has found time to travel around the world, including a month in
Hawaii and the occasional ski trip. She’s had thoughts of returning to the Washington area, but so far
just thoughts.
35
Rivera, Rafael
Gastroenterology
[email protected].
Known to his peers as “Pete” or “Pito,” he was a member of the full-time teaching faculty at
Providence for many years. He retired to Florida some years ago and opened a bookstore, as well as
becoming editor of Caduceus, the newsletter of the American Translators’ Association, of which he
was a founder. Most of us residents rotated through his GI service and bore witness to numerous
endoscopies, always performed at dawn after we had passed sleep-deprived nights on the wards. Both
Roberto Matus and June Gibbons did GI fellowships under his tutelage. He had a great didactic style,
combining rigor with compassion, which he also offered to all his patients. On the ward his
authoritative air and resonant voice commanded attention. He had a gift for coming to the point of a
question and not wasting words.
Robinson, Alvin
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Dr. Robinson died in 2013 at age 100. He had been the director of the Providence
OB GYN residency program for many years.
Royal, Sylvia
Nursing
Sylvia worked for years in Labor & Delivery with Mary Smith and Mary
Smith and only recently retired. In this photo she is seen with her daughter,
Michelle, who worked in Dr. Rankin’s office.
Sabet, Aly
Gastroenterology
Aly completed his residency in internal medicine at Providence in 1979 and went on to
fellowship in gastroenterology at Howard, finishing in 1981. From there he went into
private practice in Fort Washington, Maryland. He resides in Alexandria.
Sanzaro, Frank
Surgery
Frank was the soft-spoken surgical figure in the doctors’ lounge, who preferred to
stay out of the limelight. His gentle manner was valued by patients and staff alike.
“Cookie,” as he was known then to his peers, lived to be 95 but first suffered the
loss of two of his children, both physicians. A son, Frank Jr. is in family practice in
Cockeysville, Maryland. Mary Hemelt was a steadfast friend to the Sanzaro family
in Frank’s later years.
36
Shepard, Marc
Internal Medicine
Marc stepped in when I left practice with Dr. Pacious to return to Alexandria. He
is a graduate of Northwestern School of Medicine and did his residency at GW,
finishing in 1981. He quickly became a popular figure at Providence. Presently
he is in practice in College Park, Maryland.
Silvestre, A.
Internal Medicine
I was told that he moved out west to do cardiology but have been unable to find any
information at all about him. I cannot remember his first name but do recall him
being a bright senior resident when I came on the scene. From Brazil, he enjoyed
speaking pigeon Italian with me in the cafeteria, along with Roberto Depetris.
Simpson, William
Internal Medicine
Bill, whose son William III was also part of the Providence family, was one of
the busiest attendings on the Private Service. We all learned from his many
patients. And we loved his encouraging comments that he would sometimes
write on our workups. He enjoyed discussing management of his cases with us
and never got upset or testy, though we must have given him plenty of
opportunities to do so. Bill died in 2008.
Small, Allen
Surgery
As one nurse commented, Allen was anything but small, being at least 6’ tall. He is a graduate of
SUNY at Brooklyn. His New York manner and sense of humor led him to be nominated Bullthrower
one year, and his memorable presentation to the staff included his now-famous definition of the
acronym DRG: “De revenue’s gone!” His handwriting is reportedly under study by Egyptologists.
37
Smith, Mary
Nursing
[email protected]
My co-author, head nurse of
Labor & Delivery ever since I
can remember, did her training
at Union University School of
Nursing in Albany, NY,
graduating in 1956. She came
to Providence in 1967 and was
in L & D for twenty years
before moving on to Antenatal
Testing for another thirteen
years. She has two sons, a
daughter,
and
several
grandchildren.
Mary, who
retired in 2000, recalls
Providence as a “family of
committed people working
together to give the best possible care.” She witnessed many changes over the years but is happy that
she was able to serve the community fully, especially the poorer part, despite the
economic uncertainties and administrative shifts that affect any large institution.
I didn’t know Mary well until I told David Giammittorio about my plans for this
booklet, and he immediately put her in touch with me. She proved to be my best
source of vital information. Thanks, David!
Above: The Smith clan including Kelly, Caitlyn,
Clayton, Ina, Courtney, Susan, Madison, Keith,
Mary, Alfred and Rosa
Left: Madison with Windsor (more Chihuahua than
rabbit except at Easter))
Above Right: Mary in 1977. She adds that now she often dog-sits for
Windsor.
