We are grateful to count you as part of our Sibley community, and we are pleased to share with you the impact of your philanthropy. Your generosity is felt by clinicians, staff and our patients and their families — both within our hospital and throughout the National Capital Region.
Sibley’s staff continues to care for our entire community — those with a challenging health diagnosis and those in underserved communities, new mothers welcoming babies and our growing senior population. Your support funds cutting-edge technology, education and training, vital clinical trials which advance cancer treatment, patient support programs and much more.
On behalf of the Sibley Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, our physicians, nurses and staff — but most importantly, on behalf of our patients and their families — we thank you for your support.
We are pleased to share some highlights of what your generosity has made possible in the past year.
With gratitude,
Hasan Zia, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S.
President and Chief Operating Officer
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Carolyn Carpenter, M.H.A., F.A.C.H.E. President, National Capital Region
Johns Hopkins Health System
Oak Strawbridge, M.B.A. Chair, Board of Trustees
Sibley Memorial Hospital Foundation
Kristen Pruski, C.F.R.E. Vice President
Sibley Memorial Hospital Foundation
INAUGURAL PROFESSORSHIP
Last fall, friends, family and Sibley, John Hopkins and Children’s National Hospital leadership gathered for the dedication of The Moody D. Wharam, Jr., M.D., Professorship in Pediatric Radiation Oncology — the first professorship to come though the Sibley Foundation.
Its inaugural recipient was Sibley physician Matthew M. Ladra, M.D., M.P.H. Dr. Ladra leads the dedicated pediatric team for the Johns Hopkins Proton Therapy Center and is the director of pediatric radiation oncology for the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley, a clinical collaboration with Children’s National
The pediatric radiation oncology program at Sibley now treats 200 children each year.
Hospital, where Dr. Ladra serves as faculty in the department of pediatric oncology. He is also an assistant professor of radiation oncology and molecular radiation sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
We are grateful to the generous donor family who made this professorship possible, and we congratulate Dr. Ladra for this singular recognition and on the growth — under his leadership — of the pediatric radiation oncology program at Sibley, which now treats 200 children each year.
Matthew M. Ladra, M.D., M.P.H., (left) with Theodore DeWeese, M.D., dean and CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine.
CLINICAL TRIALS ADVANCE CANCER CARE OPTIONS
Philanthropy is at the core of our ability to move innovative research forward by expanding cancer treatment options for patients. Cancer research is a top priority at Sibley and fuels medical discoveries every day that inform how we treat cancer.
Below are a few examples of Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center physicians who practice at Sibley who are making exciting advances in cancer research and treatment at Sibley thanks to philanthropic donations to the Sibley Foundation:
Dr. Channing Paller: novel therapies around natural products to treat prostate cancer
Dr. Evan Lipson: a nationwide clinical trial testing immunotherapy in kidney transplant recipients with advanced skin cancer
Dr. Mark Markowski: use of testosterone as a treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer
Dr. Ben Levy: lung cancer — particularly those with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)rearranged tumors
Dr. Cesar Santa-Maria: immunotherapy-based treatment strategies for breast cancer using medications that stimulate the immune system such as antibodies and vaccines
The Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley sees more than 2,000 new cancer patients annually.
PROVIDING RESOURCES TO PATIENTS DURING AND AFTER TREATMENT
The Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and Sibley are committed to addressing cancer disparities in our region. To address this need, Sibley began a collaboration with Unity Health Care in 2019 to establish an oncology service to expand access to cancer care for individuals in Wards 7 and 8. Unity’s Parkside Health Center in Ward 7 now serves as the homebase for the Johns Hopkins Cancer Care Clinic at Unity Health Care. Thanks to many generous philanthropic partners, we have been able to launch the Kovler Community Cancer Corps to build our team dedicated to supporting this population, connecting patients to cancer treatment at Sibley.
