Remembering Dr. Neal Aquino

Article from The Mercy Circle. Scholarship Named for Son of...

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:51:14 -0400

Article from The Mercy Circle.

Scholarship Named for Son of Mercy Physician
A scholarship has been created in memory of Neal Aquino, MD, who passed away from surgical complications in 2007. The scholarship was created in Neal Aquino’s name by his family, including his father, Nestor Aquino, MD, an anesthesiologist on the medical staff at Mercy Hospital Clermont and Mercy Hospital Fairfield. The “Dr. Neal J. Aquino Class of 2001 Memorial Scholarship” will provide $50,000 to assist aspiring physicians attending the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

“Our wish is to keep Neal’s memory alive by helping exceptional students reach their full potential and, like Neal, achieve their goals,” said Dr. Nestor Aquino.

Dr. Neal Aquino graduated from the UC College of Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency at Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio. He then returned to the Cincinnati area and worked in emergency departments at some of our Mercy hospitals and other hospitals in the area. He was so well liked that the hospitals where he practiced medicine have also honored him. At Summa Health they have established the Neal Aquino Intern Book Fund to help students purchase textbooks. The Emergency Department staff at Mercy Hospital Western Hills has also created a plaque and mural honoring Neal.

Happy Birthday!

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:57:25 -0400

Sorry for the belated birthday post. This year we had a low key celebration of what would have been Neal’s 34th birthday. Mass was said in Neal’s honor at St. Lawrence Church followed by a lovely breakfast and then a nice dinner later that evening with my parents and James. The golf outing on the 25th, took the place of the birthday gathering we’ve planned the last few years.

The Alumni Golf Outing was a success! Enough teams signed up...

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:09:57 -0400

The teams awaiting instruction.

It was a hot, but beautiful, day.

2nd Place Winners

The Alumni Golf Outing was a success! Enough teams signed up this year to reach the maximum capacity of the golf course. Despite the heat, it looked as if everyone had a great time. Can’t wait for next year!

Text from the brochure: On Monday, July 25, the UC College of...

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:41:00 -0400

Text from the brochure:

On Monday, July 25, the UC College of Medicine Alumni Association will host its 3rd Annual Golf Outing.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the IvaDean Medical Student Scholarship Fund, the Dr. Neal Aquino, 2001 Memorial Scholarship and the Urban Health Project.

The Urban Health Project (UHP) is an eight-week summer program ran by medical students. In 2010 they placed 25 first year medical students at agencies around the Cincinnati area that care for the underserved population. The goal of UHP is to inspire, educate, and create socially responsible physicians.

Please join me in helping current & future students following our footsteps. We are inviting you to support the UC College of Medicine by participating in and sponsoring our 3rd Annual Golf Outing.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Ach Green, M.D., ‘97

For more information contact: Dawn Perrin / 513.558.2304 / dawn.perrin@uc.edu

*You don’t need to be an alum to participate.

President's Dinner

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:20:02 -0400

The dinner was hosted by President and Mrs. Gregory Williams to recognize friends and supporters of the UC College of Medicine Scholarship Campaign. The event was used as a means to connect scholarship recipients with their donors. People who attended were students, donors, alumni, deans of the college and staff.

The last photo shows my parents with Chad, the recipient of the Neal Aquino Scholarship.

A letter from the first recipient of Neal’s Scholarship.

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:12:00 -0400

A letter from the first recipient of Neal’s Scholarship.

"I was walking through the academic offices for Emergency Medicine today and someone had cut out the..."

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:00:07 -0400

“I was walking through the academic offices for Emergency Medicine today and someone had cut out the Findings article and posted it on their bulletin board!”

Dr. Neal J. Aquino Class of 2001 Memorial Scholarship

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:59:04 -0400

Scholarship in Memory of Student to Help Others Reach ‘Full Potential’

By Angela Koenig
Published March 2011

When Alumni Weekend takes place May 13-15, 2011, an alum from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine will be noticeably absent, and dearly missed: Neal Aquino, MD, who passed away from surgical complications in 2007.

To honor Aquino’s memory and his affinity for his alma mater, his family—Nestor Aquino, MD, a Cincinnati anesthesiologist, his mother, Althea, and sister, Aileen—have seeded a scholarship fund in Neal’s name with $50,000 to assist other aspiring physicians with the cost of attending the UC College of Medicine.

When asked to put into words what the College of Medicine meant to her brother, Aileen Aquino eloquently wrote, “From a young age, Neal Aquino knew he wanted to be a doctor. He made many decisions to get him closer to this goal. Neal always had such a fondness for Cincinnati and never pictured himself living anywhere else. Because of this, he wanted to have the most important foundation of his future career come from the prestigious University of Cincinnati Medical School. The years he spent at UC in medical school were some of the best, most challenging, yet truly rewarding experiences in his life. One of Neal’s wishes would, no doubt, be to help someone else have the opportunity to share in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Aquino’s was indeed a lifetime of great experiences, even before medical school. This brilliant young man began reading at the age of 3, skipped two grades at Covington Latin School and earned double degrees (and two minors) from Xavier University before enrolling in medical school at age 20.

