Every day at The Miriam Hospital, we witness the powerful connections that form—between patients and clinicians, quality and compassion, and our hospital and the incredible community we serve. As part of Brown University Health, the state’s largest academic health system, The Miriam Hospital offers exceptional care right here on the east side of Providence.
I want to take a moment to mention that later this year, I’ll be stepping down from my role as Chairman of Brown University Health’s Board of Directors and passing the baton to Samuel Mencoff. Sam graduated from Brown University in 1978, served as Chancellor from 2016 to 2024, and has been a member of the Brown Corporation since 2003. He also co-founded and is a senior advisor at a Chicago-based private equity firm. Sam’s experience with business, healthcare, and education make him uniquely qualified to guide Brown Health into the future. As I prepare for this transition, I want to take this opportunity to thank you, our Miriam Hospital donors, for your unending generosity.
None of what we do would be possible without your continued support.
Thank you for being vital to The Miriam’s legacy and future.
COVER: Making headlines again! Jeffrey G. Brier, former Chairman of The Miriam’s Board of Trustees, holds up a 100-year-old newspaper taken from a time capsule sealed into the hospital’s second building in 1951, by his grandfather. Story on page 4.
LAWRENCE A. AUBIN, SR. Chairman, Brown University Health Board of Directors Chairman, The Miriam Hospital Board of Trustees
At The Miriam Hospital, we strive to improve the health and spirit of the lives we touch by delivering exceptional, compassionate, and patient-centered care. Along the way, our outstanding team of dedicated doctors, nurses, and support staff is aided in this essential pursuit by a caring and generous donor community. That’s why we are dedicating this edition of The Miriam Memo to you, and all of our philanthropists whose support makes our lifesaving and lifechanging work possible.
There’s a lot happening on Summit Avenue, and we’re excited to share important news about our beloved hospital. In these pages, we pay homage to The Miriam’s rich, storied history and retell the story of how the hospital was founded and funded by philanthropy. We also provide an update on the transformative building project that will ready us for the future, shine a spotlight on award-winning care, highlight grateful patients and supporters, and relive our fabulous Moonlight Masqueradethemed gala.
We hope you enjoy reading this Memo and we thank you, once again, for being such an important part of The Miriam’s story.
With deepest appreciation,
MARIA P. DUCHARME, DNP, RN
President, The Miriam Hospital, and Chief Quality Executive, Brown University Health
DAVID F. RAMPONE Chair, The Miriam Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees
“The Miriam Hospital embodies the very best of healthcare and humanity, and I will forever hold deep gratitude for every person’s effort.”
—Joanna Ravello Goods, grateful patient
When it Comes to Gratitude, Sharing is Caring
The Miriam regularly receives le ers from patients, like Joanna, who express their gratitude for the care they’ve received at our hospital—and we’re grateful for each and every one. Why? Because sharing appreciation creates the positive power to heal, to inspire, and to connect people in deeply profound ways.
Our “with Gratitude” program aims to keep this energy going and make it easier for people to express their feelings about The Miriam Hospital.
To learn more about Joanna’s grateful patient story—and share your own or show support—please visit: brownhealth.org/TMH-gratitude
Maria P. Ducharme, DNP, RN
David F. Rampone
Time Capsule Reveal, A Historic First Step
In a moving celebration of history and progress, The Miriam Hospital opened a time capsule on June 19, 2025, that had been sealed in the cornerstone of its second building—formerly the Jewish Orphanage of Rhode Island—nearly 75 years ago. The capsule was originally placed there in 1951 by then hospital president Benjamin Brier.
Marking a once-in-a-lifetime moment for the hospital and the broader community, the event welcomed dozens of staff, supporters, and special guests to the hospital’s lawn to witness the unveiling. Among them was Jeffrey
G. Brier, Benjamin Brier’s grandson and former Chairman of the hospital’s Board of Trustees (2004–2008), who joined Maria Ducharme, DNP, RN, President of The Miriam, in revealing the capsule’s contents.
