Dear Colleagues, I wanted to take the time to introduce you to our first issue of “ Behind the Mask ”. We are launching this internal Radiology Department newsletter to share wellness ideas and bring us together in different ways while we manage this crisis. This will not be a place for policies and procedures but a place to find some creativity and manage to get through a lot of hard work for those on the front line, and isolation for others. We really do want to know you and who is behind that mask.

Every day, I try to reinforce positivity and have embraced the US Marine Corps slogan “ Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome .” In my own family, this crisis came with many disappointments and we try to overcome them in many ways. My eldest daughter was sent home from college before spring break and is missing big annual events on campus, her beloved sorority sisters, and even missing late nights in the library. My middle daughter is about to graduate and the beautiful prom dress that hangs in the closet is a daily reminder that everything has changed. She doesn’t even know if she will have a graduation, let alone go off to college in the fall. So we improvise and plan a gap year – just in case. Finally, my youngest daughter, who is a competitive gymnast, had to miss her Junior Olympic state competition; a devastating blow for an athlete who trains all year. However, her awesome coaches improvised and adapted as well. They hold daily Zoom workouts and share yummy nutrition tips (recipe below!)   As so many of you, I am finding it challenging to come up with creative ideas to keep my children engaged, learning through virtual classrooms, staying healthy, active, and staying positive while I’m at work. I’m also trying to find some downtime myself and virtually connect with friends and family. We have joined the TikTok craze, play tons of board games (no surprise I like to be the banker in Monopoly), we are baking, having theme dinners, reading, running, walking our dog (over and over again). We binge on Netflix and have virtual cocktail parties with friends. What do you do to get through tough times?   We all have a great ability to adapt, improvise and overcome obstacles. In our professions we learn to become psychologists on-the-fly, show up when we are needed, and listen to those who need an ear. Please use this opportunity to contribute to this publication to help our community of amazing Technologists, PAs, Practice Assistants, Admin Assistants, Managers, Directors, Trainees and Radiologists. You all do incredible work and I thank you for your dedication. Most importantly, don’t forget to thank yourself.

Karen Lemaire, MHA Ancillary Services Branch, COVID-19 Incident Command Executive Director, Department of Radiology  Brigham Health, klemaire@bwh.harvard.edu brighamandwomens.org

Nutrition & Wellness

Coaches Protein Balls

Ingredients: 1 cup medjool dates  1/4 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut  1/3 cup quick oats 2/3 cup nut butter (I used peanut but any would be delicious - you could also use pumpkin seed or sunflower seed butter if you have a nut allergy!)  1 tsp cinnamon  1/2 tsp vanilla extract  2 scoops chocolate protein powder   Instructions: 1. Pit the dates, and then place all ingredients in a food processor (add the peanut butter, oats and coconut last).  2. Pulse until roughly combined. 3. Using a melon baller or clean hands and roll into balls, and place them on a plate until you have finished the mix.  4. Roll in some more coconut, hemp seeds and cacao powder, but feel free to use whatever you have lying around. Crushed nuts, chia seeds, pitaya powder...options are endless!   Refrigerate and enjoy on the go!

We know the importance nutrition plays in our overall wellbeing and we are excited to announce that Emily Blake, MS, RD, LDN, a registered Dietician at BWH, will be providing our Department with weekly nutritional advice and recipes.

"As a registered dietitian at BWH, I work with a wide variety of clients seeking guidance for weight management and nutrition for chronic disease. I believe that setting and achieving small goals leads to sustainable habits and a healthy life.” - Emily Blake, MS, RD, LDN

High Fives

Thank you to all of the dedicated Radiology team members who have helped distribute PPE's to Brigham Health employees.

Congratulations to the BWFH MRI team for doing their part by recently performing a study on a COVID-19+ patient who was on a ventilator and was being cared for in the ICU. This was the first such case at the BWFH, and one of a few ventilated patients scanned at the BWFH this year. "There was incredible coordination and communication between the ICU, respiratory therapy, and MRI teams with oversight by radiology administration, that allowed the study to be performed flawlessly, and without incident." - Srinivasan Mukundan, MD, PhD

We would like to thank Brian Atkinson and Brian Monahan for building a containment area around an MRI scanner to better protect our technologists and nurses around COVID-19 precautions. This created a “clean and dirty” space to decrease crossover of staff, decrease use of PPE, and the window monitor was a special addition which allowed the nurse to continue monitoring without worry. This was originally brought to operation by Rose Wach in CT, and we followed suit, thank you Rose!

