What grateful people are saying...
“No one wants to go to the emergency room. It’s always inconvenient, always unexpected—not to mention, frightening and stressful. But at The Miriam Hospital, your experience is different. From the moment you walk through the doors, you feel cared for and heard. I knew as my dad was wheeled into The Miriam’s emergency room in the height of COVID, that he was in the best of hands with their incredibly brave emergency room and critical care team. That reassurance gave us the peace of mind that we needed.
One of the reasons I moved back to Providence, after years in Boston, was to be closer to family. What I have discovered, is that family is not just the people you are related to, but the community around you. At The Miriam, you are more than just a patient, more than just a number. The Miriam treats every person who enters the hospital as if they were a family member. And that has become such an important factor in our healthcare choices. The Miriam is part of my family—and we must invest in its future for every family, just as they do for ours.”
– CeCe Aparo
“Having chest pains wasn’t entirely new to me, with my atrial fibrillation, but when the pain started radiating down my arms, I knew I needed to get to The Miriam quickly. The doctor told me that I clearly had had a cardiac incident. Even though the tests were showing that it wasn’t serious, she wanted me to stay for further testing and observation because she was concerned about my symptoms. And thank goodness she was so thorough. It turns out I had a 99% blockage in one of my main arteries – the one called the “widow-maker.”
Over the five days when I was at The Miriam’s cardiac care unit, waiting for open heart surgery, I got to know a lot of the doctors and nurses, a lot of the staff. Over and over, they shared that they loved being at The Miriam because this hospital really makes people better. That it was not just a place to work, but a place where everyone wanted to help people leave healthier than when they came.”
– Colby Cameron
“I wish I could remember the names of the staff who took such great care of us that day in the emergency department. From the nurses who helped me to get my mother’s medication sorted out, to the physician who patiently listened to my mom’s complicated medical history, to the aide who made sure I had a chair, so I could sit by my mom’s side.
And more than just the details of care, my mom felt like she was really listened to, not treated like just another confused old woman. The Miriam staff really understood her pain and wanted to help her find relief—and get her back home safely. We even left The Miriam that day with a referral to the Norman Prince Spine Institute, so that my mom could get expert help with managing her back pain.”
– Katie Sklar
Share Your Story of The Miriam Hospital
Maria Ducharme, DNP, RN, president, The Miriam Hospital, and chief quality executive, Brown University Health, invites you to share your memories.
“Like so many people in Rhode Island, my relationship with The Miriam Hospital was rooted in family history—my parents and several of my siblings worked at The Miriam and I was a candy striper in the 1980s.
But all that changed on October 23, 2024, when I was diagnosed with Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP), a rare, life-threatening, autoimmune blood disorder. This came as a complete shock to me and my family. Within hours, I found myself in The Miriam Hospital’s emergency room, then the ICU, and later admitted to the 4th floor. My treatment over the next 12 days included a complex medication protocol and constant monitoring.
The care I received at The Miriam has forever deepened my appreciation for this hospital as an anchor in our community. Every health professional I encountered, regardless of role or unit, left a tremendous impact on me, whether they were doctors, specialists, nurses, certified nursing assistants, medical assistants, unit secretaries, dietary aides, or environmental services staff. This literal angel army ensured I felt safe, cared for, and hopeful while I was being restored to better health. Their professionalism and compassion sustained me through some of the darkest moments of my diagnosis. The Miriam Hospital embodies the very best of healthcare and humanity, and I will forever hold deep gratitude for every person’s efforts.”
– Joanna N. Ravello Goods, PhD