Stanford Hospital & Clinics Honors Dr. Stephanie Harman and Dr. Christine Wijman
Stanford Hospital & Clinics has named Dr. Stephanie Harman winner of the Isaac Stein Award for Compassionate Care and Dr. Christine Wijman was honored as the Denise O’Leary Award winner for Clinical Excellence. The annual awards were presented at the Board of Directors meeting in September.
Mariann Byerwalter (l), Isaac Stein, Stephanie
Harman, MD
(with award) and Martha
Marsh, President & CEO (r).
Harman, currently the Director of Inpatient Palliative Care services at SHC and Wijman, Director of Stanford’s Neurocritical Care Program and associate professor of neurology and neurological sciences “are two outstanding physicians who exemplify the highest personal and professional standards we strive for at Stanford,” said SHC Board Chair Mariann Byerwalter.
Wijman, who came to Stanford in 2001, was born in Amsterdam, is the daughter of an obstetrician and a nurse, and was educated in the Netherlands, Boston and Baltimore. Her award for clinical excellence reflects widely shared recognition that she embodies the bedside physician.
“She has taught many of her trainees and colleagues what it means to do a meticulous hands-on exam,” said Byerwalter. “She is a role model for the physician as patient advocate.”
In addition to her dedication to patient care, Wijman is a highly accomplished Medical Center Line scholar. In her brief tenure, she has not only developed one of the best neurocritical care training programs in the country, but garnered two highly competitive NIH research grants that are usually awarded only to full-time researchers, making her the only critical care neurologist in the U.S. with this level of NIH funding success. She has also authored 37 peer-reviewed articles and 50 abstracts.
Harman’s award for compassionate care recognizes dedication that began with her personal initiative when she was a third-year resident at Stanford and recognized a growing need for an important aspect of patient care known as “palliative care.”
Mariann Byerwalter (l), Denise O'Leary,
Christine Wijman, MD (with award) and Martha
Marsh, President & CEO (r).Unlike hospice care, which is designed for patients in the final stages of life, palliative care can be initiated as soon as a patient is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. It offers pain relief, emotional and ethical support—aiding in the last journey that can be so difficult for patients and their families.
“Stephanie embodies the spirit of compassion we strive for throughout Stanford Hospital,” said Byerwalter. “She addresses issues ranging from symptom management and goals of care, to communication about prognosis, difficult decisions regarding treatment options, hospice care and family support. It takes a very special person to dedicate themselves fully to this arena,” she said.
Previous winners of the Denise O’Leary Award were Dr. Ann Weinacker (2008) and Dr. Norman Rizk (2007). The Isaac Stein Award was previously presented to Rita Ghatak (2008), Director of Aging Adults Services, and Chaplain Bruce Feldstein (2007).
About Stanford Hospital & Clinics
Stanford Hospital & Clinics is known worldwide for advanced treatment of complex disorders in areas such as cardiovascular care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery, and organ transplants. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of "America's Best Hospitals," Stanford Hospital & Clinics is internationally recognized for translating medical breakthroughs into the care of patients. It is part of the Stanford University Medical Center, along with the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. For more information, visit http://stanfordmedicine.org.