Personal Reflections
Mr. Rangos himself looked back fondly on all the struggles and accomplishments which helped bring Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh to the top of the medical world.
“We did a lot of things. There have been many deeply concerned citizens and a lot of successful and creative programs over the years. We had the Cruise for Kids program, where the (NFL’s) Pittsburgh Steelers would come and raise $250 thousand each time. (Actress) Jamie Lee Curtis helped raise $5 million a year five years in a row,” he said.
Ms. Curtis befriended Lori Tull, a 13-year-old heart transplant patient at Children’s Hospital in 1983. In 1999, she hosted Children’s first black-tie gala fundraiser for pediatric cancer research, and met Katie Westbrook, a 13-year-old cancer patient at Children’s who wanted to be a lawyer.
Sadly, neither girl lived long. Lori died at 19, and Katie died at 15. But both girls fought very courageously, Mr. Rangos said, and Ms. Curtis stood by them, and established an endowed chair at the Hospital for pediatric transplantation.
“Healthcare is such an important facet in human life. Whether you can be happy and do all things God has entitled you to do as a human being depends so much on good health. So we need to be focused on the dynamics of physical wellbeing: good nutrition, preventive medicine and affordable healthcare,” he said.
Mr. Rangos practices what he preaches. He established an award-winning preventive medicine program in his own company.
“We were in friendly competition with other companies nationally. I gave incentives to my employees to lose weight. A healthy employee makes the best employee. I gave thousands in cash bonuses, and got millions in return in terms of productiveness. I didn’t invent the wheel on this. It’s simply important for any employer to be concerned about the health and wellbeing of his employees,” he said.
But for Mr. Rangos, helping children is what counts most. To that end, helping a pediatric hospital attain excellence is paramount, and that’s why he places so much emphasis on research.
“It’s all about research. Children’s Hospital wouldn’t have become such an extraordinary success without that focus on research. The merger with UPMC was also very important. It was a match made in Heaven. Being big and sharing resources broaden your ability to serve public better. More jobs were also created as a result – close to 3,000 – and it helped make Children’s an even greater hospital,” he said.
“Children’s really is a state-of-the-art 21st Century Hospital, and it’s a special place. Kids treated there don’t want to leave because of the comfort level and tremendous care. Kids that were incapacitated due to a debilitating illness – who never dreamed that they could receive this kind of care – are given another chance at life. That’s why Children’s occupies such a special place in my heart. And as I became more involved, I learned more about doctors and their dedication. By and large, doctors and nurses are incredible people. Many people have egos, but at Children’s, egos get put aside, and people all pull on the oars together,” he added.
The above was written by Evan C. Lambrou, who served as editor of the National Herald, the country’s oldest and largest Greek American newspaper, from 2004 to 2009. People who wish to donate to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh can do so online by clicking HERE, or by calling the CHP Foundation at 412-692-3900.