The conference room was small, and the ceremony took just a few short minutes, but the impact of this moment far exceeded the humble setting when Sanford Health cardiac surgeon Roxanne Newman, M.D., received her 25th and 26th Guardian Angel awards at the Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota.
“Of all of our providers here at Sanford, that would be number one on the scoreboard if we kept one,” said Travis Christopher, Sanford Health Foundation’s senior development officer, and presenter of Dr. Newman’s awards. “It’s a tribute to her, it’s a tribute to the care, and I like to think it’s a reflection on everybody at Sanford, whenever a patient recognizes a provider.”
“Each one is special and it’s just wonderful that they have the program. It’s wonderful that people are willing to express their gratitude,” said Dr. Newman.
The gift of gratitude
Through the Guardian Angel program, Sanford Health Foundation offers patients the chance to honor their health care providers with kind words and a donation in their name. On this day, Dr. Newman heard from a patient she operated on 20 years ago. She got a bit emotional while hearing her patient’s words.
“These are people, these are their lives, their compassion. They talk about how much they’ve fulfilled since that time. It’s more than just a procedure. It’s a person. It’s a life,” Dr. Newman said.
Her 25th Guardian Angel award wasn’t the only milestone she celebrated that day either. She received the award on her birthday.
“That’s a pretty nice birthday present,” Dr. Newman said. “You just hope that they’re doing well. You never have an understanding or expectation of how long any of us are on this earth. But to hear something that could have been catastrophic and live 20 years afterwards, that’s really special.”
For decades, Dr. Roxanne Newman has been helping patients and saving lives without asking for recognition. Her patients keep letting her know how much she means to them though, by giving thanks to their very own guardian angel.
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Posted In Awards & Recognition, Fargo, Heart, People & Culture
