SCOPE Magazine - Oct 2023

United Community, Empowered People, Exceptional Heal

Mason Health awards nine scholarships to Shelton High School students Page 2

MGHF Auxiliary Chapter & Centennial Guild celebrate scholarship winners

Mason Health otorga nueve becas a estudiantes de Shelton High School

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Página 9

OCTOBER 2023

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united community Health Sciences Academy partnership — Mason Health awards nine scholarships to Shelton High School students

As part of Mason Health’s continued partnership with the Shelton

School District’s Health Sciences Academy at Shelton High School, nine graduating seniors received full-ride scholarships to higher education programs this past spring.

This fall, the students will enroll in a technical college, university or training program at the complete expense of Mason Health, and eventually they will be offered positions at Mason General Hospital or Mason Clinic as registered nurses, medical assistants, phlebotomists or certified nursing assistants.

“I was just so relieved to get this scholarship because it felt like somebody was acknowledging the hard work I’ve put in over the years.”

Dolores Andres-Gervacio – Future Phlebotomist

Dolores Andres-Gervacio came to Shelton from Guatemala when she was 9 years old.

These students’ paths have not been easy. They have navigated the pandemic and school closures during their formative high school years, in addition to caring for family members, working multiple jobs, and encountering homelessness and language barriers. Mason Health is proud of the work they’ve accomplished to get to where they are now.

“Mason Health was so impressed with the caliber of these young adults,” said Mason Health Chief Nursing Officer Melissa Strong. “We increased the number of scholarships available so we could remove barriers for any of our communities of youth to embark on a career path with Mason Health. We hope by removing the financial barriers, they will be able to focus on school and learning what they need to become successful, productive adults in our community.”

Wyatt Anthis – Future Registered Nurse

Wyatt Anthis would love to follow in his mother’s footsteps. A nurse for 15 years in Olympia, Anthis’ mother was at the frontlines of the COVID pandemic, which greatly shaped how Anthis came to think about health care.

“She would talk about the great relief she felt at being able to bring patients and their families together who had been separated for weeks or Wyatt Anthis months or more because of COVID restrictions,” he said. “It was always just about helping people.”

Anthis has lived in Shelton since he was 2, and he attended schools in the Pioneer School District before coming to Shelton High School.

When the pandemic hit, he switched to the online Washington Virtual Academies, before transferring back to Shelton High for his junior and senior year. He has been active in Shelton High School’s swim and golf teams.

He is attending Olympic College Shelton and is on the track to become a registered nurse.

“When I’m working on getting my nursing credentials, I may work as a certified nursing assistant,” he said. “I hope to be able to work at Mason General Hospital, to find the place I fit in in the health care world.”

October 2023, Vol. 39, No. 3 On the cover: Clockwise from left, Shelton High School graduates Heaven Smith, Anthony Castañeda Martin, Pedro Jimenez, Milo Young, Olivia Henry, Feona Caxhandra Medina, Henry Gomez Cruz, Wyatt Anthis and Dolores Andres Gervacio. Cover and inside photos by Cooper Studios, unless otherwise indicated.

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From the age of 4 until she was 9, she had been raised by her great-grandparents in Guatemala, with her younger sister, while their mother lived in the Shelton area and worked hard to prepare a life for them.

Dolores Andres-Gervacio

When they finally reunited and came to the United States, Andres-Gervacio felt the culture

shock immensely.

“For me, it was a big, different change,” she said. “It was really hard. Family friends who spoke Spanish helped me learn English, but it was so hard.”

Andres-Gervacio speaks three languages: English, Spanish and Q’anjob’al, the primary language spoken by her people in Guatemala.

She communicates regularly now in English at school, her part-time job at Happy Garden Chinese Restaurant, and with her father’s landscaping customers.

She has always loved taking care of people, from the time she cared for her great-grandparents and sister in Guatemala when they were ill to times now when family members get sick.

Mason Health awarded her the phlebotomy scholarship, and she will attend a local phlebotomy training program before someday working in Mason Health’s Laboratory Department.

“I have always liked to do something that has to do with medicine,” she said.

“I would like to learn more about medical laboratory work and maybe later on I will continue studying to become a registered nurse.”

Anthony Castañeda Martin – Future Phlebotomist

After the pandemic, Anthony Castañeda Martin came to understand how vital health care is, and he funneled his energies toward finding a career path in the medical field.

“I always wanted to help people, but after COVID, I realized I should think more about others’ well-being,” he said. “I was noticing that my people from Guatemala don’t always feel Anthony Castañeda Martin safe in this new world. I want everyone to see

united community that it is a safe world, this new country. You can feel at home, and you can make a home for yourself here.”

Castañeda Martin’s parents immigrated to Shelton from Guatemala before he was born. He took some courses in the Health Sciences Academy at Shelton High School, but the pandemic stalled his progress.

“I didn’t see the use of it until the pandemic,” he said. “Then I saw the importance of health care and knew there will always be people that need specific care. Health care is never going to go away and it’d be nice to give a helping hand.”

Castañeda Martin will attend a phlebotomy training program. As the oldest of five, he is the first in his family to attend any type of higher education.

“I wanted to go to college, but I didn’t know how I would pay for it,” he said. “I’m so glad I am able to do something more than what I had planned for myself.”

