Rochester General Health System
Mary M. Gooley Hemophilia Center Staff Named Physician & Nurse of the Year by National Hemophilia Foundation
(11/2/09)
Local staff members from the Mary M. Gooley Hemophilia Center took top honors at the National Hemophilia Foundation’s 61st Annual Meeting in San Fransico, CA on October 31st. These 2009 Awards of Excellence were presented to Dr. Peter Kouides, MD and Jennifer LaFranco, RN, BSN, recognizing them as remarkable and distinguished individuals in the bleeding and clotting disorders community. Nominations were accepted from over 50 NHF chapters, associations, hemophilia treatment centers, and from NHF volunteers and members.
Physician of the Year ---Awarded to Dr. Peter Kouides, Medical and Research Director at the Mary M. Gooley Hemophilia Center. This prestigious award honors a distinguished physi¬cian who has had a major impact on the lives of individuals with bleeding and clotting disor¬ders. Such a person shows compassion and knowledge of the latest treatments, is a patient advocate, and is a committed caregiver whose concern for patients is apparent in everything he does.
Dr. Kouides not only meets but exceeds all criteria set for this award. His compassionate work with patients and his leadership in the research arena makes him a most deserving winner.
In 2007 Dr. Kouides was appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability - a committee that advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on a range of issues concerning the blood supply in the U.S. Dr. Kouides has won numerous awards for excellence in teaching in Internal Medicine and another Award of Excellence from the National Hemophilia Foundation for his work with women with bleeding disorders. In 2008 he was awarded the first annual Humanitarian Award by the Mary M. Gooley Hemophilia Center. He does extensive research, is extremely well published and a world renowned expert on treating women with bleeding disorders. Dr. Kouides is a competitive cyclist and triathlete who continues to support his patient’s needs as the top fundraiser in the Train for Treatment campaign at the Center’s annual Finger Lakes Triathlon.
Nurse of the Year—Awarded to Jennifer LaFranco, RN, BSN Director of Clinical Programs at the Mary M. Gooley Hemophilia Center. This prestigious award honors a nurse who “has demonstrated service to the bleeding and clotting disorders community beyond day-to-day responsibilities. This individual serves as a role model for others in the field, is extremely knowledgeable and is experienced in the bleeding and clotting disorders community.”
Ms. LaFranco has been with the Hemophilia Center for 11 years. She is lauded by her colleagues, locally and nationally and is described as, “the embodiment of the NHF’s “Do the Five” strategies of helping people with hemophilia to live longer, healthier lives.” Not only does she show compassion to patients and their families, but is a leader in the country in teaching nurses about hemophilia treatment.
According to Robert Fox, CEO/President of the Hemophilia Center, “I can think of no better cap to the Center's year-long celebration of its 50-year milestone than to recognize Dr. Kouides and Ms. LaFranco with these awards. The fact that both physician and nurse were chosen from our Center was coincidental -- the two award recipients were chosen by two entirely different selection committees. We are fortunate to have skilled, committed staff members at our Center and to have two of them recognized nationally by their peers - in the same year!! is quite an honor. It is in keeping with the legacy Mary Gooley began over 50 years ago.”
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About the Mary M. Gooley Hemophilia Center:
Founded in 1959 by Rochester resident and visionary Mary M. Gooley with the help of the Rochester Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF), the Mary M. Gooley Hemophilia Center, located at Rochester General Hospital, has been treating people who live with bleeding and blood-related disorders for over 50 years. The Center was the first NHF chapter chartered outside of New York City, and the first free-standing Hemophilia Treatment Center in the nation. The Center provides first-class treatment, education and advocacy and research to individuals and families affected by various inherited diseases, including disorders related to hemostasis (blood clotting) and iron overload.
