It’s very rare when you can find a place where you can be comfortable being yourself—and this is one of those rare places. There’s a sense of collegiality. We’re all in this together. We’re here to make patients better, and everybody understands that.”

– Anthony “Bobby” Ndu, MD | Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. Ndu, a foot and ankle specialist in the Department of Orthopedics, sees Einstein as a place where everyone —physicians, nurses, support staff, custodial staff—embraces a culture that encourages everybody to want to do more to help each patient’s experience.

It’s very easy, especially in orthopedics, to focus on what’s broken, he says. But the culture at Einstein helps each person remember that there’s a whole person to care for. He reminds himself that each patient has a family and a life they want to get back to. Factoring all of that into your care, he says, is “More than Medicine”.

Outside of the hospital, Bobby is a parent who speaks three languages — English, Spanish and Igbo (his Nigerian tribal language).

Related Link: Bobby’s Story

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My resident came over and stood by the head of the bed while I performed the biopsy (on a 29-year old mother from Morocco who didn’t speak English). The three of us had this incredible bond during that procedure, which ended with hugs and kisses, and “I love you” in English and other languages. That’s what it is. That’s what it is about. We can all do a breast biopsy, but we need to go beyond that.”

– Debra Somers Copit, MD | Director of Breast Imaging

To Debra, “More than Medicine” means the science of medicine, the compassion of medicine and the education of medical students and residents all combined into one. She says there’s a true privilege and honor that comes with taking care of patients and helping them through a difficult time. To her, it’s the most exciting thing about being a physician.

At Einstein, Debra is a pioneer in 3D mammography, but when she’s away from the hospital, Debra is a self-described “Dead Head” having attended more than 100 Grateful Dead concerts.

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We don’t mind that other people share in both the joy and the glory of whatever we do. It is part of a team effort, and that is quite unique. I feel very strongly here that it is truly a community; it is a group effort that allows us to provide excellent care and that allows us to be a community to those patients after they receive care.”

– Alberto Esquenazi, MD | Chief Medical Officer of MossRehab

Dr. Esquenazi had a patient who was interested in taking home one of the ReWalk devices he’d used at MossRehab. The ReWalk is the first commercially viable upright device that enables wheelchair users to stand, walk and climb stairs. Dr. Esquenazi and his team provided the patient with the necessary training, and now he is able to dance with his daughters.

“That was a very special moment for everybody in that family,” Esquenazi remembers fondly. “For all of us to see that happen was very fulfilling.”

As a teenager growing up in Mexico, Alberto was a nationally-ranked swimmer in the 50-meter butterfly.

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I had someone tell me once that we treat every patient that we have like they’re our own family member, and that’s an attitude that I’ve tried to incorporate into my work with all of my patients. We care about more than our patient’s diagnosis; we care about them as a person too.”

As a nurse in the Cardiac Critical Care Unit, Natalie sees how Einstein is ‘More than Medicine’ every day. She says that she develops a great relationship with her patients and sees her colleagues routinely going above and beyond for every patient.

Natalie, too, has been known to do everything in her power to care for every patient. She received the prestigious DAISY Award in March 2015 based on the following letter sent by a former patient who spent two snowy days in the Cardiac Care Unit.

I came to the hospital in my pajamas with no preparation and no belongings. My nurse, Natalie Jordan, was very busy but still cared enough to ask me if I wanted anything from the cafeteria. I told her I had a craving for a muffin, and she sent a friend to the cafeteria and had her bring me a chocolate chip muffin and then made me a cup of tea to go with it. When she found out that I didn’t eat my lunch because I’m a vegetarian, she brought me her own yogurt and insisted I eat it. Then, she called and ordered me a veggie burger.

That night, about 3-5 inches of snow fell in the city. The next morning, despite the fact that everything was so icy outside, Natalie was at work on time. She came to see me with a container of yogurt for me and a snack for another patient that she picked up from a corner store on the way home during the snowstorm the night before.

I was so touched that a young nurse after working 12 hours was thinking of her patient on her way home on a snowy, stormy night. I was very lucky to come to this hospital and have Natalie Jordan as my nurse.”

I feel like everyone who comes through could be my family, so I treat them like that. I’m a people person, and I do my best to help them.”

