St. Joseph's Foundation, Volume 4, Issue 2, 2008

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

Volume 4, Issue 2, 2008

MEET THE SPRING 2008 HEALTH & WEALTH RAFFLE WINNER And get ready for the Fall Raffle—it’s going green!

Breathing Easier St. Joseph’s Lung Transplant Center gives new lungs and new life to 17 lucky patients


OPENING THOUGHTS Summers used to be a little slower at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. Not as many people came to the hospital for care during the hot months of June, July and August. But that has changed. With the continuing growth of Maricopa County and the entire state, more patients than ever before rely on St. Joseph’s for vital medical services year round. As you’ll see in this issue, the last few months have been very busy at St. Joseph’s. Our Lung Transplant Center celebrated its first anniversary in April 2008. The Center performed 14 successful transplants in its first year and a total of 17 by May 15. The Children’s Health Center opened a new Pediatric Unit that offers a spacious and family-friendly environment for hospitalized children. And, our outreach capabilities have greatly expanded through a new MOMobile, featured in this issue, and increased health education targeted at children and their families. These efforts would not be possible without the many people, both individuals and organizations, who have chosen to support St. Joseph’s Hospital. In this issue of our magazine, you will read about all types of supporters: • The Arizona Diamondbacks, who are partnering with us to educate children and their families about making healthy choices. • Many energetic and dedicated teens who are helping brighten the lives of hospitalized children. • Golfers in the 35th Annual Lou Grub Friends Fore Golf, which has now raised a total of $3.5 million for Barrow Neurological Institute and the Heart & Lung Institute at St. Joseph’s. • Got Mask, a group of lung-transplant patients who have joined together to assist future patients of the Lung Transplant Center. Every benefactor contributes to St. Joseph’s ability to care for our community. Because of you, we are able to improve our services every year and to care for more and more children and adults from throughout our vibrant state. Thank you for your commitment to St. Joseph’s and to the Sisters of Mercy mission!

Linda Hunt President St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center

Mary Jane Crist CEO St. Joseph’s Foundation


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

contents

Volume 4, Issue 2, 2008

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A Deep Breath St. Joseph’s Lung Transplant Center has given 17 lucky patients new lungs and new lives.

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Champions for Children The Diamondbacks team up with St. Joseph’s to promote healthy living to kids and families.

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A Lifetime of Care At the Scott and Laura Eller Congenital Heart Center, care often begins before birth.

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Rock Star Ticket A 22-year-old ad salesman wins the top prize in the Spring 2008 Health & Wealth Raffle.

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Miracle Tours

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TGen Partnership Researchers investigate a variety of topics in the St. Joseph’s laboratory at TGen.

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Our Newest Arrival Hospital, community welcome new, roomier MOMobile.

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New Pediatric Unit Opens

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Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf An eight-year-old girl shows golfers what the fundraiser is really all about.

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Benefactor Briefs

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Checks & Change for Chairs Cocopah Middle School raises $5,400 for 29 new rocking chairs in the Children’s Health Center.

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News

Catherine Menor Editor Catherine.Menor@chw.edu

D Squared Productions, Murphy/Scully Jackie Mercandetti, Jeff Noble Photography

Justin Detwiler Art Director/Designer

Panoramic Press Printing

Linda Hunt, President St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Mary Jane Crist, CFRE CEO, St. Joseph’s Foundation

• How to Reach Us • St. Joseph’s Magazine is published twice a year by St. Joseph’s Foundation. We welcome your comments, suggestions and requests to be added to or deleted from our mailing list. Call 602-406-1041, email Catherine.Menor@chw.edu 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 and daytime telephone number in all correspondence. Visit us online at www.StJosephs-Phx.com.


A DEEP BREATH

TRANSPLANT CENTER GIVES 17 LUCKY PATIENTS NEW LUNGS AND NEW LIFE by Melissa Morrison

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tephen Garlish, No. 13, had to learn to stop reaching for his inhaler at bedtime, even though for the first time in over 60 years, he no longer needed it. Larry Stilwell, No. 10, can now not only walk to his truck without getting winded—he walks four miles around his West Valley acreage every night. Elaine van Swinderen, No. 5, no longer has to leave hours early for appointments, pacing herself and lugging an oxygen tank along with her. Joe Nagel, No. 7, doesn’t have to stand in the grocery aisles reading food labels as cover for catching his breath. The first anniversary of St. Joseph’s Lung Transplant Program in April marked the fact that 14 people can now effortlessly do something that most of us never think twice about: breathe. And, by May 15, three more people had joined their ranks. When St. Joseph’s performed its first transplant on 61-year-old Ann Wylie on April 13, 2007, it became the only Phoenix hospital and one of only two facilities in the state to do lung transplants.

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“The need in the Valley was huge,” says program coordinator Brandi Krushelniski. Previously, patients such as Stilwell, whose lungs were failing due to advanced COPD,had to travel far from their homes, to Tucson or, more often, California, for transplant surgery and lifelong follow-ups. “It’s like a new life,” says Stilwell, 63, who had a double-lung transplant on November 17. “Before surgery, for a six-minute walk [a standard lung-function test],even with oxygen, I’d have to stop 10 times.After surgery, they pulled the suction out of my nose, and that was it. It’s like you’re born again.” ‘I learned a lot about food’ For transplant patients, new lungs literally mean new life. Most become eligible for transplantation when their disease is in its end stages. Nagel’s advanced lung disease had forced him to cede the running of his trucking company several years earlier, and he mostly stayed home watching TV. He did grocery shop, however. Even with his portable oxygen tank in tow, it was a lengthy undertaking. “When I got to the store, I’d grab a basket, and instead of looking stupid,I’d stand there and read labels and catch my breath,”he says.“What should take 20 minutes took an hour.” He adds wryly, “I learned a lot about food.” Before visiting St. Joseph’s, he estimated he had six months left to live. After passing the center’s battery of tests—which include assessments of the patient’s psychological fitness, and financial and social-support systems, along with medical tests—he was put on the national transplant list. It happened to be his 60th birthday.Two weeks later,he got the call he had been waiting for. “I prayed for a miracle, and I think I got one,”he says. He received a double-lung transplant on September 27. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which includes emphysema,is already one of the top causes of death in the United States and is rising. It limits lung capacity, robbing the body of precious oxygen. Pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension are other lung diseases that can be addressed with a transplant. Lung transplants have been reliably performed in the United States since the 1980s. However, despite the Phoenix area’s huge population, the city lacked a transplant program, which meant patients had to travel elsewhere for help—or, worse, not receive any at all.

“In this community, many of the patients with advanced lung disease who were potentially transplantable were being sent to hospice or not being referred to care until we got here,” pulmonologist Tony Hodges, MD, says. Most of the lung transplant team—including Dr. Hodges, Krushelniski, and surgeons Ross Bremner, MD, Michael Smith, MD, and John Nigro, MD—came together from the University of Southern California’s lungtransplant program. (Pulmonologist Rajat Walia, MD, was recruited from the University of Florida.)