We have also raised significant philanthropic funds to help these patients break down the barriers for patient access (transportation, lodging and more) to ensure that patients can get to their treatments at Sibley. Sibley’s Center for Patient and Family Services (CPFS) supports patients by connecting them with community programs and our own patient assistance funds including the Patricia Liberatore Fund (Patty’s Fund), the Lids Foundation Fund, the Gynecologic-Oncology Patient Support Fund and more. These funds help to provide resources like transportation, housing, mental health support and food assistance to patients to ensure they always have access to the cancer care they need when they need it.
Sibley’s Center for Patient and Family Services (CPFS) team has supported our growing cancer program in the last year providing nearly 4,000 rides and almost 600 hotel stays for patients traveling to Sibley’s cancer center who are experiencing financial hardship.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD SOIREE: A SMASHING SUCCESS
More than 550 guests attended the Sibley Soiree at the National Portrait Gallery on October 24, 2024, hosted by Sibley’s Young Professionals Board. The evening raised $610,000 to support patients undergoing treatment at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley and their families to help with financial concerns around the cost of treatment. These include prescription medication, transportation to appointments and nutritious food options during treatment.
LAUNCH OF VIRTUAL NURSING PROGRAM
To address challenges in our nursing workforce, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Virtual Nursing Discharge Program thanks to a generous investment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. Through this hybrid virtual nurse role, we aim to reduce unit-specific length of stay, reduce and prevent post-anesthesia care unit holds, decrease readmission of patients discharged from a unit and improve the efficiency of the nurse’s workflow – ultimately providing even more exceptional care for our patients. This is an additional service for patients and does not impact staffing in the hospital. Our care delivery teams and patients are already providing meaningful feedback about their experiences.
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Treating Complex Gynecologic Conditions
Sibley is proud to be a destination of clinical excellence for women’s health care, and the center’s gynecologic surgeons partner with the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center faculty to provide a vital, collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to treatment, including medical and radiation oncology when needed.
Dr. Edward Tanner (below), medical director for women’s health in the National Capital Region, vice chair for National Capital Region, Johns Hopkins department of gynecology and obstetrics; professor (PAR) of gynecology and obstetrics says:
“We pride ourselves on providing the most advanced gynecologic care to our patients, and generous support ensures that we can care for every woman in our community who needs this specialized type of attention.”
Efficient Breast Cancer Patient Navigation
The Sullivan Breast Center at Sibley has emerged as a national model in providing expert care using the least invasive treatments possible. The team of breast specialists provide comprehensive services including breast imaging and surgery, radiation and medical oncology, pathology, physical therapy and palliative care. These specialists offer an integrated approach to care and treatment that improves our patient outcomes.
Studies have shown that patient navigation services can decrease time from a positive screening test to diagnostic resolution and improve retention in care, treatment adherence and patient well-being. Taylor Cloud, RN, (left) is the nurse navigator for newly
diagnosed breast cancer patients as they move from surgery to medical and radiation oncology. Her position, funded by philanthropy, focuses on access, new patient coordination and patient/provider outreach and education.
Taylor says, “Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of meeting with approximately 400 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, providing individualized counseling and support before and after their surgical consults. I’m proud to be able to provide the most informed and personalized care possible to my patients, and I’m especially grateful for the philanthropy that makes my position possible.”
The Maternal Health Access Program (MHAP), launched in 2020 with investments from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, the Charina Endowment Fund, the Young Professionals Board and other generous donors, enhances access to prenatal and highrisk care by partnering with community-based providers to improve services for the most fragile newborns, address adverse social drivers of health, train staff in health equity and enhance outreach and education
in underserved communities. Seventy percent of pregnancyrelated deaths occur in Washington, D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8. Since its inception, our team has enrolled more than 600 patients in the MHAP, and 171 patients have been delivered at Sibley, something that was not possible before Sibley accepted DC Medicaid and had OB hospitalists.
