ENGAGE UC HEA LTH COMMUN ITY R EL ATIONS
IN THIS ISSUE: Community Highlights
ABOVE: UC Health Volunteer Ambassadors celebrate each other and team accomplishments during UC Health Volunteer Ambassador Appreciation Night at the UC Health Ice Rink, at Fountain Square.
47th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Expansion of Breastfeeding Support — Baby Café Pause: Bringing Health, Wellness and Entrepreneurship to Corryville A Community Conversation COVID-19 Safety Precautions
FIRST QUARTER 2020
A MESSAGE FROM UC HEALTH CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
As the region’s only academic healthcare system, we take great pride in providing world-class, preventive and complex care to everyone in our region and beyond. With the arrival of COVID-19, UC Health staff and clinicians are working long hours, bravely facing the unknown as we proactively prepare for a situation that will likely continue over a number of months. I’m proud of how our team and the community have responded during this unprecedented time, and I know that we will get through this together. This issue of Engage is an excellent reminder of how our community supports and celebrates one another on a daily basis. These activities are made possible by the dedicated team at UC Health who believe in the commitment to our region as a growing, thriving community for today and for the future. We look forward to continuing to serve and focus on the physical and economic health of our region, and we thank you for your collaboration and support. Sincerely, Rick Hinds UC Health Chief Financial Officer
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COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS UC HEALTH VOLUNTEER AMBASSADOR APPRECIATION NIGHT On Feb. 1, UC Health Volunteer Ambassadors celebrated each other and team accomplishments during UC Health Volunteer Ambassador Appreciation Night at the UC Health Ice Rink, at Fountain Square. UC Health’s Volunteer Ambassador Program gives employees the opportunity to represent UC Health and impact the communities we serve at events like volunteering in our neighborhood schools; food drives; tutoring; neighborhood clean-ups; neighborhood family fun days; First Ladies Family Health Day, Cincy Cinco, the Health Gap’s Health Expo and much more! Since launching in the spring of 2017, UC Health Volunteer Ambassadors have volunteered and given over 6,000 hours of community service.
VOLUNTEERING AT SHARED HARVEST FOODBANK On Jan. 22, 2020 Volunteer Ambassadors from West Chester Hospital volunteered at Shared Harvest Foodbank and lent a hand at their distribution center. Volunteers sorted canned food donations and assembled food packages. The mission of Shared Harvest Foodbank is to find, rescue and distribute food to people living in poverty through an efficient network uniting the public and private sectors and to raise awareness of the impact of poverty.
RED BIKE MARKET CENTER AT FINDLAY MARKET OPENING On March 3, The Red Bike Market Center at Findlay Market opened for business. Red Bike members now have a place to go six days a week and talk to someone about all their bikeshare needs. “We are really excited to open up what we believe is the first bikeshare store in the nation,” said Jason Barron, executive director of Red Bike. “Our Red Bike Go program has been incredibly successful, and now with the Red Bike Market Center, we will be able to better connect with our Go members and encourage even more people to take up riding bikes for transportation, exercise or just to have fun.” Launched in 2018, Red Bike Go is a discounted $5 monthly bike share membership that includes unlimited two-hour bike rides for 30 days for individuals experiencing low income. At the grand opening, Red Bike announced the creation of the Red Bike Go Fund to support the Go program. Duke Energy generously contributed a $50,000 grant to help launch the fund. UC Health is the presenting sponsor of Red Bike. 2
47TH ANNUAL REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION CEREMONY “We believe Dr. King would be incredibly proud of these honorees and the work they continue to do for our community.”
On Jan. 17, community members packed Kresge Auditorium on UC’s campus to celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and hear from keynote speaker Dorothy Tucker, president of the National Association of Black Journalists.
UC Health also honored the work of the Greater Cincinnati Association of Black Journalists (GCABJ). The GCABJ was reestablished in 2017 by local black journalists, communication professionals and students passionate about rebuilding Cincinnati’s once-thriving chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, and Cincinnati’s long, rich history of diverse media. Accepting on behalf of the Greater Cincinnati Association of Black Journalists was Alexis Rogers, association president and broadcast journalist with WLWT-TV.
