Al Finelli
“After a long battle with lymphoma, I became a survivor. Now I serve the hospital that saved my life, and I hope to continue to do that for as long as I can.”
Al Finelli served two enlistments in the US Air Force, including a deployment to the Middle East with Operation Enduring Freedom. But his biggest battle was fought against a very aggressive type of cancer. Al endured intense and lengthy regimens of chemo, radiation and a bone marrow transplant. He credits many heroes for his personal victory against cancer. First, Danielle, his wife of 35 years, who is an Operations Manager in charge of Talent Acquisition at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Next, his two adult sons, who stayed by him throughout his ordeal. Not least, he is grateful to the Jefferson Health Care Team in Center City Philadelphia. In fact, he now works alongside them, applying his empathy to a role leading patient experience and services in the Center City ER. He and his family love traveling, the shore, and their enormous Brown Newfoundland survival dog, Breeze.
WHO ARE YOUR LOCAL HEROES?
“This AMAZING Jefferson Health Care Team right here in CC!”
WHO WOULD BE YOUR EVERYDAY GENIUS NOMINATION?
“Jason Smith MBA, RN, BSN, NE-BC Nurse Manager Emergency Department. Jason came on board just a couple of months before the world wide pandemic hit our community. Jason has done an incredible job working tirelessly in leading and supporting our ER team, as well as working side by side with them on the frontlines. Equally impressive, Jason's leadership preserved our team's safety and clinical success, this for our patient's as well. While I'm very proud to serve our ER, that is second to none, I am extremely grateful for the dynamic leadership Jason has lead here with!”
Biography:
Al Finelli is responsible for the patient experience and services in our Center City ER. 9 years ago he became a survivor at Jefferson after a long battle with a very aggressive type of Lymphoma. He endured intense and lengthy regiments of Chemo, Radiation and a Bone Marrow Transplant in the process of becoming a survivor. My wife, Danielle of 35 years (still the most beautiful person I see everyday) and our two son's, now 26 and 24 were my HEROES during my fight! Prior to this period in my life, I've served two enlistments in the USAF. In my second term I proudly deployed to the Middle East serving Operation Enduring Freedom. I am a "big dog" lover, I have a 190 pound Brown Newfoundland, my survival dog, Breeze turns 9 next month. My family and I love the shore and traveling. I hope to continue to serve the hospital that saved my life for as long as I can.