Dee Dee Franke comes back to GBMC
Breaking news for all the moms who have been lamenting the departure of moms-group leader Dee Dee Franke from Greater Baltimore Medical Center:
She's coming back.
Franke, you'll remember, resigned recently after running groups for new moms at the hospital for years. She told me GBMC wanted to reduce her hours to only four a week, and that she needed more hours than that.
Michael Schwartzberg, a spokesman for GBMC, called today and said Franke and the hospital have worked things out, and that she'll be returning to run her groups. He also said the groups will be able to run longer than two hours each, which had been a point of contention.
Franke's Tuesday group, for parents of babies up to 8 weeks old, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's free. Her Friday group, for parents of children up to 1 year old, will meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and costs $6 a class.
Franke will also resume running a free group for women with post-partum depression every first and third Monday of the month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Franke said she'll be back to run this Friday's group. Then she's going on vacation for a week, and after that will be running all three groups again.
"I am overjoyed to be a part of working with new mothers and babies again," she told me. "It's a neat job to see moms come in very vulnerable, and come out ready to grow."
Comments
Yay!!!!!! Thanks, Kate, for helping get the word out. This is a wonderful thing for all future Charm City Moms in need of support!
Posted by: Baltomommie | July 23, 2008 4:06 PM
That is awesome!!! Thanks Kate for putting the issue out there. It takes a village...
Posted by: Katie M. | July 23, 2008 4:49 PM
Thank you, thank you!
Posted by: Annelies | July 23, 2008 6:22 PM
Great news!! I hope GBMC is treat her well this time. Do you know about the others?
I'm told this is the only change at the moment.
Posted by: Yuan | July 23, 2008 8:59 PM
This is such a relief! Thanks to Kate for the article and thanks to everyone continuing to leave comments, harass GBMC with their letters to the CEO, etc.!!! YEAH!!!!
Posted by: Jenn R. | July 24, 2008 9:26 AM
Thank goodness she's back. She is a tremendous resource. She made me a better mom.
Posted by: leeann | July 24, 2008 10:27 AM
As a mom currently with a new baby this news is tremendous relief. Dee Dee does such a great job with the groups. GBMC is lucky to have her!
Posted by: Kim | July 24, 2008 2:50 PM
Now if only they could clone Dee Dee!
Posted by: Dahlink | July 25, 2008 5:24 PM
What a gift to have the Baby Whisperer continue her precious work with moms! Her ability to help with newborns most certainly makes a difference in the world. I know I'm a better mother because of her. GBMC was crazy to let her leave at all! Thanks Kate for the extra help.
Posted by: Cathryn Lee | July 27, 2008 10:38 PM
This has got to be the best news this week. I can't wait for next Friday! Dee Dee here we come...
Posted by: Jodi Lutz | July 30, 2008 8:01 PM
I work at GBMC. You ladies went over the deep end with this whole Lactation Station thing. There's no need to harass the CEO. Get over yourselves.
Posted by: Michelle | August 2, 2008 11:04 PM
Obviously, Michelle, you haven't benefitted from the Lactation Station and DeeDee Franke as much as some women have. Your comment is baseless unless you can put yourself in their situation. And I know for a fact that public awareness and reaction over the situation (which includes letters addressed to the CEO at GBMC) was the foundation for DeeDee being rehired.
Posted by: Kelly | August 8, 2008 1:01 PM