Hosted by UC Health and the UC College of Medicine, the 47th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Ceremony drew inspiration from King’s now famous quote, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” The 2020 ceremony honored members of the Greater Cincinnati community whose outstanding contributions in the world of journalism and media have made them trailblazers in the community.
Community partners lent their voices to the celebrations with uplifting performances. The Rockdale Academy Student Choir opened the ceremony with a rousing performance, followed by a thought-provoking performance by the P&G Voices of Destiny Ensemble. Deuces Musik provided backing music throughout. Former Judge Fanon Rucker once again emceed the event and Rev. Damon Lynch Jr. of The New Jerusalem Baptist Church provided the invocation and benediction, leaving attendees with a hopeful message and a call to continue to fight for justice and inclusion.
Recognized during the ceremony were recipients of the Humanitarian Award: Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, president of Sesh Communications; Courtis Fuller, reporter for local WLWT-TV Channel 5; and Lincoln Ware, host of the “The Lincoln Ware Show.” “During a time when true journalism is being maligned and is under attack, we felt it was important to honor the perseverance and dedication of those who refuse to be silent but instead are continuing to tell the stories of our community and the broader world,” said Christie Kuhns, vice president of Operations and Community Relations for UC Health.
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EXPANSION OF BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT IN COMMUNITY — BABY CAFÉ
Beginning on March 9, 2020 UC Health’s West Chester Hospital began offering Baby Café at a second location, Primary Health Solutions Journey Wellness Center, 210 S. Second St., second floor, Hamilton, OH 45011, every Monday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The program is free and confidential. Healthy snacks are provided, and mothers and babies may come as often or infrequently as they like.
The group’s purpose is to provide pregnant and new mothers the emotional and professional support they need to successfully breastfeed their infants. Mothers and babies meet in a private spot to share their concerns, talk openly with each other and receive professional advice from experts.
In 2016, West Chester Hospital became the first hospital in Ohio to partner with the nonprofit Baby Café USA to provide this free support and education to pregnant and nursing mothers. The program is facilitated by Heather Evans, BSN, RN, a board-certified lactation consultant.
“Mothers and babies are our passion at West Chester Hospital Maternity Services. We are excited to expand breastfeeding support programming further into the community and are thankful to Primary Health Solutions for partnering with us in this effort,” said Kaye Scott, director of Obstetrics and Newborn Services at West Chester Hospital.
“Many women have questions when they choose to breastfeed. We hope to help mothers overcome the normal challenges of breastfeeding so that they can meet their own breastfeeding goals. Research shows us that mothers and infants who are able to breastfeed successfully are healthier in many ways,” said Evans.
Breastfeeding has been linked to improved health outcomes for babies and moms and to a reduction in infant mortality. Butler County has one of the highest rates of infant mortality in Ohio. This new Baby Café offering will help fulfill an identified need in the region for further expansion of breastfeeding support to a high-risk population. More than 400 mothers and babies have participated in the West Chester Hospital Baby Café since the program was launched three years ago. UC Health is excited to offer this program to more mothers that may need this type of support.
National studies show high breastfeeding initiation rates among American mothers, but those rates plummet when infants reach 6 and 12 months old — suggesting that new mothers need more support to help continue breastfeeding. Baby Café provides free help from experts and support from peers in a welcoming environment.
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PAUSE: BRINGING HEALTH, WELLNESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO CORRYVILLE
On Feb. 14, UC Health celebrated as MORTAR opened its first retail location, Pause, focused on different aspects of alternative wellness, located on Short Vine in Corryville. The name encourages consumers to take a moment and “pause” to focus on their personal health and wellbeing.
entrepreneurs build their business and equips them with the best tools possible. MORTAR co-founders Allen Woods, Derrick Braziel and William Thomas II wanted to expand their offering and create a brick and mortar space to better support their alumni network. The idea grew from the understanding that affordability is a huge barrier to entry for many of their graduates, and representation is critical in many developing neighborhoods.
Both UC Health and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center collaborated with MORTAR to provide funding and resources to help bring Pause to the neighborhood. In addition, Uptown Rentals helped guide some components of build-out for the retail space.
