Leadership Spotlight: Trustee Advisory Board Vice Chair Sidney Queler
As vice chair of the Trustee Advisory Board, Sidney “Sid” Queler has a long history with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. First involved with the institution’s Marketing Committee, he was appointed to the Board of Overseers in 2006. Today, as vice chair of the Trustee Advisory Board, he remains an integral part of BIDMC’s leadership, serving on three committees: the Marketing Committee, the Foundation, and the Director-Trustee Nominating Committee. Get to know Sid and what drives his ongoing dedication to BIDMC.
What does BIDMC mean to you?
Back in 1981, my father faced a near-death experience and was admitted to the Beth Israel Hospital for 18 days. Since then, I have always had tremendous respect for and loyalty to the institution. After my father came home, we kept hearing the stories about how the hospital helped my father. In fact, my mother always says that if it wasn’t for the BI, he wouldn’t be here with us today. He recently turned 80 and is doing well. So I had a very personal connection with the Beth Israel brand early on in my life. Today I am fortunate to give back to this institution that gave me and my family so much.
How did you first become involved with BIDMC, more than a decade ago?
I initially became involved in 2004 with the medical center’s marketing efforts. At the time, one of my mentors [Director Emeritus] Ed Rudman asked me if I was interested in getting involved with the medical center. I was not quite sure what to expect so we had a very long conversation about it—and I enthusiastically agreed to get involved! Looking back, it was one of the best decisions of my life. Eventually I was named vice chair and then chair of the Board of Overseers, which was such an honor. After my term as overseer had ended, I remember receiving a call from [Board of Directors Vice Chair] Tom DeSimone. He wanted to know if I would consider joining the Trustee Advisory Board. It was an easy decision to make and of course I accepted.
And what has kept you engaged with BIDMC all these years, as your role has continued to grow?
The field of health care has evolved significantly, and I have been so impressed with BIDMC’s ability to adapt to this ever-changing environment. I am confident that Beth Israel Lahey Health and BIDMC are positioned for continued success under the leadership of Dr. Kevin Tabb and Pete Healy. In my opinion, the medical center has always been a dynamic place whose main goal it is to stay ahead of curve in every aspect of health care. And that’s what allows it to deliver the best solutions in the region for patients and families. What has kept me deeply involved is this dynamic, ever-evolving atmosphere. There is always something new to dig into—it’s been an extraordinary journey, and I want to contribute in any way I can.
What do you enjoy most about your work with BIDMC? What makes the medical center special?
That’s a tough question, because I enjoy everything about BIDMC! Seeing the evolution of the medical center has been something special. But what I enjoy most is working with the people of BIDMC. Whether it’s the employees, leadership, doctors and staff, or board members, we all share a common purpose: to provide the best patient care. There are very few egos, because it’s not about us, it’s about the patient. We are all on the same page about that. The people make the hospital special.
You have been instrumental in referring people whom you have met through your work to become involved at BIDMC. What’s your secret?
I am equally passionate about my work as I am about the medical center. And I am lucky enough to be in a career where the two worlds often collide. Any opportunity that I get to discuss BIDMC, I take. I have found that people want to be involved with a winning team, and BIDMC is the definition of a winning team. Introducing the medical center is always a very pleasant conversation. Generally, people want to help and find a cause that they are passionate about. Health care trends, technology, biomedical research—those are topics that seem to be interesting to everyone.
Why is philanthropy important to you?
In my opinion, philanthropy provides opportunity. Being philanthropic is about having genuine concern for human welfare and advancement. It’s very personal. Philanthropy to our hospital can expand and improve our physical footprint, help us invest in world-class technology and systems, and enable us to retain and attract top talent. It allows us the opportunity to continue providing the best health care experience to our patients and employees.
What are you passionate about?
My family is my greatest passion in life. I have been married to my wife, Terri, for 23 years, and we have three children: Allie, Hailey, and Jack. All three of my children were born at BIDMC. I travel a lot for work, so the vast majority of my time outside work is spent enjoying my family. In addition, I love to coach hockey and lacrosse, play golf, and study the history of the financial markets.
You have been very successful in your career. To what do you attribute that?
I look at my professional work at CIBC as similar to the role of medical center. It’s about helping people and making a difference in people’s lives. Health care and wealth management are different industries, so the work varies—but in many ways it’s similar. At the medical center, we work on preventing and treating illnesses by conducting groundbreaking research and providing world class care. At CIBC, my team creates personalized solutions to help people achieve their financial goals and objectives, establish a family legacy, and plan for their future. In both instances, we are helping people change their lives for the better, something that I am very proud of and do not take for granted.