Clare D’Agostino, a member of PPMC’s Board of Trustees, presents a check to Hospital Hero, M. Sean Grady, MD, chair of Neurosurgery
At Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, “hospital heroes” can be found on every unit, in every department, and contributing to every stage of patient care. Each year, leadership, faculty, and staff come together to celebrate the hospital’s groundbreaking achievements and commitment to changing and saving lives, and to recognize one of those exceptional hospital heroes. During the 17th Annual PPMC Gala on March 23, the spotlight was on M. Sean Grady, MD – chair of Neurosurgery, the Charles Harrison Frazier Professor of Neurosurgery, and a professor of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery – and his many accomplishments in the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI), including the creation of the Mind Your Brain @ Penn Medicine (MYB) conference.
Recent galas have featured themes focused on our collective love of Philadelphia, the innovation of the World’s Fair, and the hustle and bustle of London, but this year, attendees were invited to celebrate in an even more complex place: their own imaginations. During this “Evening of Pure Imagination,” guests mingled, enjoyed a delicious dinner and signature cocktails (ImaGINe and the Beekeeper, referring to Grady’s affinity for apiculture) and were encouraged to imagine how life changed in a flash for the five million Americans struggling with TBI. They also were asked to imagine a world in which all individuals with TBI and their families are able to access the care and resources necessary for recovery, though they didn’t need to ponder long; Grady and his team are making that world a reality.
“Dr. Grady and Penn’s Neurotrauma team have a history of providing excellent care to some of our most critically injured patients who suffer TBI, helping them to not only heal but to return to productive and fulfilling lives,” said CEO Michele Volpe. “The gala is a wonderful celebration of the many lives that have been impacted and the opportunity to raise funds for Mind Your Brain @ Penn Medicine to help those who have suffered a life-changing TBI.”
The first of its kind in the region, the Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair’s MYB conference is a free, patient-centered program that aims to improve the quality of life for those affected by TBI, as well as support their families and caregivers, through research, education, advocacy, and support. The crowd leapt to their feet when former patient and guest speaker Candace Gantt was introduced. She detailed how she worked with Grady to establish MYB and explained how valuable the conference is for so many people. After Grady discussed his Presby journey and thanked his team, he too spoke on the importance of MYB and explained that the proceeds of the gala will be used to endow the conference for years to come.
“I was truly honored to be the ‘Hospital Hero’ this year – and it’s the first time in my life I’ve received a standing ovation!” Grady said. “My family and I were so impressed by the turnout, and I’m appreciative of the funds raised for Mind Your Brain. They’ll ensure that it becomes a permanent fixture that can help brain-injured patients and their families recover and regain their lives. I’m also hoping to train other institutions to use a model similar to [MYB] to help TBI patients in other regions.”
Over $190,000 was raised for MYB through sponsorships, ticket sales, and a silent auction. The featured item: a “honey hunt” with Grady! Two winners will be going on a hive inspection tour with Grady as he shares his beekeeping hobby. Other popular auction items included sports and concert tickets, restaurant gift cards, jewelry, and more. Thank you to everyone who attended and donated; your sponsorship will help patients recovering from TBI to not merely survive their “new normal,” but to thrive on their road to healing.