St. Joseph's magazine, Vol. 10, Iss. 1, 2014 by St. Joseph's Foundation

ST. JOSEPH’S magazine A magazine for the friends of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center

NORTON THORACIC INSTITUTE

Valley couple plants the seed for world-class institute at St. Joseph’s

New institute will take aim at some of the most prevalent and deadly diseases

Volume 10, Issue 1, 2014

OPENING THOUGHTS As a fourth-generation farmer and one of the Southwest’s most successful agricultural entrepreneurs, John R. Norton III knows the power of a seed. He knows that every seed holds promise for a bountiful harvest, but where a seed is planted and how it is nourished ultimately determines its fate. Norton learned these lessons well from his farmer-rancher father and while earning his degree in agriculture from the University of Arizona. In 1955, he put his education to good use and established the J.R. Norton Co., which cultivated crops on 25,000 acres of farmland in Arizona and California. The company became a leading producer of cotton, wheat, alfalfa, strawberries, cantaloupes, honeydews, citrus, asparagus and other crops for the entire region. When Norton and his wife, Doris, decided to donate $19 million to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center for the development of a new cardiothoracic center, they knew from experience their seed money was being planted in the right place. Norton was born at the hospital, had a lifesaving experience here in his youth, and he and his wife birthed three children here. The family had always received quality care at St. Joseph’s, and it seemed only natural their donation would be nurtured in a similar fashion. It is with great pride that we accept the Nortons’ gift, planting the seed for the John and Doris Norton Cardiothoracic & Transplantation Institute. St. Joseph’s Hospital has already developed strong roots in the areas of lung, cardiac and esophageal research and patient care. Now, with the Nortons’ donation, we aim to intensify research efforts to conquer diseases of the chest, and we plan to offer an even broader array of services to patients. You are personally invited to share in this exciting venture by helping us nourish this young seedling, so that it reaches its fullest potential. Norton Thoracic Institute holds promise of becoming a worldclass center of excellence for the treatment of thoracic diseases. With your continued support, we are certain to meet that expectation.

Patty White President/CEO, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center

Brian R. Mortenson President/CEO, St. Joseph’s Foundation

P.S. Your continued support is vitally important to the work we do. Please make your gift to St. Joseph’s Foundation today. A giving envelope is enclosed for your convenience, or give online at SupportStJosephs.org. On our cover: John and Doris Norton have made a transformational gift that will create Norton Thoracic Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. The new institute is dedicated to lung, esophageal and cardiac diseases.

ST. JOSEPH’S magazine A magazine for the friends of Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center

contents

Volume 10, Issue 1, 2014

$19 Million John and Doris Norton’s gift launches world-class cardiothoracic institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

John and Doris Norton Couple with deep roots in Arizona gives back to their community.

Norton Thoracic Institute: Lung Transplants

Norton Thoracic Institute: Lung Disease

10 Norton Thoracic Institute: Esophageal Disease 12 Norton Thoracic Institute: Cardiac Disease 14 A Seed Is Planted “Our gift is just the beginning.”— John Norton 15 Common Cause Two foundations, one mission: helping lung-transplant patients. 16 Dr. Fix-it Respected surgeon embraces new role as chief medical officer at St. Joseph’s Hospital. 18 Honoring Those Who Serve Memorial wall dedicated at St. Joseph’s Hospital. 19 St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center Opens 20 2014 Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf 22 Benefactor Briefs 23 News 24 It Takes All Kinds of Gifts to Sustain Our Mission Catherine Menor Editor Catherine.Menor@DignityHealth.org

Brad Armstrong, D Squared Productions, Murphy/Scully Photography, Jeff Noble

Drew Whitney Assistant editor Drew.Whitney@DignityHealth.org

Melissa Morrison, Sarah McGrain Padilla Contributing writers

Justin Detwiler Art director/designer

Panoramic Press

Patty White President/CEO, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Brian R. Mortenson President/CEO, St. Joseph’s Foundation

• How to Reach Us • St. Joseph’s Magazine is published by St. Joseph’s Foundation. We welcome your comments and suggestions as well as requests to be added to or deleted from our mailing list. Call 602-406-1041, email Catherine.Menor@dignityhealth.org, or send mail to St. Joseph’s Magazine, Office of Philanthropy, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85013. Please include your name, address, email address and daytime telephone number in all correspondence. Visit us online at www.SupportStJosephs.org.

$19 MILLION

JOHN AND DORIS NORTON’S GIFT LAUNCHES WORLD-CLASS THORACIC INSTITUTE AT ST. JOSEPH’S

t. Joseph’s Foundation has received the largest donation in its history, a $19-million gi that will help create one of the nation’s foremost centers for lung, heart and esophageal medicine at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. e gi from long-time Arizona philanthropists John and Doris Norton is one of the biggest ever given to any hospital in the state. “St. Joseph’s is the leading hospital in the Valley,” said John Norton, who was born at St. Joseph’s. St. Joseph’s will use the gi to expand the hospital’s acclaimed lung and esophageal programs, including the state’s only lung transplant program. Hospital leaders expect the new institute to become as nationally respected as Barrow Neurological Institute, a top brain and spine center. e roots of the John and Doris Norton Cardiothoracic & Transplantation Institute stretch back to 2006 when gis to St. Joseph’s Foundation enabled the hospital to recruit a talented team of lung specialists to the Valley. Since then, that team has developed thriving programs in lung transplantation, esophageal disease diagnosis and treatment, and lung disease diagnosis and treatment. With the Nortons’ gi, St. Joseph’s will take these programs to the next level and develop needed cardiac services. ‘e Nortons’ gi ushers in a new phase in St. Joseph’s long history of healing in Arizona,” says

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Patty White, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s. “With this gi, we will greatly expand our services for people with heart, lung and esophageal diseases.” Research will be a major focus of Norton oracic Institute, especially research into organ rejection among lung transplant patients and into better treatments for lung and esophageal cancers. “Organ rejection, esophageal disease and lung cancer are big problems for many patients. With this gi, we will be able to expand our research into these and other problems,” says Ross Bremner, MD, PhD, director of the institute. “We are also excited to be able to add new educational programs and to establish a telemedicine program that will connect our thoracic specialists with doctors in rural areas.” Brian Mortenson, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Foundation, stressed that the Nortons’ generous gi is a lead gi in a larger fundraising eﬀort. “In the 1950s, the Barrow family gave a lead gi of $1.1 million to launch the much-needed neurological institute. Since then, thousands of others have joined in their support and created the world-class Barrow Neurological Institute. “With the Nortons’ amazing gi, we will do the same thing in the field of cardiothoracic medicine. We so appreciate the Norton family for their faith in St. Joseph's and their commitment to the health of this community.” ∎

Norton Thoracic Institute medical team: Samad Hashimi, MD, thoracic surgeon; Elbert Kuo, MD, thoracic surgeon; Brandi Krushelniski, BSN, lung transplant administrator; Rajat Walia, MD, pulmonologist; Ross Bremner, MD, PhD, thoracic surgeon and director; Jasmine Huang, MD, thoracic surgeon; Michael Smith, MD, thoracic surgeon. Not pictured: Ashraf Omar, MD, pulmonologist.