“I think this success can increase opportunities for more entrepreneurs to get involved. I would love to see more entrepreneurs get together and develop collective spaces because I think it increases the foot traffic for all businesses,” said Tim Barr, MORTAR Community Outreach and Expansion manager. “I think it works well with that kind of one-stop-shop model.”
Pause is a unique collective of several different entrepreneurs and their businesses under one roof, including: • Matunda Juicery offers fresh cold-pressed juices by Timothy Harris. • Perfect Touch Helps provides massage services and body oils by Lolitha Perry. • Diamyn’s Crystal Bar sells crystals, stones, hosts meditation and wellness classes and makes custom jewelry by Diamyn Rembert. • District 78 offers plants, handmade candles and candle-making events by Erikka Gray. The four business owners all graduated from MORTAR, a 15-week entrepreneurship academy and resource hub that helps minority
The store is located in Uptown in the Short Vine business district near many other local businesses. The five-block area is full of entertainment, restaurants and shopping. The diverse neighborhood and collection of unique retail offerings made Short Vine the perfect location for Pause.
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Patrons can visit Pause at 3908 Short Vine St., Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: THE CINCINNATI NAACP, PRINCE HALL MASONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS 2020 PRIMARY CANDIDATES FORUM On Tuesday Feb. 18 and Feb. 25, members of the community packed the Gwen L. Robinson Conference Hall to hear from primary candidates running for office.
The Feb. 18 forum featured primary candidates in the Hamilton County sheriff, prosecutor, commissioner and recorder races. The Feb. 25 forum focused on candidates for state representative and the Common Pleas Court of Hamilton County. Both forums were moderated by Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Byron McCauley.
The Cincinnati NAACP and the Prince Hall Masons, in partnership with the Urban League, the Greater Cincinnati National Action Network, held two primary candidates forums to educate the community on upcoming elections. UC Health provided support as a part of the UC Health Community Conversation series. UC Health started the Community Conversation series in the spring of 2018 to help promote access to health and wellness information. Through these candid conversations, UC Health experts can engage community members in areas outside of hospital walls.
All candidates in both the Democratic and Republican primaries were mailed an invitation to participate in the forums. “As nonpartisan organizations, we do not endorse candidates or political parties. We welcome all perspectives,” said Joe Mallory, first vice president of the Cincinnati Chapter of the NAACP. “Our goal is to provide the community with an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates so people feel empowered and informed when they head to the polls.”
“Issues discussed during elections have a direct impact on public health, and it’s important for the community to hear from those who will be making decisions that directly impact them,” said Christie Kuhns, vice president of Operations and Community Relations.
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COVID-19 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS When a public health situation arises, it is common to experience fear or uncertainty about the health of you and your loved ones. Your safety and well-being are our top priorities, and our experts are working closely with federal, state and local authorities to help keep our community safe. How can I protect myself and others? Follow these five steps to stay A.W.A.R.E. during the COVID-19 pandemic, commonly known as the coronavirus disease, and help prevent this illness from spreading. 1. Avoid Crowds — Keep at least 6 feet between you and others when possible. Avoid crowds and close contact with people who are sick. 2. Wash Your Hands — Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you don’t have soap and water, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands often, especially after leaving the bathroom, before eating and after touching your face. 3. Advance Notice — Call your doctor if you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath BEFORE showing up at a primary care office, urgent care center or emergency department. Your doctor may want you to stay home instead of potentially infecting others. If you do call 911 in an emergency, mention your symptoms. 4. Remain Home — If you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath and you DON’T feel you need immediate medical attention, we recommend staying home. Although 80% of those infected have mild symptoms similar to the common cold, remaining at home can help prevent the spread of the disease. Working from home, if you have the option, is also recommended.
5. Elbow Cough — Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue rather than into the air or your hands.
More information can be found at: uchealth.com/en/covid-19
MEET THE TEAM Christie Kuhns, Esq. Chief of Staff, Vice President of Operations & Community Relations 513-585-8124 christie.kuhns@uchealth.com
Tamara Lang
Director, Community Relations 513-585-7495 tamara.lang@uchealth.com
IN SCIENCE LIVES HOPE.
Dan Maxwell
Manager, Community Relations 513-585-8128 daniel.maxwell@uchealth.com