Deborah Schwarz

Before making the move to healthcare communications in 1991, Deborah worked as a Physician Assistant at Columbia University Medical Center for 12 years in adult and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. As Founder and Executive Director of the Office of External Affairs for the Department of Surgery, Deborah has taken on ever-expanding responsibilities in the field of healthcare communications and outreach. She enjoys developing innovative approaches to communicating with the Department's varied audiences, from patients and referring physicians to researchers and industry representatives.

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clinical-trial-blog

Joining a Clinical Trial: Should You or Shouldn’t You?

Posted by: | October 2nd, 2012 | 0 comments

You may not feel as if you have much choice when it comes to healthcare for a serious illness. But whether or not to join a clinical trial is completely up to you. In fact, that may be one of the most powerful reasons to participate. Silvia Hafliger, MD, Psychiatry, Columbia University Department of Surgery, explains, “In the face of a debilitating disease, patients’ ability to be pro-active can provide a sense of autonomy and make them feel like true partners in their own treatment.” View Full Post

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Choosing a Surgeon: How Much Experience is Enough?

Posted by: | September 11th, 2012 | 0 comments

An old joke involves a patient asking the doctor, “Have you been successful doing this surgery?”If the doctor says, “Yes, I’ve been successful,” that means he’s done it once. If he says, “I’ve been successful in case after case,” that means he’s done it twice. View Full Post