“When my grandfather placed this time capsule in the cornerstone 75 years ago, I doubt he imagined that one of his grandchildren would one day return to open it,”
Jeffrey told a endees. “But today is not just a celebration of the past,” he added, “it’s a continuation of a legacy rooted in community, service, and care.”
Inside the time capsule were numerous artifacts, including support le ers; a 1925 copy of the Jewish Advocate newspaper, which was a special issue devoted to The Miriam’s hospital dedication when it was on Parade Street in Providence; original ceremony program; several newly minted 1951 dimes, and more.
The time capsule event also marked the official start of The Miriam’s long-anticipated building replacement project, with the removal of the historic cornerstone serving as a symbolic—and physical—first step.
“Looking ahead to our centennial anniversary in 2026, our focus is on our future—and that future is bright,” Dr. Ducharme said at the event. “We are embarking on a long-term, meticulously mapped-out construction and renovation project that will pave the way for The Miriam’s next chapter and transform the future of care for our community.”
Building demolition and crucial sitework is underway now and scheduled for completion this fall. Following that stage, new construction will begin in earnest and last until late 2027/early 2028. By spring of 2028, The Miriam will be caring for patients in its new facility.
Other than still being located at the southeast corner of the hospital campus at Summit Avenue and Fifth Street, the new building will share li le else in common with the outdated structure it is replacing.
The redesigned emergency department (ED) will occupy the new building’s first floor, and 49 single-patient rooms will occupy the second and third levels. Once completed, 151 of The Miriam’s 247 licensed beds will be private—up from 99 previously. A larger main entrance and new ED walkin entrance are also part of the project, as is a dedicated area for behavioral health patients, an additional ambulance bay, and the relocation of the hospital’s inpatient oncology unit.
The power of philanthropy
The unwavering support of its generous, loyal donor community is what made The Miriam’s century of caring possible. That legacy of philanthropy is also fueling the hospital’s bold, new modernization effort.
Co-chaired by Susan H. Kaplan and Susan Bazar, The Miriam Hospital Centennial Campaign Cabinet is leading the way in ge ing the fundraising off the ground. Sadly, Honorary Co-Chair Alan Hassenfeld passed away unexpectedly in July. As a Life Trustee of the hospital’s Foundation Board, Alan’s impact cannot be overstated.
If you’d like to learn more about this project, or make a gift, please visit Miriam100.org.
1. Rendering of new building
2. Rendering of second-floor private room
A Tribute Honoring the Memory of Alan Hassenfeld
Sadly, we lost our dear friend Alan Hassenfeld unexpectedly on July 9, 2025.
“As Honorary Co-Chair of the Centennial Campaign and a Life Trustee of The Miriam Hospital Foundation Board, Alan was an unwavering champion for our mission. He believed wholeheartedly that the hospital was worthy of bold goals ($100 million!) and he challenged us to aim higher and dream bigger. He gave generously of his time, offering strategic insight, heartfelt advocacy, and constant encouragement. Tireless and deeply invested, he never wavered in his support.
Alan’s dedication to The Miriam was rooted in a proud family legacy—one he carried with grace, humility, and a profound sense of purpose. In every conversation, he reminded us why our work ma ers and inspired us to envision what more we could achieve together.
To honor his memory, visionary leadership, and his unwavering dedication to The Miriam Hospital and our Centennial Campaign, we remain commi ed to our goal and mission to help bring The Miriam into the next century. His presence made a lasting impact, and his legacy will continue to shape our work for many years to come.”
— Maria P. Ducharme, DNP, RN President, The Miriam Hospital Chief Quality Executive, Brown University Health
Alan Hassenfeld, Dr. Fred Schiffman, and Ed Feldstein at the Time Capsule Reveal.
1. Jeffrey G. Brier with time capsule
2. Benjamin Brier placing the time capsule in 1951
3. The Brier Family with Dr. Maria Ducharme
Through the Years: Refl ecting on a Century of Healing, Health, and Hope
As The Miriam prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, here’s a look back at just a few of the countless, noteworthy milestones and accomplishments that have marked the rich history of this beloved community hospital.