Above, Carol Toney checks Joe Nagel’s blood pressure at the Lung Transplant Center. Opposite page, Carl Johnston gets a blood pressure check from Nora Ang, RN, before starting his workout in Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

‘I will now celebrate my birthday on August 4’ “We work really well together,” Krushelniski says. “We believe in team camaraderie. At 2 in the morning, it makes a difference.” The patients have noticed.“They were already a cohesive team, and you can see that,” says van Swinderen, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis 17 years ago and had a single-lung transplant on August 4, 2007. “Thanks to the transplant program, I will now celebrate my birthday on August 4," she says of her new birthday. Patients are wait-listed on a national registry according to the severity of their illness and their geographi-

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“I prayed for a miracle, and I think I got one.” Joe Nagel, #7 cal location.When Carl Johnston, 65, was put on the list, a recent pulmonary function test had put his lung capacity at 19 percent. Four weeks later, he was at St. Joseph’s for his twiceweekly exercise program when his life changed. “I was there at the rehab center having a cup a coffee with some of the guys before going in to exercise and Brandi calls me...” He pauses, choked up at the memory. “When I hung up, I told the receptionist, ‘Barb, I’m getting my lungs.’” Two days later, he was breathing unaided. The surgery takes from four to eight hours. It is tightly coordinated, because the less time the donor lungs are without oxygen, the better the outcome. When lungs become available somewhere within a 1,500-mile range —no more than a two-hour flight—a team consisting of a surgeon and a perfusion technician travel to the donor’s location. Back at St. Joseph’s, the recipient is not usually given anesthesia until the team confirms that the lungs are indeed healthy and a good match.

“We’re timing it so their lungs are coming out of their chest as new lungs are coming into the operating room,” Krushelniski says. In a double-lung transplant, the patient’s ribcage is opened like a clamshell and the diseased lungs removed. “Fibrotic lungs are dense and contracted and have the consistency of liver. Lungs that have emphysema are floppy like a water balloon,” Dr. Hodges says. “Healthy lungs are somewhere in between, like a sponge.” As of May 15, the team had successfully transplanted a total of 17 patients. So far, all have survived. “The [national] one-year survival rate is about 85 percent,which should be looked at in the light that most of these patients would never live a year without the new lungs, and those that do live a year without transplant have horrible quality of life,” Dr. Bremner says. ‘I caught a 50-pound flathead catfish’ Enjoying life again is the biggest side benefit of getting a transplant. Stilwell, for example, celebrated his sixmonth anniversary by going fishing at Bartlett Lake, an activity his previous bad health had denied him. “I caught a 50-pound flathead catfish,” he reports. The transplant team will continue to spread the word of its program to patients as far away as Texas, Nevada, and the California border.

Elaine van Swinderen and Stephen Garlish in Pulmonary Rehab; Larry Stilwell at Lung Transplant Support Group.

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And, of course, Arizona patients who previously might have resigned themselves to a shortened lifespan and diminished breath, will continue to benefit. Garlish, a retired schoolteacher from Casa Grande, had been suffering breathing problems since he was diagnosed with asthma at age two. For the next six decades,he used an inhaler and,more recently,as his lungs

declined, supplemental oxygen. After his February 22 surgery, though, that all changed. “My lungs took over right away,” he says.“When I came home from the hospital, I had all my oxygen equipment here, but just packed it all up and sent it back to the company. I don’t need it at all.”L

St. Joseph’s Lung Transplant Center team includes Ross Bremner, MD, transplant surgeon; Tony Hodges, MD, transplant pulmonologist; Michael Smith, MD, transplant surgeon; John Nigro, MD, transplant surgeon; Rajat Walia, MD, transplant pulmonologist; and Brandi Krushelniski, program coordinator. Funding from benefactors helped recruit the team.

GOT MASK? TRANSPLANT PATIENTS REACH OUT TO OTHERS Carl Johnston and Michele Hutchinson recognized themselves in the woman they saw at the Renaissance Festival. She was toting oxygen, only able to walk short distances before resting. The pair, who became friends as fellow lung-transplant patients, introduced themselves. The woman told them that her doctor had said she was ineligible for a transplant because of her diabetes. “I told her, ‘I was Type 2 diabetes before the operation, and they operated on me,’”Johnston, 65, says. They urged her to visit St. Joseph’s Lung Transplant Center. The woman has since been listed for transplant. Now Johnston and Hutchinson have become formal advocates for the St.Joseph’s program,co-founding a nonprofit organization called Got Mask. A play on the Got Milk campaign, the name refers to the protective gear transplant patients wear in certain public venues to protect their precious new organs from bacteria. Got Mask aims to help future transplant patients overcome some of the hurdles they and others faced.That

Left to right, front row: Linda West, Karen Bell, Michele Hutchinson, Ann Wylie, Tiffany Smith; back row: Alan Bear, Glenn Hutchinson, Ashley Ramirez, Dave Wylie, Steve Garlish.

includes limited financial aid for monthly medical costs; gas cards, so people can afford to get to clinic; and, in the future, subsidized Phoenix apartments, so out-of-towners aren’t burdened by the costs of relocating. “We have been given this precious and wonderful gift,” says Hutchinson, 35, whose cystic fibrosis prompted her transplant, making her St. Joseph’s youngest so far. “We feel we need to make the best of our lives for the donor, donor family and friends, and for ourselves.” L

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CHAMPIONS F

DIAMONDBACKS TEAM U PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVIN

Top, pitcher Doug Davis visits Andrew Rios in the Children’s Health Center; above, St. Joseph’s Sandlot Experiences offers activities for kids (Debbie Castaldo, director of Philanthropic Innovation; Fox 10 weatherman Cory McCloskey and the Dbacks mascot D. Baxter the Bobcat); right, St. Joseph’s signage can be found throughout Chase Field.

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FOR CHILDREN

UP WITH ST. JOSEPH’S TO G TO KIDS AND FAMILIES

Top, Phoenix Fire Department helps with Checker Auto’s Bring ‘Em Home Safe Carseat Campaign; above, pitcher Dan Haren meets St. Joseph’s kids and parents during the “Field of Dreams” experience, sponsored by Brandon Webb and his K Foundation; left, right fielder Justin Upton visits Noah Dreher in the new Pediatric Unit. S T.

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St. Joseph’s President Linda Hunt tells students about the President’s Pass program.

ENHANCED PARTNERSHIP IS EVIDENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CHASE FIELD

s the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate their 10th year as champions in our community, St. Joseph’s has enhanced its partnership with the Valley’s hometown team. St. Joseph’s—the Diamondbacks’ official healthcare partner—is working with the team to reach more children and families with messages about the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. Inside Chase Field, a new area for children now bears the hospital’s name—St. Joseph’s Sandlot Experiences. This interactive area on the third floor of Chase Field features photos of St. Joseph’s pediatric specialists and life-sized cut-outs of Diamondbacks stars along with rulers that allow kids to compare their own height to those of their baseball heroes. Sandlot Experiences features a playground, a stage for educational presentations about healthy living, and a mini replica of Chase Field where kids can try out their batting skills. St. Joseph’s signage is prominent throughout the ballpark, and the Seventh Inning Stretch now features colorful chasing lights with St. Joseph’s name. Outside of Chase Field, St. Joseph’s children’s specialists are partnering with Diamondbacks players and sponsors to encourage children and their parents to buckle up, wear helmets, avoid tobacco and get active:

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• The President’s Pass program gives teachers and principals at select schools near Chase Field a way to reward students for such things as good grades and good character. Students who receive a President’s Pass can go to a baseball game along with five guests.