Thoracic surgeons operate on the organs within the chest wall, including lungs, heart and esophagus.

The start of something big John and Doris Norton’s $19-million gi is the lead gi in a major fundraising eﬀort to grow a world-class cardiothoracic center at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Funds from this first gi will be invested in: • Recruitment of heart and lung specialists. • Launch of needed cardiac services, such as a heart-failure program. • Recruitment of nationally known scientists for expanded research into organ rejection, and lung and esophageal disease. • Creation of a publications department to report on the institute’s research findings internationally. • Development of a telemedicine program connecting St. Joseph's thoracic experts to doctors in rural areas. Additional philanthropic gis will be needed to build and sustain Norton oracic Institute. To learn more, visit SupportStJosephs.org or call 602-406-3041. ∎

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JOHN AND DORIS NORTON COUPLE WITH DEEP ROOTS IN ARIZONA GIVES BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY by Drew Whitney

“We have planted the seed and now invite the community to become actively involved in growing this center into a world-class institute.” — John Norton

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ohn and Doris Norton’s historic $19-million gi to St. Joseph’s Foundation reflects the couple’s long commitment to Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center—and their belief in the potential of the hospital’s thriving thoracic services. “We were compelled by the vision of Dr. Bremner to contribute to the expansion of lung and thoracic services and research at St. Joseph’s,” says John. “e new institute will quickly take its place among the few truly elite medical centers of its kind anywhere.” e Nortons’ history with St. Joseph’s stretches back to John’s birth at the hospital in 1929. Seven years later, the young Norton was raced back to the hospital for a dramatic emergency tracheotomy, which saved his life during a deadly bout with strep throat. e couple birthed their two sons and daughter at St. Joseph’s, and, in true family tradition, their grandchildren were born there, as well. “St. Joseph’s is dear to my heart, and we’re proud to be part of St. Joseph’s family,” says John, who has served on the Barrow Neurological Foundation Board of Trustees and the St. Joseph’s Foundation Board of Directors. “We are blessed to be able to help the hospital and its foundations,” adds Doris, who has been a member of the Barrow Women’s Board since 1988. e Nortons are longtime community benefactors, supporting not only St. Joseph’s and Barrow but also the University of Arizona, the Phoenix Art Museum and other Arizona non-profits. Their many contributions to the community were recognized when the Greater Arizona Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals named them Outstanding Philanthropists for 2010. In 2006, they gied $1 million to St. Joseph’s Foundation for the creation of the John and Doris Norton Healing Garden—a one-acre outdoor sanctuary with walking paths, colorful artwork, sculptures, water features, flowers and other desert

plants—built in the shadow of the Barrow Neuroscience Tower. In 2011, the couple contributed what was then the largest gi ever made to St. Joseph’s Foundation—$4 million to establish the Doris Norton Scholars program, providing scholarships for third- and fourthyear students in the Creighton University School of Medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital. e following year, they contributed another $1.3 million to renovate a

The Norton family in 1964: Johnny, John, Melanie, Doris and Michael.

John Norton spent summers working with his father on the family’s ranch. He was captain of the University of Arizona rodeo team during his senior year.

building on the St. Joseph’s-Creighton campus for administrative oﬃces, a student lounge and gym. e Nortons are excited about the future of Norton oracic Institute. “With this gi we are able to put this project into motion, but our gi is just the beginning,” John says. “We have planted the seed and now invite the community to become actively involved in growing this center into a world-class institute.” ∎

Doris Mae Schaefer met John Norton at the University of Arizona, where both were students. She won the title of Arizona Citrus Queen in 1950, the same year the couple married.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor swears in John Norton as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, while Doris holds the Bible. (1985)

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“I want to be here to raise my kids,” said Michele Lisee, shown here with daughter Jordan, 9; husband, Christopher; and son Sheehan, 11.

LUNG TRANSPLANTS LUNG TRANSPLANT SAVES MOTHER’S LIFE by Drew Whitney

ichele Lisee fought asthma with inhalers and medication for more than 12 years before finding out asthma wasn’t the cause of her breathing problems at all. e problem was much worse: Lisee’s heart was failing because of idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (PH). When diagnosed, Lisee, a mother of four and stepmother of two, was recovering from the unexplained stillborn birth of a daughter. roughout the pregnancy, she had visited doctors and emergency rooms in search of an answer to her breathing problems. “ey kept saying it was asthma, but I knew it was worse,” says Lisee. “I could barely breathe.”

Problems of the heart Finally, testing ordered by an ER doctor revealed that the arteries in Lisee’s lungs had become so narrow they were impeding blood flow. To compensate, the right side of her heart had gone into overdrive and become enlarged. While doctors couldn’t explain the cause of Lisee’s PH, they knew her situation was dire. At the time, Lisee and her family were also battling financial devastation. It was 2008, the economy had plummeted, Lisee had to stop working because of her health, and her husband’s construction business in Massachusetts had come to a standstill. ey packed up their belongings and kids, and headed to Arizona. In 2012, doctors told Lisee that her only hope for survival was a lung transplant. She was referred to St. Joseph’s Hospital, home of Arizona’s only lung trans-

