Acknowledgments

IT IS MY great honor to recognize a number of family, friends, and colleagues who have made this book possible.

First, my colleagues at Press Ganey (who are also my friends) have been a wonderful support system through thick and thin. When Pat Ryan made me CNO in 2012, I had no idea what a wonderful journey it would be. I am forever in his debt. Joe Greskoviak, my friend and mentor, gave me the gift of security after my breast cancer diagnosis, a story I recount in this book. Tom Lee has been my biggest cheerleader since arriving at Press Ganey, and his support for this book has been no exception. Deirdre Mylod provided and continues to provide both the raw data and the additional insight that makes the numbers interesting and actionable. I wish to also thank Barbara Reilly, who has partnered with me in our study of engagement and resilience; Craig Clapper and Julie Samuelson, who shared personal stories; and Nell Buhlman, Patti Cmielewski, and Mary Jo Assi, who provided valuable feedback. To Gregg DiPietro, who offered a marketing and literary touchpoint throughout this endeavor: I couldn’t have done it without you! And to the many others at Press Ganey who contributed in some way to this project: I’m so honored to work with each and every one of you.

Brandy and Kylie, two individuals described in the book, are real people. Brandy continues to deal with thyroid cancer. As you consider the concepts of empathy, compassion, and suffering, please keep her in your thoughts. Kylie gave my family and me the gift of herself and, in doing so, helped me think about what compassionate and connected care truly is.

Seth Schulman, my collaborator, is the ultimate wordsmith. This is a better book because of him. Rachel Gostenhofer provided expertise with fact checking and citations. Thank you, Rachel, for your second (maybe third) pair of eyes! To Casey Ebro, my editor at McGraw-Hill, thank you for your commitment to this book.

To my family, I am in awe of you. To Aaron and Amanda who have been through so much and come out stronger: thank you for allowing me to share your story to demonstrate how important caregivers are to the people who need them. I extend my deep gratitude as well to Hilary, who now works for Press Ganey, and her wife, a paramedic, both of whom are carrying this message forward in healthcare. I wish to thank my sister, Wendy Harmon, who provided critical nonclinical feedback throughout the writing of this book; my mother, Cathy Schneider, a nurse, leader, and mentor—thank you, Mom; and my mother-in-law, Norma, who allowed me to share her story in hopes that it would help others stay healthy. Finally, to my husband, Tom, you’ve been my rock and my partner through it all. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.

And to you, the faithful reader: I hope this book will give you food for thought, new tools and strategies to try, and, above all, a way to remember why you care.