July 8, 2005

Durante Awards honor true healers from MGH Cancer Center

In recognition of their compassion, enthusiasm and commitment, two of the MGH's finest were honored June 27 with the Susan and Arthur Durante Award for Exemplary Care and Service with Cancer Patients. Constance Roche, RN, NP, of the Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center, and Edward Kielty, a technician for the Northeast Proton Therapy Center, received the annual award at a special ceremony in the O'Keeffe Auditorium.

From left, Kielty, Roche and Durante

The award is named after Arthur and Susan Durante, who have been actively involved with the MGH since Arthur — who died five years ago was diagnosed in 1968 with Hodgkin's Disease. The award is given each year to two nonphysician staff members in the MGH Cancer Center, nominated by colleagues, supervisors, patients or families. The couple created the award to express their gratitude to MGH staff and to recognize the important impact MGHers have on their patients' lives. "Arthur and I wanted to honor healers, not just caregivers. A true healer is a person that reaches out to help cancer patients not with their gloves but with their hands and their hearts," said Susan Durante.

Roche, who has been a nurse for more than 30 years, is part of the team that designed a weekly session that provides a direct link between the MGH's main campus and community health centers serving a vulnerable, largely low-income population. "I feel fortunate to be part of a profession that entails being helpful, compassionate and thoughtful to others," said Roche. "I walk along the path with women who are affected by cancer and go on the journey with each and every one of them."

Kielty's gift in working with people was recognized his first day on the job at the MGH 12 years ago. He provides a friendly face for both children and adults during their radiotherapy treatments, which entail remaining immobilized in a confined space for a long period of time.

"Ed is trained in the use of immobilization devices, but also has to be a carpenter, a metal worker, a psychologist and a sports fan; know when a pharmaceutical assessment is needed; and do a good impression of Big Bird," said colleague and biophysicist, Stanley Rosenthal, PhD.

Susan Durante ended the presentation with a poignant remark about what qualities exemplify a true healer. "A healer has empathy, professionalism, compassion, dedication, a calm and gentle manner and strives for a genuine connection with a patient. And a healer does all of this with grace.",Kielty,Roche,and