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plant program. Although it was highly unlikely that doctors would find a match for Lisee because of the high level of antibodies in her blood, the St. Joseph’s team agreed to try—and succeeded in beating the odds. “I can’t say enough about St. Joseph’s,” says Lisee. “When I got the call on Oct. 16, 2013, at 5:45 a.m., they had to tell me three times, ‘Michele, we have lungs for you,’ before it sank in.” The best gift of all: new lungs Lisee is one of a growing number of patients to benefit from an experimental system for transporting donor lungs. e goal of the breathing lung system is to improve the health of donor lungs for better recipient outcomes. Eight months aer her successful surgery, Lisee is grateful for the time her lung transplant has given her. “I pray all the time that God will give me enough time to see my kids grow up.” ∎

“They kept telling me it was asthma, but I knew it was worse. I could barely breathe.” — Michele Lisee

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: LUNG TRANSPLANTS REQUIRE CAREFUL ORCHESTRATION FROM START TO FINISH by Sarah McGrain Padilla

lung transplant is a life-altering event that requires careful planning and a lifetime of follow-up care. Step1 The patient undergoes a one- to twoweek-long evaluation, including a battery of physical tests from head to toe, a psychological, social and financial assessment, and hours of education on the lifetime transplant process. Step 2 If qualified, the patient is added to the national United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) transplant list, prioritized by a lung allocation score (LAS). (The LAS reflects both the seriousness of each candidate’s medical status prior to the transplant as well as how successful the transplant might be.) Step 3 The patient is on call 24 hours a day during the wait for suitable lungs, anywhere from a matter of days to months—sometimes even years. Currently, the wait time at St. Joseph’s is very short, and some patients have been matched with suitable lungs within hours. Out-of-state patients must temporarily relocate to Arizona. Step 4 When lungs that may be viable for a St. Joseph’s patient on the UNOS list become available, UNOS notifies the on-call pulmonologist at St. Joseph’s. The pulmonologist determines if the lungs are suitable for transplantation. If they are, a surgical team is dispatched to the donor’s location—usually within 1,500 miles—to procure them. Step 5 Meanwhile, the patient receiving the lungs arrives at St. Joseph’s for surgery. A transplant nurse coordinator maintains contact with both surgical teams, synchronizing the patient’s arrival in the operating room with the arrival of the lungs. Step 6 The lung transplant surgery can last from four to six hours. During the surgery, an incision is made in the chest wall. Surgeons detach the diseased lungs at the bronchus—the main airway—and detach the blood vessels connecting the lungs to the heart. Many patients are placed on a heart-lung bypass machine, which pumps oxygen-rich blood through the body. The surgeon replaces the diseased lung with the donor lung, reattaching the bronchus and blood vessels. Following surgery, the patient is initially placed on a ventilator, and temporary chest tubes help drain fluids. Step 7 The average hospital stay is 10 days, and for the next three months patients must reside within

30 minutes of the hospital. Aftercare includes frequent clinic visits, pulmonary rehabilitation and bronchoscopies to check the health of the lungs. Patients take an average of 10-15 medications daily, which include immunosuppressants for life, to help prevent infection and organ rejection. ∎ Number of lung transplants per year at St. Joseph’s Hospital

Norton Thoracic Institute is one of three centers in the United States that will participate in a second phase of a clinical trial testing a new system of transporting donor lungs. The breathing lung system keeps lungs perfused with blood and oxygen during transport from donor to recipient.

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LUNG DISEASE

SOLVING A MEDICAL MYSTERY: NORTON THORACIC INSTITUTE by Drew Whitney DIAGNOSES, TREATS RARE LUNG DISEASE

efore February 2012, Shawna Hankins was on top of her game, rising at dawn for a rigorous boot camp regimen and jet-setting around the country for her job as a pharmaceutical sales manager. But then a rare autoimmune disease slowly took her breath away, literally. “I was very active,” says the mother of two, grandmother of one. “en one day I was hiking in the mountains and was really short of breath. I knew something was wrong.” Aer treatment for bronchitis and pneumonia, Hankins’ lung capacity diminished, her muscles weakened, and her hands swelled to twice their normal size. She bounced from doctor to doctor before seeing a rheumatologist, who diagnosed her with a rare inflammatory disease known as polymyositis. When her condition worsened, Hankins’ mother insisted on a visit to Ross Bremner, MD, PhD, director of Norton oracic Institute. Bremner knew that he and his partner Rajat Walia, MD, medical director of lung transplantation and interstitial disease, could help. ey discovered through a biopsy that Hankins was suﬀering from interstitial lung disease, a rare autoimmune disorder that inflames and scars the lungs. Hankins forced herself to continue exercising, pushing herself even harder when doctors hinted

she might need a lung transplant. Instead, doctors chose to treat her condition with chemotherapy. She underwent her first round in January 2013. “I didn’t lose my hair, but it made me really sick. I still hiked all summer long. I never missed a day,” she says. By the end of summer, Hankins got the best news she’d heard in a long time: Her lung capacity had returned to nearly normal. “I still have good days and bad days, but the key components that made me healthier were the chemo and the exercise,” she explains. According to Walia, Hankins’ determination to find answers paid oﬀ. “As a transplant center, part of what we do is determine whether a patient has a treatable disease and can avoid a lung transplant. If you think something isn’t right, be your own advocate. It’s okay to get a second opinion because it’s your life.” Hankins has yet to return to boot camp, but continues to hike, exercising the same determination that made her a rising star in the pharmaceutical industry. She is extremely grateful for the care she received. “Everyone at St. Joe’s treated me like family,” she says. “It’s the best care I’ve ever had.” ∎

“If you think something isn’t right, be your own advocate. It’s okay to get a second opinion Shawna Hankins, left, had always led an active life until a rare and difficult-to-diagnose disease robbed her of lung capacity and muscle strength. Above, Norton Thoracic Institute lung specialists Rajat Walia, MD, and Ross Bremner, MD, PhD, solved her medical mystery.

because it’s your life.” — Rajat Walia, MD

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ESOPHAGEAL DISEASE NEW TECHNOLOGY EASES HEARTBURN FOR PATIENTS WITH MODERATE ACID REFLUX DISEASE by Melissa Frederick Morrison

Since Jeffrey Heckel underwent a laparoscopic procedure called LINX, his nightly bouts of heartburn are just a bad dream.

