A healthy spirit of giving Businessman RJ Corman’s philanthropic gift funds new mammography suite in Jessamine County By Kathie Stamps CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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s the largest philanthropic supporter in the history of St. Joseph Hospital, RJ Corman Railroad Group provided funds to establish the St. Joseph Jessamine RJ Corman Ambulatory Center , which opened in January 2009 in RJ “Rick” Cor man’s hometown of Nicholasville, Ky. Cor man’s most recent contribution has funded the new Sandra J. Adams Digital Mammography Suite at the medical center . The first screening on the Hologic digital mammography unit was performed April 4. “This gift will save lives,” said Barry Stumbo, president of the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation. “Our broad oncology program goal is very simple: to detect cancer at an earlier stage and grow life expectancy.” “Our patients will also benefit by having their images reviewed and dictated by one of our highly qualified board-certified radiologists at the St. Joseph Breast Center, who have many years of experience in breast health,” said Adam Gossom, director of ambulatory imaging operations. Corman named the mammography suite after his sister, Sandra “Sandy” Adams. “You look around at the competition, to try to come into a St. Joseph Jessamine place versus all the other options that they have,” Corman said. “Anything we can do
to enhance our hospital, if I can, I’ll try to help them.” Adams didn’t even know about the gesture until a friend texted her. “My brother likes to have the shock effect,” Adams said. She added, “I am truly, truly, truly honored and very humbled by such a kind gesture.” Adams has had friends and family who have been affected by breast cancer. “People will be so blessed to have this in Jessamine County,” she said, “not because it is named in my honor, but because of the lives I see it saving.” Hospital administrators know that some women will put of f scheduling a mammogram if traveling to get one is not convenient. For Jessamine County residents, driving to Lexington is no longer an excuse. “In the interest of wellness and early detection, patients can get scheduled quickly at our facility and can get in and out with low wait times,” said Greg Giles, director of ambulatory operations and development for KentuckyOne Health. The eight facilities of Saint Joseph Health System — in Bardstown, Berea, London, Martin, Mount Sterling and two hospitals in Lexington — merged with hospitals in Louisville in January 2012 to become KentuckyOne Health. The Jessamine center has a 24-hour emergency room and of fers
CT scans and other diagnostic imaging services. Prior to the mer ger, Gene Woods was the system’s CEO from 2005 to 2011. He is currently the executive vice president and COO for Christus Health, based in Irving, Texas. Woods met Corman at a chamber dinner and a few months later approached him about donating to the ambulatory center , which had already broken ground in Nicholasville, Ky. “Someone mentioned that he had multiple myeloma, the same disease my father died from, and we for med an instant connection,” Woods said. “He told me that if my dad had access to the latest technology and science, he might have lived longer.” It didn’t take much convincing from Woods for Corman to contribute to the medical project for Jessamine County. Cor man once counted 26 traf fic lights from Nicholasville to St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington. “The guy who pushed me over the edge,” Corman said, “was Gene Woods.” Woods recalled that when Cor man made the donation, it was not just because the ambulatory center was needed, “but because of the discussions we had about my father,” Woods said. “It was one of the most heartfelt and personally moving things anyone has ever said to me.” Corman is one of W oods’ all-time fa-
vorite people, Woods said. “For one, he has an iron will the likes of which I have never seen,” W oods said. “There are only one or two people in a hundred that could build such a tremendously successful company from scratch, and also fight his disease as valiantly as he has.” Corman formed the RJ Corman Railroad Group in 1973. His sister went to work for the company after working in the banking industry and taking of f eight years to be a stay-at-home mom. “It was only for a couple of weeks, helping the CPA during tax season,” she said. “I left 18 years later.” Today Adams owns the Zaxby’s restaurants in Nicholasville, Danville, Frankfort and Richmond. She and her brother are very close, and the siblings have never forgotten their humble beginnings. “We have a very strong work ethic,” she said. “That’s the way our parents raised us. Work hard and you can accomplish anything you can set your mind to, with the Lord’s help.” “The Jessamine County community is very blessed to have folks like RJ Cor man,” St. Joseph’s Giles said. “He gives to local causes that support health and well-being of all residents, regardless of status or means. We’re grateful for his gift and our continued partnership in this community.”
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Business Lexington • May 10, 2013