May 24, 2002

Niles, left, and Baker-Dedier share a warm moment.

Gloria Niles of the Cancer Center Phlebotomy Lab and Jyl Baker-Dedier, RN, of the Cancer Center Infusion Unit, received the 2002 Susan and Arthur Durante Award for Exemplary Care and Service with Cancer Patients May 14 at a special ceremony in the Haber Room. The award is meant to honor staff for their compassion, enthusiasm and commitment in providing services to cancer patients.

The award was named after Arthur and Susan Durante, who have been actively involved with the MGH since Arthur, who died two years ago, was diagnosed in 1968 with Hodgkin's Disease. The couple created the award to express their gratitude to the MGH staff and to recognize the important effect MGHers have on their patients' lives. "Arthur's dream was to give back to all the wonderful people he met at this institution. The outstanding compassion and caring, especially with cancer patients, overwhelmed us," said Susan Durante.

The award is given each year to two nonphysician staff members in the Cancer Center who have been nominated by colleagues, supervisors, patients or families.

Niles, who has worked in the Phlebotomy Lab for more than 25 years, has been described by many of her colleagues as "an exceptional employee and an extraordinary individual who exemplifies compassion and caring, with exemplary performance and outstanding work habits."

Baker-Dedier has worked in the Cancer Center Infusion Unit for the past four years. Throughout her tenure at the MGH, she has frequently been recognized for expert clinical practice and compassionate care. She recently was featured in a public service announcement on WFXT-TV, FOX 25, featuring oncology nursing. She made a compelling example for the outstanding nature of oncology nurses.

Susan Durante ended the presentation with a memorable remark about the important role health care professionals play in their patients' road to recovery: "Arthur realized that there are nurses, there are clinicians and then there are healers," she said. "A healer is someone who holds your hand without gloves, someone who looks into your eyes and sees your soul. They heal you."