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• Another program, the No Chew Crew, warns kids of the risks of chewing tobacco. • Checker Auto’s Bring ‘Em Home Safe Carseat Campaign brings together Diamondbacks players, hospital staff and the Phoenix Fire Department in an effort to make sure car seats are properly installed. Diamondbacks players are also reaching out to help St. Joseph’s and the patients it serves. Pitcher Doug Davis and his team recently announced that they have created the 49 Fund, named after Davis’ No. 49 jersey number, to raise funds for cancer programs that serve children and their families at St. Joseph’s. The club has set a goal of raising $49,000 this season from people wishing to make donations of 49 cents, $4.90, $49, $490, $4,900, etc. Davis was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in March and underwent surgery in April. Fans can donate to the 49 Fund online at dbacks.com/49fund. Pitcher Brandon Webb invited 20 children from St. Joseph’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Unit to his“Field of Dreams” experience at the ballpark on July 3. Each child received two tickets to the game, a chance to meet pitcher Dan Haren, and a Dbacks t-shirt, hat and jersey. The event was sponsored by Brandon Webb and the K Foundation, which has also donated three Brandon’s Lockers to the Children’s Health Center. Diamondback players continue to visit St. Joseph’s pediatric patients throughout the season, a tradition loved by patients, their families and visitors. L


A LIFETIME OF CARE AT SCOTT AND LAURA ELLER CONGENITAL HEART CENTER, CARE BEGINS BEFORE BIRTH by Sarah Padilla

aridhi and Bob Buonincontro were hit with a double whammy during the couple’s first pregnancy last year. First, they found out that Paridhi was carrying twins—a boy and a girl. A few weeks later, they were told that their little girl’s heart wasn’t developing as it should. Paridhi’s doctor sent the Peoria couple to the Fetal Heart Program at the Scott and Laura Eller Congenital Jeanette Calhoun, RN, with Diya Buonincontro in the Peds Cardiothoracic ICU. Heart Center at St. Joseph’s, which is believed to be among the few emergnancy, and the baby would most likely need surgery foling comprehensive programs for fetuses with or at-risk lowing her birth. for cardiac abnormalities in the country and the first in Arizona. By managing pregnant mothers and their Caring for the baby and the family fetuses from diagnosis through birth and beyond, the Today, more heart disease is diagnosed in utero than St. Joseph’s team works to make a difficult period a lit- ever before. Early detection of congenital heart conditle easier on the entire family. tions, such as cardiac defects and cardiac rhythm disFor Paridhi and Bob, the news of their daughter’s turbances, allows for appropriate care not only of the condition brought an onslaught of emotions. fetus, but of the family as well. Studies have shown that “Aside from the heart condition, my pregnancy was parents of children with heart conditions cope better healthy—but emotionally, it was tough,” says Paridhi. if the diagnosis is made before birth. “I knew that babies could be born with a heart defect, “Our team not only consults families throughout but I didn’t really know what that meant.” their pregnancy, but we also offer a full complement of At St. Joseph’s, the couple met with pediatric and fetal services once the baby is born,” says Dr. Alboliras. cardiologist Ernerio T. Alboliras, MD, director of the “Knowing that we offer every possible resource makes Fetal Heart Program. By using fetal echocardiography the families feel much more comfortable.” —ultrasound technology that uses high resolution and Since the hospital began developing and enhancing specialized training to see the tiny hearts of fetuses— the Fetal Heart Program two years ago, it has fielded Dr.Alboliras made a diagnosis. Diya, as they would later referrals from throughout the state, especially from name her, had double outlet right ventricle with a rural areas without the capability to treat high-risk hypoplastic left ventricle, a condition in which the left pregnancies. At St. Joseph’s, mothers can deliver with side of the heart is underdeveloped. The fetus would a team skilled in high-risk deliveries, while cardiac and need to be constantly monitored throughout the preg- neonatal teams stand by to stabilize the newborn.

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“We can have a newborn in surgery within minutes of being born. That just isn’t possible at most facilities unless you have a team in place like the one we have formed at St. Joseph’s,” says Stephen Pophal, MD, chief of Pediatric Cardiology. The hospital has the added advantage of state-ofthe-art facilities, such as the newly renovated Heart & Lung Institute Tower and a new Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (Peds CT ICU). Also, as an academic medical institution, St. Joseph’s hosts monthly fetal cardiac care conferences and trains its residents in cutting-edge techniques. On the horizon: fetal heart surgery In fact, the hospital hopes to one day be among only a handful of institutions to perform fetal cardiac intervention, procedures performed on a fetus while it is still in the womb. Another highlight, St. Joseph’s pediatric echo lab includes five echocardiography machines and five specially trained sonographers. One machine remains on standby in the Peds CT ICU. The service has become so prominent that St. Joseph’s pediatric echo census more than doubled this year over last year and is now comparable to that of a large children’s hospital. “St. Joseph’s and the Valley have a large obstetric and neonate population. The enhancement of these services makes it possible for more sick newborns to have expectant and immediate diagnosis and disease management,” says Dr. Alboliras.

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St. Joseph’s multidisciplinary team formed a plan of care for the Buonincontros that included frequent testing with perinatalogist James Balducci, MD; consultations with pediatric cardiovascular surgeons, David C. Cleveland, MD, and John Nigro, MD; and at least weekly interaction with fetal and neonatal cardiac nurse practitioner Beth Rumack. Giving moms a sense of normalcy Rumack serves as a liaison, not only performing medical exams but also helping the families with education, coping, and insurance issues.“We try to give our moms a sense of normalcy to their pregnancy,” she says. Rumack also facilitates St. Joseph’s CHIEF (Complex Congenital Heart Infant Evaluation and Follow Up) Program for babies who have had heart surgery in their first weeks of life. Modeled after a program in the Midwest, CHIEF is a high-risk surveillance program for babies with congenital heart disease who have only a single ventricle or who are dependent on a shunt. Essentially, it allows the team to keep a close watch on infants who are well enough to go home after surgery, but too fragile for general pediatric care. Babies in the CHIEF Program have follow-up appointments every couple of weeks. They are sent home with a pulse oximeter, and parents learn to use the machine to measure their baby’s oxygen saturation levels on their own. They have access to the Scott and Laura Eller Congenital Heart team at all hours via pager, and they are also given a medical “passport”


card with the baby’s relevant information in case of emergency. Most CHIEF babies have a second surgery between four and six months old, at which point they become more stable and graduate from the program—complete with a diploma. “The CHIEF Program allows a good transition period for us, the babies and the families,” says Beth.“It allows the families to have their independence, while helping them through the most fragile period at the same time.” A normal life for Diya Diya and her twin brother, Dolcelino, were born at St. Joseph’s on Nov. 27, 2007. The infant underwent her first surgery in mid-December. In late May 2008, she had her second surgery—a bidirectional Glenn procedure, which essentially allows blood from her upper extremities to flow passively to her lungs, decreasing the work on Diya’s heart. Diya will undergo a third, and hopefully final, procedure at around two years old. And while she will likely need to see a cardiologist and take medication for life, the odds are good that she will otherwise lead a relatively normal life. For now, Diya has received her CHIEF diploma and continues to recover and thrive at home. Thanks to the St. Joseph’s team, her parents are proud to have been a part of what they believe was only the first of many graduations that their daughter will accomplish in her lifetime. L