“We are a center of excellence in esophageal disease and need to stay on the cutting edge.” — Ross Bremner, MD, PhD

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or Jeﬀrey Heckel, 51, battling heartburn became a nightly ordeal—with regular 2 a.m. wake-up calls from his burning chest. Prescription medicine worked for awhile, but when those failed to ease the pain, his gastroenterologist referred him to Ross Bremner, MD, PhD, at St. Joseph’s. Heckel, a UPS driver and father of four, had a small hiatal hernia, a gap that allowed his stomach to extend into his chest, causing reflux of gastric acid into his esophagus. Bremner decided to take a less-traditional surgical approach to solving the problem, and, in doing so, Heckel became the first St. Joseph’s patient to undergo the LINX procedure. “LINX oﬀers a more physiologic approach to reflux disease than standard surgery,” Bremner says. “We are a center of excellence in esophageal disease and need to stay on the cutting edge.” LINX involves placing a small ring of magnetic titanium beads around the gateway between the esophagus and the stomach. “Remember when you were a kid, you had those candy necklaces? at’s what it is,” Heckel says. “It’s springy, so when you swallow and food goes down, it opens a little bit, then closes right up so food can’t come back up.” More significantly, stomach acid can’t either. Patients whose stomach contents are regularly regurgitated back into the esophagus are oen diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Aside from discomfort, GERD can lead to serious health problems—ulcers, asthma exacerbations, pneumonia and cancer. “In the GERD spectrum, mild disease is well controlled with medications, while very severe disease and large hiatal hernias need traditional surgery,” Bremner says. “LINX is applicable to all those millions of Americans between the two ends of the GERD spectrum.” While traditional surgery takes up to four hours, and recovering patients are restricted to a liquid diet for a week aer, LINX is a one-hour laparoscopic procedure. Patients can go home the next day and resume a normal diet immediately. Heckel noticed results soon aer his August LINX procedure. “I didn’t have that constant burning in my chest anymore.” ∎

NORTON THORACIC INSTITUTE TAKES AIM AT ALARMING INCREASE IN ESOPHAGEAL CANCER by Catherine Menor

he incidence of esophageal cancer is increasing faster than any other cancer in the Western world—in large part because of drinking, smoking and obesity. From 1975 to 2000, esophageal disease increased 400%, and experts predict that by 2020, it could aﬄict more people than colorectal cancer. “Overeating, smoking and drinking alcohol can weaken the valve between the stomach and the esophagus, and patients end up with bad gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),” says Ross Bremner, MD, PhD, director of Norton oracic Institute. e constant wash of acid that is the hallmark of GERD can alter the lining of the esophagus, causing Barrett’s esophagus, which, if not controlled, can lead to esophageal cancer. Only 13% of people with esophageal cancer survive five years, one of the lowest of all cancer survival rates. “I’m a proponent of what we call Barrett’s surveillance,” says Bremner. “If we endoscope patients with Barrett’s every year or so, we can watch the progression and, in most cases, prevent esophageal cancer.” Norton oracic Institute boasts many high-tech tools for the diagnosis of esophageal disease, including the Valley’s only confocal endomicroscopy, a powerful microscope used to diagnose esophageal cancer; high-resolution manometry to measure swallowing contractions; pH and impedance testing to determine how much reflux a patient is having; and dedicated continuous digital esophagography to provide a real-time movie of a patient’s swallowing. “Esophageal cancer is a tough disease,” says Bremner. “With John and Doris Norton’s generous gi, we plan to expand our research into earlier detection methods and improved treatments for this devastating disease.” Norton oracic Institute researchers are already working with University of Arizona researchers on techniques to prevent the progression of Barrett’s to esophageal cancer. “We are really excited about this collaboration,” says Bremner. “e best way to impact this disease will be through early detection and prevention, and that's where we will be concentrating our eﬀorts.” ∎

Experts predict 50% of Arizonans will be obese by 2020, putting them at risk for acid reflux disease.

Did you know? • Esophageal cancer is rising faster than any other type of cancer in the Western world. • Uncontrolled acid reflux can lead to Barrett’s esophagus. People with Barrett’s have a 5-10% chance of developing cancer within 10 years. • The five-year survival rate for esophageal cancer is 13%, one of the lowest for any cancer. • Esophageal cancer symptoms include difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, hoarseness, choking while eating, heartburn, coughing and chest pain, pressure and burning. Source: National Institutes of Health

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CARDIAC DISEASE RETIRED ST. JOSEPH’S EMPLOYEE GETS ROCK STAR TREATMENT AS FIRST PATIENT TO UNDERGO NEW HEART VALVE PROCEDURE by Drew Whitney

arch 26, 2014, marks a special day in the life of Marion “Bud” Harper and, at the same time, goes down in the historic chronicles of Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. That was the date Harper underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)—and the first time the procedure was performed at St. Joseph’s. Harper is no stranger to St. Joseph’s. He “retired” from his position in the hospital’s biomedical engineering department in 2002, only to return to the payroll at least four more times before his most recent retirement shortly after his 76th birthday in 2012. “I had no doubts about the decision to have the procedure at St. Joseph’s,” says Harper, father of four and grandfather to six. “The staff joked they couldn’t let anything happen to me because they knew me … and I was their first TAVR patient. Everyone treated me like a star.” Perfect match for TAVR Harper’s age and condition matched TAVR criteria to a tee. The minimally invasive procedure is FDA approved for patients considered at high risk for openheart surgery. During the procedure, a fully collapsed valve is delivered via catheter to the site of the poorly functioning aortic valve. Once it is wedged inside the old valve, the new valve is fully inflated, pushing away the walls of the damaged valve and taking over regulation of blood flow. Harper had already undergone a quadruple bypass 17 years earlier and was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atrial fibrillation and emphysema in 2012. “I was weak and had trouble with stamina,” he says.