Henry Gomez Cruz – Future Registered Nurse

Henry Gomez Cruz has lived in Shelton for six years, and at 18, he has already experienced more than many people have experienced in their lifetimes.

Henry Gomez Cruz

At 12, he traveled with an uncle from Guatemala through the desert to reach the United States. He hadn’t seen his father since he was 2 and his mother since he was 4, when they left to make a better life for him in the United States.

Life in Guatemala was difficult and filled with violence, he said.

However, a month before he received Mason Health’s scholarship to become a registered nurse, Gomez Cruz experienced similar violence while at home in Shelton, which resulted in an urgent situation that required emergency medical attention.

While sleeping in his living room (his family shared their apartment with another couple, and Gomez Cruz did not have a bedroom of his own), a random stranger shot indiscriminately at his family’s home. A bullet grazed his head and pierced his pillow, while another hit his toe.

The experience solidified Gomez Cruz’s desire to become a nurse. He is attending Olympic College Shelton this fall.

“I have always wanted to be in health care,” he said. “I have seen family members with health problems. Why not be one of the ones to help people get better?”

Gomez Cruz has a 3.6 GPA, played trumpet in the band at Shelton High School and in the summers works landscaping. He’s excited for how this scholarship will change his life.

Olivia Henry – Future Medical Assistant

For most of her high school experience, Olivia Henry has felt isolated from her peers. Her family had moved to the Shelton area when she was in third grade, but she attended schools in Thurston County. When the pandemic hit, she was cut off from her classmates at Capital High.

“It was very isolating, and I got kind of shut out from everyone,” said Henry, who is an avid student Olivia Henry athlete. “Everyone moved on without me. When I finally convinced my parents to let me transfer to Shelton High, where my brother and cousin go, I blossomed.”

At the first party she attended with her new high school friends, Henry made the decision to get in a car with a friend who had been drinking.

Luckily, she, the driver and the other passenger did not have lifethreatening injuries.

“My whole family and I are just very thankful,” she said. “Everyone at Mason General Hospital was super helpful in calming me down and helping us after the accident.”

Henry has always wanted to go into the medical field. Her grandmother had been a medical assistant and her grandfather had wanted to be a doctor. She received the scholarship to become a medical assistant and will do her apprenticeship at Mason Clinic while pursuing certification.

“This scholarship really interested me because you can get a full-time job right away. Then I can pursue more scholarships to become a nurse anesthetist,” she said.

“This is the best opportunity. To get your whole school paid for, even gas and stuff, it’s unbelievable.”

Pedro Jimenez – Future Phlebotomist

Pedro Jimenez felt immense relief when he received Mason Health’s scholarship to enter phlebotomy training — he sees the scholarship as a ticket to a new future. He is the youngest of 5 siblings and will be the first in his immediate family to go to any post-secondary education.

“I really wanted this to be my future career,” he said.

“I didn’t want to have to work someplace else. My Pedro Jimenez overall goal is to get my degree and go to college. I didn’t want to work in a labor field or at the grocery store.”

Jimenez grew up in Shelton and has worked part-time at El Puerto de Angeles Restaurant in Shelton as a dishwasher and as a stocker at Walmart.

He became interested in the medical field after taking classes at the Health Sciences Academy. Biomedical Science sparked his interest, and he is not afraid of blood.

“I love it here and I love the calm of this country and Shelton,” he said.

“I don’t have words to describe what a big opportunity this is for me.”

“That class showed me that medicine is all about helping people,” he said. continued pg 4 SCOPE

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united community Health Sciences Academy continued “We had to solve cases post-mortem, but I realized I want to help people who are alive.”

As a child, she visited Mason General Hospital often because of her Celiac disease.

Jimenez is attending Bates Technical College’s phlebotomy program.

“Everyone was always really nice to me,” she said. “I heard about the scholarship last year and slowly discovered everything I could about it. At the beginning of my senior year, months before the application even opened, I did everything I needed to do. I wrote my essay and I got my reference letters right away.”

Feona Caxhandra Medina – Future Certified Nursing Assistant

When Feona Caxhandra Medina’s mother first showed her information about the Mason Health scholarship, she felt unsure she could apply and succeed.

Medina had only lived in the United States for two years — she, her mother and stepfather immigrated to Shelton from the Philippines.

“The work is going to be hard for me, but my parents encouraged me to apply,” she said.

“I took the application and tried my best. I was so surprised. When I found out I got it, I wanted to cry. I didn’t tell my mom and dad because I didn’t know how. They found out through Facebook.”

Feona Caxhandra Medina

Smith would encourage any student to take classes at the Health Sciences Academy to see if health care might interest them.

“The Health Sciences Academy could not get rid of me,” she said.

“Having Introduction to Health Careers really pushed me into wanting to be a nurse. I’m excited to go to Olympic College in Shelton this fall.”

Milo Young – Future Phlebotomist

Medina really wants to be a doctor and has enjoyed medical classes at the Health Sciences Academy at Shelton High School.

The idea of working in health care and being able to help people 24/7 appeals deeply to Milo Young.

“It’s my dream,” she said. “I did enjoy those classes, especially Human Body Systems. I took this chance. It’s going to be stressful, but it’s going to be fun.”

Young attributes this feeling to his “chaotic” childhood, during which he witnessed drug use and mental illness. While living with his mother in Kent, he took care of his siblings and felt “helpless” so often.