1926
The Miriam was chartered by an act of the Rhode Island Legislature on March 25, 1926 “to maintain a hospital and in connection therewith a training school for nurses for the sick, disabled, and injured in the City of Providence, State of Rhode Island.” It was, however, already in operation, having received its first patient on November 16, 1925.
1932
In a landmark operation, surgeons remove a lung from a 10-year-old girl. It is the first such operation in the country. The girl leaves The Miriam after five-and-a-half months and returns to school.
Pushke Boxes: Funding a Founding
In 1902, a small group of women began collecting coins to raise $1,000 for the down payment on “a place to care for the indigent sick of the Jewish faith”—and pushke boxes were central to their mission. The containers, which were used to save for charitable donations in Jewish tradition, were placed in homes throughout Providence to help raise money to establish the hospital. To fulfill the women’s dream, 450 people joined their cause. Together, going door to door, $80,000 was raised in just four weeks. Thanks to their efforts, the first Miriam Hospital opened in 1926 with 63 beds and 14 bassinets.
1945
The former Jewish orphanage at Summit Avenue and Fifth Street is purchased by The Miriam for $40,000. Several years later, the “new” hospital will be located at the site and the facility located on Parade Street will close.
1953
The new hospital opens on January 5. The first patient is four-year-old Paul Seltzer, who has his tonsils removed. He’s the son of Edward I. Seltzer, MD, president of the medical staff. Twentyseven patients are admitted on the first day.
1962
Ground is broken for the first “Greater Miriam” addition during ceremonies on August 2. Once completed, the years-long effort will bring additional structures to campus as well as more than 100 beds, new operating rooms, and a 20-bed ICU. A research building will be added to the hospital complex in subsequent years as well.
Who’s Miriam?
Miriam was the sister of Moses and a prophet who predicted that her brother would be a savior of the Israelites. She has been revered by Jewish women, and her name was used by a women’s group, Miriam Lodge, Number 13, of the Order B’rith Abraham. The lodge evolved into The Miriam Hospital Association, with the goal of founding the hospital.
First Things First
Am ong many others, The Miriam was the first . . .
• Hospital in the country to perform a lung-removal operation (1932)
• Hospital in Rhode Island to perform a kidney transplantation (1973)
• New England hospital to earn Magnet certification, the gold standard for nursing excellence (1998)
• Hospital in Rhode Island to be designated a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission (2006)
• Hospital in Rhode Island to perform robotic-assisted surgery (2006)
1973
The first kidney transplantation in Rhode Island is performed at The Miriam on July 17 by Robert W. Hopkins, MD. The recipient is a 17-year-old high school student from Central Falls.
1983
The Summit Avenue School across from The Miriam on Fifth Street is purchased by the hospital. The site will later become the home of the Norman and Rosalie Fain Health Centers.
1994
Lifespan, the holding company formed by The Miriam and Rhode Island hospitals, becomes official in August, after winning approval from state and federal regulators and both boards of trustees.
2007
The Victor and Gussie Baxt Building is dedicated on June 3. The $77-million addition includes 36 private patient rooms, 10 operating rooms, and a radiology suite.
2024
Exciting changes abound as Lifespan renames itself Brown University Health—to reflect a deeper collaboration with its long-time academic partner, Brown University—and The Miriam announces its most aspirational expansion and fundraising project ever: The Centennial Campaign (See page 5 to learn more).
The Spine Center is Changing Lives, One Surgery at a Time
Back pain and spinal injuries and disorders keep thousands of Americans from working and living comfortably. In many cases, it can be so disabling that one’s quality of life is greatly diminished. The Spine Center at The Miriam Hospital is a leading-edge collaboration between the best of two clinical areas—the orthopedic spine surgeons from the Brown University Health Orthopedics Institute and the neurosurgeons from the Norman Prince Spine Institute. Together they have turned a small program into a highly specialized spine center.
