Dear Sean,
I write this with deep sorrow and tears.
You have been an incredible mentor to me, and the world is simply a dimmer place without you.
You were truly one of the kindest individuals I have ever had the honor of knowing.
Thank you for the life-saving work you dedicated yourself to, you have impacted countless lives…
Thank you for hiring me to join your project, now over a decade ago, when I had just graduated - you took a chance and gave me my first professional job…
Thank you for coaching me on a bus to Pennsylvania in preparation for my first big in-person presentation with state leads…
Thank you for giving me my very first opportunity to be first author on a manuscript for your project…
Thank you for helping me to write my first abstract for a poster presentation…
Thank you for telling me I should always speak up in meetings because my perspective had value…
Thank you for flying to Atlanta to simply stand in support, as I presented at the SHEA conference on data for your project…
Thank you for being the first person to call when you heard I was carjacked to ensure I was fine…
Thank you for the experiences shadowing you in the ICU and OR…
Thank you for taking time to walk with me across the entire medical campus to show me where that one salad bar was located…
Thank you for your numerous letters of support over the years…
Thank you for teaching me to navigate challenges with humor and grace, using an AFLL perspective when Murphy’s Law is in full effect…
Thank you for skipping a federal government meeting to attend my dissertation defense…
Thank you for your willingness to serve as my senior advisor on my first grant application…
Thank you for inspiring me with your humility…
Thank you for the substantial impact you have had on shaping my thinking and actions…
There is so much more…thank you for being you.
It has been an extraordinary privilege to know and learn from you. Your mentorship has enriched my life beyond measure, and my world is exponentially better because of your investment in me.
You will be profoundly missed.
Rest in peace.
- Kisha Ali, 4/21/2024
Dr. Berenholtz had a significant impact on my journey through anesthesia residency and critical care fellowship. I remember numerous distinct conversations with him about the choice of critical care, his balance of work and family, and so many memorable clinical stories (one morning he walks up to me after an especially challenging overnight call and said “looks like that was the worst night EVER!”; his stories about how in the “old days” he would sample a patient’s sinuses with a 16 gauge needle through the face! And his encouraging words during our fellowship graduation dinner “it was a pleasure to watch you grow over these few years”) I regret that I wasn’t able to post these thoughts before today, but hopefully I can add to the chorus of friends and students in saying that he had the most impactful life, and his teaching, grace, and humanism will continue to reverberate into the future. Rest in peace, Dr. Berenholtz.
I have so many memories thru the years. He was always so giving, collaborative, thoughtful and oh so caring. He was WICU family and someone I could call friend. He will truly be missed but what he taught us will go on because of how many people he touched in his life. Rest in peace Sean.
“Forever in my heart”. Precious memories to last a lifetime ~ your impact has been felt around the world. What an honor to call you friend. With gratitude…❤️
Dear Sean - you had a brilliant and nearly perfect life - you did important work with good people and had many people who loved you - it was just too short. You will live on in all of those many people
I write this with deep sorrow and tears.
You have been an incredible mentor to me, and the world is simply a dimmer place without you.
You were truly one of the kindest individuals I have ever had the honor of knowing.
Thank you for the life-saving work you dedicated yourself to, you have impacted countless lives…
Thank you for hiring me to join your project, now over a decade ago, when I had just graduated - you took a chance and gave me my first professional job…
Thank you for coaching me on a bus to Pennsylvania in preparation for my first big in-person presentation with state leads…
Thank you for giving me my very first opportunity to be first author on a manuscript for your project…
Thank you for helping me to write my first abstract for a poster presentation…
Thank you for telling me I should always speak up in meetings because my perspective had value…
Thank you for flying to Atlanta to simply stand in support, as I presented at the SHEA conference on data for your project…
Thank you for being the first person to call when you heard I was carjacked to ensure I was fine…
Thank you for the experiences shadowing you in the ICU and OR…
Thank you for taking time to walk with me across the entire medical campus to show me where that one salad bar was located…
Thank you for your numerous letters of support over the years…
Thank you for teaching me to navigate challenges with humor and grace, using an AFLL perspective when Murphy’s Law is in full effect…
Thank you for skipping a federal government meeting to attend my dissertation defense…
Thank you for your willingness to serve as my senior advisor on my first grant application…
Thank you for inspiring me with your humility…
Thank you for the substantial impact you have had on shaping my thinking and actions…
There is so much more…thank you for being you.
It has been an extraordinary privilege to know and learn from you. Your mentorship has enriched my life beyond measure, and my world is exponentially better because of your investment in me.
You will be profoundly missed.
Rest in peace.
- Kisha Ali, 4/21/2024