The MHAP is under the leadership of Dr. Rita Driggers, medical director, maternal
fetal medicine (MFM), and Dr. Colleen Kepner, director of the OB hospitalist program at Sibley. Team members work collaboratively with the MFM team to build community trust, address health disparities and enhance access to high-risk providers. The MHAP also provides new mother and baby necessities including medication, overnight bag, new mother clothing and accessories, a breast pump, newborn clothing and car seats.
Maternal Health Access Program: Greater Support for Mothers in Need
Members of the Sibley MHAP Team with patient Briana and baby Breeze.
CARING FOR OLDER ADULTS
Sibley’s patient population is older than that of other regional hospitals, with patients 65 and older comprising 60% of Sibley’s inpatient admissions. In 2024, more than 10,000 patients were seen in the emergency department, and of those admissions, 27% were individuals over 70 years of age — an increase over 2023.
Overall, we know that hospitalized geriatric patient outcomes are poorer compared with younger patients, and our older patients have unique needs while hospitalized for acute illness.
The NICHE (Nursing Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) program, directed by Suzanne Dutton, DNP, GNP, RN, addresses these problems as a nurse-led education and consultation program designed to help improve the quality of care for older adults. Throughout the past year, the NICHE team led geriatric education for hospital staff around frailty in older adults, preparing for a successful emergency department visit, nutrition in older adults and dealing with delirium and falls. Our Geriatric Resource Nurse (GRN) Abdul in the emergency department (ED), whose position is donor-funded, continues to offer specialized care for elder patients 65+ admitted to the ED. The GRN team has surpassed 3,000 rounds supporting our older adult community.
PRIME (Presurgical Rehabilitative and Integrative Medicine for Elders) Program
In 2019, the PRIME program was created by Dr. Martin Paul, who also served as the program’s medical director. PRIME focuses on optimizing surgical care for frail adults over 75 years of age. A critical component of the program is our Geriatric Surgical Nurse Navigator and Geriatric Resource Nurse, Rosemary Trejo, BSN, RN-BC, who also serves as PRIME program coordinator. She has been a nurse at Sibley for more than 35 years, and her position is completely funded by philanthropy from our generous supporters.
Evidence shows that providing supportive rehabilitative care preoperatively and throughout hospitalization improves outcomes. In fact, PRIME patients were 75% less likely to have a complication, their hospitalization stays were 25% shorter, and they were 65% less likely to have an unplanned readmission compared to the data shown in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP).
We are grateful to Dr. Paul for launching this program and wish him the best in his retirement.
Suzanne Dutton, DNP, GNP, RN, Martin G. Paul, M.D., and Rosemary Trejo, BSN, RN-BC.
STAFF SUPPORT INITIATIVES
Sibley’s Staff Certification Program
Sibley’s generous donor community helps our dedicated staff pursue professional certifications to advance their careers which, in turn, enables them to provide the best possible care to our community.
Chaplain Paulette McPherson became a board-certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC). Thanks to the support of Foundation donors, she has pursued advanced certifications that have further enhanced her ability to provide spiritual care to those in need at no cost.
Director of Nutrition Services Yolanda Mullings oversees the food services for Sibley. With her daily responsibilities focused on patient and customer experience, she was drawn to a patient experience certification: “My job is focused on helping staff, patients and visitors. Our customers can experience care — every person, every time.”
In Hyun (pictured left, center), a biomedical technologist, recently received their biomedical equipment technician certification through Sibley’s Employee Certification Reimbursement Program. In says, “I am so incredibly grateful to the donors who enabled me to achieve the certification and step forward in my career at Sibley. We are doing more with your support. Thank you.”
INDIVIDUALIZED END-OF-LIFE CARE
Sibley’s interdisciplinary palliative care team helps patients experience an improved quality of life by addressing symptoms and pain, providing emotional support, improving the patient’s comfort and maintaining focus on patient-centered goals. They are experts in end-of-life planning and can help patients and families plan for this care, including hospice and advance care directives, to ensure the patient’s wishes are honored. Angela Lee, M.D., M.P.H., (pictured left), is Sibley’s medical director of palliative medicine and leads a team that continues to grow because of our generous donor community.
