Virginia Braxs PHOTO BY TROTTER PHOTOGRAPHY; Teri Griege, Dr. Eva Frazer, and Ida Early PHOTOs BY SARAH CROWDER
Dr. Eva Frazer (Community Health) As a young girl, Dr. Eva Frazer was curious about to a larger, more useful facility—the Victor Roberts her father’s career, which seemed to be highly Building on Kingshighway—where SLU residents regarded. So curious, that one morning she hid in now provide even more free medical care to patients the backseat of his car until it came to a stop at an in need. East St. Louis clinic. Today, Frazer is working on an exhibit that When Frazer’s father realized she was along for is close to her heart. To preserve the legacy of the ride, he wasn’t angry, and instead, African-American physicians who allowed her to shadow him during “It’s so served the community before her, hospital rounds that day. He was a important for she is recording oral histories and general surgeon and family practitiohighlighting 15 prominent doctors as women to be ner. Frazer witnessed her father interpart of an exhibit on the history of the acting with patients, and immediately role models in Homer G. Phillips Hospital. From 1937 knew what she wanted to do with her the community.” to 1955, the hospital was one of only future. three in the country to train minority Frazer’s passion to serve those in need led her physicians and the sole facility in St. Louis to treat African-American patients. to become an internal medicine physician for St. Frazer says volunteerism is crucial to the Mary’s Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital for some 30 years. The physician and mother also was community, especially when it comes to helping the appointed to the Saint Louis University Board of underserved gain access to health care and educaTrustees in 2001, where she took on the roles of tion. “Not only are you helping the community, but overseeing the university’s School of Medicine and doing it brings such a wealth of riches into your own medical group practice. During that time, she was life. It’s so important for women to be role models instrumental in moving the Health Resource Center in the community.”
Teri Griege (Health Awareness) Teri Griege was in peak physical condition as she swam, cycled and ran her way through the 2009 Ironman competition in Louisville. Two weeks later, she was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. “It was absolutely a shock,” Griege recalls. But she didn’t let the disease stop her. In fact, she used it as fuel to work harder—for her own health and the health of others. With marathons including Boston, New York and Chicago under her belt, she challenged herself to complete even more races, including the Tokyo Marathon. And when she finished the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, she became the only person to participate in the competition while undergoing bi-monthly chemotherapy treatments. “It’s inspirational to people,” Griege says. “I get lots of emails and phone calls.” The mother and former nurse at SSM St. Joseph
Hospital also began booking public speaking engagements to spread awareness for colon cancer and the importance of early detection. “It really became a passion to spread awareness, because in 90 percent of cases, colon cancer is preventable. It’s about saving lives—that’s the bottom line,” Griege notes. To that end, she is an ambassador for the Colon Cancer Alliance, and a board member for GO! St. Louis and Pedal the Cause. Through Pedal the Cause and the Links for Life golf tournament, her team—Powered by Hope—has raised $500,000 for Siteman Cancer Center. Griege has detailed her journey in a book of the same name—Powered By Hope—to be released in April. “It’s my story about hope and triumph in the face of cancer. Everybody has their dream—their end goal, and I believe they should never give up hope.”
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{LadueNews.com} March 28, 2014
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