ENGAGE UC HEA LTH COMMUN ITY R EL ATIONS
IN THIS ISSUE:
ABOVE: UC Health celebrates champions of justice at its annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Ceremony.
Community Highlights A Legacy of Justice Safe and Sound Ambassador Learning Session Looking Ahead
FIRST QUARTER 2019
MESSAGE FROM UC HEALTH’S SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER At UC Health, nearly 10,000 employees have dedicated their time and expertise to the field of healthcare. From doctors to nurses, to office staff and beyond, they are champions of the medical breakthroughs that advance the healing of our community. In addition to their day-to-day activities, more than 700 members of our team have also answered the call to become UC Health Volunteer Ambassadors. Since the launch of the program in 2017, Volunteer Ambassadors have represented UC Health in the community in a variety of settings and at a number of events throughout the region, logging more than 3,000 community service hours. Program coordinators have also helped our Volunteer Ambassadors focus their efforts in our communities surrounding UC Medical Center, Daniel Drake Center for Post-Acute Care and West Chester Hospital. Through these and many more volunteer opportunities throughout the year, our Ambassadors carry the UC Health mission and message outside our walls and directly into the community. These leaders are meeting our neighbors on their terms to continue to advance the physical and economic health of the communities we serve.
Clarence Pauley Senior Vice President Chief Human Resources Officer
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COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS VOLUNTEERING AT ROCKDALE ACADEMY FOR THE HOLIDAYS Throughout December 2018, UC Health Volunteer Ambassadors spent their time supporting fun, educational opportunities at Rockdale Academy. Ambassadors led crafting activities and chose their favorite holiday books to read to students. In addition, volunteers helped decorate for the Rockdale Holiday Program and spent time wrapping gifts for students to open during their classroom holiday parties. Ambassadors enjoyed giving back during the holidays, interacting with students, and taking the opportunity to introduce students to the diversity of careers in healthcare.
FREESTORE FOODBANK On Dec. 12, 2018, Rob Portwood, assistant vice president, hospital operations, at UC Medical Center, and others on the UC Medical Center leadership team, volunteered at the Freestore Foodbank, stocking shelves, sorting food and providing customer service to people as they shopped at the market on Liberty St. in downtown Cincinnati. Team building opportunities to give back to the community are available to every UC Health employee through the UC Health Volunteer Ambassador Program. Ambassadors have given over 3,000 community service hours since the program’s launch in May 2017.
SOUTH AVONDALE ELEMENTARY FOOTBALL FIELD UC Health has joined forces with Activities Beyond the Classroom (ABC) for the installation of a synthetic turf field at South Avondale Elementary School in Cincinnati. On Nov. 13, 2018, UC Health committed $100,000 to the initiative to help ensure that local youth have a safe and high-quality field to play on. The donation is an addition to a $250,000 grant in collaboration with multiple funders including the Cincinnati Bengals, the National Football League Foundation Grassroots Program, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Program.
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A LEGACY OF JUSTICE
UC Health, UC College of Medicine honor the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For the 46th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Ceremony, UC Health and the UC College of Medicine drew on the now-famous quote “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” which comes from Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Emceed by the Honorable Judge Fanon A. Rucker, the 2019 ceremony—held Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, honored members of the Greater Cincinnati community who have continued the fight for justice and equality for all people. Recognized during the ceremony were David Singleton, Esq., executive director of the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, and Tyra Patterson, community outreach and strategy specialist at the Ohio Justice & Policy Center. Patterson spent 23 years in prison, convicted of a crime she did not commit. On Christmas Day 2017, Patterson was released from prison thanks to Singleton’s tireless effort and refusal to give up the fight for her freedom. Now, Patterson is paying it forward by working alongside Singleton to ensure others receive the justice that she was denied all of those years ago.
“David Singleton and Tyra Patterson are gifts to our community and they are why Dr. King’s quote—‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’—is still very relevant today,” said UC Health’s Christie Kuhns, Esq. 3
Singleton and Patterson received Humanitarian Awards, presented by UC Health’s Chief of Staff and Vice President of Operations and Community Relations, Christie Kuhns, Esq. UC Health also honored the work of medical residents Jensine’ Norman, MD, and Joi Moore, MD. Norman and Moore created the Minority Housestaff Association—an organization committed to building opportunities for the advancement of underrepresented housestaff through mentorship, networking and professional development, and community engagement.
Community partners lent their voices to the celebration with uplifting and reverent performances. The Rockdale Academy Student Choir opened the ceremony with a rousing performance followed by a thought-provoking excerpt from the Cincinnati Opera’s “Blind Injustice”—an original work depicting the lives of the wrongfully convicted. New Jerusalem Baptist Church soloist Trina Madry closed out the event with a hopeful song calling on all in attendance to continue the fight for social justice.
