February 16, 2001

As the MGH marked the advent of Black History Month, Patient Care Services (PCS) held a special celebration of diversity Feb. 9 in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. At the event, two guest speakers and six PCS employees were honored for their embodiment of "The Empowered Presence of Difference" in a PCS Pinning Ceremony.

As the featured speaker, state Rep. Jarrett Barrios shared the story of his rise from a blue-collar background, and detailed his own battles with prejudice as the only Latino in the House of Representatives at the time of his election in 1998. Barrios is the founder of the House Latino American Caucus and is the sponsor of the Emergency Room Interpreter bill, which ensures that foreign language translation is available in hospital emergency rooms.

Barrios urged the audience to mark Black History Month by remembering those who fought for freedom and equality. "We have things like Black History Month because we cannot forget how we got here. We cannot allow ourselves to think that it was someone else's struggle," he said. "Where we forget that we are connected on this wonderful timeline, we also forget that our present is connected to our future, and that we must continue the struggle."

Violinist Colin Matthews provided original musical accompaniment throughout the presentation and also delivered an address about overcoming "a world where people feel the need to separate themselves by race and class."

"We need to go beyond that," he advised. "I refuse to see myself as being a color. You do your best work when you forget you are a color and are the best at who you are."

The presentation culminated with the PCS Pinning Ceremony, recognizing six employees for their contributions to furthering diversity and excellence at the MGH. Ronald A. Greene, RN, BSN, of Case Management, and chair of AAMP, acknowledged the courage displayed by the day's honorees. "They use a sense of strength from within, and today they are being honored not only for having survived, but for having succeeded."

The honorees were Ingrid Crichlow, operations coordinator on Bigelow 14; Anthony Thomas, patient care coordinator on the Blake 2 Infusion Unit; Yvonne Hobbs, patient care associate on Ellison 19; Brenda Smith, operations associate on Phillips 22; Michelle Murphy, RN, of Ellison 16; and Philip Waithe, RN, of the Center for Clinical and Professional Development. A slide show featuring candid portraits of the honorees at work concluded the ceremony, followed by a reception in the Trustees Room.

From left, Chrichlow, Waithe, Smith, Hobbes, Thomas and Murphy