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Some of Bud Harper’s favorite pastimes are surprising unsuspecting children with My Little Pony toys and letters from Santa. Pictured here with his wife, Carolyn, and dog, Ebby, Harper is the first patient to undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

“It used to be pretty scary going anywhere with him,” says his wife of 55 years, Carolyn, explaining that her husband’s shortness of breath made everything tedious. “Every 10 steps he’d have to stop and wait for himself to catch up.” Since the surgery, Harper has experienced noticeable improvements and no longer relies on an oxygen machine for a good night’s sleep. “I haven’t had oxygen since my first day in rehab,” he says. “It feels great!” A lifetime of adventure Harper traveled around the world at least three times during his 20 years in the Air Force and 17 years with an aerospace company. A native of Kansas, he has lived in numerous states across the country and even spent a month in Lisbon, Portugal, training government employees to use aircraft navigation equipment. In 1993, he graduated with high honors from Glendale Community College, where he trained to become a medical equipment technician, a career he entered in his mid-50s and followed through to retirement. When asked about hobbies, he lights up and confides that simple charitable acts to children form some of his favorite pastimes, proving that Harper’s heart has always been in the right place … he’s just needed a little medical assistance to keep it beating. ∎

NORTON GIFT WILL SUPPORT AN EXPANSION OF CARDIAC SERVICES ALREADY UNDERWAY AT ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL New electrophysiology labs have opened at St. Joseph’s.

ith one out of every four deaths caused by heart disease, the need for quality cardiac services continues to be a major priority for hospitals throughout Arizona. Over the last year, Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital has launched an initiative to develop specialized cardiac services needed by the community—especially in the areas of heart failure, rhythm disorders, valve problems and adult congenital heart disease. A recent gi from John and Doris Norton to establish the Norton oracic Institute will support these eﬀorts. “A portion of the Norton gi is being set aside to develop and advance treatment programs for cardiac disease at St. Joseph’s,” says Kristi McShay, vice president, thoracic and cardiovascular business development. “e vision for St. Joseph’s is to be a destination cardiothoracic hospital that is on the cutting edge of advanced treatment and research.” In March, a team led by cardiovascular surgeons Kevin Brady, MD, Hursh Naik, MD, and Mitchell Ross, MD, performed St. Joseph’s first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures to repair the aortic valves of two patients. TAVR is a new FDA-approved minimally invasive procedure reserved for high-risk patients who are poor candidates for traditional open heart surgery.

Heart-failure specialist Anatharam V. Kalya, MD, joined St. Joseph’s several months ago to establish a program for patients with heart failure, a condition that aﬀects one in every five adults. Kalya was formerly assistant professor of medicine for Mayo Clinic’s College of Medicine and senior associate consultant for the division of cardiovascular diseases at Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale. Several new cardiac facilities have been added, including electrophysiology labs for the diagnosis and treatment of rhythm disorders. A new hybrid operating room for both catheterizations and TAVR procedures is being constructed. It will open this summer. For more information about St. Joseph’s growing cardiac services, call 1-877-602-4111. ∎

“The vision for St. Joseph’s is to be a destination cardiothoracic hospital that is on the cutting edge of advanced treatment and research.” — Kristi McShay S T.

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A SEED IS PLANTED

“Our gift is just the beginning.” — John Norton

hile the $19-million gift made by John and Doris Norton is truly transformational, it is just the beginning for Norton Thoracic Institute. Barrow Neurological Institute began in a similar way when the Barrow family made a lead gift of $1.1 million in the late 1950s. Since then, large and small gifts from thousands of people have grown Barrow into an internationally renowned neuroscience center. Norton Thoracic Institute will reach its full potential only with similar philanthropic support. Lung, esophageal and cardiac diseases affect millions of people and are among the most difficult and deadly of

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diseases. You undoubtedly know people who deal with emphysema, acid reflux disease and heart valve disorders—and their more deadly cousins, end-stage lung disease, esophageal and lung cancer, and heart failure. With the Nortons’ amazing generosity, a first-class team of thoracic specialists and the resources of St. Joseph’s, Norton Thoracic Institute is poised to make a dramatic impact on this important field of medicine. Please consider lending your support to this very worthy project. Contact St. Joseph’s Foundation at 602-406-3041 to learn more. ∎

COMMON CAUSE TWO FOUNDATIONS, ONE MISSION: HELPING LUNG-TRANSPLANT PATIENTS

hile the lives of both Laura Hart Burdick and Jordan Sterling were cut far too short (at 33 and 34, respectively), their mission to help others afflicted with lung conditions continues through the Laura Hart Burdick Foundation and Jordan Sterling Foundation. Burdick suffered severe lung damage following treatment for leukemia, diagnosed during her college years. Treatment led her to Stanford Hospital in California for a lung transplant surgery that extended her life by two years, but she eventually lost her battle to a virus in 2005. Her family founded the Laura Hart Burdick Foundation in 2007 to support the care of lung transplant patients. The timing was perfect: St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center launched the state’s first and only transplant program that same year. “Laura had her surgery before there was a program in the Phoenix area, traveling out of state for evaluation, transplantation and follow-up care,” says her mother, Jane Hart. “Her journey would have been so much less challenging had there been specialized care available locally.” The Foundation’s primary fundraiser is Laura’s Run, a family- and dog-friendly 5k event that has raised more than $100,000 to provide St. Joseph’s transplant patients with social and financial support. Sterling’s journey with lung disease began with a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis at 22 months. In his early 20s,

he traveled to Stanford Hospital for a successful lung transplant and, like Burdick, was treated by Rajat Walia, MD, who is now the medical director of the lung transplantation program at Norton Thoracic Institute at St. Joseph’s in Phoenix. Sterling died in 2009. Shortly thereafter, his family and friends honored his memory by establishing the Jordan Sterling Foundation with a three-fold mission: to support families who have a loved one with cystic fibrosis, to assist organizations providing transplants, and to promote research and treatment of the disease. To date, the Foundation has given $110,000 toward a lung transplant fellowship at St. Joseph’s. The first fellow, Ashraf Omar, MD, is now a member of the hospital’s lung transplant team. The Sterling Foundation is also funding a collaborative research project at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, where David Engelthaler, PhD, and Paul Keim, PhD, are developing tools to more quickly identify cystic fibrosis mutations in patients, resulting in more efficient treatment options. “We’re thrilled that in less than five years we’ve already started to see the needle move in cystic fibrosis research and treatment,” says Kim Sterling-Heflin, Sterling’s mother and chairwoman of the board. ∎

Laura Burdick developed endstage lung disease as a result of cancer treatment and underwent a lung transplant at age 33.

Jordan Sterling, who was born with cystic fibrosis, had a lung transplant at age 34.