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SAFE AND SOUND
Self-defense classes offer peace of mind for participants.
“When we talk to the participants, it’s the assault defense/ground fighting that really makes this program stand out,” said Sharp. “A lot of other self-defense classes do not cover what to do if a victim ends up on the ground.”
UC Health police officer Chris Sharp is teaching women of all ages the skills to stay safe in the event of a violent attack. Sharp, who serves as a police officer for the West Chester Hospital campus, has volunteered his time for years teaching valuable self-defense skills to UC Health employees and members of the surrounding Butler/Warren County communities. Recently, Sharp taught classes for the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters and Girl Scout Troop No. 30156. Students received hands-on training, which includes situational awareness techniques, striking combinations and simple strategies for escape.
Officer Chris Sharp is a first-degree Black Belt in Ryūkyū Kempo, a traditional mixed martial arts style that dates back over 600 years. This martial art focuses on self-defense, striking techniques and Jiu-Jitsu, all of which are sampled in the class.
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The self-defense classes are free and open to the public quarterly. To find out about upcoming dates, visit uchealth.com/events. Individual community groups can also schedule a private class by calling 513-298-1870.
AMBASSADOR LEARNING SESSION AMBASSADOR LEARNING SESSION PUTS FOCUS ON ECONOMIC INSECURITY On Dec. 18, 2018, UC Health hosted a holiday lunch and learn for employees who serve as Volunteer Ambassadors throughout the year. Attendees met community leaders and participated in a panel-led discussion focused on economic insecurities around the holidays. UC Health invited Rosemary Oglesby-Henry, founder and CEO of Rosemary’s Babies Co., Shaquanna Metcalf, development director at UpSpring, and Luz Elena Schemmel, director at Santa Maria Community Services, to guide the discussion and encourage participants to consider the most effective ways to give back during the holidays. “During the holidays, many of us are gathering with family and friends, feeling grateful for what we have, eating our favorite foods and sharing gifts,” said Schemmel. “However, not everyone has this feeling of abundance around the holidays. This is a time when we can focus on giving, and we can carry the momentum throughout the year.” Each panelist brought a unique perspective on how socioeconomic factors lead to disparities within the region, and how their organizations are working to create an equal playing field. Rosemary’s Babies Co. provides support and life skills and leadership development for teen parents and their families. Santa Maria is a nonprofit organization that advocates for Greater Price Hill families to attain their educational, financial and health goals, and UpSpring is the region’s only nonprofit exclusively serving the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness. The participating UC Health Ambassadors engaged in a group discussion on finding ways to address the unique challenges that the holidays can place on some families. As the discussion wrapped up, panelists shared opportunities for our Ambassadors to get involved in each of their respective organizations throughout the year. “The enthusiasm from our Ambassadors around the lunch and learn discussion will inspire our team into the coming year,” said Dan Maxwell, manager of community relations at UC Health. “We are grateful for group discussions like these, where we can learn from the community and share resources to address challenges together in a meaningful and impactful way.”
This [the holidays] is a time when we can focus on giving, and we can carry the momentum throughout the year. Luz Elena Schemmel Director, Santa Maria Community Services
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LOOKING AHEAD: Building Opening Community Open House In celebration of the opening of the new UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute outpatient building, UC Health will host a community open house on Saturday, April 13, 2019. This event is free and open to the public and will feature self-guided building tours, fun activities, healthcare information, refreshments and much more. The new facility at the corner of Eden Ave. and Martin Luther King Dr. will serve as the home base for more than 125 faculty physicians and researchers in the neurosciences, providing comprehensive care for the most complex neurological problems. Saturday, April 13, 2019 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
16th Annual Health Expo UC Health will once again participate in The Health Gap’s Health Expo in Washington Park. The Health Expo is The Health Gap’s annual event focused on bringing healthcare access directly to the community. Throughout the day, attendees can take advantage of a wide variety of free health screenings and entertainment. At this year’s Expo, UC Health will be onsite providing screenings and information. Saturday, April 27, 2019 10 a.m.
Cincy Cinco Hosted by the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA, Cincy Cinco is a three-day celebration at Fountain Square that connects attendees to the regional Latino community and the resources available to them. The event also serves to educate the community-at-large about Latino cultures, values and traditions. UC Health is an annual sponsor of this event and will provide free health screenings and information to the community. Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5 noon – 5 pm.
MEET THE TEAM Christie Kuhns, Esq.
Chief of Staff, Vice President of Operations & Community Relations 513-585-8124 christie.kuhns@uchealth.com
Kristy Davis
Manager, Special Projects & Communications, Community Relations 513-585-5348 kristy.davis@uchealth.com
IN SCIENCE LIVES HOPE.
Dan Maxwell
Manager, Community Relations 513-585-8128 daniel.maxwell@uchealth.com