“Gratitude “brings attentiveness to the people and experiences that enable us to hold happiness in our hearts. As we walk with this awareness and appreciation, we cultivate our Caritas consciousness and co-create a unitary field of loving kindness.”

For most of us in this country, November is a natural time for us to pause, reflect on and give thanks for all we have in our lives. For many of us, Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday.

Those of us who are drawn to the care of others are fortunate to have opportunities every single day to give thanks for the work we do that makes a difference in the life of another. In keeping with our care delivery system, Relationship-Based Care, my heart is drawn to giving thanks for the privilege that we each have to serve our patients, their families and our local and global communities. It is so important to me that we also celebrate the amazing embodied spirits that each of us truly are, and the invitation that each day provides us to bring a caring, inclusive intention to our collective work.

I give thanks for all our colleagues and leaders from our BWH Board members and President, to our PCAs, nurses, transporters, chaplains, nutritionists, interpreters and all those who contribute to patient care. This list of colleagues could go on and on.

I give thanks for our diverse communities and worlds from which we learn and bring back best practices to make the wonderful BWH community an ever better place for our patients, families and each other. This year, I am honored to again tri-chair our United Way Campaign, which allows us the opportunity to tangibly express that gratitude, giving back and paying forward to the broader community.

I wish each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope that you find the time in your busy lives to reflect on all that you have to be so thankful for.

For me, I am most thankful for each of you and for all that you do in service to our patients, families and community.

Warm Regards,

Jackie Somerville, PhD, RN
Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services