About the Fetal Heart Program The Fetal Heart Program is directed by Ernerio T. Alboliras, MD, pediatric and fetal cardiologist. Other members of the program are:

• Beth Rumack, NNP-BC, fetal and neonatal cardiac nurse practitioner • Karim Diab, MD, pediatric cardiologist • Lourdes Guerrero-Tiro, MD, pediatric cardiologist • David C. Cleveland, MD, and John Nigro, MD, pediatric cardiovascular surgeons • Ed Rhee, MD, pediatric cardiac electrophysiologist • Stephen Pophal, MD, pediatric cardiac interventionist • Jeanne P. Zenge, MD, neonatologist • Jennifer Acevedo, RDCS, registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer. St. Joseph’s will host the first Phoenix Fetal Cardiology Symposium for health professionals Oct. 31-Nov. 1. For information, call 602-406-5867. Left to right: Paridhi and Bob Buonincontro with their twins, Diya and Dolcelino, and Paridhi’s mother, Laxmi Chaudhary; Beth Rumack, NNP-BC, John Nigro, MD, and Ernerio Alboliras, MD, of the Fetal Heart Program; Diya just days after her second heart surgery; Dr. Alboliras examines Diya as her family looks on.

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ROCK STAR TICKET 22-YEAR-OLD AD SALESMAN WINS TOP PRIZE IN HEALTH & WEALTH RAFFLE ed Myers of Glendale isn’t exactly well known, but he’s getting a taste of the rock star life. As the top winner of the Spring 2008 Health & Wealth Raffle, Ted won a prize package valued at $1 million, including a black Mercedes ML320 CDI, cash in the bank, and people“coming out of the woodwork”who want to talk to him. The 22-year-old Phoenix New Times account executive says his mom reminded him about buying an Early Bird ticket for the bi-annual raffle on March 19, but before he could purchase one, Meyers won a free $100 ticket from KEDJ FM (103.9) during an on-air contest over his lunch break.

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‘I couldn’t believe it’ When Kathy Rice, manager of the raffle, called him and left a voice message, he had no idea what was in store. “Her message was really casual. She said, ‘Hi, Ted, this is Kathy Rice from the Health & Wealth Raffle, and I have some news for you. Give me a call back when you have a minute.’ When I called her back, I thought maybe I had won a camera. Instead, she told me to sit down and then said I had won the top prize. I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “I started to freak out and I ran into the courtyard.” His mom was certain Myers would win, but after receiving the initial news, his dad called Rice to make sure his son did hold the winning ticket. According to Rice, that’s a typical reaction.“The prizes in the Health & Wealth Raffle are incredible, so we often have winners who think when they get the call, that it’s a prank. Once they realize it’s the real deal, their voices quickly change from doubt to pure excitement,” she says. ‘I was broke’ Myers, who graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in 2007, also won a T.W. Lewis home in Goodyear as part of the grand prize but chose the cash option instead of the house. “My mother immediately made me pay off my student loans,” he says.

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by Sally J. Clasen

While his economic status has changed dramatically—“I was broke”—Myers is applying some common sense about managing his new fortune.“I’m not spending the money like an idiot. I’m looking at it as a longterm investment so I can retire.”He’s also sharing some of his cash flow with family and friends. “I’m helping my older brother and his wife who are in the middle of adopting a child from Kazakstan and my younger brother buy a car. I’m also making anonymous gifts here and there. Some of my friends might see that someone made a $1,000 payment on their credit cards,” he says. ‘I just found a big investor’ The winning ticket couldn’t have come at a better time for Myers. He called in to the radio station on his way to Wells Fargo to get a $10,000 cash advance to fund the production of his band Faucet’s first full-length CD, which will be released in September.“I texted my band members and told them not to worry about the money anymore—I just found a big investor who will pay for everything,” says Myers, who is a drummer. Myers is grateful for his winnings but is experiencing the flipside of his newfound wealth, like a higher tax bracket, media attention and the associated “costs” of upgrading from a Ford Focus to a high-end SUV import. “I was filling up, and the pump stopped at $100, and the tank still wasn’t full,” he says. Despite the price of diesel fuel, Myers says the SUV is the perfect vehicle for him to tote around his drums. Plus, he enjoys the reaction he gets when he pulls up in his new luxury auto.“I get more looks from jealous old men who probably think my parents bought me the car.” Yet Meyers is keeping his new trappings all in perspective. The instant millionaire still works at the New Times and takes his Focus on sales calls to keep his prewinning image intact. “I can’t really sell an ad for $100 pulling up in a brand new Mercedes.” He also lives with his parents, but that’s okay because he eventually plans to hit the road with his band mates to promote the new CD.“Winning the raffle was great, but it’s not enough to retire at 22; it just makes it easier.” L


The Fall 2008 Health & Wealth Raffle goes green!

Watch your mail for news about the next Health & Wealth Raffle, which officially launches on August 6. The Fall 2008 Raffle features a green theme: A large portion of the vehicles up for grabs are hybrid or fuel efficient, and what could be greener than cash? Raffle proceeds support research, medical education and care for those in need. Tickets are $100 each, and there are also a limited number of 3-for-$250 packs available. To learn more or to buy a ticket, visit www.healthwealthraffle.org.

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Miracle Tour Dates 2008-2009 9 a.m.-1 p.m. followed by optional lunch

Thursday, October 9 Thursday, October 23 Thursday, November 13 Thursday, November 20 Thursday, Dec. 4 Thursday, Dec. 18 Thursday, Jan. 15 Thursday, Jan. 29 Thursday, Feb. 12 Thursday, Feb. 26 Wednesday, March 4 Thursday, March 19 Thursday, April 2 Thursday, April 16 Thursday, May 7 Thursday, May 21 Call St. Joseph’s Foundation 602-406-3041 to reserve a spot in a Miracle Tour.

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MIRACLE TOURS ister Madonna Marie Bolton is a St. Joseph’s veteran who has filled various nursing and supervisory roles at the hospital. Now, this staff member of St. Joseph’s Foundation and Barrow Neurological Foundation is working with doctors, nurses, staff, and patients to educate people in our community about the programs and services at St. Joseph’s—and the importance of philanthropy. Sister Madonna recently redesigned the foundations’ Miracle Tours. The new morning tours give participants an up-close and personal look at specific areas of the hospital, such as the Children’s Health Center, the Heart & Lung Institute, Barrow, and the Emergency Department and Trauma Center. “Each tour begins in the TelePresence Conference Room where participants learn about this incredible teleconferencing system and watch about five minutes of a taped neurosurgery,”says Sr. Madonna.“They hear presentations from doctors, researchers, and staff, and personal stories from patients. Then we take our guests on a tour.” Hospital staff members have been instrumental in the success of the tours so far, says Sr. Madonna. “I’ve been extremely pleased with the willingness of our staff to make presentations and give tours of their areas. They have really made our guests feel welcome.” The tours actually begin before participants ever reach the hospital. After they’ve signed up for a tour of a particular area, the foundation staff mails them information about the tour, patient stories, and a parking pass. “We hope to touch their hearts and show them why St. Joseph’s and Barrow are so important to this community,” Sr. Madonna says. For information about St. Joseph’s Miracle Tours, call St. Joseph’s Foundation at 602-406-3041. The office is open Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. L

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Photos, clockwise from top left: Researcher Jong Rho, MD, gives a tour of a research lab at Barrow; Sister Madonna Marie Bolton welcomes tour guests in the TelePresence Conference Room; tour participants Kathy Harris, David Miller, Jr., and David Miller, Sr., learn about research at Barrow during a spring 2008 Miracle Tour; Dr. Rho describes his research into epilepsy.