Since it began in 2019, the center has been accredited as a Center of Excellence by the Joint Commission for excellent outcomes, case volume, and patient satisfaction, and is poised to become a national care destination for solutions to the most complex spine problems. To support the growth of the center and the care of more patients, The Miriam Hospital Gala & Auction (read more on page 12) raised funds for a second 3-dimensional navigation system to improve the accuracy and safety of increasingly complex surgical care. The following patient stories highlight the life-changing impact of the spine center.
Anna’s story
Anna Corwin had tried nearly everything to alleviate her increasingly debilitating back pain. Once a very active nurse who loved gardening, Anna had begun, over several years, to use a wheelchair to get around. Travelling, shopping, and working in the yard all became problematic. “I had extensive physical therapy, and then spinal injections, but they all stopped helping,” she says.
After consulting three orthopedic surgeons, a neurosurgeon, and finally referred to a Boston neurosurgeon at Massachuse s General Hospital, the la er recommended a spinal baclofen pump for pain control. Her husband, Bill Corwin, MD, reached out to a new colleague, Alan Daniels, MD, Chief of The Miriam’s Division of Spine Surgery, for advice on the pump recommendation. Dr. Corwin had met Dr. Daniels in The Miriam emergency department when he had helped care for a close family friend who presented with metastatic cancer to the spine. Dr. Daniels had worked extremely hard to make her final weeks as comfortable as possible after stabilization surgery. When approached regarding the request about the pump, Dr. Daniels asked permission to review Anna’s CT and MRI films. He and Dr. Corwin discussed having Anna come in for an evaluation. An offer was made to a empt corrective surgery, because “that is what we do,” Dr. Daniels explained.
COVID-19 was rampant at the time, and surgeries were being sharply curtailed. But the day before elective surgeries were shut down because of the global outbreak, Anna had her T10 to S1 fusion at the skillful hands of Dr. Daniels at The Miriam Hospital. Five hours, two eight-inch rods, 18 screws, and two large anchors into the pelvis later, Anna began a new chapter of her life that she never thought would be possible.
“From not being able to walk to ge ing back in my garden and playing with my three grandchildren, it has been a 1000 percent difference,” says Anna, nearly four years after surgery.
“The impact Dr. Daniels and the Spine Center at The Miriam Hospital has had on my life was so dramatic I would do anything to raise money for him. I’m thrilled the program is receiving a ention and was the focus of the fund-a-need at the 2025 Miriam Hospital Gala & Auction,” says Anna. “I can’t express how grateful I am that I had this surgery—I don’t know where I’d be now if I didn’t.
Miriam
Anna Corwin
Phyllis’s story
Diagnosed with severe scoliosis at 14 years old, Phyllis DeMaio, now 50 years old and the mom of two, knew back pain all too well. She had been to every specialist there was and found no relief.
With each pregnancy, the pain got worse. She couldn’t imagine having surgery and being away from her children for the necessary recovery time. Her family cautioned her that surgery should be her last option, fearful of negative complications.
It was when her son Gavin, nine at the time, stepped into a busy street and Phyllis’s legs gave out, that she knew she needed to explore her last option. Today, her only regret is not doing it sooner.
Watch Phyllis’s full story shared at The Miriam Hospital Gala & Auction:
Alice’s story
Alice Gibney is one of nearly nine million Americans living with scoliosis. After a lifetime of back pain and disc issues, and treating unsuccessfully with countless physician specialists, a physician friend of her husband suggested she contact a surgeon new to University Orthopedics about whom he had heard great things.
After meeting Alan Daniels, MD, both Ms. Gibney and her husband, Bob Parrillo, knew that she was in the best hands. All questions were answered, all concerns were addressed, all options were explored. “I know I wouldn’t feel any more comfortable with, or trusting of, anyone else. And my husband totally agreed,” she says.
Dr. Daniels performed two life-changing surgeries: a complete two-day spinal reconstruction in 2017 and a revision to extend her fusion to the upper cervical spine in 2023 at The Miriam Hospital Spine Center. “Alice’s most recent surgery was far smoother and a be er experience due in part to the excellent comprehensive spine program at The Miriam Hospital that helped her prepare for surgery and also the specialized staff to help make her recovery easy,” Dr. Daniels points out.