Stakem, Catherine
Nursing
Mrs. Stakem was a highly professional nurse on 8 Surgery whose strict demeanor
and sometimes acerbic tongue hid the proverbial heart of gold. She retired after
twenty-one years at Providence.
38
Strudwick, Warren
Surgery
Warren served in combat as a Marine in 1943. After the war he entered
Howard University, graduating from the medical school in 1952. During his
training met his wife-to-be, Dr. Bette Catoe, a pediatrician who later attended
newborns at Providence. Warren practiced at Providence from the 1960’s until
he retired in 2000. He taught surgery at Howard and was active in the NAACP
and the Urban League. His son is a highly-respected E.R. physician at
Providence. Warren died in 2008.
Sumiyoshi, Choko
Nursing
Arriving at Providence in 1967 Choko first headed up the pediatric
ward on the fourth floor. She later
played a major role in establishing
Providence’s first oncology unit.
Choko received the Providence
Hospital Mission award for her work
in coordinating a Japan-America
nurse exchange program which has
enabled many Japanese nurses to
come to Providence to learn on-site
about western medicine.
Right: Choko holds “Help Nurse Get To Work” sign she used during a blizzard when her attempts to cross-country ski into
work from Montgomery County failed. She got to work with three different lifts!
Suraci, Alfred
Surgery
Al was a surgical legend in Washington, having been chief of plastic surgery at numerous local
hospitals over the years, including Providence. A 1936 graduate of GW med
school, he did his internship at the old Providence.
He eventually became
founder of the American Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. The
following excerpt provides some little-known information about his early career:
Spartanburg, S.C. Herald-Journal October 27, 1985
Lou “Slim” Brissie, a left handed pitcher from S. Carolina, destined for a great career
in professional baseball, was hit by a German shell in the Appenines in Northern
Italy on Dec. 7, 1944. The wound opened his left leg “like a ripe watermelon,” he recalls.
(continued)
39
He was treated by Army surgeon Wilbur Brubaker and plastic surgeon Alfred
Suraci who reconstructed the shattered bone, shattered ligaments and ripped
skin. He was the first GI in the Mediterranean theatre to be put on penicillin, a
newly-discovered drug. He recovered and went on to join the Philadelphia
Athletics under manager-owner Connie Mack. Ted Williams remembered
batting against Brissie on Patriots’ Day in Boston in April, 1948 – they faced each
other – “Williams hit a line drive that hit my bad leg and knocked me down. We
thought that might have been it, but I got up and we beat them.” Williams
recalled years later the “loud noise like a drum” was not from a “tin leg” but a
metal brace that covered the scarred and misshapen limb. Brissie went on to face such famous players as
Phil Rizzuto, who liked to bunt against him. Dr. Suraci performed six operations on Brissie’s leg, but the
player refused more surgery, saying that he couldn’t wait to get back to playing and throwing again.
Al amassed an important collection of personal memorabilia,
including case histories and detailed notes about surgical
procedures, which were donated to the National Museum of the
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology following his death in
1993.
Joe Cosimano dearly loved to tease Al and did so unmercifully
at every opportunity. Al just shrugged it off and seemed totally
unflustered, thereby making Joe all the more bent on getting
under his skin. It was obvious, though, that the two men shared
a great friendship.
Tangoren, Gulen
Surgery
With her bandanna turban Gulen was well
known throughout the hospital, as
anesthesiologist
and
dispenser
of
philosophical comments on many
subjects. She was a friend to all and
brightened up any room with her arrival.
From Turkey,
she was also
an expert in
the art of
Oya, an ancient form of Turkish
lacework.
Pictured here with Serge Rameau, Gulen died in
2005 in New York .
