(Courtesy of BINA) An overflow crowd filled the elegant El Caribe Country Club in Brooklyn for the Annual Dinner of BINA Stroke and Brain Injury Assistance. Dr. Steven Kirshblum, senior medical officer at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey and beloved resident of West Orange, was presented with the Physician Leadership Award.
Dr. Kirshblum rose to accept his award from Naftali Horowitz, chairman of BINA’s board of directors, following a moving video presentations in which family, friends and colleagues talked with great emotion and sincerity about Dr. Kirshblum’s many personal and professional accomplishments and attributes, and his dedication to BINA and the community at large.
After receiving the award, Dr. Kirshblum expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all those who had assembled in his honor, and then addressed the crowd with personal and moving remarks. He discussed the effect of technology on our society, stating that the same technology that has helped ease our lives can also disconnect us, as it limits our human control and face-to-face interactions. Dr. Kirshblum averred that our physical presence and personal touch are more important than ever, especially when it comes to illness.
Dr. Kirshblum then compared the limbs and organs of the human body to the unique roles of all those who care for a patient following an illness or injury. The hospital team of physicians, nurses and administrators are the brain, and also the hands, that carry out the techniques and treatments. He thanked his colleagues at Kessler who deliver these skills with compassion and empathy and stated that nothing is more important than acting with care and sensitivity, day after day.
The members of the West Orange community, who Dr. Kirshblum described as “chesed exemplified,” were described as the legs, walking to Kessler on Shabbos to form a minyan, and visiting the patients and families to offer their assistance and anticipating their every need, all of which is done with heart.
Dr. Kirshblum then stated that Chavie Glustein, director of BINA, represents the soul, as she has the commitment and knowledge to understand the individuality of each family whose lives and worlds have suddenly been turned upside down, and help them find direction and hope. He added that Mrs. Glustein is also the voice that gives comfort and advocates so well on the families’ behalf, always with respect, derech eretz and professionalism, and concluded, “You are the backbone of the organization.”
In closing, Dr. Kirshblum thanked the audience for stepping forward and embracing the opportunity to make a difference, and stated that everyone who came to support BINA is providing the lifeblood and energy that allows the organization to exist and serve those in need of their help.
BINA is there every day for stroke and brain-injury survivors of all ages and their families, providing critical guidance and expertise at each stage of the complex rehabilitation process. Thousands of children, adults and seniors who have nowhere else to turn in the aftermath of a devastating brain injury have benefited from BINA’s vital assistance. BINA’s mission is to ensure that no brain injury survivor is alone as they struggle to navigate the long and difficult road to recovery. For more information, please call 718-645-6400 or go to www.binausa.org.
