Danbury Hospital is fortunate to have a nurse like Thomas Doherty, RN among its ranks. He has a pivotal role in the Operating Room here at Danbury as leading member of the Cardiothoracic Team. His service to Danbury Hospital and its patients began with the birth of the current cardiothoracic program, which has earned the designation of functioning in the top 5% of cardiothoracic programs across the United States. In my position in the Step Down Unit, I was lucky enough to witness Tom do his daily rounds and follow up on each post-op patient. His process and concern for each patient were all-encompassing and brought ease to many patients and their families. His regard for the surgical process extends far beyond the OR doors, often following patients all the way up to the discharge process. His peers on the cardiothoracic team applaud his remarkable clinical skills in the OR, and I've often been told that Tom can handle any crisis with finesse.
Tom recently spoke at a Faith Community Nursing group, of which I belong to and explained his role as a member of the OR team. He shared that he believed his primary role was to lighten the stressful burdens of patients and their families. He has a unique role in this process, often telling patients and their families about his own personal struggle being a cardiothoracic patient, requiring multiple procedures for a congenital heart defect. His approach is always sincere and personal. Patients and their families respond so favorably when they have a team member like Tom providing such exceptional care. He is a significant part of our hospital family.