40
Todd, Barbara
Nursing
As the head nurse of 7 South many of the residents had daily interaction with Barbara, who was the
glue that held the place together. She knew how to get the residents and the private attendings to work
in harmony, no simple task! Her floor was the major teaching one, and no one knew us better than she
did. Dr. Weiss was aware of this, too, and got feedback from her. As Ifty Ahmad recounts,
“I remember Mrs Todd, she was the stern, motherly kind of nurse. It was end of my internship year, I
was on call. She called about a agitated patient, mind you it is 2am or so and she is on the phone,
trying to tell me about this patient. I got irate and screamed at her. Well, she kept very calm and I
felt really bad about my behavior. So next morning around 7 am I go to the floor, Mrs. Todd is in
session with the nurses. I said, “ Mrs Todd, I would like to speak to you.” She replied, “OK, let's go to
my office. I said, “No, I want to speak in front of everyone”, and I told her how sorry I was for having
been rude to her on the phone and I hope she would forgive me. “It’s OK,” she said. So I thought it
was over. Well it wasn't. Around 10 am I get a page to report to Dr Weiss's office. I had no idea what
it was for. I enter his office and he said, “ You rascal, what have you done to Mrs Todd ? She likes
you!” Well, she had told him what happened, he wanted to cross check the facts. I also learned a
valuable lesson of my life, be nice, if wrong say “sorry” -- it goes a long way in putting things back on
track.”
Barbara and her husband now live near Frederickburg, Virigina.
Todd, Mark
Unit Secretary
[email protected]
I remember Mark handling the paperwork in the busy E.R. and often passing me the phone with an
irate senior resident at DC General on the line trying to avoid taking a problem patient from us in
transfer. He met Lesley, a nurse in the E.R., and they married. Their first child was born at
Providence, where Mark worked for 36 years. He is now the Materiels Director for the O.R. at
Georgetown Medstar since 2010. Yes, he is Barbara Todd’s son, in case you were wondering. The
Providence family was a family indeed!
Tomassian, S.
Surgery
Formerly known as Dr. Tahmasebi, he has been a perpetual figure around the
hospital as long as I can remember. I never saw him dressed in anything other than
surgical scrubs, and he was always available for emergencies on the wards. I recall
him appearing at the bedside of a patient bleeding copiously from an abdominal
wound that we had tried to stem in vain for an hour – he whipped out a mosquito clamp, stopped the
oozing instantly, and walked off whistling back to the call room without a care in the world, leaving us
in slack-jawed astonishment.
41
Travaglini, Danette
Nursing
[email protected]
Danette started out as Unit Secretary on 5 East and then became an R.N., rapidly advancing to become
Director of Ambulatory Care after working in each new department (and there were many!) that the
hospital opened. She spent thirty four years and Providence and now is semi-retired. She and husband
Trav, who works for United Health Care, have a daughter, 32, who lives in NY and works for the Bank
of America. They have moved to a condo on Mass. Avenue while keeping their house in Bethany
Beach for summer use. Danette says she has become an enthusiastic golfer and in fact is the
chairwoman for the annual tournament to raise money for the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition.
Tsitouras, Panayiotis
Geriatric Medicine
[email protected]
He was a fountain of endocrinological knowledge when I was an intern
and delighted in the complexities of scientific studies. He seemed
destined for a research position but apparently has been involved at
least to some degree in patient care, most recently as a geriatrician at
the U. of Oklahoma (that must be culture shock for an Athenian!). He
did contribute to the Merck Manual of Geriatrics, too, and undoubtedly
has produced many papers. Word has it – seriously – that he is now
researching testosterone deficiency in elderly men.
Vijayaraghavan, M.
Gastroenterolgy
Ah, Dr. “Viji” – nobody except his co-nationals could pronounce his whole name
convincingly – my fellow intern who held the hospital record for consistently getting the
most admissions from the E.R. while on call. I believe he averaged about five per night.
Who could forget his drooping eyelids as he stumbled into the 7 East conference room
for morning report clutching a pile of charts up to his nose! And his prepared lectures to
the residents were spectacular, delivered in his own, inimitable style. Example? After a
discourse on MI’s, he summarized by smiling and saying, “The heart – it takes a licking and keeps on
ticking!” Viji was a noted host for ethnic suppers at his duplex apartment next to the hospital – plain
yogurt and chilis, to start. Mehmet Fer says he ran into Viji in Lexington, KY at the horse races a few
years back. I believe Viji did his GI fellowship in Baltimore. How he ended up below the MasonDixon line is a curiosity. We would all love to know, but Viji has been out of touch with us.
Weisgerber, Joan
Nursing
She began her career in 1959 with Providence. I worked with this sweet and gentle lady on 6 South
and remember her half-moon spectacles with the chain. She was a good friend of Sue Cadigan and
Nancy White. I am told that she now lives at Riderwood in Maryland.
