October 17, 2003

Ether Day 2003:
MGH honors employees for years of service

The MGH celebrated Ether Day — the annual celebration that recognizes employee length of service — Oct. 10 under the Bulfinch Tent. More than 2,000 employees and staff who have worked at the hospital for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 60 years were honored.

John Barlow, MD, Daniel Federman, MD, Mortin Olin, MD — who celebrated 50 years at the MGH — and Grant Rodkey, MD, who celebrated 60 years, all were present for the festivities. The honored employees also received pins and carnations representing their length of service.

The Ether Day dancers — a group of administrative fellows and other MGH employees — made an appearance dancing to songs that were hits during the years that employees started working at the MGH. The musical tribute ranged from Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit' It" to Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" to Frank Sinatra's "As Time Goes By."

Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH, congratulated all the employees for their hard work and dedication. "It's a challenge to find a place to call a second home, and to find a job that you truly love is rare," he said.

The celebration ended with a sing-a-long of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."