FORT GREENE — Coworkers and former patients of a Brooklyn Hospital dermatologist and mother of three found dead Sunday of an apparent drug overdose mourned the young doctor as a dedicated professional and a caring person.
"She was just a beautiful soul, her demeanor was beautiful," medical assistant Roxann Ramirez said of Kiersten Rickenbach Cerveny, 38, of Manhasset, who worked in the Willoughby Avenue offices until 2013. "She was like the sunlight of the office."
Medical assistant Sonia DeSilva said when she heard Cerveny's name as she walked into work Monday, she thought she had come for a visit.
"I thought she was here in the room and I said, 'Oh, she's here!’" DeSilva, a medical assistant, said, adding that she was heartbroken when she heard the news. "Unbelievable, the shock," said DeSilva.
Coworkers said Cerveny loved her job and her patients.
Dr. Buddhadev Manvar, a cardiologist who shared the 10th floor office area with her, said she built up the hospital's dermatology department after training in New Orleans, through her "outstanding dedication" and "quality work."
"She created a huge practice and she was so well-liked," he said. "She used to see almost 80 persons everyday, 70, 80 persons. I never saw something like this. She just loved what she was doing."
Cerveny was pronounced dead at Lenox Health Greenwich Village Sunday after being found that morning in the lobby of 223 W. 16th St., near Seventh Avenue, police said. Officials said they believe she died of an overdose after a night of partying.
Coworkers said Cerveny could have been a very successful cosmetic dermatologist in Manhattan, but instead chose to help patients who often couldn't even afford treatment.
"Even if the insurance doesn't work she would see them on the side, like, don't worry about it,” said medical technician Martine Fabien.
"She loved her patients, she was very understanding, very calm. She gave them a lot," Fabien said. "To this day, she left two years ago, we still have patients calling for her."