42
Weiss, Harold
Internal Medicine / Director of Medical Residency
Chief of Clinical Services [email protected]
Were it not for his well-known sense of
humor I couldn’t get away with likening
him to the National Bohemian Beer figure
in the days when he sported a similar
flowing mustache. Only the cigar is missing!
Photo: Harold and Barbara tripping the light fantastic.
What can one say about such an influential person?
As one responder to my questionnaire put it, “Harold was the best internist I have ever met in my life,
a great teacher, God bless him.” Who could say it better?
He did his residency at DC General with Sol Katz, Frank Sappington and other legendary figures back
in the days when you had few resources and had to be a real bedside clinician, doing your own sputum
gram stains and other scut work. His emphasis upon clinical medicine, integrated appropriately with
new technology, stayed with us all. He has, however, given in to the adoption of electronic medical
records, proving that he is not entirely a Luddite.
He was elected President of the D.C. Medical Society in 1993 and tried valiantly to convince City
Council to keep DC General open, but it was not to be. In 2005 he faced a similar problem with the
Prince George’s Medical Center but this time was successful. In those days he was an advisor in the
Case Management Dept. Since his retirement he has continued to do utilization review work.
The image of Harold at the conference room blackboard, excitedly getting into a monologue on new
TB or deriving the A-a gradient, is permanently branded on our brains. All of us know what a normal
pO2 is after learning the hard way how to respond to that loaded question. He was an advocate of the
thorough physical examination. And we all know the story of the disgruntled patient that paid him a
visit at home with an axe after a resident, at Dr. Weiss’ insistence per protocol, probed his nether
regions to check his prostate.
I had the privilege of being the emcee at Harold’s retirement party at the Four Seasons in 1994, little of
which I remember thanks to Ash El Khodary (God bless him, too) buying me a couple of stiffeners at
the bar beforehand. I think we had a good time and I vaguely remember dancing in wild abandon with
June Gibbons. In retrospect I wish I also had played my guitar and sung that famous tune “Edelweiss”
from “The Sound of Music,” substituting “Haroldweiss” and having everybody sing along. Maybe
next time!
Whelton, Robert
Internal Medicine
He occasionally admitted to the Private Service. I don’t recall a lot of interaction
with the residents. He died at age 87. What a great retro photo he has!
43
White, Nancy
Nursing
Nancy was, I believe, one of the 6 East staff and went on to become a Nurse Practitioner after her time
at Providence. She lived in College Park, and I have lost contact with her. She was never afraid to say
what she thought.
Wilburn, Clinton
Internal Medicine
Clint did his internship at Providence in 1976 and then went on to greener pastures. He
was a 1975 graduate of Howard Medical School. Later he apparently did a residency in
pediatrics at DC General. He is now listed as practicing in Fayetteville, NC.
Wilhelm, Alison and Frederick
Surgery
This couple both practiced at Providence. She was a graduate of the U. of Pennsylvania and was an
anesthesiologist, while he was a 1956 graduate of Jefferson Medical College and did family practice.
They are listed as living in Hyattsville. Bill and Karen Gonzalez comprised another other husbandwife team at Providence.
Williams, Steve
Internal Medicine
[email protected]
I got off the boat from med school in Bologna, Italy in July,1975, and went straight to
Providence two weeks after getting married. The first weeks were bewildering but Dr.
Weiss had the foresight to put me one-on-one with Hayk Kaftarian until I could get
used to the shock. It was a rapid learning curve. My three fellow interns were
supportive. After finishing residency I went to work for Dr. Pacious and continued
admitting to Providence and Capitol Hill until I got an offer to practice in my home
town of Alexandria, which I couldn’t refuse. My wife Lucia and I stayed in Old
Town and I practiced at Alexandria Inova Hospital until 1998, when we decided to
repatriate to Bologna because since I no longer had family locally and it was time
to re-tool anyway. Since then I’ve worked at city hospitals looking after elderly
Italians and doing a tiny office practice on the side for English-speaking exchange
students, many from the local branch of Johns Hopkins. It’s a calmer life without
the bureaucratic hassles, believe it or not. I’m the only doc in Italy without a car –
I travel only on foot, bicycle or bus. I enjoy indulging adolescent fantasies, like
playing bass guitar in a rock band of ex-pats. My wife and I got back to
Providence for a visit last July for the first time since I left in 1982 – how big it’s gotten!