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TGEN PARTNERSHIP by Sally J. Clasen

RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATE VARIETY OF TOPICS IN ST. JOSEPH’S LABS AT TGEN

ignificant medical research occurs around the world every day. In Phoenix, collaboration between experts at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is creating a significant intersection of lab and clinical study in Arizona that will lead to better medicine. TGen is a non-profit organization focused on developing earlier diagnostics and smarter treatments for a number of medical issues through cutting-edge translational research. Translational research is a a relatively new field that takes innovative advances arising from the Human Genome Project and applies them to the development of diagnostics, prognostics and therapies for cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes, and other complex diseases. The genetic map is helping guide several physicians and scientists from St. Joseph’s in their research efforts to interpret variations in DNA—discoveries that can ultimately shift traditional treatment based on symptoms to personalized treatment that targets the underlying cause of an individual’s disease. Below are three examples of the research being conducted in the St. Joseph’s laboratories at TGen. All three receive major funding from St. Joseph’s Foundation.

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Pre-term labor, preeclampsia Robert Garfield, PhD, is studying the causes of pre-term and term labor during pregnancy, particularly uterine contractions and cervical function. The focus on preterm labor is aimed at unraveling what he describes as the “biggest problem” in obstetrics. “It’s still a very big mystery why women go into preterm labor,” explains Dr. Garfield about his research. “What causes it, how to diagnose and treat it effectively are all unanswered questions.” Dr. Garfield, a pharmacologist who has pioneered studies on the role of hormones, specifically progesterone, in inhibiting labor, has developed two clinical instruments to help gauge the delivery time clock. One records the electrical activity of uterine muscles, and one tracks the softening of the cervix. Dr. Garfield says that these tools, along with TGen’s cross-functional approach, will help decipher the mysteries of pre-term labor and potentially develop treatments to stimulate or inhibit labor. In addition, Dr. Garfield is working on studies related to blood flow to the fetus and preeclampsia, another huge problem in obstetrics. Of his association at TGen he says,“It’s an attractive link—a high-level of molecular biology that I’m anxious to tie in with my research.” Lung and congenital heart disease Brigham C. Willis, MD, director of Cardiopulmonary Research for the Scott and Laura Eller Congenital Heart Center at St. Joseph's, is investigating the mechanisms of lung disease, focusing specifically on diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In IPF, the air sacs of the lungs are replaced with fibrotic tissue that causes an irreversible loss of the tissue's ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. As the principal investigator of the Lung Injury Lab at St. Joseph's down-

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town campus within TGen, Dr.Willis conducts research focused on understanding the cellular mechanisms of the alveolar epithelial cells (cells that line the air sacs) of the lungs and how they may contribute to scarring and injury. That understanding, says Dr.Willis, will lead to better treatments for those with the chronic, progressive disease. “This particular lung disease is rapidly lethal, and the survival rate for patients once diagnosed is three to five years,” he explains. In addition to these studies of the mechanistic underpinnings of lung disease, Dr.Willis also is engaged in helping to develop research programs designed to uncover the genetic and physiologic basis of congenital heart disease and its complications.

Lung cancer Ross Bremner, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of General Thoracic Surgery at St. Joseph’s, is investigating the genetic mechanisms of metastasis and the role of new therapies in treating lung cancer. “When it comes to lung cancer, our understanding is way behind that of other cancers. With standard chemotherapy, it’s sort of a crapshoot at the moment,” Dr. Bremner says.“Only about 20 percent of lung cancers respond well to current agents.” As part of his research efforts, Dr. Bremner, along with Keith Coon, PhD, and Landon Inge, PhD, is studying the patterns of lung tumors and the effectiveness of different treatments, as well as looking at new lung cancer therapies. In addition, Dr. Bremner, who directs the Thoracic Oncology Lab in the TGen building downtown, is analyzing why lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body and how to stop this process. Dr. Bremner's team is collaborating with TGen on many of these projects. “The TGen connection is a great setup,” he says. “They provide a great deal of depth in genomics, and we provide a strong clinical backup that helps with the translational aspect of cancer research. The arrangement allows us to take concepts from the bench to the bedside.” L

Opposite page, Robert Garfield, PhD; above, Brigham Willis, MD; left, Landon Inge, PhD, postdoctoral fellow; Valerie Felton and Jamie Dechon, research technicians; Ross Bremner, MD; and Keith Coon, PhD, research assistant. All three areas receive major support from St. Joseph’s Foundation.

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OUR NEWEST ARRIVAL HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY WELCOME NEW, ROOMIER MOMOBILE

by Sarah Padilla

MOMobile staff members Lupita Villa and Gail Brown, RNC, WHNP, with patient Viridiana Munoz and her daughter Evany. 18

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eighing more than 12,000 pounds and measuring 60 feet long, St. Joseph’s newest arrival was welcomed to the community this spring with an equally sizable baby shower. On March 10, St. Joseph’s debuted its brand-new Maternity Outreach Mobile (MOMobile) with a celebration in the hospital circle that included a blessing and tiny pink and blue cupcakes. The following day, the unit hit Valley streets to continue providing prenatal care to women in the community who otherwise might not receive any. The new MOMobile, a 20-foot truck pulling a 40-foot trailer, replaces an ailing 13-year-old RV that was prone to frequent breakdowns. Among the improved features of the new unit are two working exam rooms, an expanded waiting area with a flat-screen television, an office in which staff and patients can have private conversations, and updated medical equipment. “We have so much more room for our patients now, and it’s more comfortable for everyone,” says MOMobile manager Gail Brown, RNC, WHNP. “The extra space has really enhanced our patient care.” The MOMobile team, which includes an outreach coordinator, a clinical coordinator, and three nurse practitioners, helped design the custom unit practically from the ground up. Since much of the team has worked on the unit for more than 10 years, they knew what they wanted. “Before our mechanic so much as put in a screw, he would call and ask for our input. What we wanted, we pretty much got,” says Antonieta Salomon, outreach coordinator. Next up for the MOMobile is equipping the unit with the capability to access the hospital’s electronic medical records system. Currently, the team charts patient information by hand and then inputs that information into computers on the hospital campus—a time-consuming process that eats up hours each week. Electronic charting could enable the team to add an extra day of patient care each week. Today, the MOMobile treats women three days a week at sites in Mesa, Avondale, and a new location in West Phoenix. The team hopes that the unit’s improved

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efficiency and reliability will allow them to reach out to more patients. Currently, they have an average of 200 patient visits each month, and more than 170 MOMobile babies are born at St. Joseph’s each year. The purchase of the new MOMobile was made possible by generous gifts from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, the BHHS Legacy Foundation, and Stephen and Shelby Butterfield. U.S. Senator Jon Kyl and U.S. Representative Ed Pastor were successful in procuring additional federal funding for the new unit and equipment. L

The new MOMobile was made possible by donations from The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, the BHHS Legacy Foundation, and Stephen and Shelby Butterfield. U.S. Senator Jon Kyl and U.S. Representative Ed Pastor procured additional federal funding for the unit.