– Anthony Lucas | Security Officer

From reaching into his pocket to pay for the lunch of a hungry, expectant mother whose appointment was delayed to offering patients and employees a warm greeting with his infectious smile, Anthony believes treating everybody he comes in contact with like family truly embodies “More than Medicine”.

Related Link: Anthony’s Story

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From the moment a baby takes its first breath to the moment that we get to watch a heart start beating again, to the moment that we have the opportunity to help an Alzheimer’s patient regain clarity. These are moments that really touch your being, your inner soul.”
– AnnMarie Papa | Chief Nursing Officer – Einstein Medical Center Montgomery

Although AnnMarie Papa, the Chief Nursing Officer at Einstein Medical Center Montgomery, has only been with Einstein for a little more than one year, she’s quickly embraced the “More than Medicine” culture of the organization.

She beams as she talks about the moments that she and her team have the privilege to be a part of each day (seeing the birth of a child, a heart starting again, a moment of clarity of a patient with Alzheimer’s Disease).

Reflecting on her year at Einstein and what keeps her excited to come to work each day, AnnMarie says, “I know that every day I am going to make a difference for someone, and they are going to make a difference for me.”

If anyone wants to talk to me, I’ll talk to them. It’s a great feeling.”
– Dan Webb | MossRehab Patient

Dan Webb shattered his vertebrae in a hunting accident in 2010, losing the use of both of his legs. Now, he walks down a hall at MossRehab Elkins Park confidently and with a smile.

In 2009, MossRehab launched the first clinical trial in the United States for a new motorized exoskeleton suit called the ReWalk which enables people who don’t have the use of their legs to walk again. Today, Dan is one of a handful of people in the country who have been approved to take the ReWalk home for everyday use.

Even as a patient, Dan has embraced the “More than Medicine” culture at Einstein and MossRehab by giving back to those facing similar injuries by telling his story and listening to their fears and concerns.

“Just talking to these guys, they’re going through some of the same things. One gentleman, after he talked to me, I think he felt a lot better. If anyone wants to talk to me, I’ll talk to them.”

I love that I get to interact with the patients and the visitors. I get to know them and remember their names.”
– Sissy Clay | Environmental Services Lead Worker

Sissy Clay, a Work Leader in the Environmental Services department at Einstein Medical Center Montgomery, always has a smile and a warm greeting for everyone she meets. She embraces the “More than Medicine” culture at Einstein every day with her energy, enthusiasm and selflessness.

Last year, Sissy, who does community service for the homeless and teaches Sunday School, was honored with the “Keeper of the Dream” award at the annual Martin Luther King Day ceremony. The award symbolizes how she is keeping Dr. King’s dream alive and shows how she is More than Medicine.

Just the other day, I saw a doctor with a little old lady on his arm, walking at the patient’s pace, very slowly to the checkout desk. He didn’t have to do that. He could have given that task to a medical assistant, but he didn’t—because that’s the kind of place we are.”

– Tracy Kane | Cancer Center Patient Navigator

Einstein doctors get up close and personal with patients, Tracy says. That’s one of the things that impresses her about Einstein. To Tracy, “More than Medicine” means treating the whole person and not just looking at patients as a disease – we’re treating the patient, we’re not treating lung cancer.

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I love the fact that the Einstein society gives people an opportunity for the possibilities that they see in something.”

Maddy Rovinsky’s is passionate about helping others, and she’s spent most of her life living out her passion. She spent more than 30 years in the School District of Philadelphia as a teacher of the visually impaired and now continues her work of giving back through Einstein.

Twenty years ago, a friend asked Maddy to take a meeting with someone from the Albert Einstein Society. Her family had used Einstein doctors when she was growing up, and she was intrigued.

“I went to one meeting for the Einstein Society,” Maddy recalls. “Ever since that meeting, I’ve been very active with the society, and now I’m a co-chair.”

The Albert Einstein society harnesses the power of Einstein employees and physicians to solve some of today’s most exciting healthcare challenges by awarding grants to employees with the best ideas.

Maddy looked down at her shooting star necklace and smiled.

“The shooting star means a lot to me because it represents possibilities. I love the fact that the Einstein society gives people an opportunity to strive for the possibilities that they see in something. That’s what makes us More than Medicine.”

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