Southern Regional Medical Center's Soldier of Hope, Faith and Medicine
by Amanda Bartlett

The Warriors Ethos: I will Always Place the Mission First!
FOR DR. SANDEA GREENE-HARRIS OF SOUTHERN CRESCENT NEUROSURGERY AND SPINE, THAT MISSION IS HEALING. WHETHER SHE’S WORKING IN HER RIVERDALE PRACTICE OR SERVING ON A TOUR OF DUTY OVERSEAS IN IRAQ, GREENE-HARRIS NEVER STOPS ON HER JOURNEY TO FULFILL HER LIFE’S PURPOSE: TO HEAL AND PROVIDE COMFORT TO PATIENTS.

On Nov. 7, Greene-Harris returned to her Riverdale practice after her second tour of duty in Iraq. During her 90-day deployment, she served as the war theater consultant for neurosurgery and spine and was responsible for the neurosurgical care and consultation of the 40,000 troops stationed there.

“Serving as a neurosurgeon in this capacity provides me with one more opportunity to provide medical care in a kind and compassionate manner,” Greene-Harris said. “If there’s ever a scared and confused patient, it is the 20-something-year-old soldier who has just been severely injured in the line of duty. The soldiers I helped are now home with their families, neurologically intact.”

The most difficult part of Greene-Harris’ job is when she encounters patients with brain cancer, a spinal cord injury or family members of someone who has died tragically. She found herself often asking, “Why?” and found her answer in a book recommended by one of her patients which suggests once people finish their life’s missions on earth, they return to heaven.

“Now when I am involved in the care of someone with a devastating diagnosis, I always inquire about that person’s life before the illness,” Greene-Harris said. “Sometimes the families ‘get it’ and sometimes they don’t, but at least I am able to provide some level of comfort.”

Greene-Harris’ passion for providing comfort to families facing a difficult situation stems from one of her own experiences. During her first year of college, Greene-Harris’ father died of colon cancer. It was her interaction with her father’s physicians and surgeons that made it the greatest impact on her life and her decision to become a doctor.

“Unfortunately, it is the one negative interaction that has stuck with me,” Greene-Harris said. “We often take for granted the impact that bedside manner has on patients and their families. It was at that moment, I vowed to never let that happen to another scared and confused family.”

“Just looking at the odds of me becoming a physician and a neurosurgeon: an African American female born to two handicapped (blind) parents with limited resources, I know there had to be some kind of calling on my life,” Greene-Harris said. “I don’t take this opportunity for granted.”

“Unfortunately, it is the one negative interaction that has stuck with me,” Greene-Harris said. “We often take for granted the impact that bedside manner has on patients and their families. It was at that moment, I vowed to never let that happen to another scared and confused family.”

“Just looking at the odds of me becoming a physician and a neurosurgeon: an African American female born to two handicapped (blind) parents with limited resources, I know there had to be some kind of calling on my life,” Greene-Harris said. “I don’t take this opportunity for granted.”