Medina will complete the certified nursing assistant program at Seattle University.

Heaven Smith – Future Registered Nurse

When Heaven Smith found out she received Mason Health’s scholarship to become a future registered nurse, she cried tears of “pure joy and happiness,” she said.

Heaven Smith

“I would see my teachers in the hall, and I’d be sobbing,” she said. “I hugged everyone and sent my mom pictures of me crying with the acceptance letter.”

Smith wants to work in an Emergency Department as a nurse because bodily fluids don’t bother her and stress motivates her. She also wants to be there for people in their time of need.

“I like health care because of the interaction with people and the stress of it,” she said. “I think stress makes me work harder and keeps me working.”

Smith moved to Shelton to live with her mom and stepdad when she was 6 years old. Prior to that, she had been living for a couple of years in Graham with her grandmother, whom she still visits once a month.

She’s been 4H president for four years and is also president of Shelton High School’s Future Health Professionals club (HOSA).

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Milo Young

“I saw my dad every weekend and we tried moving back with him, but my brother didn’t want to leave my mom,” Young said.

He moved to Shelton during the COVID pandemic to live with his father. His mother is now unhoused.

“When we moved in with my dad, I found school to be pretty easy, but it’s difficult for me to maintain relationships. I started to transition and recently came out to my whole family. That was challenging.”

Health sciences classes interested Young. He wants to be a forensic pathologist and sees Mason Health’s scholarship as a stepping stone toward his future career.

“I have always known I wanted to get into medicine,” Young said. “My anatomy classes were my favorite. I am looking forward to working at Mason Health as a phlebotomist while I go to school to continue my education.”

Young is a third-generation Shelton High School graduate and was a member of HOSA.

“If you are a student thinking about this scholarship, even if you’re not sure you want to do it, just apply,” he said.

“Take a chance. It’s a great opportunity.”

united community MGHF Auxiliary Chapter & Centennial Guild celebrate scholarship winners • Amanda Wells, Certified Nursing Assistant, who is pursuing a

P

ursuing a career in the medical field can be a challenging endeavor, but Mason County youth and Mason Health employees have found financial support through Mason General Hospital Foundation’s Auxiliary Chapter and Centennial Guild.

The MGHF Auxiliary, which celebrates 55 years in existence this year with Mason Health, proudly awarded scholarships for Mason County high school seniors and Mason Health employees this past spring.

Audrey Knauf

Scholarship funds are generated through donations and proceeds from the Gift Shop at Mason General Hospital, which is now open to the public after more than three years of closure following the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, the Auxiliary has awarded $16,000 to local students and Mason Health employees.

High school recipients each received $2,000.

Those recipients include: • Audrey Knauf, who plans to study psychology at Montana State University

Evan Eugene Marshall

• Evan Eugene Marshall, who plans to study computer science at the University of Washington

nursing degree. She received this award in 2022.

Previous high school recipient Helday Zacarias also received $1,000 in a renewal scholarship from the MGHF Auxiliary. She is pursuing a nursing degree.

To learn more about Mason General Hospital Foundation’s Auxiliary & Centennial Guild, visit https://www.masonhealth.com/foundation.

Mason Health seeks out volunteers!

Volunteers make up an integral part of

the Mason Health team, both at Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic, as well as at events for Mason General Hospital Foundation (MGHF).

Mason Health is looking for volunteers to help guide patients at Mason Clinic and the Emergency Department, as well as help out at the MGHF Auxiliary Gift Shop at Mason General Hospital.

If you are interested in volunteering or learning more, email Volunteer Coordinator Iris Hilburger at ihilburger@masongeneral.com.

• Carina Pablo Martinez, who plans to study nursing or dentistry at St. Martin’s University • Carmelina Pablo Martinez, who plans to study nursing at St. Martin’s University

Carina Pablo Martinez

• Morgen Shrum, who plans to study nursing at the University of Portland Shrum and Carina Pablo Martinez also won scholarships from the MGHF Centennial Guild, in memory of former Mason Health nurse Kristi Armstrong — Shrum won $4,000, while Pablo Martinez was awarded $1,000.

The following Mason Health employees each received $1,000 from the MGHF Auxiliary:

Carmelina Pablo Martinez

• Chloe Davidson, Medical AssistantCertified, who is pursuing a nursing degree.

Davidson works at Mason Clinic and has received the Auxiliary scholarship in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

• Morgan Elissalde, Laboratory Assistant, who is pursuing a Medical Lab Technician degree. This is the first time she has received this award.

Morgen Shrum

• Iris Hilburger, Volunteer Coordinator, who is pursuing a nursing degree. This is the first time she has received this award.

• Julia Solano-Martinez, Patient Access Specialist, who is pursuing a nursing degree. She received this award in 2022.

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giving

MGH Foundation contributors memorialized

Mason General Hospital Foundation would like to acknowledge former

contributors. Listed below are supporters the Foundation would like to recognize for their past support of our mission and work in the community. Please join us in acknowledging their support of the Foundation during their lifetimes.

Marilyn Johnston Glenda Miller Barbara Strickland Robert C. Berry Don Sears Olive Lanman Betty Welfringer Sandi Deyette Dennis Hutchins Barbara McDowell George S. Sevier Perry Wynn

Invest in today, because tomorrow will be here before you know it.