He was among the youngest medical students to ever enroll at UC and the youngest in his class to receive his White Coat, a symbolic welcome to medical school bestowed on all incoming students.

He was also a member of the high IQ society Mensa, an elite group of persons who have attained a score within the upper two percent of the general population.

Aquino strove hard to become a great doctor, but he also had a zest for life and great balance with his other interests.

He traveled extensively—to over 20 countries—loved exotic foods, collected eclectic art, had a fantastic sense of humor, loved interacting with people and enjoyed many sports, a few of which included scuba diving, tennis, golf, biking and running.

His favorite race was Cincinnati’s Thanksgiving Day Race, which his family and friends continue to participate in as a tribute to Aquino’s vibrant personality. After his 2001 graduation from medical school, he completed his emergency medicine residency at Summa Health System Akron, Ohio and then returned to his beloved Cincinnati to work in emergency departments at Mercy Health Systems and Good Samaritan Hospital.

Aquino made such an impact at Summa, that the emergency department there established the Neal Aquino Intern Book Fund to help students purchase costly textbooks.
The ER staff at Mercy Western Hills created a plaque and a mural made up of stories and photos of him.

This way, they are able to be inspired by Aquino and feel like he is still there with them.

The “Dr. Neal J. Aquino Class of 2001 Memorial Scholarship”, says his father, is another symbolic and lasting way to honor his son’s choice of medical schools.

“Neal was so proud to be at UC and with all of the people he was associated with there,” he adds.

While some contributions have already come in from the class of 2001 and the UC Health department of emergency medicine, his family hopes the fund will grow to be self-sustaining, with the first scholarship to be awarded this year.

“Our wish is to keep Neal’s memory alive by helping exceptional students reach their full potential and, like Neal, achieve their goals,” he says.

For more information on how to contribute contact Dawn Perrin, director of development/educational initiatives, at (513) 558-2304 or email her at dawn.perrin@uc.edu.

August 27 & 28, 2010

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:05:15 -0400

When James and I were planning our wedding, there was one venue that we really liked for our reception. They only had one day available for us and it happened to fall the day after Neal’s death anniversary. I couldn’t decide how I felt about this. In the end we determined that it was going to be good. Every year as we remember Neal and feel the sadness and loss that doesn’t seem to diminish, the next day we can celebrate something happy and be thankful for this new life we’ve started together.

We planned to have all the events in and around Neal’s condo, to really include him on this important day. The rehearsal dinner was in his condo building and continued up to the roof garden. The Reds happened to be playing and got a few home runs and actually won the game. It was almost as if we planned to have fireworks going off throughout the night.

The ladies got ready in Neal’s condo. It was really important for me to be close to my big brother on my wedding day.

The program explained: The candle and flowers to the right of the altar are in memory of Neal Joseph Aquino, brother of the bride. He is with us today in spirit and remains in our hearts forever.

Also, at the very beginning of the ceremony, Father Casey said a few words about Neal to our friends and family. “Today, we have come together to celebrate the love of these two people and the life they are building together. In times like these it can be more important than ever to honor love and family. I know Aileen’s brother, Neal, would have been so happy to see James find the love he has with his little sister, Aileen. He would want to see all of us happy, celebrating and full of joy. So today, let’s remember how precious life is, and be thankful that Aileen and James are creating a new family together. The candle in front of Mary is Neal’s light shining on this special day.”

Right before I walked down the aisle, I showed my dad the photo of Neal on my wedding bouquet.

Lifeline of Ohio Candlelight Vigil

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:00:06 -0400

April 11, 2010

The vigil was designed to provide hope to those waiting for a chance to “shine on” with a lifesaving organ transplant, remembrance for those who “shine on” through the gifts they gave as organ and tissue donors, and celebration for transplant recipients who continue to “shine on” with a second chance at life.

The annual event was moved to the statehouse to accommodate the large number of attendees expected. It also gave Lifeline an opportunity to include the general public in this special event celebrating Donate Life Month and to encourage Ohioans to consider becoming organ and tissue donors.

…………………………………………………

Update

On June 30, 2010 Guinness World Records™ confirmed that Lifeline of Ohio’s Candlelight Vigil of Hope, Remembrance and Celebration held April 11, 2010 at The Ohio Statehouse, won a Guinness World Record™!

Guinness certified that 1,262 candles were successfully lit at the vigil, a new world record for ‘most candles lit simultaneously in a single venue.’ The event, held during Donate Life Month and coinciding with Lifeline of Ohio’s 25th anniversary celebration, was designed to provide hope to those waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, remembrance for organ and tissue donors, and celebration for transplant recipients who received a second chance at life.

Lifeline of Ohio Candlelight Vigil

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:00:07 -0400

April 11, 2010

During the day there were presentations and time for the different families to meet one another and share their stories.

Lifeline of Ohio Candlelight Vigil

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 10:00:06 -0400

April 11, 2010.

Honoring those who made the decision to give life when leaving their own, the Lifeline of Ohio Donor Memorial Quilts connect the past to the present.

