News

Contact: Lauren Brendel, M.S.

BOZEMAN, MT [October 14, 2020] -- The Montana Hospital Association (MHA) has awarded its 2020 Caregiver of the Year award to our very own Dr. Christopher Nero. This distinguished award recognizes a caregiver who, on a daily basis, demonstrates extraordinary commitment to the delivery of care, addressing and meeting the overall health and wellness needs of hospital staff, patients, caregivers and the communities they serve. Dr. Nero is a pathologist at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital who continuously demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the individual patients that he serves as well to the quality and safety of healthcare available to all patients.

Dr. Nero is known for being a truly caring, thoughtful, and intelligent physician and while most pathologists typically practice their medicine behind the scenes, Dr. Nero has always "stepped up" to meet the challenges of providing quality pathology services for each individual patient, whether he is directly involved in their care or simply assuring the best testing is available. His peers recognize him as an excellent communicator who is cognizant of what it takes to be a leader.

Says Dr. Kathryn Bertany, president, Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital and Big Sky Medical Center, “Despite the countless long hours and stressful demands of the pandemic, when I, as a pediatric hospitalist, was caring for a teenager in the ER with low white blood cell and platelet counts, Dr. Nero came into the lab, at 3 a.m., without hesitation, to review blood smear slides under the microscope with me. His findings were reassuring to the patient and her family and provided pivotal information to assist in determining next steps for her care.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic reached Southwest Montana, Dr. Nero has devoted countless hours to research and consultation to quickly establish molecular diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus. He’s been instrumental in establishing our COVID-19 research and testing collaboration with Montana State University (MSU), and when testing supplies were low, Dr. Nero partnered with MSU researchers to develop test kits and transport media options. His dedication and efforts have resulted in accurate, rapid SARS-CoV-2 testing in Bozeman benefiting patients, their families, the public health of our community, as well as critical research.

Dr. Nero completed fellowships in both surgical and molecular genetic pathology. His molecular pathology expertise has helped advance infectious disease and cancer molecular testing capabilities in Bozeman. The ability to test patients with blood and solid tumor malignancies for molecular abnormalities allows physicians to better guide treatment and improve outcomes for patients. Molecular-based microbiology tests are easier, faster, and more accurate tests for many infections. Dr. Nero relentlessly keeps up with current literature and laboratory testing guidelines and has led Bozeman Health’s lab to be on the cutting edge of available diagnostics to offer the most up-to-date, evidence-based tests to patients.

Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Nero on this well-deserved honor!