Please be advised that every effort has been made to ensure the integrity of this listing. If we have inadvertently omitted any names, please accept our apologies and most sincere thanks for your generosity and continued support of Mason General Hospital Foundation.

Honor and Memorial Contributions Made to MGH Foundation Mason General Hospital Foundation has generously received

MGH Foundation’s Forever Fund – Quality Health Care for Future Generations

by Jennifer Capps, Chief Development and Communication Officer

One of the easiest ways to provide an enduring gift of support to

Mason General Hospital Foundation is through your Will. By including the Foundation and the Forever Fund in your estate plans, you can designate some of your assets to the Foundation after your lifetime. At that time, the asset(s) you specify can be allocated to us, and your estate may be able to take a charitable deduction for the amount of your bequest, possibly reducing income and estate taxes payable.

How to Name Mason General Hospital Foundation in Your Will

If you choose to include Mason General Hospital Foundation in your Will or other estate plan, we should be named as: Mason General Hospital Foundation Post Office Box 1668, Shelton, WA 98584 Our tax identification number is 91-1529293

donations in honor and/or memory of the individuals listed below.

Donors and memorialized individuals listed in this report reflect contributions made to the Foundation beginning March 21, 2023, through June 15, 2023.

Ann Botzenmayer In Memory of Luke Miller Marilyn Dybeck* In Memory of Richard Dybeck

*This donation was made Jan. 11, 2023, but was not acknowledged in the March issue of SCOPE magazine.

We regret the error.

Please be advised that every effort has been made to ensure the integrity of this listing. If we have inadvertently omitted any names, please accept our apologies and most sincere thanks for your generosity and continued support of Mason General Hospital Foundation.

Warrior Angel Riders support Birth Center!

Mason General Hospital Foundation would be pleased to work with you and/or your financial or tax advisor to establish the planned gift(s) most appropriate for you to achieve your financial planning goals.

Our Mission

MGH Foundation furthers the mission of Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County by providing financial support to Mason Health.

Please make a gift to MGHF

Use the enclosed envelope to make your tax-deductible donation to help support MGHF. To make a secure donation online go to www.MasonGeneral.com

If you do not wish to receive future fundraising requests to support the Foundation, please contact us at foundation@masongeneral.com or toll-free at (855) 880-3201 ext. 28084. We will honor your request not to receive any Mason General Hospital Foundation fundraising communications after the date we receive your decision.

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Mason Health Chief Development & Communication Officer Jennifer Capps (far right) poses with the Warrior Angel Riders: from left, top row, Mary Bateman, Connie Scapes, Jane Hunt, Linda Fortune, Lilyann Lear, Michelle Soul, Connie Beck, Gloria Jackson; bottom row, Mary Quantrell, Dolly Cervantes and Sandy Knab. The Warrior Angel Riders held Bikers for Babies on Saturday, Aug. 12, to raise funds for a new birthing bed at Mason General Hospital.

Mason General Hospital Foundation presents Father Daughter Night Out and Business Luncheon!

Mason General Hospital Foundation is bringing back two signature fundraising events, after a nearly four-year hiatus. The MGHF Events Committee has decided to host Father Daughter Night Out on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 5 to 9 p.m., at Mountain View Elementary, and the Business Lunch & Dessert Auction on Friday, Nov. 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ridge Motorsports Park, both in Shelton.

Follow us on social media for updates on this and other fundraising events!

Welcome new MGHF board member Selena Parker!

Mason General Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors is pleased to welcome its newest addition, Selena Parker. Parker, a lifelong Shelton resident, brings to the board a passion for the local community and a strong desire to give back to the patients and families of Mason County.

Parker graduated from Shelton High School in 2004. She studied business at South Puget Sound Community College and went on to complete her medical assistant certification. She lived in Olympia for 13 years before returning home in 2016.

Selena Parker

Parker’s career has largely been in the assisted living field, although when she first started at Maple Glen as a certified nursing assistant in 2018, she also worked as a preschool teacher in Shelton. Both jobs were greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She left teaching and worked her way up at Maple Glen to become the Activities Director, then Business Officer Manager and then Resident Services Director, a position she has held since August 2022.

Parker grew up attending Mason General Hospital Foundation events like Fantasy Forest and also volunteered with local food banks and with what is now Sound Learning, an adult literacy support nonprofit. She learned about Mason General Hospital Foundation from her supervisor, Jaimie Hans, who currently serves as vice president of the MGHF Board.

“I’ve always enjoyed volunteering,” Parker said. “It’s really all about being part of the community. I love seeing our community grow, and specifically seeing the hospital grow from this small building where you couldn’t get a lot of services to what it is now. It’s very exciting. I love giving back and knowing that I get to be part of something that will have longevity.”

Parker is a mother of five children and is also involved in local performing arts groups.

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empowered people News Briefs

A touch of history — Mason Health displays Mae Buffington’s historic nursing uniform As Mason Health celebrates its 55th year of serving our patients and

community, the organization has been reflecting on the memories, moments and milestones that have made Mason Health what it is today.

This includes the people who have worked at Mason Health, all of whom have made their mark on the District’s history.

Recently, a local family brought forward the well-preserved student nursing and ceremonial uniform worn by Mae Buffington, former Director of Nursing at Mason General Hospital. The uniform is now on display at the Mason General Hospital Foundation office, on loan from the Buffington and Dunn family.

