February 14, 2003

Jerene Bitondo, PA, of Cardiac Surgery, and Virginia Capasso, RN, PhD, of Surgical Nursing (pictured at left), were named this year's recipients of the annual Nathaniel Bowditch Prize in recognition of the significant contributions they each have made to improving the quality of care while reducing costs. The prize — an award certificate, a lapel pin and a check for $5,000 — was presented to each last week at a luncheon honoring the nominees.

Bitondo was recognized for her work on the adoption of endoscopic vein harvest in cardiac bypass surgery, which has led to the reduction of wound complications. She was nominated by David Torchiana, MD, chairman and CEO of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization and former chief of Cardiac Surgery.

Capasso was honored for her efforts to establish a home care program for post-operative vascular surgery patients, a program that proved so successful that it was expanded to include other patients with complex wounds. She was nominated by William Abbott, MD, chief of Vascular Surgery emeritus.

Andrew L. Warshaw, MD, surgeon-in-chief, who chaired the Bowditch selection committee, said the group had a very difficult time selecting a single individual. "The competition was so tight that we decided to present the award to two of the nominees," he said. Warshaw also thanked Ira Stepanian, a member of the hospital's board of trustees, for contributing an additional $5,000 enabling the full amount to be given to both recipients.

Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH, Torchiana and Edward Lawrence, chairman of the MGH Board of Trustees, also spoke at the event.

The Bowditch Prize was established by Charles and Nancy Munger through the Alfred C. Munger Foundation to honor Nathaniel Bowditch (1773-1883), a pioneer in celestial navigation. Bowditch's two sons were important figures in the history of the MGH. Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch served for several years as a trustee, both as a chairman and vice president, and also was responsible for writing the first volume of the MGH's history. His brother, Henry, was a house officer at the MGH in 1832 and became a leader in the treatment of diseases of the chest.