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DR. FIX-IT RESPECTED SURGEON EMBRACES NEW ROLE AS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT ST. JOSEPH’S by Sarah McGrain Padilla

s far back as he can remember, Ed Donahue, MD, has been the type of person who likes to identify a problem and find the solution. This fix-it mentality not only guided him through a successful three-decadelong career as a surgeon—it also led him to his newest role as St. Joseph’s chief medical officer. Ironically, Donahue almost didn’t become a physician at all. After college, he served a five-year commitment with the U.S. Navy, including two as the navigator of a warship in Vietnam. There, he started to think about medical school, but the words of an older brother, a physician who once joked that Donahue was not smart enough to become a doctor, lingered in his mind. The younger Donahue almost believed his brother, but not quite. Eventually, he would be admitted to Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, followed by a general surgery residency at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago. In 1984, Donahue opened a private surgical practice in Phoenix.

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Becoming a specialized breast surgeon Over the next 30 years, Donahue’s career would evolve from general surgery to primarily treating women with breast conditions. A turning point in his career came in the mid-1990s when he traveled to Chicago to attend the first breast ultrasound course for surgeons, where he learned how to perform interventional breast ultrasound. A month later, he became the first surgeon in Arizona to offer office-based ultrasound-guided breast biopsies. “Having this technology in the office significantly changed the management of breast lumps,” explains Donahue. “Before, patients with an abnormal mammogram or a lump would have to undergo a surgical biopsy in the operating room for diagnosis. Now, we could evaluate our patients in the office and perform an ultrasound-guided biopsy under local anesthesia during their initial visit.”

For the next 20 years, Donahue chaired St. Joseph’s Cancer Committee, a role that exposed him to the hardships that those with cancer face—especially lowincome women with breast cancer and little to no resources for follow-up care. This was the impetus behind the founding of the St. Joseph’s Breast Evaluation Center (BEC), which opened in 2003. With funding from St. Joseph’s Foundation and the local Susan G. Komen affiliate, along with the strong support of hospital administration, the BEC offers medical evaluation and treatment for women with breast disease who do not qualify for any type of health insurance. “We were able to provide care for the patients who needed it the most, but could afford it the least,” says Donahue. He served as medical director for more than 10 years, during which time the BEC evaluated hundreds of patients and treated at least 50 who were diagnosed with breast cancer. He has donated countless hours of his own time over the years performing life-saving surgery and in-office visits. Women’s services nurse practitioner Gail Brown worked closely with Donahue through the BEC. “He helped develop the program and volunteered his time to keep it going,” says Brown. “You could tell he just had a real passion for making sure these women had the services they needed, and he really made them feel comfortable.” Leading St. Joseph’s into the future Serving in a leadership capacity is nothing new for St. Joseph’s newest CMO. Through the years, Donahue has held long-standing positions as St. Joseph’s chief of surgery, chair of the Ethics Committee of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and president of the Maricopa County Medical Society. And, as medical cirector of St. Joseph’s Comprehensive Cancer Center for six years, Donahue not only played a key role in enhancing the hospital’s oncology services—including thoracic and gynecologic oncology—but he also helped develop the framework of the University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph’s, slated to open in 2015. Teaching has also been an integral part of Donahue’s career, from instructing surgeons in breast ultrasound courses around the country to mentoring young surgical residents. “I feel privileged to have been involved in the development of other professionals, including

some I’ve watched become neurosurgeons, transplant surgeons and hospital CEOs,” he says. Though Donahue’s career has evolved, at least one thing has remained constant—his commitment to St. Joseph’s. His entire medical career has been spent at the hospital, and he even met his wife, Shelley, there. Not many physicians can reflect on such an extensive past, present and future relationship with St. Joseph’s. “Over the years, we’ve seen changes in medical technologies that have allowed us to care for patients better, but St. Joseph’s commitment to its patients has never changed,” he says. “I’m going to do all that I can to continue the mission of this hospital.” Donahue’s role as CMO entails creating solutions to issues that range from patient safety to physician satisfaction—and everything in between. For a guy who likes fixing things, it’s sure to be a perfect fit. ∎

Ed Donahue, MD, helped develop the St. Joseph’s Breast Evaluation Center (BEC) in 2003 and volunteered his time to keep it going, says Gail Brown, NP, who worked with him at the center. The BEC offers medical evaluation and treatment for women with breast disease who do not qualify for any type of health insurance.

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HONORING THOSE WHO SERVE

MEMORIAL WALL DEDICATED AT ST. JOSEPH’S

allen and injured police officers and firefighters— along with members of St. Joseph’s trauma team— were honored during a special ceremony on May 7 at the hospital. The ceremony included the unveiling of a memorial wall dedicated to fallen officers and firefighters who were brought to St. Joseph’s since 2007, when the current trauma center opened. The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association and Phoenix Fire Department presented St. Joseph’s trauma team with a flag that previously flew over the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., and a special fire plaque, signifying the compassion and devotion given to Phoenix firefighters by the St. Joseph’s trauma team. “When our officers and firefighters are brought to St. Joseph’s for medical care, we know they are in the best of hands,” said Joe Clure, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, during the ceremony. Located near the trauma center ambulance entrance, the new memorial wall features photos of fallen officers and firefighters. The concept for the wall began in 2007 when Glendale Police Officer Anthony Hall was fatally shot in the line of duty and taken to St. Joseph’s for care. The staff of St. Joseph’s hung a photo of Officer Holly on a wall in the trauma room to honor his service. That photo was the beginning of a growing memorial.

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The 100 Club commissioned local artist John Culbertson to design and paint a mural on the wall. “St. Joseph’s is proud of its more than a centurylong relationship with the Valley’s police and fire departments, and we are honored that these public safety organizations have instilled their trust in us to treat their beloved colleagues,” said Patty White, CEO and president of St. Joseph’s Hospital. ∎

Above, Raymond Shamos, MD, St. Joseph’s trauma team; Patty White, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s; and Joe Clure, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, participate in a ceremony honoring fallen police officers and firefighters, and members of St. Joseph’s trauma team.