"Our lives have changed drastically in the past couple of months due to COVID-19 but the outstanding patient care has not changed! We received a couple of emails, notifying us that two separate patients had sent a notice to Dr. Betsy Nabel to share their thoughts on the tremendous care they were given during their MRI exams, including the names of 4 MRI technologists - Maren Levangie , MR clinical manger, Julia Siscoe , Karina DaCosta , and Greg Cirillo , staff technologists. Thank you all for the amazing work!" - Lauren Scannell, Clinical Director, MRI

Paul Shyn, MD Watch The Video Here

Karen Sheehan and Carla Larsen , MRI Technologists working at the attestation tables and mask distribution areas have been getting creative with their masks!

Brian McIntosh , Director of Radiology at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital shared a poster his family created to thank staff for their hard work and dedication.

"Our staff has always shown great strength and I will forever be grateful for working with such a committed, dedicated and knowledgeable staff." - Rose Wach, Clinical Director of CT and Interventional Radiology

Dmitry Rabkin, MD, PhD, Evelyn Atocha, Christine Bell and Rose Wach came up with the idea of a barrier for the control rooms after performing a procedure on their first COVID patient, which allows physicians and staff to come out of the rooms without donning and doffing PPE every time. They met with Infection Control and Brian Atkinson to put up the first barrier in the CT area in Shapiro. They received such great feedback that barriers were immediately put up in Angio and CSIR. Cath lab and EP leadership loved the idea and the next day, they had their barriers up. Great teamwork between, physicians, nursing, technologist, IC, engineering and leadership!

Ann Mcginnis before her first COVID-19 patient in CSIR. We erected a barrier to ensure staff would not come through when we were coming in and out of the rooms for scanning.

Ann Mcginnis and Christine Clinton ready for their first COVID-19 patient!

A few Radiology Nurses celebrating Radiology Nurses week with a sponsored breakfast and afternoon cupcakes.

Rose Wach’s niece Karly Amaral, that she hasn’t seen in a month, wanted to show Rose how much she appreciated essential staff! She insisted to take this picture in front of a hospital in New Bedford to make sure the staff coming in and out of work could see the sign she made for them and especially her favorite Aunt Rose.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy."  - Martin Luther King Jr.

Boston Hope Medical Center The thousand-bed hospital will serve post-acute COVID-19 patients and homeless patients with COVID-19 who do not require hospitalization in an acute care facility.  Learn More About Boston Hope Thank you to the BWH Radiology Team that has been temporarily re-deployed to support Boston Hope. We appreciate the Technologists continued support and flexibility.  Giles Boland, MD Co-Director Boston Hope Incident Command Michael DelVecchio Boston Hope Radiology Director Patrick Curley Boston Hope Safety Officer Radiologic Technologist Kim Vanyo Samantha Peterson  Christina Eddy Jody Sharkey Kevin Jenkins Nathan Buckley Tom Coles Maya Johnson-Barnes Ahmed Mohammed Megan Kjersgard Danielle Maalouf Emily Connell Deidre Cahill - FXB Elizabeth Sergienko - FXB Micaela McNamara - FXB Val Shea - FXB Kevin Bogner - FXB Sarah Kuceris - FXB Jennifer Reed  Jennifer Sybertz

Internal Resources

Brigham Health Gratitude Board The  Brigham Health Gratitude Board  captures shining moments and enables staff to recognize each other. Your stories remind us that we are stronger together. Take a moment to share your message of thanks, support and encouragement with your Brigham colleagues to read when they most need it.

Reflection Rooms Now Available Are you looking for a quiet moment alone? There are now three Reflection Rooms available for all employees to use. These Reflection Rooms are single-person rooms with comfortable seating, dim lighting and mindfulness resources, and they are intended to supplement existing spaces like Caritas rooms and the Chapel. Reflection rooms are located in  Mid-Campus (near the E elevator) , on  Braunwald Tower 4A  and on  Shapiro 3 . View a map of all locations  here .

We want to hear from you! How would you describe the Department of Radiology during this time? Please answer this 1 question survey . Are we missing something? Submit content for this weekly communication or provide us feedback here .