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NEW PEDIATRIC UNIT OPENS new 30-bed pediatric unit where all of the patient rooms, except one, are private opened May 1 in the Children’s Health Center at St. Joseph’s. This is a dramatic change for the hospital, where semi-private pediatric rooms have been the norm. “We made this change in response to parent feedback. We know that private rooms make patients and their family members more comfortable and provide a better atmosphere for recovery in a family-centered environment,” says Kathleen Rodriguez, clinical nurse manager of Pediatrics. “We’ve been wanting to make this change for a very long time, and it’s exciting to watch it happen.”

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The new Pediatric Unit features private rooms, child-friendly nurses stations, and a Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.

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The new unit features child-friendly nurses stations, a playroom, a teen room, and a Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. New flooring, televisions, a nursecall system, and ceiling tiles were installed throughout the floor, and improvements were made to the fire alarm system. Each patient room contains its own private bathroom. Renovations are now being made to the old Pediatric Unit where patient rooms will be transformed from semi-private to mostly private pediatric rooms. L


LOU GRUBB FRIENDS FORE GOLF EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL SHOWS GOLFERS WHAT THE FUNDRAISER IS REALLY ABOUT

Taylor Radke and her little brother, Blake

rganizers of the annual Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf tournament, dinner and auction have always described the fundraiser as an event that stresses fun, food and fellowship. But there’s another vital element to LGFFG, and it was well represented this year by young Taylor Radke. The eight-year-old child traveled with her family from their home in Illinois to personally thank golfers for their support of Barrow Neurological Institute. You see, Barrow saved Taylor’s life. In September 2007, Taylor was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor between the base of her brain and her spinal cord. Taylor’s doctor told her parents, Laurie and Jeff, that she needed immediate surgery. But the Radkes could

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find no one who was willing to tackle the difficult and risky surgery. After consulting numerous doctors, the Radkes were near despair. Then they contacted Robert Spetzler, MD, at Barrow. “He told us, ‘I don’t know if I can save her, but I’ll try,’”Laurie says.“He was the only doctor out of 27 who said that.” In late October, Taylor underwent surgery at Barrow. Surgeons used an endoscopic approach to reach the tumor, eliminating the need for major incisions in the child’s skull. “It’s just the greatest thing they’ve done for us,” says Laurie.“How do you pay back someone who’s saved your daughter’s life?”

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Photos clockwise from top left: Rufus Watts and Calvin Culpepper; Patti Boyd Gentry, LPGA tour professional and instructor Tina Tombs, and Mary Jane Crist; Steve Heit sinks a hole-in-one on the Party-Putt green; Anne Robbs poses with the Mustang offered by Dan Grubb Ford for a hole-in-one at the tournament; Ginny Sparks putts while Tim Craghan, Matt Turney, and Dave Burgstahler look on. Dan Grubb, Kevin Egan, Norman Stout, Tom Blanchfield, and Terry Rochford.

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Taylor is just one example of how proceeds from the golf tournament help patients at St. Joseph’s. Now in its 35th year, Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf has raised $3.5 million for Barrow Neurological Institute and the Heart & Lung Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center—including a record $500,000 raised this year. The 2008 LGFFG began with a dinner and auction on the evening of April 24 at the Arizona Biltmore. An 18-hole tournament and awards dinner was held the following day at McCormick Ranch Golf Club. Sponsors were Photo Sculptures–Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona; Event–Angelica, DPR Construction, Greenberg Traurig, Lou and Evelyn Grubb, Kitchell Contractors, and XEROX; Gold Tee–Tom Blanchfield, Roger Ferguson, The Hunt Corporation, SmithGroup Arizona, Inc., and University Mechanical and Engineering; Silver Tee–Blind Ideas, and Scottsdale Private Bank; and Party-Putt Table–McCormick Ranch Golf Club, Inc., and Salt River Project. A special thanks goes to this year’s golf committee members: Charles Alfano, MD L. Don Brown Scottie Button Wayne S. Doran Mike Ford Cassandra Groh Lou Grubb William Hunt Stuart Kirk Gene L’Heureux Tony Hodges William Long Roger Maxwell Mike Medici Loui Olivas, PhD Tom Reahard Anne Robbs Dennis Sage, chair Dennis Scully.

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BENEFACTOR BRIEFS Basha family’s gift honors Nadine’s mother, Louise Mathis A fountain was dedicated in honor of Louise Mathis, the late mother of Nadine Basha, on June 5 in the hospital’s Healing Garden. “Lou was a very caring, charitable, loving woman,” said Eddie Basha of his late mother-in-law.“Her life was filled with love, caring and compassion. The fountain's water is a fitting symbol of her life." The Bashas were accompanied by their sons, Josh and Jeremy. The Basha family has a long history of giving to St. Joseph’s. The iconic statue of St. Joseph and Baby Jesus, which greets visitors at the hospital’s main entrance, was a gift from the Basha family.

Josh, Jeremy, Eddie, and Nadine Basha in the Healing Garden

Two new Andrea’s Closets open in the Children’s Health Center Two new Andrea’s Closets have opened in the Children’s Health Center at St. Joseph’s. Traci and Kenny Brunk, the founders of Andrea’s Closet, donated a closet in the hospital’s Children’s Rehabilitative Services. The storage unit, which was officially introduced on March 19, will be kept full of new toys and games for children undergoing procedures at CRS. Former Miss Arizona Teen Erika Franzve and her family donated an Andrea’s Closet full of goodies to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the hospital. It is the 29th Andrea’s Closet in Arizona. The newest Andrea’s Closet at St. Joseph’s was unveiled on June 6. Andrea’s Closet is a non-profit charity that has been helping hospitalized children since 2002. When a child

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is facing a difficult medical treatment, injury or illness, caregivers can take them to Andrea’s Closet where the child chooses a special toy or game. Andrea’s Closet was created at St. Joseph’s by the Brunks in honor of their daughter, Andrea, who passed away from leukemia just shy of her 10th birthday. For more information about Andrea’s Closet, visit www.andreascloset.org.


Grandmother has given over 500 teddy bears for kids at St. Joseph’s Sharon Likos, a grandmother of five, handmakes hospital gowns for a very exclusive club at Children’s Rehabilitative Services (CRS) at St. Joseph’s—a teddy bear club. The idea originated more than three years ago when Likos’ grandson, Carter, was undergoing surgery. Like many pediatric patients, Carter was scared. To help comfort him, Likos handmade a miniature hospital gown, tied it on a teddy bear, and gave it to him. “I wanted Carter to feel like he had a buddy, a friend to accompany him at the hospital,” says Likos. “As a grandmother, I know how hard it is on a family to see their child undergo surgery. I wanted the bear to provide extra comfort.” After seeing how well Carter responded to the teddy bear, Likos decided to start a club, the Carter Bear Club, named after her grandson. Since then she has delivered more than 500 teddy bears, around 15 a month,

to CRS patients who are undergoing surgery. Many of these patients have chronic conditions such as spina bifida and cerebral palsy. Each bear is dressed in a handmade hospital gown and Sharon Likos and Child Life coorcomes with a dinator Lori Takeuchi card welcoming the patient to the Carter Bear Club. The teddy bears Likos uses are donated by family and friends; she purchases everything else needed for the clad bears.