ST. JOSEPH’S WESTGATE

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24 inpatient beds 12 nurses stations 12 emergency beds 2 operating rooms 2 minor procedure rooms 2 ultrasound machines 1 CT scanner 60,000 square feet

DIGNITY HEALTH HOSPITAL OPENS IN WEST VALLEY

ignity Health St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center opened its doors to the public on May 13. The 60,000-square-foot hospital is the first phase of a 35-acre medical campus near Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue. “We are thrilled to be open and providing high quality medical services to the residents of the West Valley,” says Tina Brucato-Day, administrator of the new hospital. “St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center will provide its patients with highly trained medical staff and patient-centered care.” Just as gifts have enabled St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center to thrive and grow over the past 119 years, philanthropy will be critical to the future of St. Joseph’s Westgate. Contributions to St. Joseph’s Foundation can be designated to benefit programs and services at St. Joseph’s Westgate. To learn more or make a gift, call 602-406-3041, or visit SupportStJosephs.org. Dignity Health has four hospitals in Arizona: Chandler Regional Medical Center, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Westgate.∎

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS • Healing environment – garden spaces, ample natural light, noise-reducing materials, bedside lighting controls and temperature control for individual spaces • Patient safety – a critical tenet of the design, encompassing the entire facility and the entire design process • Spiritual wellness – a meditation room on the second floor • Expandability – designed to allow the hospital to grow from 24 to 200 inpatient beds • Green – environmentally friendly architecture

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2014 LGFFG 41ST ANNUAL EVENT SCORES HOLE-IN-ONE

ttendees of the 41st annual Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf scored a collective hole-in-one May 1-2, raising more than $500,000 for medical research and patient care at Barrow Neurological Institute and Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. The opening event at Scottsdale Plaza Resort showcased a Casino theme, drawing 450 guests for gambling fun, cocktails and dinner, capped off with silent and live auctions. Local celebrity and former Good Morning Arizona anchor Tara Hitchcock returned to the spotlight as the program’s emcee, welcoming guests before paying tribute to Lou Grubb, who founded the tournament in 1973. Grubb was a successful Valley businessman who loved golf, friends and charitable giving—the three tenets of Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf. Friday’s tournament pitted 240 friends and family members against each other on two challenging courses at McCormick Ranch Golf Club. After 18 holes, golfers returned to the clubhouse for dinner and a lively awards ceremony, acknowledging the biggest winners of the event: the patients at St. Joseph’s and Barrow. (For more photos of this year’s event, visit Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf on Facebook.) ∎

ABOVE, from top: Dave and Karina Zowine; Frankie Acosta, Rich Tomey, Rob Caldwell and Cub Knee; Tara Hitchcock and Dylan Francis. LEFT, clockwise from top left: Kerri White, Jennifer Bernstein, Alison Lund and Stephen Rodack; Brenda and Cullen Maxey; Roger Maxwell, Evelyn Grubb and Dan Grubb; Cynthia Davis, Shelby Butterfield, Jennifer Lunt and Melissa Button; Nicholas and Elizabeth Oviedo, and Cortney and Billy Long; Chris and Carolyn Hoeye.

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The Futures Committee of Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf includes Brian Kirk, Natalie Grimberg, Tyler Button, Erik Jenson, Lindsi Weber, Nick Bartolo, Julie Bartolo, Brandon Wallraff, Claire Cunningham and Jennifer Hoffman.

NEXT GENERATION BRINGS NEW ENERGY, IDEAS TO LOU GRUBB FRIENDS FORE GOLF

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

hey’re young, inspired go-getters, recruited by the existing Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf Committee to assure the success of the annual fundraiser long into the future. Nicknamed the “Futures Committee,” this group brings to the table exactly what their elders were seeking: a younger perspective, fresh ideas, boundless energy and a passion for charitable service that mirrors that of the tournament’s founder, Lou Grubb. As rising stars in their professions, they used their fine-tuned communication and organization skills to help make the 2014 Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf event the most successful ever—and quickly garnered the respect of their elders, including Grubb’s son, who has followed in his father’s business and philanthropy footsteps. “I would like to thank each and every one on the Futures Committee for their time, energy and enthuAmerican Fire Equipment Angelica Archsol Arizona Cardinals * Arizona Care Network Arizona Diamondbacks * Barrow Neurosurgical Associates Big Two Toyota Scion of Chandler Bill and Linda Hunt * Caroline and Chris Hoeye Cathy and Tom Reahard CBIZ * Celia and Kent McLellan Clark Hill Dan and Kathy Grubb Dignity Health Medical Group DPR Construction * Duke Realty

siasm,” says Dan Grubb. “It is with your help and vision that we can build on past success well into the future. My dad would be so pleased with your involvement. Many thanks to each and every one of you.” Who are these rising stars? The Futures Committee includes Nick Bartolo, 3M; Julie Bartolo, Phoenix Children’s Hospital; Melissa and Tyler Button, Austin Centers for Exceptional Students; Natalie Grimberg, QCM Technologies Inc.; Jennifer Hoffman, the Scottsdale Plaza Resort; Erik Jenson, Integra Sun Corridor Realty; Brian Kirk, McCormick Ranch Golf Club; Elissa Latridis, McCormick Ranch Golf Club; Elizabeth Oviedo, Symmetry Software; Rebecca Pepple, Barrow Neurological Institute; Jake Thomas, Paradise Valley Country Club; Brandon Wallraff, Christovich & Associates; and Lindsi Weber, Gallagher & Kennedy, PA. ∎

Gallagher & Kennedy Gammage & Burnham Grubb Family * Image Stream Medical In Celebration of Golf Jennings Strouss Julie and Mitch Pierce Kathy and Dan Grubb * Kitchell * K.M. Facility Services LLC Lanmore Services Leslie and Donald Budinger McCormick Ranch Golf Club Mayer Hoffman McCann Merrill Lynch MGA Home Healthcare MidFirst Private Bank Nancy and Robert Spetzler

NWQ Peg and Bob Wolf Polsinelli QCM Technologies Randy and Ken Kendrick Ridenour, Hienton & Lewis Sandra and Larry Mayhew * Saundra and Jeff Schrock Scottie and Alan Button Shelby and Steve Butterfield * Smith Group JJR Springrose Family SRP Stericycle Symmetry Software * York Capital Management Young’s Market Company * Major sponsors

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BENEFACTOR BRIEFS Laura’s Run raises funds for lung-transplant patients People of all ages—along with dogs of assorted shapes and sizes—participated in Laura’s Run April 12 at the Scottsdale Sports Complex. The unique fundraiser for lung-transplant patients at St. Joseph’s offered something for everyone—a 5K, a Kids’ Dash and Laura’s Doggie Run. Laura’s Run is sponsored annually by the Laura Hart Burdick Foundation, which was established in memory of Laura Burdick, a young woman whose lungs were irreversibly damaged by treatment for leukemia and who underwent a lung transplant in 2003, before St. Joseph’s established Arizona’s only lung-transplant program. Funds from the run benefit patients in the lung transplant program at Norton Thoracic Institute at St. Joseph’s.

