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CMSRU students rally behind a beloved community member

May 4

If you’ve walked through the Stat Cafe over the last three years, you’ve likely been greeted by Jeannine Smith, known affectionately to everyone as “Bean.” She is more than a food service professional; she is a pillar of our community, a “cool mom” to hundreds of future physicians, and a tireless advocate for those without a voice.

This past week, however, the cafe was a little quieter. Bean faced the sudden and heartbreaking loss of her loyal companion, Gracie, a 16-year-old West Highland White Terrier who had been by her side through every high and low for nearly two decades. The loss of a pet is a profound grief, and Bean found herself at a crossroads, considering staying home to mourn her loss. But when she arrived at work the next day, she found that her CMSRU family had been busy. Within just 24 hours of hearing the news, the Class of 2029 (M1s) and the Class of 2028 (M2s) mobilized. When Bean walked in, she was met not with the usual rush for coffee, but with a tidal wave of love: a beautiful arrangement of flowers and a card overflowing with signatures and personal notes from students.A collage of Jeannine Smith and her dog, Gracie

“Dear Bean, We are thinking about you today as you say goodbye to Gracie. Thank you for sharing your stories and pictures as we walk by. One day, you and Gracie will meet again. May the love that you showed her and share with our class bring you comfort and peace, and may the memories bring you joy.”

A Lifelong Passion for Rescue

For those who know Bean’s history, this connection to Gracie is deep-seated. A few years ago, a Humans of CMSRU feature highlighted Bean’s incredible dedication to animal welfare. She has fostered 11 Pitbulls at once and is a fierce advocate for small dogs. Bean spends her weekends volunteering for MatchDog Rescue, a South Jersey organization that rescues dogs from high-kill shelters—bringing them up from the border of Mexico and Texas to find their forever homes. As Bean once said:

“If I believe in it, I'll fight tooth and nail to make it right. I'll fight for my children, my grandchildren, my friends, and the animals that need me.”

Cultivating Compassionate Leaders

At CMSRU, we talk a lot about “humanism in medicine.” Usually, we discuss it in the context of a bedside manner or a patient interaction. But true leadership and compassion start at home, within our own hallways. The efforts made by the M1 and M2 classes exemplify the type of physicians they are striving to become: leaders who are attentive to the pain in their community, who value every individual, and who understand that empathy is the most powerful tool in a doctor's toolkit. Essential members of our community, like Bean, are the glue that holds CMSRU together. They nourish our bodies and our spirits, and it is a privilege to see our students return that same nourishment when it is needed most.

A Message from “Bean”

“I want to thank all of the future doctors that I have met working at CMSRU. It is my pleasure to have met and served you. You made it so interesting and a pleasure getting to know all of you. I am honored that you wanted to learn about my life; I hope to see you all again next year and to keep meeting the Doctors of the Future!"

In honor of Gracie’s memory and Bean’s tireless work, we invite the community to learn more about MatchDog Rescue. MatchDog is a foster-based community dedicated to saving abandoned dogs of all ages from unwarranted euthanasia.