The Gift of Giving
Dave Stevenson has been involved with the hospital’s Board of Trustees and Advisors for nearly twenty years; Mary Ellen has an even longer has history with the hospital. “I lived in Needham as a child, moved away and returned in seventh grade," says Mary Ellen Stevenson. "My mother volunteered at the (then Glover) hospital. I recall going door to door with her asking for donations when I was only twelve-years-old. Our children were born at the hospital in 1969 and 1972.” When Dave retired from Arthur Andersen in 1998, his friend Bill Meagher (then board chair of the hospital) asked him to get involved. From the start, Dave helped with philanthropic endeavors. “The board in 1999 was primarily friends in our age group from Needham. We saw that the board and management needed to be modernized in many ways in order to survive and become competitive in the increasingly complex health care environment.” Today, Dave and Mary Ellen are proud of how the hospital has transformed into the world-class institution they envisioned two decades ago. Dave is gratified by the many accomplishments of those he encouraged to join the board and share in the importance and privilege of being able to help the hospital. As one example, he cites the impact of former Trustee and now fellow Board of Advisors' member Greg Hoffmeister: “Greg feels strongly and speaks eloquently about what BID–Needham has meant to his family—grandparents, siblings and children. With people like him to lead the next generation, we are confident about the future of our hospital.” Mary Ellen and Dave now live predominately in Naples, Florida, but reside in Dedham for part of the year, and they still maintain their link to BID–Needham. “I think it’s our history and a sense of real progress and accomplishment over the last twenty-years,” says Dave. The couple agrees that whether as patients, volunteers, board members or donors, they feel “included, listened to, respected and involved. Our connection to the hospital remains strong.” Together, the Stevensons have given nearly $500,000 to the hospital, in addition to the support of their other favorite charities: their church in Naples and Dave’s alma mater, Bowdoin College. Dave states: “I never imagined our collective giving would have amounted to that level when we first got involved. We’re blessed with reasonably good health. We live in
Mary Ellen and Dave Stevenson two generous and caring communities. We are not into material possessions. We get our satisfaction by volunteering and giving to our favorite charities.” Through the years, Mary Ellen and Dave have been recipients of care at BID–Needham. While they stress they do not want or expect special treatment, every person they encounter at the hospital is welcoming and genuinely helpful. Their long time relationships with Drs. Earle Woodman, Chris Salvo, Tom Connolly, Steve Cohen, Joe Kannam, Mark Haffenreffer and Peter Ostrow have earned their trust and loyalty. Mary Ellen recently saw Dr. Stephen Eyre, the chair of Urology, for a chronic condition. “When I saw him for the first time, he sat beside me, looked me in the eye and said, ‘Tell me about yourself.’ I thought it was wonderful. He wanted to know what I had to say.” Endocrinologist Holly Kilim, MD, is another new favorite of theirs. The Stevenson’s most recent gift, to name a space in the cardiology unit of the new Outpatient Clinical Center, is a reflection of their long-term commitment to the hospital. “We have loved being a part of this caring community. While we don’t have unlimited resources, we feel fortunate to have been able to help the hospital in the past and we hope to be able to do more.” ■
Urology Division Expands Stephen Eyre, MD, has assumed the role of chief of the Division of Urology at BID–Needham. Dr. Eyre and his Needham-based urology practice—the newly formed Needham Urology Associates—have also formally aligned with Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians (HMFP) and The Roberta and Stephen R. Weiner Department of Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).
The newly formed Needham Urology Associates will be moving to a brand new practice space in fall of 2018. The clinicians include (L-R) Philip Barbosa, MD; Stephen Eyre, MD; Robert Carrasquillo, MD; Theresa Murphy, NP; Robert Eyre, MD.
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Dr. Eyre says he is focused on strengthening urology services in the area, backed by the tertiary-level care at BIDMC. “I feel privileged to take on the role of chief of Urology at BID–Needham. I look forward to working together with the Medical Center and BID–Needham
to expand the community-based options for high-quality, attentive urologic care. I feel honored to succeed Dr. Robert Eyre in this position, and to continue his tireless pursuit of excellence in the urologic care we provide our patients.” To support the increasing need for urology care in the community, Philip Barbosa, MD, and Robert Carrasquillo, MD, recently joined Needham Urology Associates and the Division of Urology at BIDMC and BID–Needham. Dr. Robert Eyre will continue to provide his clinical expertise and compassionate care to patients. Learn more about Drs. Barbosa and Carrasquillo at bidneedham.org/urology. To make an appointment at Needham Urology Associates, please call 781-433-2110.
GIVING STRENGTH
| Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham