Moments: Celebrating 40 Years

Moments

Celebrating 40 Years

Phoenix Children’s: the past, the present and what’s to come

SPRING 2023

DEPARTMENTS

DEPARTMENTS

The Insider

Updates from around Phoenix Children’s.

Then & Now

Phoenix Children’s Thomas Campus has been a beacon for pediatric care.

Innovation

A new program fosters the next generation of trailblazing researchers.

5 Questions

Phoenix Children’s has been caring for Arizona children for four decades—and Berna Yancey has been there since the start.

FEATURES

Celebrating 40 Years Strong

Thanks to a supportive community, Phoenix Children’s is the world-class hospital it set out to be in 1983. Here’s a look at our past, present and what’s to come.

Deep Roots & Generous Spirit

Common Cause

Find out how you can get involved in upcoming events that support Phoenix Children’s patients and their families.

Lifelong Phoenix resident Jerry Lewkowitz helped set up Phoenix Children’s for success.

The Power of Good Corporate Citizenship

Chris Koch and Carlisle Companies are committed to improving mental health for Arizona children.

CHAIR

Alexa Schneider

Kimbell

PAST CHAIR

Kevin Czerwinski Merit Partners

VICE CHAIR/SECRETARY

Sheila Zuieback Halle Family Foundation

EMERITUS

Taylor Burke Rainy Partners

Larry Clemmensen Community Volunteer

PHOENIX CHILDREN’S PRESIDENT AND CEO

Robert L. Meyer

PHOENIX CHILDREN’S CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, FOUNDATION

Steven S. Schnall

Michael Bill

MJ Insurance

Scott Bindley Screenwriter

Ahron Cohen

Polar Sun Ventures

Shane Doan Arizona Coyotes Hockey Club

Ed Grant Scottsdale Investment Management

Taylor Melvin Ivanhoe Electric

J. Paul Rhodes Community Volunteer

Chris Stamets Western Retail Advisors

DEAR FRIENDS,

Ibegan my career at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in 1983 as a youth counselor fresh out of Arizona State University (Go Sun Devils!). At the time, the hospital resided on the campus of Good Samaritan Medical Center, and the good fortune that lay ahead for this institution existed only in our wildest dreams.

As a member of that founding team 40 years ago, I hoped that the nascent entity we’d created would one day occupy its own campus. That it would one day provide world-class health care to all corners of our rapidly growing state and beyond. And that in time we could undertake groundbreaking research that would improve the health of children around the world.

Today, with the help of countless individuals—physicians, researchers, nurses, staff, donors, board members and, of course, our patients themselves—the hopes and dreams we had back then have become a reality. Phoenix Children’s provides world-class, family-centered pediatric care to more than 200,000 patients from all over the world each year. Our expert team of physicians and staff covers a spectrum of over 75 pediatric subspecialties. And in 2022, U.S. News & World Report named Phoenix Children’s to its list of Best Children’s Hospitals for the 12th consecutive year.

I am proud not only of our growth over the past 40 years, but also of the foundation we’ve laid so that future generations of children and their families can benefit from the spirit of innovation and care that took root and continues to permeate our institution. We would not be here at this milestone without the dedication, commitment and support of the entire Phoenix Children’s family, past and present. We want to thank everyone who has played a part in our success, and we look forward to the next 40 years—and beyond—of providing hope, healing and the best health care for the children and families who come through our doors.

Sincerely,

STEVE

SCHNALL

Chief Development Officer

PHOENIX CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS

THE INSIDER

A family affair 3 big events that will make a big impact

Driven to give

Little compares with the empathy of a caregiver who understands the stresses patients and their families endure. Health care workers like Justine Hunter, a medical assistant care coordinator at Phoenix Children’s, go the extra mile daily for their patients. And now, she’ll go the distance in a brand-new 2022 Hyundai Tucson.

The Valley Hyundai Dealers recognized Hunter’s exceptional service in their Salute to Phoenix Children’s contest, in which patients and their families nominated staff who had made an impact on them. Hunter, the grand prize winner, was honored alongside finalists Sue Putzier and Marcella Powell at the Arizona Cardinals Monday Night Football game December 12.

When Jim and Alice Bazlen decided to set up charitable remainder unitrusts for their grown children, Robert Bazlen and Kristin Balducci, they selected Phoenix Children’s as their beneficiary. Alice, a longtime WINGS (When In Need Grandmas Serve) member, and Jim have supported the hospital’s art therapy program for three years and have seen how art can help hurting children heal. “Children often find it easier to share their feelings through art than with words,” Alice says. Support for vital programs like art therapy will continue on with Robert’s and Kristin’s planned gifts. Their legacy donations were honored with two paintings, hand-selected by Robert, Kristin and their spouses, that will be displayed in the emergency department. It was only natural they go to the dogs—paintings, that is. After all, the couples have three pups each.

Both families know how the emergency department can be a scary place for kids and parents alike. But now, two furry friends—complete with lolling tongues and colors aplenty—will greet them, thanks to the Bazlen family’s sustained support.

Off the Record

Funds raised: $950,000

Benefiting: On-site simulation training lab that will open in 2023

The 50 driven community leaders who make up PCH 50 hosted Off the Record as part of their fundraising, volunteer and awarenessbuilding efforts. The group’s signature event in December boasted an intimate night of drinks, dining and dancing to the music of Tyler Hubbard of the country duo Florida Georgia Line.

Concours in the Hills

Funds raised: $480,000+

Benefiting: The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and the Cardiothoracic Surgery Fund

February’s ninth annual Gila River Resorts and Casinos Concours in the Hills presented by Matson Money, a Phoenix Children’s event, drew 50,000 car collectors and automotive enthusiasts from across the Southwest. Since 2018, Concours in the Hills has raised almost $1.4 million for Phoenix Children’s.

Beach Ball

Funds raised: $1 million+

1 2 3 Join the fun and make a difference! See our list of upcoming events on page 19.

Benefiting: The Hope Fund, which supports areas of greatest need

In February, more than 500 community and industry leaders donned their favorite resortwear at this beach-themed cocktail party, which transformed the Spire Bar at the Arizona Biltmore into the PCH Pier.

A Super Bowl legacy for life

The Bazlen-Balducci family with two colorful canine paintings they selected for the emergency department.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in teens and young adults—but it doesn’t have to be. In January, the Arizona Super Bowl LVII Host Committee awarded Phoenix Children’s a $100,000 Super Bowl Legacy Grant to help combat this mental health epidemic. The grant will support the creation of the Phoenix Children’s Center for Child and Adolescent Resiliency Suicide Prevention Program. The program will train staff members to screen patients for mental health issues and suicidal ideation and to refer them to mental health care.

“Art provides a way for children to release stress and open up communication with their parents and caregivers.”

— ALICE BAZLEN

A STORIED HISTORY

The Next Generation of Research

The Young Investigators Awards fund the work of up-and-coming researchers

As Stewart Goldman, MD, sees it, there’s no place that gives more impactful and empathetic care than Phoenix Children’s. So what happens when you combine best-in-class care with a robust research enterprise? “We can forever change and improve the future of the children we’re so honored to serve,” Dr. Goldman says. Dr. Goldman, who joined the health system in 2021 as Senior Vice President of Research, is tasked with building a critical mass of research scientists at Phoenix Children’s. “Clinical care is where we’ve really concentrated,” he explains. “Now it’s time to become an academic powerhouse.”

Enter the Young Investigators Awards. Dr. Goldman’s brainchild, this seed grant program funds emerging top talent by giving young researchers a

Building (and Expanding) the Best

When Phoenix Children’s Hospital was established in 1983, its first home was within Good Samaritan Medical Center, which leased 71 pediatric beds to Phoenix Children’s. In 2002, the hospital moved to a new freestanding facility on the southwest corner of 20th Street and Thomas Road. Six years later, ground was broken on a $588 million expansion.

The expansion was completed in 2011, and in June of that year, the hospital’s new 11-story tower opened. Since then, the hospital has become one of the most recognizable features of the Phoenix skyline. The campus will continue to grow; several projects are underway to create more clinical and office space.

steppingstone to obtaining independent federal and foundation funding—a crucial necessity for research that can lead to medical breakthroughs.

Senior Director of Philanthropy

Dana Jirauch knew this program would resonate with WINGS (When In Need Grandmas Serve), a philanthropy group that has raised over $1 million for Phoenix Children’s since the group’s inception in 2015.

When Jirauch presented WINGS members with the opportunity to provide a $250,000 grant to fund the Young Investigators Awards, they jumped on it. “To align with one of the hospital’s key priorities right now— fostering research—WINGS feels like they can play a pivotal role in helping Phoenix Children’s be at the forefront of scientific discovery,” Jirauch says.

The grant from WINGS supports up-and-coming researchers, providing them with space in a mentored lab, supplies, research mentors, statisticians, patient recruitment and more.

Dr. Goldman identifies the candidates, seeking those with the highest potential for success, and recruits and supports them throughout a one-to-two-year period during which they’re launching their research careers. The recipient of the first award is Erin Thornley, DO, a pediatric critical care physician who is set to arrive at Phoenix Children’s this summer to begin conducting research on sepsis.

“A young investigator has to start somewhere, but the only way is to have seed funding,” Jirauch says. “Then you can demonstrate results, go to other funding entities, move on to clinical and translational studies. By supporting the Young Investigators Awards, we could be funding the next cure to cancer.”

Adds Dr. Goldman, “Each advancement, each small thing in science makes for a better outcome for sick kids.”

Your generosity helps support Phoenix Children’s commitment to being a pediatric research nexus. To donate, visit GiveToPCH.org/yi

the late 1990s, Phoenix Children’s purchased a 22-acre medical campus at 20th Street and Thomas Road to serve as the home of Arizona’s first freestanding children’s hospital.

Phoenix Children’s Thomas Campus is ever evolving to meet the needs of its patients and their families.

The campus, which dates to 1961, originally was the home of Doctors Hospital, which later became Human Hospital and then the Phoenix Regional Medical Center.

The Young Investigators Awards give young researchers a steppingstone to obtaining independent funding—a crucial necessity for research that can lead to medical breakthroughs.

MAKING SPACE

Construction is underway on a threestory office building on the west end of the campus that will house administrative employees, freeing up space in the tower for 60 new exam rooms.

September 1983: Phoenix Children’s Hospital opens its doors within Good Samaritan Medical Center.

1987: Phoenix Children’s Intensive Care Nursery is the first in Arizona to introduce extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), an advanced form of life support.

1992: Dr. Leigh McGill performs a 10-hour surgery to reattach 7-year-old Brian Bogert’s arm after it was severed when he was hit by a truck.

1997: The heart and hand logo is introduced.

2000: The Crews’n Healthmobile, a mobile medical unit, begins providing medical care to children and adolescents experiencing homelessness.

2001: The Children’s Heart Center opens.

2003: Phoenix Children’s and Mayo Clinic introduce the Valley’s first pediatric blood and marrow transplant program, with 14-year-old Ashley Robinson undergoing the hospital’s first bone marrow transplant.

Setting a New Course

20 years of progress under President and CEO Robert Meyer

Building a freestanding children’s hospital was undoubtedly necessary for the community. But construction, coupled with operational challenges, almost bankrupted Phoenix Children’s in the early 2000s. That is, until Robert L. Meyer came into the picture.

Meyer was brought in as a consultant in 2002 to help the board turn the hospital around. But after meeting with the physicians and staff, he was struck. “From the beginning, I was so impressed with the passion—of the physicians, of the board, of the families, of the community for that matter—to make this work,” says Meyer. “And so it became clear to me that we had to find a way.”

1986: Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation is founded. Children’s Miracle Network Telethon, the first major fundraising event, raises $210,233.

1990: The Emily Anderson Learning Center, a pediatric health library, opens to the public.

1993: Dr. David Moss successfully removes half of 14-monthold Zachery Leber’s brain to stop continuous seizures.

1994: The Foundation’s inaugural Beach Ball raises more than $121,000

1985: Camp Rainbow, a summer camp for children with cancer and blood disorders, opens in Prescott with 27 kids attending.

And he did. “Doing turnarounds is always difficult, but it’s easier when you have support—and we had support,” he says. “By the end of 2003, we were profitable.”

May 25, 2002: Phoenix Children’s opens a new freestanding hospital at 20th Street and Thomas Road, including Arizona’s first pediatric emergency department.

November 2003: Robert L. Meyer takes the helm as Phoenix Children’s President and CEO.

Under Meyer’s leadership, Phoenix Children’s embarked on a two-decade push to build destination programs, including cardiac, oncology, neuroscience and orthopedic units—all focused on familycentered care. The hospital has invested in learning and development, health care education and geographic expansions to make pediatric care more accessible in Arizona.

“We were one of the first hospitals to adopt family advisory councils,” Meyer says. “And when we asked our families what they needed, the one thing we kept hearing again and again was ‘access.’ That’s when we started to expand with our ambulatory and urgent care centers.”

Beach Ball is Phoenix Children’s longest-running fundraising event and one of the most anticipated. The 2023 Beach Ball raised more than $1 million.

2006: The hospital launches the first comprehensive pediatric epilepsy program in Arizona.

June

2015: The Bubba Watson and PING Golf Motion Analysis Lab opens to help children with gait abnormalities.

2019: A study led by Michael Kruer, MD, director of the Pediatric Movement Disorders Program, shows that genetics may play a role in causing cerebral palsy.

2020: The COVID-19 pandemic kicks efforts to develop a telehealth program into high gear.

August 2023: Phoenix Children’s Hospital –East Valley, a five-story hospital on the campus of Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, is scheduled to open.

Why Your Donations Matter

Steve Schnall, Phoenix Children’s Chief Development Officer, Foundation, on the transformational effects of philanthropy

Q: Why was it important to build an independent children’s hospital?

2009: Phoenix Children’s and

University of Arizona College of Medicine announce the formation of the Department of Child Health at the medical school.

2008: The

play area.

2013: Arizona’s first and only Down syndrome clinic opens.

2017: Phoenix Children’s opens a new $40 million Emergency Department and Trauma Center.

2021: Phoenix Children’s launches WATCHER an early-warning system that alerts a patient’s care team when the patient’s condition is at risk of deteriorating.

2023: Vladimir Kalinichenko, MD, PhD, is appointed director of the Phoenix Children’s Research Institute at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.

2024: A freestanding emergency department is slated to open at Phoenix Children’s – Avondale Campus.

2023

2024: Phoenix Children’s Hospital –Arrowhead Campus, a three-story hospital in Glendale, is projected to open with 24 inpatient beds, an emergency department, a surgery center and a multispecialty clinic.

A: Children are not little adults. They have very unique health care needs, and so having a consolidated children’s hospital allows us to have a depth of resources and expertise that provides a very different standard and level of care than an adult hospital that offers pediatrics can. For example, an adult hospital might have one pediatric cardiologist, one pediatric oncologist on staff. At Phoenix Children’s, we’ve got more than 35 pediatric cardiologists and almost 20 pediatric oncologists. We have a whole team of doctors who treat only kids with brain tumors.

Q: How does philanthropy fuel growth?

2018: At age 10, Gabriel Gonzalez becomes the youngest patient in the world to receive a total artificial heart, which keeps him alive and healthy until a donor heart becomes available.

2022: Give-A-Thon, the country’s largest radiothon for a children’s hospital tops the $2 million mark for the first time.

2019: Phoenix Children’s becomes the first-ever health system in the U.S. to use the Medtronic Stealth Autoguide platform, a robotic guidance system, for neurosurgery.

A: Looking back at old photos and seeing the timeline here reminds me of all we have accomplished, and it makes me all the more grateful for the support of our community. The truth is, we wouldn’t be what we are today without the generosity of our donors. Sure, we would have the lights on and would provide the best possible care to children, but we wouldn’t have the funds we need to open new locations around the Valley so more families can access care, to purchase new equipment and the latest technology that makes a difference for our patients, and to bring in renowned specialists and researchers who will change the future of pediatric

the

2008: Phoenix Children’s is designated as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, the only one in the state.

medicine.

2011: A new 11-story tower opens on the Thomas Campus, part of a $588 million expansion.

2007: The East Valley Specialty and Urgent Care Center opens.

2011: The first heart transplant in the hospital’s history is performed on 22-month-old Jesus Pereya.

2011: Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s is established.

2012: Garth Brooks leads the celebration of the opening of the Child Life Zone, a 3,800-square-foot

Ronald McDonald House opens on the Thomas Campus.

2014

Deep Roots & Generous Spirit

In the late 1970s, Phoenix was the ninthlargest metro area in the United States. But the fast-growing city of 1.3 million people was missing something important: a dedicated children’s hospital.

In 1980, at the urging of Herbert J. “Tim” Louis, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and community leader,

attorney Jerry Lewkowitz agreed to serve as a founding member of the Phoenix Children’s Board of Directors—and became an essential piece of the team who helped make the hospital happen.

Lewkowitz is still amazed by the hospital’s rapid growth and success: “When I drive down the 51, I see what was only a dream is now an incredible reality.”

Raising Arizona

Lewkowitz, 93, is proud of his Arizona heritage and has an impressive Phoenix pedigree to prove it. He is an alumnus of Kenilworth Elementary School, North High School, Phoenix College and Arizona State University. He served in the Air Force as a JAG officer, as an Arizona assistant attorney general (alongside Sandra Day O’Connor) and as a Phoenix city councilman. He eventually opened the Lewkowitz Law Office with his wife of 30 years, Andrea, who now runs it. But it was his role in founding Phoenix Children’s that perhaps made the most impact on the state. Despite the “real need for a pediatrics hospital,” it certainly wasn’t easy. Lewkowitz says the inaugural board of directors received substantial pushback, especially considering pediatrics departments already existed at local hospitals.

“It seemed very easy and very logical except for one thing: Nobody wanted a separate children’s hospital at that time—except, of course, pediatricians and families,” Lewkowitz says. The group responded by creating a Blue Ribbon Committee to rally support for the idea. “The committee included well-known and respected leaders like Rose Mofford and Bill Shover—forward-thinking people who could speak up for the children’s hospital,” he says.

In 1983, Phoenix Children’s Hospital opened within Good Samaritan Medical Center. And in 2002, it opened the state’s only licensed freestanding pediatric hospital. “We did it one step at a time,” says Lewkowitz, who served on the board for 13 years. “Sometimes we had a step back, but now it’s the envy of children’s hospitals around the country.”

The Lewkowitz legacy at Phoenix Children’s now extends to the next generation. His

grandson-in-law, Ben Abelson, MD, is a pediatric urologist at the hospital, and his niece, Jessica Hendricks, is a development officer at the Phoenix Children’s Foundation.

A history of giving

Phoenix Children’s isn’t the only cause Lewkowitz has championed for children; he also served on the boards and as president of Crisis Nursery (now Child Crisis Arizona) and the Phoenix Zoo. “I’ve had two passions in the last 30 years. One of them is the Thunderbirds because they do so much for the community— especially children,” he says. Through its Waste Management Phoenix Open, the group has raised more than $160 million for area nonprofits, including Phoenix Children’s. His other passion? Supporting the Valley’s Jewish community. “When my parents got married in 1921, there wasn’t a temple in Phoenix. They actually had to bring a rabbi over from El Paso,” he says. His parents would later help found Temple Beth Israel, a congregation that has since included five generations of the Lewkowitz family. The charming original synagogue near Burton Barr Library is now home to the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. Unsurprisingly, Lewkowitz was the organization’s founding president. Through it all, the great-grandfather of 20 has supported Phoenix Children’s and its mission to provide the best health care to kids in Arizona and beyond. That’s why he and Andrea made a legacy gift to the hospital. “I’m so fortunate I had the opportunity to serve,” he says.

Andrea adds, “There’s nothing Jerry enjoys more than helping others. He’s a good example of how a ripple can become a wave. A little bit goes a long way.”

“I feel a source of pride every time I see that magnificent building or hear about a simple or lifesaving procedure at Phoenix Children’s.”

— JERRY LEWKOWITZ

Lifelong Phoenix resident Jerry Lewkowitz helped set up Phoenix Children’s for success.

The Power of Good

Corporate

Citizenship

Chris Koch and Carlisle Companies are committed to improving mental health for Arizona children.

Carlisle Companies Inc. has always been active in the communities in which it operates. So when the company relocated its headquarters to Phoenix in 2016, it was important to develop relationships with organizations that aligned with the company’s philanthropic focus areas: mental health, veterans, education and civility. In 2020, Carlisle began a philanthropic relationship with Phoenix Children’s.

“Investing in our communities—whether with our time, energy or money—leads to positive changes that are ultimately good for all of us,” says Carlisle Chairman, President and CEO D. Christian “Chris” Koch.

Arizona’s mental health crisis

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. was facing a mental health crisis, and Arizona was one of the hardest-hit states. In fact, the Grand Canyon state is 35th in the nation for mental health, according to Mental Health America, which takes into account the number of people with mental health problems and access to care. The pandemic, of course, only exacerbated the problem.

“As we did our research, the scale of the mental health crisis in our country became clear,” Koch says. “And we were alarmed by

the number of people struggling—our family members, employees, veterans and so many more. As a business leader, I was struck by the crisis. As a human being, I was struck by the crisis.”

Still worse, the crisis is not limited to adults.

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for Arizona children up to age 14 and the second-leading cause of death for adolescents ages 15 to 19, according to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. On any given day, Phoenix Children’s treats up to 45 patients while they are on a mandatory hold for suicidal ideation or waiting for an opening at an inpatient behavioral health facility. The average age of patients coming in with suicidal ideation is 12, but Phoenix Children’s has treated children as young as 5.

Becoming part of the solution

In 2022, Koch learned about a new project Phoenix Children’s was developing to prevent suicide and suicide attempts among kids and teens, headed by Jared Muenzer, MD, MBA, Physician-in-Chief and Chief Operating Officer of Phoenix Children’s Medical Group.

“It became clear after numerous discussions with Dr. Muenzer that traditional methods for treating mental health issues in children and

adolescents were not the most effective and weren’t leading to the best possible outcomes,” Koch says. “It was also clear that the mental health crisis in children and adolescents in Arizona was not improving at the pace needed to match the challenge.”

Phoenix Children’s Suicide Prevention Program will draw on the expertise of Phoenix Children’s behavioral health experts and provide international best practices to patients and families. Thanks to a financial commitment from Carlisle, the pilot program will launch this year with a goal of reducing childhood deaths by suicide and suicide attempts through the use of strategic preventive tools and targeted parental education. The program also includes a dedicated specialist to work with families and social workers to help ensure children with suicidal ideation return to a safe home

after being released from the hospital and then continue to receive expert ongoing care.

The hope is that the Suicide Prevention Program will have a significant effect on families in crisis and will then be used as a model for other programs across Arizona and even nationally so more communities can benefit from innovative, lifesaving mental health care.

Koch and his wife, Amy, have been particularly moved by the mental health crisis and impressed with Dr. Muenzer and the progress of the program—so moved that, in addition to Carlisle’s investment, the Kochs, who are longtime Phoenix Children’s supporters, decided to contribute personally to the project.

“We are proud to be part of the Phoenix Children’s community of contributors,” Koch says. “Mental health solutions are important to us, and we hope to help drive change.”

“The scale of the mental health crisis in our country became clear. We were alarmed by the number of people struggling— our family members, employees, veterans and so many more. As a business leader, I was struck by the crisis. As a human being, I was struck by the crisis.

— D. CHRISTIAN “CHRIS” KOCH Carlisle Chairman, President and CEO

Caring from the Beginning

The second oldest of five kids, Berna Yancey has always been a caregiver. After graduating from Arizona State University, she began her career at Good Samaritan Medical Center in the obstetrics/ postpartum unit. But her favorite part was taking the new mothers over to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to see their babies. So when Phoenix Children’s acquired the Good Samaritan NICU, Yancey made the transition. We sat down with her to find out how things have changed over the years.

What was the most difficult part of being a NICU nurse?

In the ’80s, as NICU nurse manager, I initiated and coordinated a grief support program called Angels Found patterned after the “Resolve Through Sharing” program. It was instrumental in helping families and staff deal with grief.

What has been the biggest change in nursing over the years?

The technology.

We were the first hospital in Arizona to get ECMO [extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a form of life support]. It is a process that bypasses blood from the lungs to the oxygenating machine in order to rest the lungs while we treat the baby.

Events That Make Moments Possible

What type of work do you do these days?

For the past eight years, I’ve worked as a NICU data abstractor. We send data to two organizations that compare our NICU data with others in the country so that we can use that information to make medical and nursing goals to improve patient outcomes.

What keeps you busy outside of work?

My granddaughter is into dancing, so a big part of my life is going to classes with her and competitions. I’m also a big hiker. Although I have hiked the Havasupai trail in the Grand Canyon four times with fellow nurses, I now hike tamer trails at South Mountain and the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert.

How have the families changed?

Parents today are much more knowledgeable. They question things that we do—so that is fascinating and also so encouraging, because we want them to be involved.

UPCOMING EVENTS

GIVE-A-THON WEEK

August 2023

Tune in to KTAR News 92.3 FM and 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station for the 23rd annual Give-A-Thon, the country’s largest radiothon for a children’s hospital.

GiveAThonForPCH.org

Miles That Matter Cycle

Over 250 cyclists hit the road at the inaugural Miles That Matter Cycle event, raising more than $142,000.

Phoenix Children’s Golf Tournament

The 2022 tournament brought together 150 community leaders and philanthropists who raised a record-breaking $1 million.

Ignite Hope

The 11th annual candlelight walk was the biggest yet, bringing in over $484,000 and drawing more than 3,000 people.

PHOENIX CHILDREN’S

5K AND KIDS DASH

October 7, 2023

Join over 3,000 fitness enthusiasts and families for a fun-filled day of walking and running at Salt River Fields.

PhoenixChildrens5K.org

IGNITE HOPE

December 9, 2023

This candlelight walk raises funds for Phoenix Children’s while showing patients and their families they’re not alone during the holidays.

PCHIgniteHope.org

Recent and upcoming events supporting Phoenix Children’s patients and their families.

Phoenix Children’s has been caring for Arizona children for four decades—and Berna Yancey has been there since the start.