“Being able to stand up straight sounds so simple,” she says, “but it was everything.”
Today, she’s mobile and free of pain and still working. Knowing neck mobility was important to Alice, Dr. Daniels modified the usual procedure and extended rods up to the C2 vertebra, or axis, so she didn’t lose complete mobility in her neck.
“The before and after is extraordinary,” says Alice. “Dr. Daniels and his staff were always accessible and responsive. Krista Accialoli, PA-C, is exceptional. No conversation was ever rushed, and all conversations were informative.”
Alice emphasizes, “My experience was transformative. I can stand straight and I can hold my head up. It’s been a miracle to me.”
Phyllis DeMaio Before and after x-ray
Alice Gibney
After A Lifetime of Training Nurses, a Legacy Left to Support the Next Generation
If you were a nurse at The Miriam Hospital during a time that spanned decades including the 1970s and 1980s, chances are M.
Christina DeLibero made a positive impact on your career.
For many years, Chris, as she affectionately was known, onboarded all new nurses and was integral to their education at the hospital.
“Chris touched so many lives—she was an unforge able person,” says Maria P. Ducharme, DNP, RN, President of The Miriam Hospital and Chief Quality Executive, Brown University Health, who first met Chris in 1987. “ She took a lot of pride in teaching and influencing the next generation.”
That pride was not only rooted in Chris during her lifetime as a nurse, but will also be reflected in perpetuity, thanks to a gesture of philanthropy emblematic of who she was and what The Miriam meant to her.
After a full life, Chris, sadly, passed away last year, leaving more than one million dollars from her estate to The Miriam. The incredibly generous gift establishes
the M. Christina DeLibero Endowment Fund, which will provide scholarships for nurses to further their education. “Chris put everything she had into her work and into this hospital,” adds Dr. Ducharme. “There’s no question her heart was here and now through this gift, we will be able to honor her legacy for generations of Miriam nurses.”
By all accounts, Chris DeLibero was the ultimate team player, placing a premium on that delicate balance between demanding the best from others while also being a supportive maternal-like presence.
Kevin Antonelli, who is a transporter in The Miriam’s emergency services department, first met Chris in 1988 when he began working at the hospital. Among the qualities of Chris most memorable to Kevin were her unique sense of humor and the genuine care she had for everyone on staff.
“Ge ing to know Chris was awesome—she was tough but fair, and adamant about ge ing the best and most out of the people she trained,” he says. “But when you needed a laugh or someone to confide in, she was there for you.”
“Chris was someone that if she had just a nickel to donate, she’d donate it,” Kevin adds. “She was all business when teaching, but boy did she have a heart of gold.”
The Power of Planned Giving
Planned giving provides donors, like you, with a meaningful opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by supporting The Miriam Hospital and positively impacting the future of patient care for generations to come.
This type of philanthropy—whether you designate The Miriam as a beneficiary of your estate, retirement account, donor advised fund, or life insurance policy—enables the hospital to remain focused, in the long term, on its unyielding pursuit of excellence in the delivery of healthcare, pioneering research, medical education, and technology.
For more information about planned giving and how it helps advance The Miriam’s lifesaving work, visit us at brownhealth.org/TMHLegacy or contact Chris Josephson, Senior Philanthropy Officer, Planned Giving at 401-444-6412 or chris.josephson@brownhealth.org.
Christina DeLibero
On the Move: Mobile Integrated Healthcare Offers ‘Care
Out There’
From the stage at the 2024 Miriam Hospital Gala & Auction, hospital president Maria P. Ducharme, DNP, RN, told the nearly 500 a endees that, moving forward, a growing percentage of the patient care The Miriam so expertly delivers will likely not take place at 164 Summit Avenue.
“We need to think outside the walls of The Miriam, outside the formal constructs of medical facilities,” she explained, “to ensure all patients get the care they need, when they need it—and that’s where Mobile Integrated Healthcare comes in.”
