My other life

First published: Sunday, June 17, 2007 – Times Union

Who: Dr. Lewis Marola

Age: 74 Real job: Obstetrician/gynecologist, Mondragon, McGrinder Medical Associates, Schenectady

Passion outside work: Marola just completed a book chronicling the history of Bellevue Woman's Hospital, "Bellevue Woman's Hospital, The Miracle on Troy Road'' from its founding in 1931 in the Bellevue section of Schenectady.

In 1976, Dr. Marola wrote a book about Christopher Columbus and Queen Isabella, ``Encounter 500,'' as the country was celebrating its bicentennial and looking forward to the 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage in 1492.

A 1992 musical production of "Encounter 500'' ran in Italy for six weeks. A former patient, Sister Rosalba, had purchased a copy of the book and gave it to a New York City composer. A Sicilian group, Magna Grecia, invested $800,000 toward producing the musical.

Quote: "I think that having been involved in the creativity of birth for more than 42 years, I think I'm intrigued with the creative process of writing. It's very tiring, but I find it stimulating.''

-- Betsy Feldstein                                           

All Times Union materials copyright 1996-2007,
Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation, Albany, NY

Daily Gazette

Saturday, June 16, 2007
Opinion Page
Letters to the Editor
                       
Bellevue’s superiority shouldn’t be overlooked
LEWIS J. MAROLA, MD
Schenectady, NY

Several weeks ago Bellevue Woman’s Hospital published its neonatal mortality statistics, which are nine times less than the national average and 10 times less than Schenectady County’s published figures.

On May 1 at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital a meeting of the medical community was convened to discuss the impact of the Berger Commission’s recommendations. All were aware of Ellis Hospital’s outstanding ranking in cardiovascular surgery. An obstetrician posed a hypothetical question to the Ellis staff. “Suppose a government agency told you that you had to move your surgeries to an institution with 10 times your operative mortality.” There was no response, only looks of incredulity. No one in that room thought there was a remote possibility that that could happen, and I agree it would not.

Therefore, if, in spite of observations such as these, Bellevue is closed, it would mean that our society and our government place a higher priority on hearts damaged by age, smoking, obesity and unhealthy life styles than on innocent, pristine hearts of healthy newborns destined to beat for 80 years.

June 2007

BELLEVUE WOMAN’S HOSPITAL SUBJECT OF PHYSICIAN’S BOOK

NISKAYUNA, NY – Dr. Lewis Marola, of Mondragon & McGrinder, PC, is perhaps best known for his 40 year career delivering babies. But, now Dr. Marola is telling the Bellevue Woman’s Hospital story through his new book, Bellevue Woman’s Hospital, The Miracle on Troy Road, A Triumph for Women. The book chronicles the history of Bellevue Woman’s Hospital.  It tells the story Bellevue Woman’s Hospital from its founding in 1931 in the Bellevue section of Schenectady, NY by 28 year old Mary Grace Norlund Jorgensen, RN to its present day prominence as a health care “destination” for women from throughout New York’s Capital Region. 

Dr. Marola’s style is to balance good humored anecdotes with facts and statistics as he takes us through the years. We leave the original home and re-live the days when as Bellevue Maternity Hospital, the institution was housed in “the mansion” in Niskayuna. We meet countless medical professionals and cronies of Dr. Marola within the book’s sixty some pages. 

The going has not been easy for this private hospital and Dr. Marola takes us through graphs showing the growth and the ups and downs of a specialized hospital in direct competition with the two other much larger general hospitals in town. Indeed, the book’s launch unwittingly coincides with the aftermath of the release of the Berger Commission’s report calling for the closure of Bellevue Woman’s Hospital and the merger of the other two.

Perhaps it is because of Bellevue’s founding by a courageous young nurse or perhaps it is because Dr. Marola has a life-long respect for the nursing profession; nurses are a particularly important theme of The Miracle on Troy Road. In his dedication, Dr. Marola writes, “…thank you to all the wonderful nurses with whom I have enjoyed working and who helped me deliver so many wonderful babies at Bellevue, Ellis and St. Clare’s Hospitals.” 

Marola notes that Bellevue has always been known for its warm ambience, but he credits the professional example of Mary Grace Norlund Jorgensen, RN with setting a standard for excellence that to this day permeates the culture at Bellevue Woman’s Hospital. “It has been a constant over the years; as strong today as in nurse Jorgensen’s day,” says Dr. Marola.  “Every effort of the institution from the CEO to the housekeeping staff is dedicated to the woman and her child.”  

Dr. Marola is donating 30% of the proceeds of Miracle on Troy Road to Bellevue Hospital.  The book will be available at Price Chopper supermarkets, the Open Door Bookstore, the Bellevue Woman’s Hospital Gift Shop and at select locations. 

The price of Bellevue Woman’s Hospital, The Miracle on Troy Road, A Triumph for Women is $17.50. 

-END-

Interviews and books for reviewing are available by contacting Dr. Lewis Marola 518 573-4484 or Joanne M. DeVoe 518 573-0773