Remembering Dr. Bernadine Healy, a Colleague and Friend

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To Gary L. Fox Attorney,
Shame on you for using Dr. Healy's passing and this forum as a reason to air your petty gripes! Dr.Healy has just recently died and her family, friends and colleagues are still mourning the loss of this great woman. Get over yourself already, you insensitive jerk!

Cheryl of TX 12:27AM August 23, 2011

I worked with Dr. Healy in the 1970s when she was head of the CCU at Johns Hopkins. They were a development clinical trial site for a Hewlett-Packard arrhythmia monitoring system. Dr. Healy wanted the unit to provide top quality patient care. I enjoyed working with her as she demanded the best from herself as well as others. I can’t recall the time in our relationship when she told me she had gotten a personal computer for her daughter. I remember being very impressed as few folks that I knew had one then and no one was getting them for their children!
I followed her career with interest and was pleased to see her recognized for her talent and energy with the appointment lead the National Institute of Health. She was an inspiration and a pleasure to work with.
My sympathy to her friends and family.

Buck Locke of MA 3:57PM August 16, 2011

I was lucky to work with Bernadine Healy for several years at US News. And while working for a mass media publication, or bringing into being medical studies that involved tens of thousands of people, she thought first of the individual. How would her column affect a particular person reading it, she wondered? How would a giant women's health study--she started the NIH's Women's Health Initiative-- be used by one doctor taking to one patient? And thinking of the individual, to her, meant you had to do right by that individual. It was a responsibility I think she took joy in.

Josh Fischman of MD 9:56PM August 11, 2011

briefly worked in USN & WR and brushed shoulders with her for some months. a cheerful professional who never let on that she had such a personal history with cancer.

stan madison of ID 12:54AM August 11, 2011

I remember meeting Dr. Healey when she became the NIH Director. I was a nursing director in the NIH 's Clinical Center. I felt honored that a woman so intelligent; so powerful; and so gentle had become the first woman to head the NIH. She had many challenges, but dealt with every one with courage and power.What a wonderful role model.
My thoughts and prayers are sent to her family. I remember her husband saying that she was his "soul mate". To him and to their children I send my sincere sympathy.

Diane Z. Chase of VA 9:12PM August 10, 2011

Thank-you for having the bravery and the fortitude to stand up so publicly for the rights of those collaterally damaged by life-saving vaccines. In fact, to my knowledge Dr. Healy is the only public health official, past or present, who has done so. Dr. Healy was one those rare individuals with a true moral compass not sweep up in what is politically expedient, as evidenced by reading her luminary career history. May you rest in peace.

J Poling of GA 4:07PM August 10, 2011

I will always remember Dr. Healy with gratitude for the principled stand she took on Magen David Adom's acceptance (or lack thereof) into the International Red Cross Association. Thank you and godspeed.

Jake of NJ 3:48PM August 10, 2011

I will forever have a warm spot in my heart for Bernadine Healy. She touched my life, not only as a fellow U.S. News employee, but on one of my darkest days. In October of 2009, I received a positive diagnosis of breast cancer. She gave me a long, reassuring hug after I received the dreaded phone call at work. I will be forever thankful that she was in the office on that day. As I fought off the tears, her encouraging words helped me remain strong. She gave me hope and advice that was frank and honest. I will never forget when she read my pathology and she blurted out, "Just get rid of it" -- referring to my breast. Not sure why, but it put a smile on my face. I trusted and valued her opinion and she was always willing to help.

This was not the first time that she offered me her compassion and support. My oldest daughter was born with a congenital heart defect. Bernie would answer my questions and calm my concerns. She even took the time to look over all of my daughter's cardiology reports to make sure I was getting the appropriate care for her.

I will never forget her and I am honored to have known such an amazing woman.

Kris Mehuron of VA of VA 2:08PM August 10, 2011

as someone who had seen her numerous times on television,she came across as very intelligent, compassionate and down to earth individual.
my condolences to her family and friends.

bruce b of NV 8:58PM August 09, 2011

Bernadine Healy was gentle in her humanity, fierce in her loyalties, and passionate in her expression of both. When I met the disarming woman who answered to Bernie among her fellow writers, her lifetime of accomplishments was already awe-inspiring. Editing her words was inspiring, too. She took such care to convey each of her ideas and was genuinely appreciative of any suggestion, no matter how trivial, on how she could better achieve that end. Avery wrote of the way she treated us all as family. She must also have thought of her patients as family, such was her humility as a healer and a person.

Ben Harder of DC 7:43PM August 09, 2011