Julie is a big part of the reason I chose to receive cancer treatment in Boston, when one of the world's best cancer centers is in my backyard (MD Anderson in Houston, Texas). I met Julie as a patient when I had two reconstructive facial reanimation surgeries at MEEI. Julie went out of her way to make us feel comfortable. She was the bright smiling face I looked forward to seeing when I was lucky enough to have her caring for me on her shift. When times are tough and you are in dire pain, a good sense of humor can go a long way. With her you-can-do-it attitude, Julie had me feeling well enough to smile and to realize this would only be temporary.

She also took in my husband and gave him self-care recommendations: where to get a cold beer and great wings and exactly when he should return for the important stuff. He felt confident leaving the hospital for an hour or two only because of Jules. She even arranged for him to stay in our semi-private room: a feat of God.

When I found out I had a recurrence of parotid cancer last November, our search for the best team lead us to MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering, Dana-Farber, Lenox Hill, and MEEI. The decision to come to MEEI was not only due to the cancer team, but to the fact I'd be recovering with Julie Dorgan.