“When you look at this uniform, it’s as if time is standing still,” said Shelton resident Courtney Dunn. “We felt so lucky to stumble upon this and knew we had to share it with the community.”

and art pieces. The house was filled to the brim.”

Among the possessions were Mae Buffington’s navy-blue nursing cape from Wenatchee, a type of nursing cape popular post-World War II. Also preserved is a uniform with a sash, cap, white dress, and purple cape from Buffington’s involvement with The Rebekahs, a branch of the community service fraternal organization, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mae Buffington enjoyed her time at Mason General Hospital, where she also worked alongside her mother-in-law, a nurse named Selma Buffington. She retired in 1999.

“Ivan is so thrilled that her uniform is being showcased,” Courtney Dunn said. “All he asks is that we keep it preserved.”

Special thanks goes to the Washington State Historical Society for helping to identify some of the items in Buffington’s uniform, and the Washington State Nurses Association for sharing information about Buffington.

The uniform now resides at the Mason General Hospital Foundation office at 2505 Olympic Highway North, Suite 170, in Shelton.

Brad Becker takes on new role as Senior Director of Payer Strategy Effective July 1, Mason Health’s former Senior

Director of Revenue Cycle, Brad Becker, took on a new role and title as Mason Health’s new Senior Director of Payer Strategy, a role that Mason Health now shares with The Rural Collaborative (TRC), an organization serving 24 rural public hospital districts across Washington.

In his new role at Mason Health, Becker will continue to lead the District’s various payor contracting efforts and payer strategy. He will also perform similar duties for the entire TRC membership.

Brad Becker From left, Katie Dunn, Courtney Dunn and Mason Health Chief Development & Communication Officer Jennifer Capps stand with Mae Buffington’s historic student nursing uniform. Buffington was Director of Nursing at Mason General Hospital in the 1970s and 1980s.

Mae Buffington attended Wenatchee Junior College and upon graduating went to work for Northwest Hospital in Seattle. Mason General Hospital Commissioner Bill Batstone, Sr., heard good things about her at the Seattle hospital, and worked to recruit her to Shelton.

Buffington was hired as Mason General Hospital Director of Nursing Services in October 1976, when the hospital was a mere 8 years old. As part of her job, she fought for new equipment to help nurses, such as scoop stretchers, bilirubin timers, oxygen monitors and more.

She was also an active member of the Washington State Nursing Association in the 1960s and 1970s, serving on many committees.

She and her husband, Ivan Buffington, made a home on Island Lake in Shelton, and spent their lives traveling, collecting art, and entertaining.

“Brad has a long relationship with TRC and their payer contracting activities, so the transition is a natural fit,” said Mason Health Chief Financial Officer Steve Leslie. “We have appreciated Brad’s leadership over the last six-plus years, and we are very happy that we will be able to continue working with him in his new role.”

Jennifer Kummerfeldt, ARNP, enters administrative role as Manager of Integrated Health Mason Health is pleased to announce that Jennifer Kummerfeldt, ARNP, will be taking on an expanded role at Mason Clinic, as Manager of Integrated Care.

When Mae Buffington died in 2005, Ivan lived alone in the home for more than 15 years, leaving much of Mae’s possessions untouched. In 2020, Ivan moved to Maple Glen Senior Living, and arranged for the daughter of his close friend, Roy Dunn, to rent and care for the home.

Katie Dunn had grown up knowing Ivan, describing him as a “very kind gentleman, with a voice that people love to hear.”

She and her wife, Courtney, moved into the Buffington home in March 2023 and have been working on repairs, cleaning and clearing ever since.

“The home had been sitting for two years when Ivan approached Roy about us taking this on,” Courtney said. “They were collectors of fine China; they were world travelers. We found plane tickets to Thailand, pictures, 8 SCOPE

Jennifer Kummerfeldt

In her new administrative role, Kummerfeldt will dedicate 50 percent of her time working alongside Primary Care Manager Kelly North. She will continue to see patients on a half-time basis.

“Mason Clinic will benefit from Jennifer working with Mason Health’s direct and indirect care staff, clinical departments and external stakeholders to develop and execute strategies for integrating services, promoting care continuity and enhancing patient experiences,” said Mason Health Chief Operating Officer Mark Batty. “We are excited to include Jennifer’s expertise in these programs.”

hola Classes & Workshops Announcement Cancer Wellness Workshop Mason Health, in partnership with Harmony Hill Retreat Center and with the financial support of the Karen Hilburn Cancer Fund, is hosting virtual cancer support groups.

For more information, call 360-432-7706 or email patientnavigator@ masongeneral.com.

Time: 4 to 6:30 p.m. second Wednesday of the month Location: ZOOM or conference call Cost: Free

Loud Crowd Speech Therapy Class Lead locally by Mason Health’s Monica Vinson, Speech Language Pathologist, this national program provides speech therapy and socialization for persons with Parkinson’s.

Time: 12:30 p.m., every first and third Tuesday of the month Location: Mason County Senior Activities Center, 190 W. Sentry Drive, Shelton Cost: Free

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Support Group Lead locally by Mason Health’s Monica Vinson, this class provides support for those with traumatic brain injuries.