Mobile Integrated Healthcare, or MIH, is a vital population health management model that delivers care directly to patients in their homes or other out-ofhospital se ings. Using mobile resources—including street medicine, paramedicine, and community health workers—MIH practitioners provide timely and comprehensive care, often focusing on chronic conditions with the goal of preventing hospital readmissions or unnecessary initial visits to the emergency room.
“We need to think outside the walls of The Miriam, outside the formal constructs of medical facilities, to ensure all patients get the care they need, when they need it...”
— Maria P. Ducharme, DNP, RN
Delivering “care out there” was such an important priority, The Miriam designated Mobile Integrated Healthcare its 2024 fund-a-need. More than $487,000 was raised and used to hire a second community health worker dedicated to The Miriam’s emergency department, as well as a MIH program coordinator. It is also funding needed staff and patient care supplies for the next 18 months.
In just over a year (for a period ending in June 2025), The Miriam’s MIH providers have cared for 191 patients and conducted more than 800 visits. Across the entire Brown University Health system, the numbers for MIH are
considerable: approximately 670 patients have received care during nearly 3,300 visits. “There’s a real need for Mobile Integrated Healthcare services, and I anticipate we will see continued growth throughout 2025,” says Alicia Corey, MBA, BSN, RN, CCM, Director of Case Management.
As presently staffed, the MIH team consists of a manager of care navigation and two outpatient nurse case managers, as well as community health workers, paramedics, and support personnel. Together, they are making a real difference in the health and well-being of the community. But they’re not resting on their laurels.
Alicia says the team acquired equipment for their second paramedic vehicle and is leveraging technology to help them increase capacity and improve patient throughput. The new platform will enable her team to be much more efficient with scheduling patient visits, she adds, and be er able to collect data to support and further expand the hospital’s mobile integrated healthcare programs and offerings.
“These are exciting updates,” Alicia explains, “because they will help us see more patients and do so more efficiently. We couldn’t have done it without the generosity of donors at the gala. I hope they know their support is having great impact.”
Annual Gala & Auction Raises Nearly $900,000 for The Miriam
The Miriam Hospital hosted 533 donors, friends, and supporters at their 2025 Gala & Auction, which took place Friday, May 30, at the Wildcat Center on the Harborside Campus of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.
A total of $893,640 was raised through the event to support and advance the compassionate, world-class care that has defined The Miriam throughout its nearly century-long history. Of the total, $434,630 from the evening’s auctions and fund-a-need proceeds is earmarked to bring additional surgical navigation technology to The Miriam’s Spine Center.
A Moonlight Masquerade
“Moonlight Masquerade” was the theme of the elegant event, which was co-chaired by Wendy and Natasha Buckler. The mother-in-law/daughter-in-law duo, both longtime hospital supporters, led an evening of fun and fundraising, and perfectly framed up the special relationship The Miriam has with the community it serves.
“It’s likely that everyone here has a story about how The Miriam has been there for us, a family member, a friend, or a neighbor,” Wendy said to those in a endance, “and that’s why we’ve all gathered tonight—to be there for The Miriam.”
“The Miriam is our neighborhood hospital, right in our backyard,” Natasha echoed. “We know firsthand what a gem we have in The Miriam and how critically important it is to support this special place of hope and healing.”
Refl ecting on a century of care, preparing for the next 100 years
Celebrating The Miriam and recognizing its impact were central messages that reverberated throughout the Gala, as was the critical role philanthropy plays in sustaining the hospital.
“It would be impossible to overstate the impact philanthropy has had on our patients and on our ability to deliver compassionate, leading-edge care,” explained Maria P. Ducharme, DNP, RN, President of The Miriam and Brown University Health’s Chief Quality Executive. “Our amazing donor community steps up time and time again to ensure we have the resources to be at our best when we’re needed most.”
(L-R): Maria P. Ducharme, DNP, RN, President of The Miriam Hospital and Brown University Health’s Chief Quality Executive; Gala Co-Chairs Natasha Buckler and Wendy Buckler; David Rampone Chair, The Miriam Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees
Dr. Ducharme kicked off the evening’s program and spoke passionately about the hospital’s rich, storied history and its bold plans for the future of care and innovation. “This is an especially exciting time for The Miriam Hospital,” she pointed out. “As we approach our centennial, we are not just celebrating 100 years of caring for our community—we are also preparing for the future with a transformational rebuild of our campus’ oldest building.”
