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

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MICHIGAN MEDICAL REPORT