44
Yano, Kathy Andres
Nursing
Kathy started on 7 East just about the time I got there. She was
very conscientious and never hesitated to call me at any hour of
the day or night about any problem with one of her patients.
This was in the day before such labor-saving devices as I.V.
therapists and blood gas technicians, mind you. One Christmas
night I was the only medical resident in the entire house and she
was on duty that night, too – I don’t recall how many futile trips
I made in the direction of Laboure Hall to try to catch a few
winks, only to have the pager go off for the umpteenth time for
7 East – you know who! But she was so dedicated that I could
never be upset – plus she used to call me “sir,” which made me
feel important.
Photo: Kathy gets an award from Sister Carol. Whatever it was, I’m sure
she deserved it.
Yoo, Dal
Oncology/Geriatrics
[email protected]
Dal still practices Heme-Onc on a consulting basis at Providence. His wife, Mary
Ann, is a former orthopedic nurse at Alexandria Hospital, where I met her long
ago. They have four children: Derek, Nora, Carly and Christopher. To quote Dal,
“I thank the Lord who gave me the good health so far, so that I could serve other
human-beings.”
Dal is one of the most intellectually curious people I’ve ever known – his life
seems dedicated to seeing how much knowledge one individual can absorb. I am
told that if, during the week, he doesn’t have time to read the newspapers, he saves them all up and
reads them though, front to back on Sunday, without stopping! Dal is boarded in three subspecialties.
He did his residency at St. Luke’s in NY and his fellowship in Heme-Onc at GW. He is a great
advocate of the beneficial properties of Korean green tea, which I thought tasted like pond scum, but if
Dal says it’s good for me, then I believe him. I bought a case!
Dal Yoo, Mrs. Mazique, Sam Behrens and Mary Ann Yoo display the
Redskins jacket Dal bought at a staff auction. It was designed by Shari
Belafonte and had the stylish and much sought-after feature of a ring of
flashing lights around the Indian seal.
45
Zung, Max
Surgery
Probably the most
controversial of the
entire
group
of
anesthesiologists, Max
was a 1950 graduate of
Columbia med school
and did his residency at
NY & Presbyterian
Hospital. I believe he
was the first in
Anesthesia to receive
the Bullthrower award,
and perhaps the last!
And he was most
deserving of it, indeed.
In the photo is shown the first meeting of the China Institute in December, 1944 in New York. This is
a group of educators founded to promote intercultural understanding between the U.S. and China. A
very youthful and mustache-free Max stands on the far right. The other two people designated with
stars are Henry R. Luce and Clare Boothe Luce. Henry was the founder of the Time-Life publishing
empire and was born in China, while his wife was a distinguished writer who later became a
congresswoman from Connecticut and then Ambassador to Italy.
Max always made his presence known when he entered the doctor’s lounge for coffee. His reputation
for sociability and good humor preceded him wherever he went.
Max died in 2008 at the age of 85.
45
Miscellany
Here follow items which, for one reason or another, were not easily classified but which are important.
I have included people that either followed soon after I left or that I knew only tangentially but that
made a significant impact on the hospital or on me.
Fumikazu Kawakami was a
pulmonary
physician
who
worked and taught residents at
Providence for some years before
his untimely passing. He was
much loved and respected. He
was a graduate of the U. of
Osaka, Japan.
Phillips, Monsignor Hugh
Monsignor Phillips began teaching at Providence in 1935. He became a wellknown personage at all hospital activities and was a friend to all the staff. He
was honored by the Sisters of Charity with the Founder’s Award in 1987 at
Emmittsburg. He commented that he was honored to be associated with
America’s first native-born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Jefferson, Willie
E.R Staff
“Jeff” helped to keep things running smoothly in the busy
E.R. and wore many hats. Later he moved on to work in the
O.R. Here he is presented with an award recognizing his
contributions.
46
Combs, Arthur
Critical Care Medicine
[email protected]
I believe Art was Providence’s first intensivist, starting in 1985, after the ICU
and CCU had been relocated to new quarters from 2 South. He left in 1994
and went into the medical device industry, becoming CEO of Grove
Instruments, which makes, among other
things, a device to measure blood sugars
without needles.
He has three children and lives in St. Louis.
