Metro HERE'S TO... Dr. Anton Dr. Bocknek Dr. Grodman Sarah Crane has joined the Jewish Community Relations Council as community rela- tions associate. A 2009 honors gradu- ate of the University Sarah Crane of Michigan, she worked this past year as a team leader with City Year Detroit, where she led a culturally diverse team of volunteers in service at a Detroit public school. Crane received the Comcast Leadership Award for her work with City Year. Dr. Einas Joseph Dr. Najem Dr. Matthew Weiner DMC Chaldean-Jewish Physician Partnerships Grow 0 ne of the longest Chaldean- Jewish partnerships among the Detroit Medical Center's medical staff is the pediatric practice of Marc Bocknek, D.O., who is vice president/medical affairs at Huron Val- ley-Sinai Hospital, and Badie Najem, M.D. They met in the hospital during the early 1990s and became partners in 1996. Both physicians are board- certified pediatricians with a busy prac- tice in Highland. Working together for so many years, their closeness and respect for each other's professional judgment are very evident. "We appreciate an- other set of eyes for some cases," Dr. Bocknek says. Dr. Najem received his initial medical education in Iraq, where the medical training was similar to that in the U.S. although with less emphasis on preventive care, he says. Dr. Bocknek, a native Detroiter, who is Jewish, attended medical school in Chicago. While they cover for each other on Jewish and Christian holidays, there are few other noticeable differences. "Our commitment to caring for children is a strong common bond, "says Dr. Najem. Salwan Anton, D.O. and Robert Grodman, D.O., Chaldean and Jew- ish cardiologists, have been friends for 16 years. Dr. Anton, originally from New York, and Dr. Grodman, a native Detroiter, met during residency and pursued a cardiac fellowship together. For 10 years they have been in prac- tice together with offices in Livonia and Commerce. Both Dr. Anton and Dr. Grodman perform cardiac catheteriza- tions and insert pacemakers, and are board-certified in nuclear cardiology. Religion doesn't play a big role in their practice or relationship, according to Dr. Grodman, although they also fill in for each other on religious holidays. He points to the importance of family and education among both Chaldeans and Jews, as well as their common fo- cus in the business and professional worlds. Einas Joseph, M.D., a Chaldean surgeon who emigrated from Iraq, de- veloped a professional friendship with Matthew Weiner, M.D., a surgeon af- filiated with Harper University Hospital and Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital. "I met Dr. Weiner through my work in the University Physician Group (the Wayne State University faculty practice) a year ago. I cannot forget from day one how he showed great support and offered help whenever I needed it. I appreci- ate his advice with some of my difficult cases," says Dr. Joseph. Dr. Weiner echoes their mutual admiration. "I was impressed with Dr. Joseph from our first meeting. She had excellent clinical judgment, good hands in the operating room and was deeply committed to her family and her patients. We both have young children and we immediately realized how simi- lar out family lives are." At the DMC, Chaldean and Jew- ish physicians share a common com- mitment to excellent patient care and close collegial relationships. "We're way more alike than we are different" says Dr. Bocknek. ADVERTISEMENT 20 1623590 October 7 2010 Steve Unger, formerly of Ferndale, has written a book, In the Footsteps of Dracula: A Personal Journey and Travel Guide, which will be featured at the Jewish Book Fair in November. In the book, Unger returns to Bucharest, Transylvania, and describes the ambi- ance, the places and the real-time his- tory of Vlad the Impaler. Former Detroiter Gabrielle Maisels' one-woman play Two Girls, in which she plays all eight parts, was performed for two weeks in August at the New York Gabrielle International Fringe Maisels Festival. The play highlights the tran- sition to democracy in South Africa that began in 1994, when the official dismantling of apartheid raised great hope for profound change, but failed to produce real liberation for most of the country's black population. Maisels is the granddaughter of Israel Aaron Maisels, the lawyer who successfully represented Nelson Mandela and dozens of others accused of treason for their political activities in the late 1950s. Karen Fenwick Karen Fenwick, a Bloomfield Hills art- ist and a first-time artist in this sum- mer's State Street Ann Arbor Art Fair, won 3D Best of Show out of 325 artists. View her art work at karenfen- wick.com. Former Detroiter Jonathan Peisner has published his first novel, Be.A. Con, which is now available on Amazon. com , Barnesandnoble.com and will be coming to the kindle — all under keyword "Peisner". Inspired by actual events, it is a fascinating and humor- ous tale of a con artist in action and the shocking revelation of the root of his troubles. Oakland Community College Womencenter Director and Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring of Michigan President Arlene J. Frank of Detroit was awarded the Loretta Moore Award for consciousness raising on behalf of women by the Wayne County National Organization of Women (NOW) at the Aug. 26 Feminists of the Year award ceremony. Former Detroiter Dr. Eddie Pont, now of Oak Park, Ill., received the Loretta Lacey Award for outstanding work in the area of health care for children. The Illinois Maternal and Child Welfare Organization selects a physi- cian who shows exemplary service to children of all ages and in all walks of life. Pont is involved in helping pass legislation in the Illinois government that benefits children. The pediatri- cian maintains a private practice in Elmhurst, Ill. Aid For Job Seekers Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills will hold a pro- gram on "The Future of Michigan's Work Force" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13. Speaker Andy Levin, act- ing director of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, will be joined by John Almstadt, director of the Oakland County Michigan Works Agency, and Rabbi Aaron Bergman. Almstadt will cite resources available in Oakland County for those seeking employment. Rabbi Bergman will talk about how the Michigan economy has affected us spiritually. There is no charge. This program is co-sponsored by Adat Shalom and Southfield-based JVS. It is coordinated by Mildred Pivoz.