Patient writes winning essay in tribute to Child Life at St. Joseph’s Taylor Landreth, 14, is not only a budding writer but also a budding philanthropist. The student recently won a Soroptomist essay contest with a piece about the importance of Child Life to hospitalized children, and then donated the $2,250 she won to the hospital department. A former patient at St. Joseph’s, Taylor wrote in her prizewinning essay about the impact Child Life had on her stay at St. Joseph’s and the d e p a r t m e n t ’s need for more toys and supplies. Taylor and her family visited St.

Joseph’s on June 24 to present the check. During the visit, Taylor read the essay to Child Life staff members. In addition to her most recent donation, Taylor has given $5,000 in toys and $2,000 in scrapbooking materials, along with 1,500 handmade cards, to the Pediatrics Unit and Children’s Rehabilitative Services at St. Joseph’s. “As her mom, I cannot express the joy and pride I feel seeing Taylor accomplish her goal of giving back to others,” said Taylor’s mom, Mari Landreth, after the family’s visit to St. Joseph’s.“Seeing all the families that are touched by the Child Life Department was amazing.” The Child Life specialists are trained to deal with the emotional needs of hospitalized children and teens who are coping with both illness and separation from home. Support extends to siblings. Child Life staff members supervise playroom sessions, the teen room, pre-surgical education, and toy, Nintendo and video libraries.

Taylor Landreth read her winning essay about the importance of Child Life during a visit to St. Joseph’s.

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Then and now: St. Joseph’s alum returns with 300 books for children Alex Scheerer was born 14 years ago at St. Joseph’s. His proud father, Don, is pictured with his newborn son in front of the St. Joseph statue, then located at the Thomas Road entrance. Fast forward to early 2008. That’s Alex again in front of the statue, which now graces the hospital’s circle drive. See the books Alex is holding? They’re a few of the more than 300 books this young man collected to give to the Children’s Health Center. Alex even produced brochures about his cause and distributed them to fellow students in his social studies class at All Saints Episcopal Day School. Alex took a tour of the children's areas at St. Joseph’s when he delivered the books.“I felt proud because I knew that the books would supply countless hours of entertainment for children who are undergoing medical procedures,” he said. Betsy Scheerer, Alex’s mother, was born at St. Joseph’s, too. Alex, a freshman at Brophy College Preparatory, hopes to help St. Joseph’s more in the future.

Fry’s “Giving Hope a Hand” gives $50,000 to Breast Evaluation Center Fry’s Food Stores donated $50,000 to the Breast Evaluation Center at St. Joseph’s as part of the company’s statewide “Giving Hope a Hand” program. Fry’s sponsors“Giving Hope a Hand”annually to increase awareness of breast cancer prevention and treatment, and to raise funds for breast cancer services. During the campaign, pink tabs are displayed on all participating products on shelves in Fry’s stores, and each time a customer purchases an item, a portion of the purchase goes toward 26

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this fundraiser. The Breast Evaluation and Treatment Center is a volunteer-run program that provides free, multidisciplinary cancer care to low-income, uninsured women.“We are very appreciative of Fry’s ongoing support of this vital program,”says Dr. Edward Donahue, medical director.

Lupita Villa, Edward Donahue, MD, and Gail Brown, WHNP, accept a check from Kendra Doyel of Fry’s Food Stores.


Brother and sister give birthday gifts to kids at Children’s Health Center For most kids, a birthday is a time to bask in the spotlight and haul in as many gifts as possible. But this year, brother and sister Dylan and Isabella Steidley decided to share their blessings with other children who might not be as fortunate. The six- and seven-year-old siblings had recently had a personal experience with St. Joseph’s. In February 2008, Isabella, then 6, fell backwards off a chair at home and hit her head.At a hospital emergency room, doctors discovered a large hematoma in her brain and flew her to St. Joseph’s for care. Barrow neurosurgeons operated on the child, and Isabella spent several days in the hospital, including three days in the Pediatric ICU. Her parents, Dr. Debora Gama Lima and Dr. David Eric Steidley, were impressed with the care Isabella received, especially the emphasis on making the experience as positive as possible for Isabella.

“Whenever Isabella was having a painful procedure, she was given a toy,” says Dr. Gama Lima. “For kids, it makes the process so much easier, and I thought the staff did a very good job.” Isabella and Dylan, whose birthdays are just a month apart, had a joint birthday party in the spring. They gave a good portion of their gifts to the Children’s Health Center and used gift cards they’d received to buy additional toys. Isabella has made a full recovery.

Leader Circle chooses three hospital areas to support The Leader Circle, a group of community leaders who support St. Joseph’s, recently announced it will make gifts to three different service lines at the hospital. Formed just two years ago, the Leader Circle engages philanthropic-minded individuals in supporting the Valley’s oldest and largest hospital. “What’s really innovative and unique about this group is that members are able to engage directly with physicians and scientists about the newest developments in the medical community and really make a tangible impact,” said Kathy Kramer, vice president of Leadership Gifts at St. Joseph’s Foundation. Members contribute at least $1,000 each to participate, and this year, with a total of 34 members, the group raised nearly $40,000, which will be split among three departments: • St. Joseph’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, an American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancerapproved center that guarantees access to quality, comprehensive care;

provides the most up-to-date, cutting-edge surgical care to patients with cardiac and vascular diseases.

• The Arizona Child Study Center, a center that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and families affected by mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental disorders; and • The Cardiovascular Center, a center of excellence within the Heart and Lung Institute at St. Joseph’s that

“The Leader Circle is a testament to the power of bringing together a group of philanthropy-focused individuals,” said Daniel Kessler, MD, director of the Arizona Child Study Center. For more information about joining the Leader Circle, please contact Kathy Kramer at (602) 406-1042 or Kathy.Kramer@chw.edu.

Leader Circle members Dee Nowell, Jill KrigstenOrmsbee, and Randy Smith, and guest Doug Robinson enjoy a reception at Wally’s Pub.

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CHECKS & CHANGE FOR CHAIRS COCOPAH MIDDLE SCHOOL IN SCOTTSDALE RAISES FUNDS FOR 29 NEW ROCKING CHAIRS IN THE CHILDREN’S HEALTH CENTER

Opposite page, Cocopah Student Council sponsors Julie Harris and Jamie McCrensky (both seated) accompanied Student Council members to St. Joseph’s to present a check for the chairs. After the presentation, the students visited the heliport on top of the Barrow Neuroscience Tower. Below right, Kaitlyn Hertzog, student body president, was interviewed by a TV station.

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Who we are We are the Cocopah Middle School Student Council seventh and eighth grade representatives. We are the Community Outreach Committee under the direction of the committee president, Kaitlyn Hertzog. The members include: Haley Augur, Jacob Kaye, Emma Kitnick, Hayley Mann, Shea McAdoo, Madi Raskin, and Molly Wagge. As the first Community Outreach Committee, we knew we wanted to give back in an exceptional way. Why we chose St. Joseph’s There were many deserving hospitals in the area, but St. Joe’s caught our eye. We chose St. Joes’ because they help kids, like us, every day. We wanted to give back what was given to us. Many students that attend Cocopah Middle School have special connections with St. Joe’s. For example, one of the members of our committee, Haley Augur, and our president’s younger sister, Hailey Hertzog, have both undergone heart surgery. St. Joe’s prevented two possibly fatal conditions.