Time: 1 to 2 p.m., every second Tuesday of the month Location: Shelton Family YMCA Mason Health conference room Cost: Free

Asociación de la Academia de Ciencias de la Salud Mason Health otorga nueve becas a estudiantes de Shelton High School C

omo parte de la asociación continua de Mason Health con la Academia de Ciencias de la Salud del Distrito Escolar de Shelton en Shelton High School, nueve graduados de último año recibieron becas completas para programas de educación superior la primavera pasada.

Este otoño, los estudiantes se inscribirán en un colegio técnico, universidad o programa de capacitación a expensas completas de Mason Health, y eventualmente se les ofrecerán puestos en el Mason General Hospital o Mason Clinic como enfermera(o)s registrada(o)s, asistentes médicos, flebotomistas o asistentes de enfermería certificados.

El camino de estos estudiantes no ha sido fácil. Han navegado por la pandemia y el cierre de escuelas durante sus años de escuela secundaria formativa, además de cuidar a los miembros de la familia, trabajar en múltiples puestos de trabajo y encontrarse con personas sin hogar y barreras lingüísticas. Mason Health está orgulloso del trabajo que han logrado para llegar a donde están ahora.

"Mason Health estaba tan impresionado con el calibre de estos jóvenes adultos", dijo la directora de enfermería de Mason Health, Melissa Strong.

"Aumentamos el número de becas disponibles para poder eliminar las barreras para que cualquiera de nuestras comunidades de jóvenes se embarcara en una carrera con Mason Health. Esperamos que, al eliminar las barreras financieras, puedan centrarse en la escuela y aprender lo que necesitan para convertirse en adultos exitosos y productivos en nuestra comunidad."

Wyatt Anthis - Futuro enfermero registrado

A Wyatt Anthis le encantaría seguir los pasos de su madre. Enfermera durante 15 años en Olympia, la madre de Anthis estaba en la primera línea de la pandemia de COVID, que influyó enormemente en la forma en que Anthis llegó a pensar sobre la atención médica. "Hablaba del gran alivio que sentía al poder reunir a los pacientes y sus familias que habían estado separados durante semanas o meses o más debido a las restricciones de la Wyatt Anthis COVID", dijo. "Siempre se trataba de ayudar a la gente." Anthis ha vivido en Shelton desde que tenía 2 años, y asistió a escuelas en el Distrito Escolar Pioneer antes de llegar a la Escuela Secundaria Shelton. Cuando la pandemia golpeó, se cambió a las Academias Virtuales de Washington en línea, antes de volver a transferirse a la Escuela Shelton para su tercer y cuarto año. Ha estado activo en los equipos de natación y golf de Shelton High School. Está asistiendo al Colegio Olympic de Shelton y está en camino de convertirse en un enfermero registrado. "Cuando estoy trabajando para obtener mis credenciales de enfermería, puedo trabajar como asistente de enfermería certificada", dijo. "Espero poder trabajar en el Mason General Hospital, para encontrar el lugar en el que encajo en el mundo de la salud."

Me sentí tan aliviado al obtener esta beca porque sentí como si alguien estuviera reconociendo el trabajo duro que he puesto en los últimos años.

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hola Academia de Ciencias de la Salud continuación Dolores Andrés-Gervacio – Futura flebotomista

Dolores Andrés-Gervacio llegó a Shelton desde Guatemala cuando tenía 9 años. Desde los 4 años hasta los 9, fue criada por sus bisabuelos en Guatemala, con su hermana menor, mientras su madre vivía en el área de Shelton y trabajaba duro para preparar una vida para ellos. Cuando finalmente se reunieron y llegaron a los Estados Unidos, Andrés-Gervacio sintió el choque cultural inmensamente. "Para mí, fue un cambio grande Dolores Andres-Gervacio y diferente", dijo. "Fue muy difícil. Los amigos de la familia que hablaban español me ayudaron a aprender inglés, pero fue muy difícil. Andrés-Gervacio habla tres idiomas: inglés, español y Q'anjob'al, la lengua principal hablada por su pueblo en Guatemala. Ahora se comunica regularmente en inglés en la escuela, su trabajo a tiempo parcial en el restaurante chino Happy Garden y con los clientes de jardinería de su padre. Siempre le ha gustado cuidar de las personas, desde el momento en que cuidó de sus bisabuelos y hermana en Guatemala cuando estaban enfermos hasta los momentos en que sus familiares se enferman. Mason Health le otorgó la beca de flebotomía, y asistirá a un programa local de entrenamiento de flebotomía antes de trabajar algún día en el Departamento de Laboratorio de Mason Health.

"Siempre me ha gustado hacer algo que tenga que ver con la medicina", dijo. "Me gustaría aprender más sobre el trabajo de laboratorio médico y tal vez más tarde voy a seguir estudiando para convertirse en una enfermera registrada.

Anthony Castañeda Martin - Futuro flebotomista

Después de la pandemia, Anthony Castañeda Martin llegó a entender lo vital que es la atención médica, y canalizó sus energías hacia la búsqueda de una carrera en el campo médico. "Siempre quise ayudar a la gente, pero después de COVID, me di cuenta de que debía pensar más en el bienestar de los demás", dijo. "Estaba notando que mi gente de Guatemala no siempre se siente segura en este nuevo mundo. Quiero que todos Anthony Castañeda Martin vean que es un mundo seguro, este nuevo país.

