Alfred Abuhamad’s interest in obstetrics started in his medical school years. He became intrigued by maternal pregnancy complications and fetal development.
He worked with hospital partners in Hampton Roads to develop a comprehensive maternal and neonatal transport program that facilitates transfer of a woman with pregnancy complications to a tertiary hospital for acute care .
As director of nursing services at River Pointe Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Virginia Beach, Laurie Champagne Cross has led the center to pass important credential inspections by the Veterans Administration and to become a part of a project on ulcer elimination to be published in a book on best practices in hospitals and nursing homes.
This isn't what she thought she'd be doing when she started college.
The debate over health care continues to rage on Capitol Hill, but in the meantime there are people without insurance visiting emergency rooms across the country for non-emergency medical care. Pam Phillips, vice president of mission for Bon Secours Hampton Roads, has figured out a system that seems to be working to help those without access to care.
Laughter isn't something you'd expect to find around an oncology unit, but that's often the case in the medical oncology unit at Sentara Obici Hospital where Mary Catherine "Cathy" Gray is clinical manager.
"Laughter is such a huge component of healing," Gray said. "We do everything that we can to bring laughter into the medical setting."
Gray and her team are planning a cowboy day in February where nurses dress up as cowboys and sing to the patients.
Dr. Cynthia Kelly, a pediatric allergist with Children's Specialty Group, has helped many children cope with asthma. A former patient, Jessie Nunn III, remembered her care fondly when nominating her for a Health Care Hero award.
"When I first became her patient, I could barely breathe, which was really scary," Nunn said. "She encouraged me not to give up even when I felt it was hopeless. If a medication didn't provide the results I needed, she always had an alternative."
Dr. Juan Montero came to the U.S. in 1966 as a young doctor from the Philippines. He was excited to be here.
"We were welcomed by America," he said. "We were the luckiest bunch of physicians in the world because we came from different cultures, many from developing and Third World countries."
Mary Ellen Oravetz praises Dr. Glen Moore as her hero and with "literally saving" her life.
Oravetz was living on borrowed time. At 400 pounds, she began to experience severe leg pains. Fearing amputation, she consulted with a vascular surgeon who referred her to Moore, a general and bariatric surgeon at Tidewater Surgical Specialists. The referral changed her life forever. Not only was her leg saved, she gained a new chance at life, which now consists of belly-dancing lessons, flying on airplanes, sitting in movie theaters and buying shoes at a department store.
Making an impact is what's most important to William T. Scouten.
As a pediatric endocrinologist in the Navy, he is responsible for taking care of acute and chronic endocrinology conditions including diabetic and thyroid disorders. During his medical training, he was drawn to this specialty because he loved to help children.
No one sings the praises of Dr. Randolph Gould better than his former patient Ruth Bates.
"I had a rectal bleed with complications," Bates said in a statement. "It was Dr. Gould's decisiveness and expertise that saved the day. I will forever be grateful to him for the added years he has given me."
Gould was surprised and honored that Bates thought so highly of him.
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
That's how Raji Venkatesan starts her day as a volunteer at Sentara Bayside Hospital in Virginia Beach.
A teacher for more than 20 years, Venkatesan is retired from the school system. She previously worked for Summitt School, a Montessori school in Virginia Beach.
"After I retired, I didn't want to sit at home," Venkatesan said. "I decided I wanted to do something that would allow me to help the community."
