Three Winners At This Year’s Dancing With The Docs

MASHPEE – Bigger than ever, the 2019 version of Dancing With the Docs attracted a crowd of 500, twice the size of the first two shows.

At night’s end, three prizes were awarded. Drumroll, please …

Mary-Amanda O’Neill, MD, won the Medicine Ball Trophy, chosen by a panel of judges.
Karen Monaghan, MD, was named CWC Community Hero, determined by the highest total of pledged contributions.
Alanna Coolong, MD, won the People’s Choice Award, determined by the number of text votes.
The event raises funds for Cape Wellness Collaborative (CWC), a local nonprofit that gives free complementary, integrative therapies (including massage, acupuncture, reiki and nutrition counseling) to people with cancer. Since 2015, CWC has distributed over $186,000 helping 520 Cape cancer patients.
This year’s competitors were:

• Richard Angelo, MD, obstetrician and gynecologist (swing, Alisha Semprini Kelly)
• Alanna Coolong, MD, interventional cardiologist (waltz, David Troutman)
• Kathryn Hughes, MD, surgeon (West Coast swing, Rebecca Terkelsen)
• Leslie Max, MD, pathologist (salsa, John Vazquez)
• Karen Monaghan, MD, hospitalist (foxtrot, Doug McHugh)
• Mary-Amanda O’Neill, MD, hospitalist (contemporary/hip-hop, Jonathan “JT” Thompson)
• Mathew Pulicken, MD, neurologist (samba, Kimberlee McHugh)
• Dana Zweig, MD, family medicine (cha cha, Brandon Simmons)

“I was extremely surprised to win,” said Dr. O’Neill. She and Thompson danced to a funk and hip-hop medley that included “Jump” by Kriss Kross, “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa, “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer and “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice
“At the dress rehearsal, it was a very even crowd of phenomenal competitors. Everyone nailed their routine. I was so nervous tonight but cheering for the others helped break the spell.
“I am amazed at the goodwill of this organization and the dedication of the people who are propelling it forward. It’s a small army of people working toward a common goal.”
She and fellow hospitalist Dr. Monaghan share an office at Cape Cod Hospital. “The fact that we’re going home with two awards is awesome,” said Dr. O’Neill.
Dr. Coolong said she couldn’t have won her award without her family’s support. “My sons deserve an award for being patient about me being away from them for rehearsals,” she said.
“Season 3” of Dancing with the Docs took place on Feb. 9 at the Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis.
Auction items included Red Sox opening day tickets, a luxury Bahamas vacation at Abaco Club and a package of gift certificates to a dozen Cape Cod restaurants.
The auction started with the chance to claim a seat at the judges table. One of last year’s dancing doctors, Clara E. Mesonero, MD, won the auction. She joined entertainer Anita Cocktail, dance instructor Adam Spencer and Patrick Kane, Cape Cod Healthcare senior vice president, Communications and Business Development, on the judges panel.
For more information about Dancing with the Docs Cape Cod, visit the event’s web site or Facebook page.
For more photos of the event, visit the websites of Organic Photography and Michael & Suz Karchmer.