Motivated by Tragedy, Grateful Patient Contributes to Surgeon's Work
Following three unsuccessful surgeries, Borden met Dr. Darryl DiRisio, associate professor of surgery at Albany Medical College. DiRisio, a highly skilled neurosurgeon, began his affiliation with Albany Med in the early 1990's as a resident under the direction of John Popp, MD, co-director of the Neurosciences Institute. Following a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, DiRisio returned to Albany Med dedicated to providing the most comprehensive care to patients with diseases or disorders of the brain and nervous system. These skills, along with a compassionate nature, contributed to his success in caring for Borden.
"He knelt on the floor when he spoke with me, and that's something I didn't see other surgeons do," recalls Borden, who further explains that DiRisio understood how important it was for her to stay active, and never gave up hope on her. Grateful for his care, Borden made a donation to Albany Medical Center in DiRisio's honor following her first surgery. Four surgeries later and with more time on her hands after an early retirement, Borden decided to do more.
"Dr. DiRisio has made a huge impact on my life, and has truly given me a purpose and something to keep going for," says Borden. "I've decided to channel my energies to support his work."
Over the course of the past three years, Borden has utilized several giving vehicles to contribute to the A. John Popp Chair in the Neurosciences. DiRisio is the current Popp Chairholder and this fund provides endowed support for DiRisio's efforts in patient care, education and research. Most recently, Borden contributed to the Popp Chair by designating Albany Medical Center as a beneficiary of her IRA. "Supporting his work and the Department of Neurosurgery remain priorities in my life," explains Borden.
In addition to patient care, DiRisio's work also focuses on clinical research in cervical spine injuries and thoracic trauma. The results of his research have been published in several medical journals, bringing national attention to the Medical Center. So Borden was pleased when she learned that DiRisio plans to utilize donated funds to create a position within his department to conduct research on surgical outcomes and to assess the relative value of individual procedures. "My goal is to help Dr. DiRisio provide the same excellent care to others that I received," she says. Borden's generosity will do just that, allowing DiRisio and his team to pursue research that will ensure that patients receive top-level quality surgical care.