Each panel memorializes the individuals who have passed on the “Gift of Life” to others through the medical miracle of transplantation. Each “memory square” is a tribute to the altruistic human spirit that embodies organ and tissue donation.

In the weeks leading up to this event, donor families were asked if they wanted to create a quilt square for their loved one. These new squares will eventually be joined together and displayed around the city. In the photos above, you can see examples of quilts from past years.

Lifeline of Ohio Candlelight Vigil

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 07:34:36 -0400

On April 11, 2010, Lifeline of Ohio attempted the Guiness World Record for most candles lit simultaneously in a single venue in an effort to shed light on the need for organ and tissue donors. The attempt was part of Lifeline’s annual Candlelight Vigil of Hope, Remembrance and Celebration.

While in Columbus for the event, my parents took a walk over to Lifeline’s Donor Memorial Park to see the brick they made for Neal. We had to be creative to fit in everything we wanted to say. “Kuya” is a Filipino term that is used as a sign of respect to an older male relative, such as a brother.

Happy 33rd Birthday Neal!

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:01:43 -0400

There were so many people at the race that it took us forever to...

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:31:28 -0500

There were so many people at the race that it took us forever to get to the start line. There were quite a few people running for Neal, unfortunately, we were unable to meet up. Someone heard the announcer yell out “Neal Aquino!” He must have read one of our shirts as we ran past. It was a good day for a run and always a great race because it was Neal’s favorite.

I decided to make shirts for the 100th Turkey Day Race. It was...

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:28:17 -0500

I decided to make shirts for the 100th Turkey Day Race. It was quite an ordeal because the tshirt company I chose to work with were horrible (never ever use Image Ink in Columbia, SC). They didn’t get the shirts completed in time and when they did “complete” them they were done very poorly. It was very upsetting considering they were for a specific date and to remember Neal. Overall I think the design turned out well and I now know not to use this company again.

A Long Promised Note

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:47:00 -0500

We hardly knew Neal except for the occasional “hi” and “Kamusta” in the parking lot and elevator of Park Place. We also sometimes ran into him around downtown Cincinnati. We knew him as the only other Filipino living in Park Place and that was all it took for us to say he is special.

We knew that he was an ER doctor, looking very free spirited with his convertible and was always smiling…who wouldn’t? Life is good. Living in Park Place is great. Nice car. Single. A good profession. He had a whole life ahead of him.

We were so shocked when we got the news of his passing. Immediately, the thought that ran into our minds is life is fragile. Life as we know it could change in an instant…and without any warning, without us doing anything wrong. And the tough part is that there’s nothing we can do to put it back where it was…even how it was one minute ago!

The fragility of life became more pronounced for us as we just came face-to-face with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease for the first time in our lives when we heard about Neal. We were moving Benedict’s dad to a nursing home and all that he could take/need is one week worth of clothing…most of which were pajamas. It really made us think about what is truly important in life. All the material things that we accumulate mean nothing at the end of life’s journey. All you have is your naked self in front of our Creator.

Neal will never know that even just the news of his passing to another life had a major impact in our lives. But that’s okay. We are still grateful that he came our way. It’s just like the saints who influenced millions of people unknown to them even centuries after they passed away. St. Therese of Lisieux wrote a diary that has changed the lives of many including our very own. St. Therese will never know us (at least in our earthly life) …just like Neal. We are, however, forever grateful for what they have shown us in their lifetime. They lived short but meaningful lives.

We have taken a faith journey after we left Park Place. In a way, we came and left Park Place at the same time. We both came with a lot of excitement. And, I would like to think that we both left to be with our Creator.

So, to our special Filipino neighbor, Neal…see you in the next life. In case you see Jesus, say hi for us! We’ll do the same for you…we’ll smile and say hi to people we meet along the way…we’ll bring to them the spirit of jolly Neal.

Kudos to a life well lived!

Benedict and Grace Lenon

. . . . . .

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:53:00 -0500

I had the great pleasure of meeting my new neighbors today, the Aquinos. This was incredibly special as Neal worked with me on one of my first research projects as an attending at UC. It brought back so many good memories of our brief time together. I always knew Neal would choose Emergency Medicine as a specialty as he had the perfect “make-up” for the specialty. Neal is missed by many, but is always in our thoughts.

Rick Ryan

Thank you again to all of you who donated money during the...

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:39:58 -0400

Thank you again to all of you who donated money during the Thanksgiving Day Race / Neal Shirt 2008. Above is a letter I just recently received from Summa’s Emergency Department in response to these donations to the Neal Aquino Book Fund.

100th Annual Thanksgiving Day Race is quickly approaching...

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:56:14 -0400

100th Annual Thanksgiving Day Race is quickly approaching …

Hello all!
It’s almost that time of year again…the time of pumpkins, turkey and running! This year is the big 100 year anniversary of the turkey day race, Neal’s favorite race to run. I was planning to design Neal t-shirts again, but wanted to see how many people would be interested in ordering a shirt? If you are interested in a shirt please send an email to nealaquino@gmail.com! Remember, you don’t have to run the race to order a shirt!