He states, “I loved my nurses, especially
Debbie, Esther, Dale, Brenda, Maureen,
Nora, my students, and my patients. I learned lots about medicine,
about people, about politics and about what really matters. I loved
many of the Sisters – especially Sister Ambrose Byrne – the single
most unselfish person I have ever known, and Sister Carol whom I
respect even more in retrospect as I have matured in business.
Freeman, Amy
President and CEO of Providence
Amy became President in 2010 after logging many years of administrative
experience at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
She did get her start locally, though, as a Candy
Striper with us and then getting her B.S.N. at
Catholic University. She then returned as a nurse on
2 South. At Mount Saint Mary’s College in
Emmittsburg she studied philosophy, theology and
ethics. She is active in several charitable causes,
serving as a board member of the Women’s Housing
Coalition, for one.
Photo: Sister Carol and Amy at a Gala
Valeski, Penny
Nursing
Penny and her nursing assistant, “Stevie” ran the Pediatric Clinic under the supervision of Hayk
Kaftarian. It was a great comfort to know that they were always available to help save the day when I
ran across difficult problems in my first experiences at Providence.
Danny, the Radiology Technician
I don’t remember his last name but he was always most helpful in finding films for me in the archives.
He was even happier when I learned how to find them myself, even though I discovered his secret.
47
Jacobs, Penny
Nursing
Penny is shown with a reunion shot of the first set of
triplets born at Providence, sometime in the 1990’s,
delivered by Dr. Leroy Jackson. Another set
followed on their heels a couple of years later, from
different parents, of course.
The mother had been carefully followed in the
Center For Life program, including antenatal testing
by Mary Smith. Serge Rameau was the director of
the Center For Life in the late 1980’s.
Calarco, Mary
Nursing
All medical residents remember Mary with fondness, along with her sidekick assistant, Mrs. Knott.
Mary ran the Medical Clinic, providing low-cost services to the community and providing an
ambulatory patient base for the residents to follow. She knew how to keep her clinic patients in line
and had no qualms about barging in when the visits were taking too long or somebody was trying to
wheedle an inappropriate prescription from one of the residents. Wednesday afternoons were a sort of
social occasion for many of the local elderly, who would sit patiently for hours, swapping stories. They
all snapped to attention when Mary called them back for their turn.
A word about the clinics: there were several, including general medical, cardiology, diabetic and
pulmonary. The residents had a free hand in dispensing care, under sometimes voluntary supervision
of private attendings like John Brennan or Vinny Di Francesco. Some of the charts were so thick that
they resembled the Manhattan telephone directory! Legions of bygone residents had entered notes
from rotations from years before, with the fading ink barely legible.
Sometimes a resident of one clinic, thinking he needed particular help with a case, would refer the
patient to a specialty clinic, for example, diabetic. The next month that same resident would find
himself newly assigned to the diabetic clinic, and – you guessed it – in would come that same patient
through the door, just as he was told to do! A sort of musical stethoscopes, it seems.
Paul Smith, first pharmacist and the director of the pharmacy for thirteen years, was
appointed vice president of Ambulatory Services in later years. His big job covered
the E.R., clinics, pharmacy, and Outreach services. His long friendship with Dr.
Kenneth McCoy is well-known.
48
At this joint meeting of the Washington Chapter
of the American College of Surgeons and the
Washington Academy of Surgery Secretary Louis
Sullivan, Secretary of Health & Human Services
under George Bush, had just been awarded a
plaque for his service to the nation by Tony
Rankin (l), president of the ACS chapter, and
Linwood Rayford, president of the WAS (r).
Throughout the years Providence Hospital has had interaction with political figures. When Abraham
Lincoln declared war in 1861 the Sisters of the Daughters of Charity at Emmittsburg were asked to
establish a hospital in Washington because the Washington Infirmary had been appropriated for
military use. An old mansion at 2nd and D St., S.W. was chosen. Overcrowding with war casualties
prompted construction of a new hospital by Congressional charter in
1866. Sister Mary Carroll was the first Superior, remaining in charge
until Sister Beatrice Duffy followed in 1869. Well into the 20th
century Providence remained the largest city hospital, at times so
overcrowded that patients were treated in chairs in the hallways.1
Finally, in 1947 land was purchased from Catholic University for the
present facility. The new building was completed in 1956.
Photo: Sister Carol addresses Congress on health care reform.
DeFerrari, J. Lost Washington, D.C. 2011; History Press, Charleston, SC; p 23