Thanks for the TV! A waiting room at St. Joseph’s received a new addition for the new year—a large flat-screen TV donated by a grateful patient. Chandler resident Karen Neier and her husband were so impressed with the care that she received during a cardiac procedure in mid-December that they wanted to give back. As luck would have it, the couple was redoing their living room and no longer needed the television. They contacted the hospital and arranged for delivery, and St. Joseph’s Facilities Management department installed it in the waiting room. This was the Neiers’ first experience with St. Joseph’s, but they say they wouldn’t hesitate to make the drive from the East Valley for any future medical needs. “The staff was just amazing,” says Neier.

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Left, Jane Hart, Laura Burdick Hart’s mother, pose with members of ASU’s Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Both Jane and Laura belonged to the sorority. Below, runners take off in Laura’s Run.

Race Against Cancer raises funds for cancer care in Arizona The Arizona Diamondbacks and the University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph’s teamed up to present the Race Against Cancer on May 3 at Chase Field. The event raised more than $210,000. The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation distributes proceeds from the event to Arizona non-profits that provide screening, treatment and support for those dealing with cancer.

NEWS Hundreds attend NyICU picnic On March 22, St. Joseph’s Nursery Intensive Care Unit (NyICU) hosted a picnic in Kiwanis Park for hundreds of former patients and their families. Many of the children, who were born at St. Joseph’s between the 1980s and 2014, weighed less than a pound at birth. “Our unit treats some of the most severely ill infants from throughout the Southwest and cares for more than 600 premature babies every year,” said Andrea Sharfner, RN, manager of St. Joseph’s Level III NyICU. “These are some of the state’s tiniest babies, and many stay in the unit for weeks or even months before they are able to go home.” Adrian and Sara Fields enjoy The families and staff the NyICU Picnic. often grow very close after spending so much time together in the NyICU, Sharfner added. Many of the unit’s staff members have spent more than 20 years working with these tiny miracles. Two St. Joseph’s docs publish studies in prestigious journal Two St. Joseph’s physicians—Bradley Monk, MD, and David Brachman, MD—both published multi-year studies about cancer therapies in the Feb. 20 online edition of New England Journal of Medicine. Monk’s study on cervical cancer is expected to result in new standards of care for the disease. Brachman’s study revealed that a drug showing promise in treating brain cancer didn’t perform as expected. His findings will help push research in new directions. Monk is director of gynecologic oncology at St. Joseph’s and the University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph’s. Brachman is medical director of Radiation Oncology at Barrow Neurological Institute.

New England Journal of Medicine, a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society, is one of the the most prominent in the world and thought to be the longest continuously published. “For two of our physicians to have been published in the same edition is remarkable and underlines the superior level of medicine being practiced at St. Joseph’s and Barrow,” said Patty White, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s. St. Joseph’s is gaining recognition for its cancer program. In 2011, St. Joseph’s and the University of Arizona Cancer Center formed an innovative collaboration to offer unparalleled cancer care in Phoenix. Dignity Health Arizona CFO named Keith A. Frey, MD, MBA, has been named chief physician executive for Dignity Health in Arizona, which includes Chandler Regional Hospital, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center. Frey previously served at Mayo Clinic in Arizona as professor of Family Medicine, medical director of Applied Clinical Informatics and associate medical director of Science of Health Care Delivery. He earned a medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MBA from Duke University. Three Dignity Health hospitals receive top rankings Three Dignity Health hospitals received top ratings in Ranking Arizona: The Best of Arizona Business. St. Joseph’s Hospital received the highest ranking among Arizona’s largest hospitals, and its Barrow Neurological Institute was ranked first in the neurological practices category. Chandler Regional Medical Center and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center were ranked first and third, respectively, among the state’s mediumsized hospitals. Ranking Arizona is an annual public opinion poll organized by the Arizona Business Magazine.

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IT TAKES ALL KINDS OF GIFTS TO SUSTAIN OUR MISSION by Alan Knobloch Director of Major and Planned Gifts

s a nonprofit organization, Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center depends on the generous and faithful gifts of our friends. Without them, we would cease to be able to provide many important services that benefit our community. Every gift is important to us. In this issue, we celebrate the largest single gift ever to the hospital. This gift from John and Doris Norton will help us greatly advance our mission in the field of thoracic medicine, providing high quality patient care, teaching the next generation of medical professionals and conducting vital research. While a gift of this magnitude has an amazing impact, every gift is important to us, regardless of the size. Consider these three ways to contribute to the healing mission of St. Joseph’s: Annual gifts Every year, St. Joseph’s Foundation receives contributions from nearly 3,000 individuals and couples who support our ongoing work. These cash gifts comprise the backbone of our development program, and we depend on them to meet our daily obligations. For the most part, these gifts come out of a person’s monthly income. Special gifts As a growing and vital organization, the hospital periodically seeks to raise additional funds for building expansion, endowment growth and other special projects and purposes. We chal-

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lenge our donors to make a larger gift, something beyond their regular gift amount. Such gifts may come from savings or brokerage accounts and represent a significant commitment. While the number of donors making special or major gifts may be smaller than the number of regular donors, these generous gifts are extremely important to our financial health. Ultimate gifts These gifts are in a class by themselves. They are sometimes made during life and sometimes at death, as in the case of a will bequest. Most often, they involve non-cash assets, such as real estate, business holdings or other estate assets. An ultimate gift calls for careful planning and usually requires the assistance of professional advisors. Gifts in the ultimate category represent a smaller but highly committed group of donors. Our planned giving department exists to help these friends complete their “dream gifts.” We value and appreciate every single one of our donors, no matter what type of gift they give. Many of the important programs at St. Joseph’s are entirely dependent on all of them. If you would like to talk with me about your gift and estate plans, please contact me at 602-406-1025 or email Alan.Knobloch@DignityHealth.org. Thank you for enabling us to do what we do.∎

Leave your legacy with Dignity Support the patient care, medical research, teaching and community outreach at Barrow Neurological Institute and St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital and Medical Center with a gift in your will or trust. To learn how you can partner with us in providing world-class medicine for future generations, call 602-406-1025, email alan.knobloch@dignityhealth.org or visit www.planyourlegacy.stjosephs-phx.org.

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