A patient story . . . and a whole lot of gratitude
The evening’s program also featured a moving patient story from Phyllis DeMaio, a local mom who was diagnosed with scoliosis at 14. Phyllis lived in constant pain her whole life, she recounted from stage, until Alan Daniels, MD, Chief of The Miriam’s Division of Spine Surgery, performed the complicated procedure that repaired her severe spinal deformity and restored her quality of life. “Dr. Daniels and The Miriam Hospital not only changed my life—they saved it!” she said. “The environment, the care I received, the fact that the hospital was close to home…it really was the perfect patient experience.” A video of Phyllis’ journey was also shared at the Gala. After which, she received a standing ovation. Sponsorship and ticket sale proceeds from the event benefit The Miriam’s Greatest Needs Fund, which provides resources to support patient care services, educational programs, and innovative research projects. The Miriam Hospital extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation to everyone who helped make the 2025 Gala & Auction possible, including their commi ees, sponsors, auction donors, and entire community of supporters.
For more on The Miriam’s 2025 Gala & Auction visit: MiriamGala.org
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS :
PRESENTING SPONSORS: TITLE SPONSOR
Generous Gift Funds Novel Stroke Program Nurse Navigator Position
The Miriam was the first hospital in Rhode Island to be certified as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, the oldest and largest standards-se ing and accrediting body in US healthcare. Now, thanks to a gift from The Norman and Rosalie Fain Family Foundation, The Miriam has achieved another stroke-care first: They are the first hospital in the Ocean State to have a dedicated Stroke Program Nurse Navigator on staff.
“Adding this novel role helps us to ensure that our stroke patients get all the care they need as quickly and efficiently as possible, which leads to improved outcomes and fewer readmissions,” says Karen Schaefer, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, ASC-BC, FCNS, The Miriam’s Stroke Program Manager.
Ensuring a continuum of care
The nurse navigator provides highly personalized care, support, and guidance to stroke patients within the hospital se ing. In addition to their traditional nursing responsibilities, the navigator focuses on things like queuing up lab work, ensuring occupational and physical therapy orders, and handling other routine patient-focused actions that can delay care if not efficiently completed.
During a typical shift, the nurse navigator’s duties include making sure patients understand all the information and instructions they receive, responding to stroke codes, and serving as a “just-in-time” educator for other staff. The nurse navigator also stays connected to patients post-discharge to make sure they’re keeping all their appointments and adhering to their individualized care plan.
“Our stroke patients receive comprehensive care from a multidisciplinary team,” Karen points out. “As such, they are meeting a lot of people and ge ing a lot of information during a very confusing and stressful time for them and their families.
Having a point person to bridge all those different parts and tie all the pieces together is crucial—and our Stroke Program Nurse Navigator will do that.”
Continuing a legacy of support
The Norman and Rosalie Fain Family Foundation has a significant philanthropic relationship with The Miriam and has championed the hospital’s stroke care program for two decades. The family established the annual Norman M. Fain Memorial Stroke Lecture in 2004 to honor their patriarch’s memory and provide meaningful community education about the prevention and treatment of stroke. Their latest gift of $100,000 is being used to fund the position and procure supportive equipment and technology essential to the role.
“With the right treatment, delivered promptly, the lives of stroke victims can be saved and crippling disabilities reversed,” Karen concludes. “The Fain family is acutely aware of this and, through their generosity, is enabling The Miriam to provide more seamless care to our patients. We would not have been able to create this first-of-its-kind position without the Fain’s support and we are deeply grateful for all they do.”
In a League All its Own: The Miriam Hospital Achieves Extraordinary Milestone with 7th Magnet Designation
Considering the rich history of nursing The Miriam Hospital is known for, it might seem difficult to envision its level of excellence ge ing any higher. But this past December, the hospital not only reached new heights, it soared beyond them with the news of a seventh consecutive Magnet designation.
