After a series of life-threatening medical challenges, Mass Eye and Ear patient Mark Schreiber reveals how the expert care he received from Kevin Emerick, MD, not only helped save his life, but also inspired him to give back to others in a meaningful way.
Mark Schreiber woke up in a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) ICU recovery room in 2012 and felt a profound sense of relief. He had just undergone aortic valve replacement surgery, a procedure he knew came with a 2 to 3 percent chance of not waking up.
Six months after an arduous recovery, he went back to MGH for a routine cardioversion. The worst was supposed to be behind him now, but as he was walking from MGH to his car after the appointment, he received a phone call from his dermatologist with yet another severe blow: His recent biopsy showed that the skin cancer on his scalp had returned, now in an aggressive form that was potentially life threatening.
“I found out my skin cancer was back right after having my heart electronically stimulated,” Mark says. “I remember thinking, this doesn’t seem fair.”
The Turning Point
As a seasoned cybersecurity and privacy lawyer, Mark was no stranger to high-stakes crises. He has spent his career managing data breaches and privacy issues, often under intense pressure. He had originally battled skin cancer in 2006, which involved major surgery and radiation. The news of its return, while still grappling with the aftermath of heart surgery, felt like a cruel echo of past struggles that he found difficult to accept.
After another surgery, the surgeon’s assessment was sobering. “He told me that the cancer spread was too extensive,” Mark recalls. “It had invaded the nerves. He said he didn’t think he could get it all and shouldn’t do more. He then referred me to Dr. Kevin Emerick at Mass Eye and Ear.”
A New Perspective and Purpose
Dr. Emerick’s arrival in Mark’s life in mid-2013 was a beacon of hope. Mark was impressed and comforted by Dr. Emerick’s unwavering dedication, expertise and compassion. Together, they developed a plan to fight the cancer.
“The likelihood of my survival depended on getting to somebody like Dr. Emerick,” Mark says. “I was in the best hands in the country, if not the world, for this sort of thing.”
Several years later, after more surgeries and radiation, Mark’s condition stabilized, and he took on new projects. He also began to reflect on the profound second (or third) chance at life he had been given. He talked further with Dr. Emerick about what to do next.
“Back in those darker times, you find what you can hold onto to keep you going,” Mark says. “For me, I remember Dr. Emerick saying he was optimistic about my condition. Those words stuck with me and helped carry me through. Dr. Emerick motivated me to pay it forward once I was back on my feet.”
The Ripple Effect of Compassionate Care
With his health back, Mark accepted a new job in 2016 at another large law firm, McDermott Will & Emery, LLP where he manages cybersecurity, data breach response and global privacy coordination out of their Boston office. But even with all his new responsibilities, he still felt he needed to do more. His experience at Mass Eye and Ear and MGH inspired him to use his skills to make a broader impact.
Mark began pro bono work to help build volunteer cybersecurity forces for smaller entities that cannot afford extensive cyber protections, like rural hospitals or nonprofit organizations. He led a major study in 2023 to develop strategies for expanding and coordinating volunteer programs to improve cyber preparedness. The study was circulated at various U.S. government levels, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and helped the CISA shape strategies to support those smaller, more vulnerable organizations across the country. Mark also organized a pro bono project to assist several non-profits in providing free cyber security services to recipients.
“I owe Mass Eye and Ear and MGH my life,” Mark says. “I survived. I got more time to be with my family and to continue my work. I needed to do something more with it. I keep thinking that there still aren’t enough cyber security people doing this work – the research shows we need maybe a half a million more cybersecurity jobs, so I don’t think I’m quite done. But thankfully the work I and many others do has helped avoid some attacks and hopefully minimized other people’s distress.”
Today, at age 77, Mark continues his work at McDermott Will & Emery, alongside his pro bono work for small organizations. Beyond this, he has also become a philanthropic partner of Mass Eye and Ear. His annual giving advances the compassionate and innovative care that saved his life, helping to ensure that other patients receive that same level of care. Now a passionate advocate, he is creating an impactful legacy.
“Here I am after all of that … Dr. Emerick and his staff’s skills and compassion let me get this far,” Mark says, smiling. “Dr. Emerick thought I paid my dues long ago. I think I’m now getting closer to having paid my dues.”