Furthermore, they give equal care to everyone no matter their financial situation. For this reason, they were in dire need of many new rocking chairs for their neonatal units. When we called, they were ecstatic to hear that someone was willing to help them out. We knew immediately that they were the one to help. How we were successful To start the drive, we held a kick off assembly. The assembly consisted of many speeches. One in particular was given by Debbie Castaldo, who is the director of Philanthropic Innovation at St. Joseph’s. We also had fun games to boost motivation for the drive. Afterwards, we distributed crayon collection banks to each classroom, which were color coordinated according to grade level. We gathered the raised money one day every week for two and a half weeks. To elevate the level of donations, we enabled a grade level competition. The amount of money raised was more than we ever expected.

The outcome During the two week period we raised $5,386.88 and managed to supply St. Joe’s with 29 new rocking chairs. We were amazed at how much Cocopah really does care. We were so grateful for all that everyone had donated. The winner of the grade level competition was sixth grade with the donation amount of $2,252.18. Seventh and eighth grade followed not far behind. It felt so rewarding to make a difference, and we hope to work with St. Joe’s again in the near future. L by the Community Outreach Committee of Cocopah Middle School

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NEWS St. Joseph’s named 100 Top Hospital; Barrow makes U.S. News & World Report top-10 list again St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center is the only Valley hospital to be named a 100 Top Hospital® by Thomson Healthcare, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare. The 100 Top Hospitals: National Benchmarks for Success recognizes hospitals that have achieved excellence in clinical outcomes, patient safety, financial performance, and efficiency. According to Thomson, the highest performance levels in patient safety were achieved by the 100 hospitals in the study that delivered the highest balanced performance across quality, efficiency, and financial stability. If all hospitals had performed at the level of these leading hospitals on the eight patient safety measures studied, they would have saved $253 million and 7,914 lives during the time period examined. U.S. News & World Report recently named St. Joseph’s a top-10 hospital for neurology and neurosurgery. The magazine’s annual edition of America’s Top Hospitals lists St. Joseph’s as #9 in the nation for neurosciences. U.S. News & World Report ranks 170 medical centers nationwide in 16 specialties. The rankings are based on three elements: reputation, death rate, and a set of care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. St. Joseph’s is the only Arizona hospital ranked on the magazine’s list for neurology and neurosurgery, and has the highest ranking of any hospital in the state.

Board members form project teams Members of the St. Joseph’s Foundation Board of Directors and the Barrow Neurological Foundation Board of Trustees have formed four project teams to raise funds and support for selected areas/projects at the hospital. The areas/projects are: • Arizona Child Study Center. • Comprehensive Cancer Center • Neuro Rehabilitation Pool • Pediatric Genetics Center. Each team seeks to raise $1 million for its project. If you are interested in getting involved on one of the teams, contact the Foundation Office at 602-406-3041, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

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SJF Board of Directors elects new members, officers Four community leaders were recently elected to serve on the St. Joseph’s Foundation Board of Directors: Shelby Butterfield is an Arizona native who has served on various boards and held leadership positions at ASU, North Central Parenting Group, PVUMC Preschool, and Scottsdale Healthcare’s Pediatric Advisory Board. A graduate of the University of Arizona, Butterfield worked at Ogilvy & Mather in New York City and is an expert in medical ethics and the allocation of scarce medical resources. Les Gin, the president of Asian Bank of Arizona in Phoenix, is a Tucson native and University of Arizona graduate with more than 28 years of financial services experience. An active volunteer, Gin serves a wide variety of organizations, including the United Way Board, Pima Prevention Partnership, Metropolitan Education Commission, Small Business Commission, Pan Asian Community Alliance, and Chinese Chamber of Commerce. RacheleA.Nichols is the executive national vice president of Arbonne International and owner of Rachele Nichols & Partners, Inc. A native of Oklahoma, she earned a bachelor’s at ASU and a master’s at NAU. In 2003, she founded her own business, which distributes health and wellness products internationally. Nichols has volunteered for Collaboration for A New Century, Sojourner’s Center and Rancho Solano Schools. Christina A. Palacios held various management positions at Southwest Gas, including director of customer relations and divisional vice president, before her retirement from the company. Active in the community, she serves on the Arizona Board of Regents, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Arizona Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. Palacios was named Hispanic Business Woman of the Year, 2004, by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber. The board also voted to: • Re-elect the following board members—Richard Horn, C.A. Howlett, Louis Olivas, PhD, and Ted Williams (three-year terms); and Christine Wilkinson, PhD (two-year term). • Award emeritus status to three board members— Charles Alfano, MD; Patrick Madigan; and Jerry Nichols.


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THE CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY A TRUE WIN-WIN PROPOSITION by Kathy Kramer Vice President, Leadership Gifts

he charitable gift annuity is a perfect example of how our tax laws continue to provide special ways for you to accomplish two objectives with one asset. In fact, a close look at the gift annuity reveals a true win-win proposition. The gift annuity enables you to receive high returns on an asset for the rest of your life and also make a charitable contribution. So, while you can take steps to secure a high annuity payment for the rest of your life, you can also realize philanthropic goals. It is simple. We will send you a charitable gift annuity agreement in exchange for your contribution (check, stocks or bonds). Each year for the rest of your life, we will mail payments to you. Or, if you prefer, the agreement can run for the lives of you and your spouse. A gift annuity is a contract. Payments are backed by all the assets of the charity. Therefore, you can be confident that the Gift Annuity will provide a reliable income. In addition, two tax benefits add value to the gift annuity. First, you will receive a current income tax deduc-

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tion—something you will appreciate when you file this year’s tax return. Second, part of each annuity payment we make to you may be tax-free! With the benefits of high payment rates, reduced taxes, and an ultimate gift to charity, it is easy to see why so many friends consider the gift annuity to be the ultimate win-win proposition! Please give me a call at 602-4061042, and I’ll be happy to provide you with a personalized example. L

“The gift annuity makes it possible for you to receive high returns on an asset for the rest of your life and also make a charitable contribution.”


ST. JOSEPH’S FOUNDATION St. Joseph’s Foundation (SJF) was established in 1981 to raise funds for projects throughout the hospital. Since then, benefactors have contributed millions that have been invested in:

Promising new research Endowments that attract top physicians and researchers Medical education Programs and services to meet the needs of our community Construction and renovation projects The latest technology.

St. Joseph’s Foundation is governed by a board of community leaders who serve on a voluntary basis.

2008-2009

St. Joseph’s Foundation Board of Directors

Christine K. Wilkinson, PhD, Chairman Judy Egan, Vice Chairman Richard A. Horn, Treasurer Jorge Quintero, Secretary Kelly J. Barr Ross Bremner, MD L. Don Brown Shelby Butterfield Mary Jane Crist Timothy J. Drexler Scott Eller Michael Ford Les Gin C.A. Howlett Linda Hunt Michelle M. Matiski Michael L. Medici Jacquelyn M. Michelson Gordon Murphy Rachele A. Nichols Loui Olivas, PhD Christina A. Palacios Craig S. Porter Joan Rankin Shapiro, PhD Ted Williams

For more information, contact St. Joseph’s Foundation at 602-406-3041 or toll-free at 1-800-925-9514. Our office is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.


Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 685 Phoenix, AZ

CHW Arizona St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center 350 W. Thomas Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85013


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