Pueden sentirse como en casa, y pueden hacer un hogar para ustedes aquí." Los padres de Castañeda Martin emigraron a Shelton desde Guatemala antes de que él naciera. Tomó algunos cursos en la Academia de Ciencias de la Salud en Shelton High School, pero la pandemia detuvo su progreso. "No vi su uso hasta la pandemia", dijo.

"Entonces vi la importancia de la atención médica y supe que siempre habrá personas que necesitan atención específica. La atención médica nunca va a desaparecer, y sería bueno echar una mano. Castañeda Martín asistirá a un programa de entrenamiento de flebotomía. Siendo el mayor de cinco hermanos, es el primero de su familia en asistir a cualquier tipo de educación superior. "Quería ir a la universidad, pero no sabía cómo iba a pagar por ello", dijo. "Estoy tan contento de poder hacer algo más de lo que había planeado para mí”.

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Henry Gómez Cruz - Futuro enfermero registrado

Henry Gómez Cruz ha vivido en Shelton durante seis años, y a los 18 años, ya ha experimentado más de lo que muchas personas han experimentado en sus vidas. A los 12 años, viajó con un tío de Guatemala a través del desierto para llegar a los Estados Unidos. No había visto a su padre desde que tenía 2 años y a su madre desde que tenía 4, cuando se fueron para hacer una vida mejor para él en los Estados Unidos. La Henry Gomez Cruz vida en Guatemala era difícil y estaba llena de violencia, dijo. Sin embargo, un mes antes de recibir la beca de Mason Health para convertirse en enfermero registrado, Gómez Cruz experimentó una violencia similar mientras estaba en casa en Shelton, lo que resultó en una situación urgente que requería atención médica de emergencia.

Mientras dormía en su sala de estar (su familia compartía su apartamento con otra pareja, y Gómez Cruz no tenía una habitación propia), un extraño al azar disparó indiscriminadamente en la casa de su familia. Una bala rozó su cabeza y perforó su almohada, mientras que otra le golpeó el dedo del pie. La experiencia solidificó el deseo de Gómez Cruz de convertirse en enfermero. Está asistiendo al Olympic College Shelton este otoño.

"Siempre he querido estar en el cuidado de la salud", dijo. "He visto a familiares con problemas de salud. ¿Por qué no ser uno de los que ayudan a las personas a mejorar? "Gómez Cruz tiene un promedio de 3.6, tocó la trompeta en la banda en Shelton High School y en los veranos trabaja en el paisajismo. Está emocionado por cómo esta beca cambiará su vida. "Me encanta estar aquí y me encanta la calma de este país y Shelton", dijo. "No tengo palabras para describir qué gran oportunidad es esta para mí”.

Olivia Henry - Futura asistente médica Durante la mayor parte de su experiencia en la escuela secundaria, Olivia Henry se ha sentido aislada de sus compañeros. Su familia se había mudado al área de Shelton cuando estaba en tercer grado, pero asistió a escuelas en el condado de Thurston. Cuando la pandemia golpeó, ella estaba aislada de sus compañeros de clase en Capital High. "Fue muy aislante, y me sentía apartada de todo el mundo", dijo Henry, que Olivia Henry es una ávida estudiante de atletismo. "Todos siguieron adelante sin mí. Cuando por fin convencí a mis padres de que me dejaran trasladarme a Shelton High, donde van mi hermano y mi primo, florecí. "En la primera fiesta a la que asistió con sus nuevos amigos de la escuela secundaria, Henry tomó la decisión de subirse a un coche con un amigo que había estado bebiendo. Por suerte, ella, el conductor y el otro pasajero no sufrieron lesiones mortales. "Toda mi familia y yo estamos muy agradecidos", dijo. "Todo el mundo en el Mason General Hospital fue muy útil para calmarme y ayudarnos después del accidente.

"Henry siempre ha querido entrar en el campo médico. Su abuela había sido asistente médico y su abuelo quería ser médico. Ella recibió la beca para convertirse en asistente médica y hará su aprendizaje en Mason Clinic mientras obtiene la certificación. "Esta beca realmente me interesó porque puedes conseguir un trabajo de tiempo completo de inmediato. Entonces puedo buscar más becas para convertirme en enfermera anestesista", dijo.

"Esta es la mejor oportunidad. Para pagar toda la escuela, incluso gasolina y esas cosas, es increíble."

hola Pedro Jiménez - Futuro Flebotomista

Pedro Jiménez sintió un inmenso alivio cuando recibió la beca de Mason Health para entrar en el entrenamiento de flebotomía - él ve la beca como un boleto a un nuevo futuro. Es el más joven de 5 hermanos y será el primero de su familia inmediata en ir a cualquier educación postsecundaria.

"Realmente quería que esta fuera mi futura carrera", dijo. "No quería tener que trabajar en otro lugar. Mi objetivo general es obtener mi título e ir a Pedro Jimenez la universidad. No quería trabajar en un campo de trabajo o en el supermercado. "Jiménez creció en Shelton y ha trabajado a tiempo parcial en el restaurante El Puerto de Ángeles en Shelton como lavaplatos y como almacenista en Walmart. Se interesó en el campo médico después de tomar clases en la Academia de Ciencias de la Salud.

La ciencia biomédica despertó su interés, y no tiene miedo de la sangre.

"Esa clase me mostró que la medicina se trata de ayudar a la gente", dijo.

