how I feel about being the source of cafeteria gossip, but after withstanding the New York tabloids, that’s nothing. “It’s good to see you, Mona. Do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Don’t tell Carmen I’m here. I want to surprise her.”
“Of course. My lips are sealed.” She leans in to whisper. “Good luck, Doc. I hope you get whatever it is you want.”
“Thank you.”
A short time later, Mr. Augustino returns, and the board members begin filing into the room, a mix of races, genders and ages. I’ve done my research and know that half of them are physicians, the other half prominent members of the community.
The board chair, a black woman named Dr. Felicia Rider, calls the meeting to order after everyone is seated. “Dr. Northrup, welcome.”
“Thank you, Dr. Rider. I appreciate the opportunity to meet with you all.”
“You asked for this meeting, so the floor is yours.”
Well, here goes nothing. Or everything . . . “Just over two weeks ago, I arrived at Miami-Dade after leaving behind a bit of a mess in New York. You know the details of what happened there. Since that time, the other party involved has reached out to the boards here and in New York and provided updated information about what transpired, so I won’t belabor the point. Upon my arrival at Miami-Dade, I was told the board wanted some time to consider my application for privileges. Mr. Augustino assigned the supremely competent new director of public relations, Carmen Giordino, to assist in helping me to acclimate to the local community and to make a case for my employment at your hospital. What follows is the presentation Ms. Giordino prepared for that meeting.”
Mr. Augustino signals the person in the AV room. The lights go dark and the screen comes to life with the presentation, which now includes music to accompany the photographs, testimonials, NBC 6 footage and details about my research project.
Then, in a part I haven’t seen before, Carmen’s voice is recorded to accompany the next few slides. “The American Board of Neurological Surgery defines neurological surgery as constituting ‘a medical discipline and surgical specialty that provides care for adult and pediatric patients in the treatment of pain or pathological processes that may modify the function or activity of the central nervous system.’
“Certification requirements by the ABNS include eighty-four months of neurosurgical residency, two years as chief resident, as well as training in a wide variety of disciplines, such as neuropathology, neuroradiology, endovascular or pediatric neurosurgery, to name a few. Neurosurgeons undergo months of training in general patient care areas including trauma surgery, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology and plastic surgery. To achieve board certification, a neurosurgeon undergoes written and oral exams. In preparation for the oral exam, a neurosurgeon has to log one hundred and twenty-five cases and, after successfully completing the exam, must embark on a quest for lifelong learning and continuous certification.
“Dr. Jason Northrup became board-certified two years after completing his residency and is considered one of the nation’s foremost experts in the area of pediatric medulloblastoma, overseeing cutting-edge research into the cause and treatment to combat these common pediatric tumors.”
The presentation ends with a photo of me smiling at the group of men at the dominoes table in Little Havana, the picture taking me right back to that wonderful day with Carmen. As the lights come back on, I hold my breath, waiting to hear what their reaction will be.
“Thank you for that outstanding presentation, Mr. Augustino, and pass along our compliments to Ms. Giordino,” Dr. Rider says. “Dr. Northrup, I have one remaining question for you, one that I’m sure must be on the minds of my fellow board members. With an offer on the table to return to your previous position, why is it that you’re still interested in working here?”
I anticipated this question and thought about how I might reply on the two-hour-and-twenty-minute flight from LaGuardia to Miami. I go with the answer that occurred to me then. “My reasons for wanting to live and work in Miami are personal.”
“Fair enough. We appreciate the information as well as your interest in joining the team at Miami-Dade. We’ll discuss your application in executive session. Mr. Augustino will notify you of our decision. Thank you, Dr. Northrup.”
“Thank you all for your time today.”
With Carmen’s incredible help, I’ve done what I can. It’s out of my hands now.
CHAPTER 24
CARMEN
Concentration is nonexistent when your whole life and any chance at true happiness are on the line. I’m dying to know what’s happening in that