Dear SCI Community,
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that our friend and colleague, Steve Coutre, passed away yesterday. Steve was a brilliant investigator, dedicated physician and dear colleague. He will be deeply missed. Below are messages that were sent earlier today to the clinical Cancer Service Line and the Division of Hematology. Both messages contain information about grief counseling/support resources for anyone who would like to access these services.
Please keep Steve and his family in your thoughts during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Steve
STEVEN ARTANDI, MD, PhD
Laurie Kraus Lacob Director, Stanford Cancer Institute
Jerome and Daisy Low Gilbert Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry
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Sent on behalf of Dr. Heather Wakelee, Dr. Roni Brar, Maria Gonzalez, Sridhar Seshadri, and Dr. Steven Artandi
Dear Cancer Service Line colleagues,
We were devastated to learn that our dear friend Dr. Steven Coutre passed away yesterday, November 9, 2021. Steve was a friend, mentor, colleague to many of us as well as a physician held in the highest esteem to countless patients and their families. There are no words to describe the feeling of loss that we are all experiencing. We must draw strength that we were touched by him in so many ways over the years he spent in our midst. We will share more information about how we plan to honor and celebrate Steve as person, a physician, a researcher, and friend to so many of us.
We know that many, many of you knew Steve and are experiencing the same feeling of loss that we are. We want to support you at this time of need. To help you during this time, we have arranged for Spiritual Care to be onsite in the Cancer Center. More specifics on the room and timing will be forthcoming shortly. We understand that not all of you will be on site. With this in mind, we will be arranging for an open Zoom link that you can dial into at the same times as above with information forthcoming.
You can also reach out to Spiritual Care for additional resources via this link: Spiritual Care Service | Stanford Health Care
The SHC Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers grief counseling services. If you need help, please call (855) 281-1601. A Beacon EAP Workplace Consultant will assist you in coordinating the help you need. A brochure of the EAP services is attached.
Our cancer center leadership will also be rounding regularly to see if we can offer you any other help during this difficult time. Below we also share an message sent by Dr. Ravi Majeti, chief of hematology which includes more support services for university employees and trainees. Our hearts are with Steve’s family and all of us who are deeply saddened by his loss.
Dr. Heather Wakelee, Medical Director, Cancer Service Line
Dr. Roni Brar, Co-Medical Director, Cancer Service Line
Ms. Maria Gonzalez, Executive Director, Cancer Service Line
Dr. Sridhar Seshadri, Vice President, Cancer Service Line
Dr. Steven Artandi, Director, Stanford Cancer Institute
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Dear colleagues,
It is with great sadness and respect that I write to inform you that our beloved Dr. Steven Coutre has passed away. This morning, his family has given me permission to share with you that he passed away on November 9th after his prolonged illness and hospitalization. Steve was a giant – a “living legend” – who touched us all personally and professionally. He will be missed. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts. Grief counseling/support is available for any who would like to access these services and there will be more details to follow. Please see below for the various links – and distribute to your groups (faculty, staff, clinic teams, APPs, CRCs, fellows, residents).
With a heavy heart,
Ravi
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Ravi Majeti MD, PhD
RZ Cao Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Hematology
Faculty, fellows and university staff wanting to receive 1:1 support can contact the faculty/staff help center:
(650) 723-4577 or helpcenter@lists.stanford.edu
Faculty and residents/fellows can also connect with the Physician WellConnect program:
- https://med.stanford.edu/psychiatry/special-initiatives/wellconnect.html
- 650-725-1395
- Wellconnect@stanford.edu
The chaplains/Spiritual Care are also willing to talk to any one desiring to connect to them:
Additional resource: