Sweet Charity - Spring 2024

I hope 2024 is off to a good start for you. At Good Shepherd, we continue to focus on providing innovative, compassionate care to our patients and residents throughout our network. At the same time, we look forward to engaging with the community through upcoming events and programs.

On Saturday, April 6, Good Shepherd will host Leading Disruption: A Health-Care Innovation Summit. This one-day conference is designed to inspire an innovation mindset with thoughtprovoking presentations, interactive workshops and networking. Presentation topics will include innovation, prototyping, AI, wearable technologies and more. The event is open to the public and will feature information for clinicians and nonclinicians alike. Then, on Wednesday, May 29, we will host a national speaker on our South Allentown Campus. More details on this event will be forthcoming.

Finally, on Saturday, June 1, Good Shepherd’s Gala in the Garden will take place on our South Allentown Campus. As always, proceeds from this event will benefit Good Shepherd’s Emily Howatt Pliskatt Pediatric Unit. After having to change the timing and format of the event because of COVID-19 and the opening of our new inpatient rehabilitation hospital last year, we are thrilled to return this time-honored event to its traditional June timeframe, allowing us to take full advantage of our beautiful campus and Healing Gardens.

In addition to these key events, Good Shepherd is also supporting organizations in the community to provide information and resources for people with disabilities.

On Saturday, June 22, Good Shepherd will host a Bilingual Disability Fair spearheaded by the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation. This event will provide people with disabilities with resources in both English and Spanish. Then, on Saturday, September 14, Good Shepherd will host the Mind Your Brain Lehigh Valley Conference at DeSales University. This event will connect individuals with brain injury, their families, caregivers and professionals to resources and information that can help on the journey to recovery and practice. We are excited to partner with these organizations to bring vital information and resources to the community.

Warmly,

Gloria M. Pugliese Associate Vice President, Development

The Pets of Long-Term Care

Furry, feathery and finned friends bring daily joy to residents at our long-term care homes.

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Meet our new doctors!

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Our Mission

Motivated by the divine Good Shepherd, and the often complex physical and cognitive rehabilitation needs of our communities, our mission is to enhance lives, maximize function, inspire hope, and promote dignity and well-being with expertise, innovative care and compassion.

5 Grateful Patient

Suzanne Zweizig

7 Outpatient Spotlight Forks Township

8 Reflections

By Chaplain Roxi Kringle

9 In Memoriam

Georgine Edwards

Marcy Clauser

11 Doctor Profiles

Dr. Benjamin R. Scoblionko

Dr. Jeffery Williams

13 Fleming Center for Robotics

On the cover: Golden Retriever Bella is happiest when spending time with her friends at Good Shepherd Home - Raker Center.

Cover photograph: Randy Monceaux Photography

Donate:

goodshepherdrehab.org/donate

Comfort Creatures

Pet visitors play a pivotal role in the lives of Good Shepherd Home - Raker Center and Good Shepherd Home - Bethlehem residents. These special volunteers provide love, comfort, companionship and encouragement to residents and staff alike.

Tiny Chihuahua Bear joins his brother Maverick (page 4) at Good Shepherd Home - Raker Center nearly every day. Bear's sweet face and calming demeanor make him a favorite with residents.

Rainbow and Sprinkles are two of four African Love Birds that live and play at Good Shepherd Home - Bethlehem. Rainbow and Sprinkles have hatched multiple baby birds over the years, which has been fun for residents and staff alike to observe. Resident volunteers provide them with lots of love and fresh water daily.

Coco is a 5-year-old mixed breed rescue who spends her time in the recreational therapy area at Good Shepherd Home - Bethlehem twice a week. Coco comes to work with her mom, Bonnie, a therapy aide, and is greeted by residents with treats and head scratches.

Support therapeutic recreation in long-term care at Good Shepherd:

17-year-old Russian Blue, Charcoal, rules the roost at Good Shepherd Home - Bethlehem. He can be found snuggled up on the laps of residents or sleeping in one of the many cat beds throughout the home. On weekends, resident volunteers ensure that Charcoal has fresh water and food...and, of course, lots of attention.

Mellow (above) and Yellow (not pictured) are also African Love Birds residing at Good Shepherd HomeBethlehem. They, along with the resident fish and other resident birds' habitats are cared for by Robins Nest Aviaries.

Golden Retriever Bella joins her human, Good Shepherd Home - Raker Center Administrator Carrie Kane, every day. She can be seen carrying her leash around in her mouth or lounging under a table.

Miniature Pinscher mix Maverick enjoys coming to work with his mom, Elba, a registered nurse at Good Shepherd Home - Raker Center. Maverick loves the attention he gets from residents and staff.

Felix and Oscar are 3-year-old brothers who spend their days eating treats and being spoiled by Good Shepherd Home - Bethlehem residents.

A HEALING CHAPTER WITH GOOD SHEPHERD

Rushing into the courthouse for jury duty near her Washington, D.C. home, Suzanne Zweizig's day veered dramatically off course when she collided headfirst with a glass wall. The impact sent Suzanne crashing to the ground. Soon after, a visit to urgent care revealed a concussion, which caused blurred vision and debilitating headaches. Coupled with vertigo and visual processing issues, Suzanne’s work as a writer, educator and business owner became impossible.

For the next six months, Suzanne sought help from medical professionals who gave her little hope. To make matters worse, she suffered an ankle injury that severely impacted her mobility. Frustrated with the lack of improvement in her physical health, Suzanne took advice from her Pennsylvania-based family who brought her to Good Shepherd Rehabilitation for a consultation.

Recounting her first appointment at Good Shepherd, Suzanne described the hope she felt after months of uncertainty. Her doctor prescribed a tailored approach encompassing neurocognitive therapy, vision therapy, and physical therapy for her head and neck injury. She temporarily relocated to the Lehigh Valley to attend therapy sessions at Good Shepherd three days a week. Suzanne also received a diagnosis for her ankle injury of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), a neurological condition that causes severe pain and swelling to the extremities and made walking difficult. Thanks to Good Shepherd's expertise, Suzanne's treatment for the RSD began quickly, with the Zero Gravity Treadmill and aquatic therapy to regain strength and mobility.

Coming to Good Shepherd in great pain and with little hope of getting her life back, Suzanne initially approached her therapies with a self-confessed “bad attitude,” easily frustrated and impatient.

“My therapists and care team were not fazed and continued to encourage me, finding ways to motivate me until I regained my positive way of thinking,” says Suzanne. “They met me where I was at.” She describes how, during vision therapy, she often needed to lie down on the floor on her back to find relief from the headaches. “Once, I remember, my vision therapist laid next to me

and drew letters on the ceiling with a flashlight so I could finish my session in a comfortable way,” she says. “The empathy that showed impressed me and helped me start to trust they could help.”

Gradually, Suzanne began to view her time at Good Shepherd not as an interruption, but as an opportunity for self-care and resilience. She dug in and started to see improvement, slowly but surely. Graduating from therapy one year later, she returned home to Washington D.C. Today, nine years post-accident, she has rebuilt her creative writing and tutoring business and published the first chapter of her memoir. She is even able to read again for extended times, a feat she once believed impossible.

Reflecting on her journey, Suzanne expressed gratitude for her Good Shepherd team. “They gave me my life back,” she says. “The compassion that everyone showed me made all the difference.” n

OUTPATIENT SPOTLIGHT: FORKS TOWNSHIP

Good Shepherd’s Forks Township location provides personalized rehabilitation to help patients return to their daily lives as quickly as possible.

Patients entering the Forks Township location of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation are welcomed by a dedicated team led by Site Manager Brian Shak, MSPT, (pictured above), who brings a wealth of experience to the facility along with Physical Therapist Judy Morrison. Our Forks location helps patients of all ages experiencing conditions, including chronic pain, balance issues, vestibular disorders and concussions. Many patients from across the Lehigh Valley who have vertigo receive rehabilitation care here.

Adding a unique touch to its healing environment, the Forks location collaborated with Nazareth High School in 2022 by transforming an 85-foot hallway into an art gallery, showcasing photography, painting, watercolor and drawings by local teachers and students. It is enjoyed by patients, staff and community members alike. The gallery was inspired after Brian attended his daughter’s school art show.

“I got in touch with the art department about extending their show at our site so others could also appreciate their talent,” says Brian.

In the same hall, there is a lending library for people to take, give or borrow books. In addition to the life-changing rehabilitation care offered at the Forks location, the addition of the gallery and library has brought joy to patients, guests and the broader community. n

Offered at Forks Township:

Vertigo rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation

Address:

Chronic pain therapy

Direct Access (PT Now)

3825 Sullivan Trail, Easton, PA 18040

“We came to Good Shepherd to find relief from a back injury and arthritis. Little did we know we would feel so much stronger and more flexible that we would become ballroom dancers in our 70s and 80s. A big thank you to Brian and Judy for giving us a fun way to stay active.”

– Pat and Woody

Reflections

By Chaplain Roxi Kringle

It’s beginning to look a lot like…love.

Actually, it’s beginning to look a lot like the depth of winter, mostly gray skies, stark trees and brown grass buried under the last of autumn’s fallen leaves. Snow, that most magical delight in December is cursed by everyone whose sidewalks or driveways need shoveling, while slush and road salt pile up in the gutters.

This is not the image of love we’ve come to know; the one of red hearts decorated with paper doilies and boxes of chocolate sent to our sweet Valentine. The days grow longer and it seems spring may come after all, if only we can manage the final Nor’easter of winter. That last remnant of cold and damp reminds us of how small and fragile we are in the universe. Or, as my great-great grandmother said, “If you live through March you’ll make it another year.”

It is weird to consider the winter drabness as anything that looks like love. Yet in the very middle of it is both the love of affection to sweethearts and the love of God given to our world of hurt. Because this year, both Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday are the same day.

Ash Wednesday is that strange day in the Christian calendar when people walk around with a smudge of ash on their foreheads. Ashes, all that remains after fire used up what was usable, the ancient sign of ultimate loss is purposefully smudged on the forehead as a reminder and a warning. The words, “remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” as the ash is signed on the body is a reminder that we all become the center of other’s grief in our death, as our bodies will return to the elements of the universe.

In the dead of winter, with the barest hint of the coming spring, sweethearts shower each other with messages of love. That same day, the tradition of some churches mark the sign of death and life. What may look like a contradiction is actually a convergence. The reminder of our impending death comes with the sense of deep love outpoured, from ashes to Easter. n

In Memoriam

Georgine Edwards

When Georgine Edwards came to live at Good Shepherd Home – Raker Center in May 2022, she was already well acquainted with the staff and fellow residents. Georgine spent 10 years as a dedicated volunteer at the long-term care facility, driving her motorized wheelchair from the independent living facility across the parking lot to Raker. Here, she enthusiastically manned the reception desk, answered phones, sent out mailings, completed projects and visited with residents. Her dedication earned her multiple Volunteer of the Year awards, resulting in a collection of recognition plaques proudly displayed in her room.

Born in the Lehigh Valley, Georgine attended Allentown High School and excelled in the business courses she took following graduation. She went on to work as both a stay-at-home parent to her two children and a data entry clerk at her father’s employment agency before her mobility declined as a result of having meningitis as a young child. Later in life, Georgine embraced using a motorized wheelchair, which allowed her to continue to do what she loved most: shopping, running errands, volunteering at Raker Center, attending Bible study and church and spending time with friends and family. A devout Christian, Georgine prioritized attending worship services above all else and was always willing to help with Vacation Bible School, organizing a prayer chain and could be heard offering to pray for everyone she encountered who was in need.

Georgine also loved the beach, spending summer vacations at her favorite destination, Ocean City, New Jersey.

“We would go to Ocean City and spend all day on the beach,” recalls Georgine’s daughter, Heidi. “She loved it.”

Georgine also was a master at word games, including Scattergories, Scrabble and crosswords. She enjoyed putting together intricate puzzles, framing them and gifting them to others on holidays. Her giving spirit and zest for life was demonstrated through her bright smile and lively laugh, which Heidi describes lovingly as “explosive, loud and infectious.”

Prior to her passing on November 29, 2023, Georgine lived a full life of service to God, her two children, seven grandchildren and countless friends.

Marcy Clauser

On December 19, 2023, Good Shepherd Home – Bethlehem resident Marcy Clauser passed away following a 20-year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. A native of Bethlehem, Pa., Marcy lived at Good Shepherd Home - Bethlehem for more than seven years and was well known to fellow residents, staff and visitors.

Marcy, an only child, cherished her childhood playing with cousins and expressing her musical talents as she played the flute and piccolo in the Saucon Valley High School band. After graduating high school, Marcy worked as a secretary for Upper Saucon Township. She spent her free time working on and cruising around in her cherished red 1967 Chevy Nova.

Marcy and her late partner, Dave, were members of a local motorcycle club and loved riding together with fellow members. As a resident at the Bethlehem home, Marcy rekindled her love of motorcycles during a trip to the Harley Davidson factory with the Recreational Therapy department.

Marcy loved animals, especially horses, cats and dogs, including her sweet black lab mix, Shadow. She was thrilled to attend a recent Recreational Therapy trip to Klein’s Dairy Farm to visit the petting zoo, meet their cows and, of course, enjoy some ice cream. At Good Shepherd Home – Bethlehem, Marcy formed a unique bond with Charcoal, one of the resident cats (pictured on page 4). Marcy kept a set of pet stairs next to her bed so Charcoal could take naps there every day while she sat in her chair. On one of her last days, Charcoal climbed up to lay with Marcy in her bed.

During her time at Good Shepherd Home - Bethlehem, Marcy enjoyed playing games on her computer and the occasional game of BINGO, getting visits from her cousin Bill and his family and participating in a variety of therapy groups, including cooking, sports and painting. Her beautiful paintings will be displayed at Good Shepherd in her honor.

Marcy will be missed by everyone who knew her. n

WELCOME, DR. BENJAMIN R. SCOBLIONKO

Dr. Benjamin R. Scoblionko, outpatient physiatrist, joined Good Shepherd’s Hyland Center for Health & Technology in the summer of 2023. Certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Scoblionko also completed a fellowship in spasticity and dystonia management. Dr. Scoblionko specializes in medication management, bracing and splinting, intrathecal pump management, chemodenervation and chemoneurolysis for patients with central nervous system injuries or degenerative conditions. This unique area of expertise allows him to focus on the individual patient and their specific mobility issues to provide compressive personalized care.

“I value the responsibility and challenge of supporting people during some of the most difficult, stressful and overwhelming times in their lives and the privilege of sharing in the best,” says Dr. Scoblionko. “I love to watch a patient realize a goal is achievable and exceed it.”

Dr. Scoblionko earned his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation, followed by a fellowship in spasticity management at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. With family ties to the Lehigh Valley, Dr. Scoblionko is thrilled to care for members of the community he has always considered a second home.

“Good Shepherd presented the best opportunity for me to enter a practice with a long history of excellence in the Valley while also allowing me to be creative and grow as a young doctor,” says Dr. Scoblionko. n

WELCOME, DR. JEFFERY WILLIAMS

Dr. Jeffery Williams serves as medical director of the stroke program at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Center Valley, Pa. He is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, with a focus on electromyography (EMG), stroke, musculoskeletal medicine and physiatry.

Before joining Good Shepherd in 2023, Dr. Williams served as section chief of physical medicine and rehabilitation at UPMC/Susquehanna Health in Williamsport, Pa.

He earned his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

Dr. Williams says one of his main motivators is watching patients go home in a better state than when they came in and providing them with a plan to continue achieving their rehabilitation goals. He is inspired by patients’ transformative improvements and their appreciation of the care they receive.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Williams enjoys weightlifting, running, traveling, spending time with his family and caring for freshwater aquarium fish. He is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Dr. Williams’ personal interests ultimately led him to his physical medicine and rehabilitation specialty.

“My focus in life has always been on wellness and healing, particularly through exercise— which is similar to rehabilitation,” says Dr. Williams. n

Forward-Thinking Rehabilitation at the Fleming Center for Robotics

Thanks to a major gift from the Fleming Foundation of Zionsville, Pa., Good Shepherd Rehabilitation is now home to the only rehabilitation robotics care center in the region. The Fleming Center for Robotics in Rehabilitation is a forwardthinking hub that will identify and test robotic and wearable technology.

Robotic technologies enable and improve walking in pediatric and adult patients with neurologic diagnoses such as spinal cord injury, stroke, and cerebral palsy. For more than a decade, Good Shepherd's clinical experts have used lower extremity wearable robotics, like the Trexo Plus, to allow patients of all ages with limited or no control of their limbs to walk.

“This technology has allowed kids to take their first steps ever and others to take their first step after a catastrophic injury,” says Emily Lyter, PT, DPT, administrative director of Good Shepherd Learns, Creates and Clinical Research.

Good Shepherd serves as a proving ground for new and innovative rehabilitation technologies and works directly with manufacturers to bring advanced solutions to patients. Ultimately, our goal is to decrease the time it takes to put emerging robotic technologies into clinical practice.

“We are very grateful to the Fleming Foundation for their generous support,” says Emily. “This investment opens the door to a future of new possibilities to our patients in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.”

The Fleming Foundation was created by Richard Fleming, the late businessman and philanthropist, and is now led by his daughter, Trinka Arnold.

“The Fleming Foundation is pleased to support Good Shepherd’s innovative use of technology in providing patients with the best possible treatment plans,” says Trinka. n

There are many opportunities to support the Fleming Center. Contact Gloria Pugliese at gpugliese@gsrh.org for more information.

“The Fleming Center for Robotics in Rehabilitation will support investment in leading-edge technology that might have a significant impact on the quality of life for Good Shepherd’s patients. This generous gift also allows Good Shepherd to partner with companies that are developing technologies that can be applied within our rehabilitation network and beyond.”

- Good Shepherd Rehabilitation President and CEO Michael Spigel, PT, MHA