SHARED VALUES
SJMO MISSION HARMONIZES
WITH JEWISH VALUES AND PRINCIPLES
A message from Jack Weiner, President and CEO of
a patient liked a certain dessert. She made
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO)
sure that each time the patient's tray was
delivered, it contained that item. Another
At SJMO, Judeo-Christian principles are the foundation of
learned that a patient was a baseball fan.
our mission to improve the health of the communities we
The nurse made sure the -TV or radio in his
serve. How does a Catholic hospital reflect Jewish values?
room was tuned in to the game.
By adhering to the principle that respect for human life is
our top priority. Each patient is seen as a human person, not
Our nurse navigator supported a cancer
as a chart or condition, and we are committed to showing
patient by providing a sympathetic ear, ac-
respect for the health care wishes and the religious faith
companying her to appointments, and helping
of each person for whom we provide care.
her get a wig and adequate health insurance.
A volunteer learned that a patient was cel-
Refuah Shelaymah (complete healing): Our expert
ebrating his 50th anniversary and ordered
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) President and CEO Jack Weiner, left,
welcomed guests at the grand opening of the hospital's new Urgent
Care—Birmingham. Pictured with him are, from left: Mark Nickita,
Birmingham Mayor Pro Tem; L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County
Executive; Jennifer Cobb, SJMO Vice President—Physician Network;
Vincenzo Guglielmetti, MD, SJMO Medical Director of Urgent Care
Centers; and Harsha Jayatilake, MD, SJMO urgent care physician.
physicians, surgeons, nurses and other clinical staff have
a cake to be delivered to his room. Our
one objective: to restore our patients' health and quality
chaplains unceasingly offer spiritual support
of life, to heal body, mind and spirit. Our board-certified
to our patients, and they make sure that a rabbi is available
As the Jewish community would say, preserving life is
physicians continually update their skills and education to
for Jewish patients. For patients who require kosher food, our
the greatest mitzvah a hospital can perform, and St. Joe's
provide the latest, safest treatments for our patients.
dietary department makes the appropriate arrangements.
never takes its eye off its obligation to respect the life of
each person.
Outside the hospital walls, our Community Programs De-
Pikuach Nefesh (preserving life): In all of our facilities—
partment reaches out to local groups to help people learn
hospital, urgent care centers or others—respecting the
Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick): We know that families
to be and stay healthy. Our free community seminars offer
value of human life is why we are here. And when it comes
are vital to the healing process, so we put as few limita-
information about making informed decisions about healthy
to the end of life, we provide compassionate care for the
tions on visiting hours as possible and always allow the
living and preparing for medical procedures.
patient and the family with respect for their values.
patient to decide which visitors he or she would like to
Gemiluth Chasodim (acts of loving-kindness): At
In recognition of our excellence in caregiving, we have been
accommodations for friends and loved ones who wish
receive. We make every effort to provide comfortable
St. Joe's, we practice relationship-based care, built on the
honored nationally by Thomson Reuters, the American
to visit in a patient's room. It is part of our mission to
foundation of our core values: respect, social justice, com-
College of Radiology American College of Surgeons and
ensure that our patients have an experience that will
passion, care of the poor and underserved, and excellence.
HealthGrades, and locally by the Greater Detroit Area
help them heal.
Using these values, our clinical staff,gets to know a little
Health Council, which rated us tops in performance. We've
more about patients than might be expected, in order to
also earned Blue Distinction ® designations from Blue Cross,
These shared values are the heart of our mission. That's
provide extra comfort. For example, a nurse learned that
Blue Shield and Blue Care Network in many areas.
what distinguishes us from the rest.
PROFILE
DR. DAVID HAROLD -A LEADER IN MEDICAL, JEWISH COMMUNITIES
David L. Harold, MD, FACS, is a
Apartments and Services and is an initial member of the
respected leader in the medical
Jewish Senior Life board.
and Jewish communities. Just look
surgeons," he says."I wanted to be a people surgeon."
SHARED IDEALS What attracted him to a Catholic
at his resume:
Born in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Harold was raised in Detroit
hospital? "As a Catholic faith-based hospital, this hospital
• Chair of St. Joseph Mercy
and graduated from Mumford High School, Wayne State
adheres to Judeo-Christian ethics and values and the
Oakland's Department of Sur-
University's Monteith College and the University of Michi-
sanctity of human life," he explains. "As a Jew, I feel this is
gery and a member of its medi-
gan Medical School.
totally compatible with our Jewish heritage."
Chair of the Division of Urol-
A urological surgeon, Dr. Harold completed his prelimi-
Several other Jewish physicians also are on staff. And there
ogy and Secretary-Treasurer of
nary years of general surgery residency at the University
are other reasons he practices at St. Joe's. "People say hello,
the medical staff
of California, Los Angeles—Harbor General Hospital and
even if they don't know you," he says. "We're big enough to
• Area Chair of the United Jewish Communities (for-
St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor. He then completed a urology
have everything you want and small enough to be friendly
merly United Jewish Appeal) National Young Leadership
residency at the University of Michigan Medical School.
and negotiable (for way-finding)."
DAVID L.
HAROLD, MD, FACS
cal staff for more than 35 years;
Cabinet
• Graduate of the Wexner Heritage Program for Jewish
MAKING LIVES BETTER Dr Harold is passionate about
In addition, Dr. Harold urges the community to seek care
communal leaders
his profession and his workplace, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland.
at St. Joe's because
• Chair of the medical section and the professional
"I chose urology because you deal with men and women
physicians in every field. What we do here, nobody does
health division of the Federation's annual campaign for
and people from infancy through adulthood," he says."And
better, and we excel in every area of surgery."
many years
I perform all kinds of procedures."
• President of the Fresh Air Society board, overseeing a
of its excellence. "We have excellent
DOWNTIMETo relax, Dr. Harold enjoys golf, target shoot-
major capital campaign for its camp
But most of all he likes the end result."You really improve
ing, horseback riding and fishing. But most of all, he relishes
• Board member of Hillel Day School, from which his
the quality of life of people," he says."You add longevity."
time with his family.
three children graduated
• Member of Congregation Shaarey Zedek for 30 years
Dr. Harold came to medicine through his interest in science
If he had a dream, what would that be? "To be a proficient,
and horses. He wanted to be a veterinarian, but after doing
successful professional golfer" he jokes, but adds,"I'm do-
Participation in Jewish communal causes runs in the family.
a dissection in a comparative anatomy class, he had what he
ing what I like. I'm happy with my career choice and how
Dr Harold's wife, Susie, served as Vice President of Jewish
called an epiphany. "There wasn't a lot of call for veterinary
it's played out."
SUMMER 20.11
2
MICHIGAN MEDICAL REPORT