Page 3 - Celebrate the Act of Giving - Winter 2018

Quality

of Care

Andrew Rosenstein, MD, chief of the A third-generation graduate of the Michele’s Story
Department of Gastroenterology University of Maryland School of
at UM St. Joseph Medical Center, Medicine, Dr. Rosenstein completed When Dr. Michael Schultz,
is crystal clear when talking about his residency and fellowship the medical director of the
his responsibility as chief of the there, planning his career in Breast Center at St. Joe’s,
Department of Gastroenterology at gastroenterology (GI). “GI combines told me that I had breast
UM St. Joseph Medical Center. “I’m my love for clinical intervention and cancer in 2015, I saw only
here to see that the patients who the challenge in providing complex one image in my mind: my
come to St. Joe’s get the absolute care when patients present with many two-year-old son, Aiden. He
finest care that we can provide. That concurrent symptoms. My brilliant is our ‘miracle child’ and not
means sometimes making hard mentor from medical school, Steve being here to see him grow up is simply not an option.
decisions but if it’s in the best interests James, told me a physician is defined I immediately wanted to have a bilateral mastectomy
of our patients, I have never hesitated,” by his difficult cases. He created a and reconstruction. Dr. Schultz understood my laser-
he says emphatically. template for practicing medicine that light focus, but insisted we would handle my diagnosis
I follow to this day.” “the right way,” not “the emotional way.” Only after
That dedication to excellence came the Cancer Institute’s multidisciplinary committee
early to Dr. Rosenstein. The son of a Dr. Rosenstein is equally enthusiastic agreed that this surgery was the correct course, did
pediatrician and grandson of world- when talking about his family life. we move forward.
renowned psychiatrist Albert Kurland, “I came to fatherhood a bit late in
MD, the bar was set high. However, life and my wife Michele and I are I am a nurse practitioner so I am very familiar with the
Dr. Rosenstein never felt pressured dazzled daily by our five-year old medical world, but when the diagnosis happens to
you, there is no preparation to handle the multitude of
by anyone in his family to pursue a son, Aiden. Any free time that I feelings that wash over you. It was such a blessing to
career in medicine and for this, he is have, I want to spend with them.” have Dr. Schultz understand and empathize completely
grateful. “I planned to be a writer or When Dr. Rosenstein supports the with what I was feeling. He ensured that I received
a lawyer,” Dr. Rosenstein says with Foundation by making significant results quickly, was available any time of the day or
a laugh, but by his sophomore year gifts, he sees his son. “He is the night to speak with me, and, best of all, reassured
at the University of Rochester, he future. I want Aiden to always have Andrew and me that my type of cancer was highly
couldn’t resist the lure of the sciences. access to a hospital with a culturally treatable and I would be just fine.
“I am so grateful I had the opportunity caring environment and that takes
to pursue a liberal arts education. The philanthropy. I’ve found that culture at I went into nursing because of a family friend who
intellectual dexterity that comes with St. Joe’s. It’s the reason why I decided served as a role model. Her true concern for her patients
a breadth of education has made me 19 years ago to practice here and was such a lovely thing to observe and I vowed to take
a better physician. Science is only continues to be a major reason why care of people with the same loving service. Being
one part of the equation. You may I stay.” on the receiving end of this type of care has taught
be trained to ask all the right clinical me so much more about the power of kindness and
questions, but more often the answers compassion. It has been a gift that I try to bestow on
come from insight and empathy to the Above, Andrew and Michele Rosenstein Aiden each and every day.
patients’ non-verbal cues.” with their son, Aiden Above, Michele Rosenstein and Michael Schultz, MD

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