From Colleague to Patient
Familiar with the program’s reputation and her colleagues’ expertise, she never questioned where to have her surgery. Instead, she focused on selecting the surgeon who felt like the best personal fit.
Sheila Capasso
Confidence in Care: Why One Leader Chose Her Own Program
As director of surgical services at The Miriam Hospital, Sheila Capasso, RN, MSN, ACCNS-AG, CAPA, spends her days ensuring patients receive exceptional care. When hip pain began to interfere with her life, she trusted that same team with her own health and gained a powerful new perspective along the way.
An avid gardener and devoted grandmother who loves getting on the floor to play with her grandchildren, Capasso quickly felt how much hip pain limited both her work and the activities that brought her joy.
“I felt pretty sore going down and then getting back up without a stool in the garden,” said Capasso. “Now, I can get right in there on the ground and just dig away. On a Saturday a couple of weeks ago, I planted flowers and perennials, did a lot of weeding, cleaned up my yard, and I love that. Gardening for me is kind of like peace.”
In the months leading up to surgery, even simple tasks became difficult. “The few months before surgery, walking up and down the stairs was difficult,” she said. “Now, I have no problem with that. I really am back to physically utilizing that hip the way I had my own hip. I feel like I wouldn't even know I had an artificial hip unless somebody told me I had one.” Capasso underwent hip replacement surgery on December 4, 2025, with Eric Cohen, MD, program director of the Total Joint Center.
“We are a center of excellence for orthopedics, so I knew I could choose any hip and knee surgeon that works here and do well with them,” said Capasso of choosing Dr. Cohen as her surgeon. “I think his personality clicked more with my personality. From the very first moment I went to the office as a patient, he explained things to me as a patient, not as a nurse in the operating room at The Miriam Hospital who sees this day in and day out. He gave me the information that he would give any other patient, and that was very refreshing. I knew I was in good hands.”
Her recovery progressed smoothly, supported by coordinated care that extended beyond the hospital. Physical therapists visited her home multiple times a week, guiding her through exercises at her own pace and helping build confidence in her recovery.
The experience also gave Capasso a rare opportunity to see her department from the patient’s perspective. She attended preoperative education sessions and experienced firsthand the guidance staff provides every day.
“I knew I have a great staff,” she said. “But it was nice to be the patient and here they treated me as a patient.… I didn't get treated any differently than other patients that came through, which I thought was refreshing, that we do what we say we're going to do.”
For Capasso, Dr. Cohen’s communication style stood out as essential to her experience.
“You can have the best surgeon or best provider in the world, but if they can't talk to you, then they're not the best for you,” said Capasso. “I felt like he was honest, he was open, he was supportive.”
Today, Capasso has returned to her full routine at work, at home, and in her garden without the pain that once held her back.
“I feel great, and I'm very satisfied with my care,” said Capasso. “When I tell patients that we're a great hospital and that we give great care, I truly mean that—and I experienced it firsthand.”