"Tuvimos que resolver casos de post mórtem, pero me di cuenta de que quiero ayudar a la gente que está viva. "Jiménez asiste al programa de flebotomía del Bates Technical College.

Feona Caxhandra Medina - Futura asistente de enfermería certificada

Cuando la madre de Feona Caxhandra Medina mostró por primera vez su información sobre la beca de Mason Health, se sintió insegura de poder solicitar y tener éxito. Medina solo había vivido en los Estados Unidos durante dos años - ella, su madre y su padrastro emigraron a Shelton desde las Filipinas. "El trabajo va a ser difícil para mí, pero mis padres me animaron a aplicar", dijo. "Tomé la solicitud y me esforcé al máximo. Me sorprendió Feona Caxhandra Medina mucho. Cuando me enteré, quería llorar. No se lo conté a mis padres porque no sabía cómo. Se enteraron por Facebook.

Medina realmente quiere ser médico y ha disfrutado de clases de medicina en la Academia de Ciencias de la Salud en Shelton High School.

"Es mi sueño", dijo. "Disfruté esas clases, especialmente Human Body Systems (Sistemas del Cuerpo Humano). Aproveché esta oportunidad. Va a ser estresante, pero va a ser divertido. "Medina completará el programa de asistente de enfermería certificada en la Universidad de Seattle.

Heaven Smith - Futura enfermera registrada

Cuando Heaven Smith se enteró de que recibió la beca de Mason Health para convertirse en una futura enfermera registrada, lloró lágrimas de "pura alegría y felicidad", dijo. "Veía a mis maestros en el pasillo y lloraba", dijo. "Abracé a todos y le envié fotos de mi madre llorando con la carta de aceptación. "Smith quiere trabajar en un departamento de emergencias como enfermera Heaven Smith porque los fluidos corporales no le molestan, y el estrés la motiva. Ella también quiere estar allí para las personas en su momento de necesidad. "Me gusta el cuidado de la salud debido a la interacción con las personas y el estrés que conlleva", dijo. "Creo que el estrés me hace trabajar más y me mantiene trabajando.

"Smith se mudó a Shelton para vivir con su mamá y su padrastro cuando tenía 6 años. Antes de eso, había estado viviendo durante un par de años en Graham con su abuela, a quien todavía visita una vez al mes. Ha sido presidenta de 4H durante cuatro años y también es presidenta del club de Futuros Profesionales de la Salud (HOSA) de Shelton High School.

Cuando era niña, visitaba el Mason General Hospital a menudo debido a su enfermedad celíaca. "Todo el mundo siempre fue muy amable conmigo", dijo. "Me enteré de la beca el año pasado y lentamente descubrí todo lo que pude al respecto. Al comienzo de mi último año, meses antes de que se abriera la aplicación, hice todo lo que necesitaba hacer. Escribí mi ensayo, y recibí mis cartas de referencia de inmediato.

"Smith animaría a cualquier estudiante a tomar clases en la Academia de Ciencias de la Salud para ver si el cuidado de la salud podría interesarles.

"La Academia de Ciencias de la Salud no podía deshacerse de mí", dijo.

"Tener una introducción a las carreras de salud realmente me empujó a querer ser enfermera. Estoy emocionado de ir al Olympic College en Shelton este otoño.

Milo Young – Futuro flebotomista

La idea de trabajar en el cuidado de la salud y poder ayudar a las personas 24/7 atrae profundamente a Milo Young. Young atribuye este sentimiento a su "infancia caótica", durante la cual fue testigo del consumo de drogas y la enfermedad mental. Mientras vivía con su madre en Kent, cuidaba de sus hermanos y se sentía "indefenso" muy a menudo. "Vi a mi padre cada fin de semana y tratamos de volver con él, pero Milo Young mi hermano no quería dejar a mi madre", dijo Young. Se mudó a Shelton durante la pandemia de COVID para vivir con su padre. Su madre está ahora sin hogar. "Cuando nos mudamos con mi padre, me pareció que la escuela era bastante fácil, pero es difícil para mí mantener relaciones. Empecé a hacer la transición y hace poco salí del closet ante toda mi familia. Fue todo un reto. "Las clases de ciencias de la salud interesaron a Young. Él quiere ser un patólogo forense y ve la beca de Mason Health como un escalón hacia su futura carrera.

"Siempre he sabido que quería entrar en la medicina", dijo Young. "Mis clases de anatomía eran mis favoritas. Estoy deseando trabajar en Mason Health como flebotomista mientras voy a la escuela para continuar mi educación. Young es un graduado de tercera generación de Shelton High School y fue miembro de HOSA. “Si eres un estudiante pensando en esta beca, incluso si no estás seguro de que quieres hacerlo, solo aplica", dijo.

"Arriésgate. Es una gran oportunidad."

¡Mason Health busca voluntarios!

Los voluntarios constituyen una parte integral de el equipo de Mason Health, tanto en Hospital General Mason y Mason Clínica, así como en eventos para Hospital General de Mason Fundación (MGHF).

Mason Health está buscando voluntarios para ayudar a guiar a los pacientes en Mason Clinic y el Departamento de Emergencias, así como para ayudar en la tienda de regalos auxiliar MGHF en Mason General Hospital.

Si está interesado en ser voluntario o aprender más, envíe un correo electrónico a la Coordinadora de Voluntarios Iris Hilburger a ihilburger@masongeneral.com.

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