The prestigious recognition is so rare, only three other hospitals in the world have received it.
“This designation is especially meaningful because it covers a period of time unlike any other, the pandemic,” says Maria P. Ducharme, DNP, RN, The Miriam Hospital’s President and Chief Quality Executive at Brown University Health. “When difficult times present, you find out how resilient you are, how engrained the structures and processes are that result in exemplary outcomes. Our collective commitment to excellence allowed us to rise to the highest standards.”
Magnet recognition doesn’t happen by accident, let alone seven times. Rather The Miriam’s unparalleled nursing care is differentiated by nurses’ active participation in hospital decision-making. Teams of nurses on every unit not only have a voice in shared governance to bring issues forward and implement changes for the be er, but they know leadership is listening.
“The standards serve as a roadmap for excellence and I can say without hesitation that it drives nursing practice and patient care to new levels,” adds Maria. “The impact of nursing care on exemplary patient outcomes, is highlighted”.
Dr. Ducharme, who has spent her entire professional career at The Miriam, beginning as a cardiovascular medical/surgical nurse in 1987, has been on Summit Avenue for each of the Magnet designations. None previously encompassed a 24/7 crisis mode in which patients were sicker, and policies and procedures changed daily—sometimes hourly. Regardless of the context surrounding them, the skillset and quality of The Miriam nurses shined through.
Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare, The Miriam’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in nursing has placed the hospital in a truly elite realm that sets a standard that resonates worldwide. Four years from now, The Miriam hopes to push the bar higher yet again by becoming the only hospital to achieve Magnet eight times.
To watch the hospital receive the designation news, scan the QR code:
Supporter Spotlight: Delta Dental of Rhode Island A Culture of Caring Rooted in Community
Delta Dental of Rhode Island has long been a pillar of support for local communities, and its relationship with The Miriam Hospital exemplifies its commitment to health and well-being. With more than 60 years in Rhode Island, Delta Dental is more than a trusted insurer—it is a true corporate citizen, dedicated to giving back through philanthropic leadership, volunteerism, and strategic support of health initiatives.
“The mission of Delta Dental has always been about making quality oral healthcare accessible and affordable, but in addition to that, our employees are deeply connected to our communities,” says Joseph R. Perroni, President and CEO of Delta Dental of RI and a member of The Miriam Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. “The Miriam is a special place—it’s where our families, friends, and neighbors turn in times of need. Personally, serving on the foundation board is a way for me to give back to an institution that has touched so many lives, including my own.” That sense of connection is shared across the organization. Delta Dental’s current board chair, Steven Issa, and past board chair, James Rosati, also serve on The Miriam Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, furthering the bond between the two organizations. This relationship reflects a shared understanding that oral health is essential to overall well-being.
The Miriam isn’t the only community partner Delta Dental of Rhode Island generously supports. The company offers an employee matching gifts program that supported 126 different nonprofits last year alone as the result of staff giving. Also in 2024, employees contributed 2,284 hours of volunteer service, supporting organizations like the RI Community Food Bank, Crossroads RI, and initiatives such as the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy free dental clinic, which Delta Dental has sponsored for more than a decade.
Additionally, grants from the Delta Dental of Rhode Island Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation—now marking its twentieth year—focus on oral healthcare workforce development and expanding access to care. And while future collaborations with The Miriam are in early stages, Delta’s shared vision for expanding care to underserved populations represents its commitment to health equity.
“Our employees are not only dedicated professionals, but neighbors, volunteers, and community leaders who bring their passion and purpose beyond the workplace. They are dedicated to making Rhode Island a healthier place for all,” says Joseph Perroni.
The Miriam Memo , a publication of The Miriam Hospital Foundation, is published for our friends and supporters. At times we share news and information with our donors electronically. If you’d like to receive timely updates by email and help us reduce paper and postage costs, please email TMHGiving@brownhealth.org
We invite you to learn more by contacting the Development Office at 401-793-2004, brownhealth.org/TMH-giving