From left, Camilia Fuentes, Hakima Aouchiche, MD, and Sonia Giannattasio.
Hakima Aouchiche, MD, is beloved by patients and their families at Mount Sinai Queens, even though she sometimes attends to them at a difficult time—the end of life. Dr. Aouchiche is a critical care intensivist, a physician certified to care for critically ill patients. Caryn A. Schwab, Executive Director of Mount Sinai Queens, frequently gets letters of appreciation from patients and families, but she was impressed by receiving three heartfelt letters about Dr. Aouchiche in the span of three months. “That is remarkable,” she says.
Carly Grant, whose father passed away in April, wrote that Dr. Aouchiche changed her life. “Her encouragement helped me be brave,” says Carly, who called Dr. Aouchiche “a gift, an angel, and a friend for life.”
Camilia Fuentes wrote, “From the very beginning, when my mother was in the Emergency Room, Dr. Aouchiche addressed our family with love and understanding while delivering top-notch medical care. She provided a ray of light to keep us grounded, and her generosity will never be forgotten.”
Dr. Aouchiche attended to Sonia Giannattasio’s grandfather, and made a great impact on his family. “Never have we established a rapport with a doctor like Dr. Aouchiche. Her compassion was evident from the first encounter with our family. She was genuine, selfless, and humble. She was our security blanket and our saint.”
Dr. Aouchiche says these warm words from patients keep her motivated. “We learn from each other, support each other, and care for each other. We are like family, and forever friends.