. . . inspiring Hope through Philanthropy
FALL 2019 | Volume 2, No. 1
Chief Development Officer A publication of the
Westmoreland/Frick Hospital Foundation
DONOR SPOTLIGHT… In life, John and Barbara Schlirf had a heart for the community they called home, and when they both retired from The Elliott Company, they remained loyal supporters of local organizations that made a difference. In death, the couple continued that legacy through a Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT) for the Westmoreland Hospital Foundation as part of their estate plan created more than 25 years ago. The stipulation on the funds following the Schlirfs’ passing was that they be used for either critical or cardiac care. In fact, their $110,000 gift supports both as it funded vital equipment utilized during cardiac surgery and the patient’s post-operative recovery. Read more about the newest members of Excela Health’s Heart & Vascular Center who are bringing new surgery techniques and interventions to our community on Page 4. The cardiac monitors and bypass heating-cooling devices made possible by the Schlifts’ gift will be well utilized by the team.
This has been a year of change and a year of impact at the wonderful hospitals supported by the Westmoreland/Frick Hospital Foundation. Our donors have helped to drive that change and for that, I am grateful. You will read the names of both longtime donors and those who are new to supporting our mission who made contributions during the 2018-2019 fiscal year. We also said goodbye to four outstanding trustees whose terms came to an end. Bob Boscarino, Dave Finui, Terry Graft and Chuck Seamens served the Foundation faithfully and with vigor and through the Foundation, our patients. During their service, the Foundation generously supported the remodeling of the Westmoreland Hospital Intensive Care Unit with a $1 million contribution. Recipient of a design citation from the Society for Critical Care Medicine, It has become a state-of-the art critical care unit and one that is benchmarked by hospitals around the country. Frick Hospital welcomed the Family Medicine Residency program to its campus along with medical oncology from the Arnold Palmer Pavilion, Excela’s joint venture with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. The Foundation also continues to support important educational programs such as the “Golden Hour” and “Healthy Habits” in our local schools as we maintain our commitment to helping our young people grow up to be healthy adults. Inside you will read about our award winning clinicians and learn about several star recruits who joined our medical staff. We are grateful to our donors, our retiring trustees and those trustees still with us for your commitment to our patients and ensuring that our friends and neighbors continue to have outstanding tertiary care available to them right in their backyard. Albert J. Novak
A Sincere Thank You to our Event Sponsors…
A Magical Casino Night Advances Quality Cancer Care This year’s Black Tie event held Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Greensburg Country Club, raised more than $108,000 for cancer care at Excela Health. Promising a magical evening with Lady Luck, this signature Foundation event offered fast paced casino games, a life-size Operation! game, along with music, dancing, entertainment, and mingling of our most loyal and generous donors. The special VIP celebrity guest was Phil Bourque, The Ol’ Two-Niner, who shared lively and interesting stories of his hockey career.
Also joining in the festivities was celebrity guest WPXI Chief Meteorologist Stephen Cropper, who served as the evening’s emcee. For more than 15 years, Excela Health has partnered with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center to bring world-renown care to our community through the Arnold Palmer Pavilion, with locations in Greensburg, Norwin and Mount Pleasant. Concurrently, Excela Health physicians in many disciplines provide leading edge diagnostic services, surgeries and follow-up care. The joint venture is the region’s second busiest cancer center and serves approximately 130 patients per day with medical and/or radiation oncology.
Dr. Geoff Joseph (left) and Dr. Mike Szwerc (right) watching Dr. Sharon Goldstein (middle) perform surgery!
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Bank Roller Player’s Club ArTECH Group SEI
Pit Boss
Greensburg Care Center & Harmon House Excela Employees Charitable Trust Fund Optum360 Penn Line Service UPMC Health Plan
Jackpot
Composidie Fidelity Hefren-Tillotson Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation MBM Contracting Pittsburgh Interior Systems PNC Bank Michael and Karen Stewart Trib Total Media
Player’s Club
Erik and Rebecca Agostini All Star Therapies Baker Tilly Phyllis Bertok and Rich Lopretto Dr. Lance and Robin Brunton Thomas DeFilippo Downs Creative Excela Health Medical Staff Fotorecord Dr. Sharon Goldstein Handyman Joe Hillendale Farms of PA, Inc. Kepple-Graft Funeral Home Jennifer Kettering Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering MedCare Equipment Company Merry X-Ray IBEW Local Union #5 & Western PA Chapter, NECA Labor Management Cooperation Committee Al and Sally Anne Novak Ron and Susan Ott & Mountain View Rotary Redstone Highlands Renda Broadcasting Schneider’s Dairy Safari Contract Cleaning Saint Vincent College Seton Hill University Smail Automotive Dr. Michael and Stephanie Szwerc The Meadows Mark and Kaaren Tintori University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Wagner Outdoor Advertising Company Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary WHJB 107.1
John Stevens and Myra Mamo celebrating a win!
Ed Meidel, Trustee, Al Novak, Excela VP, Jess Stairs, Trustee, Holly DiBiasi, Foundation Manager
Dr. Geof Bisignani performing his magic
Jim and Dr. Carol Fox, Chief Medical Officer
Excela’s Special Guests Cathy and Merle Rahl
. . . inspiring Hope through Philanth
Ann and Tom Albanesi, Excela CFO
Ron Eberhardt, Trustee & Event Chair, and his wife, JoAnn
Meghan Scalise, Jenn Faris and Erica Shafer, Executive Director. Excela Home Care & Hospice
Save the date for next year’s Black Tie for Hope March 28, 2020 at the Greensburg Country Club in our dedicated mission to raise funds for cancer care at Excela Health.
On the Cancer Team Two physicians serving cancer patients in Westmoreland County are among those recognized in Pittsburgh Magazine’s 2019 “Best Doctors” issue. The list was compiled by Best Doctors® and derived from the Best Doctors in America® database which includes the names and profiles of more than 50,000 of the best doctors in the United States across various specialties. Congratulations to Sanjeev Bahri, MD, Radiation Oncology and Terry Evans, MD,
Medical Oncology/ Hematology, part of the team at Arnold Palmer Pavilion at Mountain View, Excela Health’s Joint From left: Sanjeev Bahri, MD, Radiation venture with Oncology and Terry Evans, MD, UPMC Hillman Medical Oncology/Hematology Cancer Center.
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By U.S. News & World Report
Among Nation’s Top Performing Hospitals Excela Health has once again received national recognition for clinical expertise and high quality patient care, ranked among the top performing hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.
4,500 reviewed to rank among the Best Regional Hospitals in a state or metro area based on their performance in delivering complex and common care.
Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital was deemed a Best Regional Hospital - Pittsburgh, a designation given to hospitals that are top performers in multiple categories. Excela Westmoreland is specifically recognized for knee replacement, heart failure and COPD treatment.
“We are proud that Excela Health has achieved these honors, but it is our patients who are the real winners,” said Carol Fox, MD, FAAFP, Excela Health’s chief medical officer. “Being recognized for providing care that is effective and safe directly supports our promise to our community to improve the health and well-being of every life we touch. Our care teams are committed to providing the best care possible for patients over their lifetime.”
Spanning 25 adult specialties, procedures and conditions, the 2019-20 rankings evaluated nearly every community hospital in America. Excela Westmoreland was one of 569 hospitals of the nearly
Steadies The Beat In Heart & Vascular Center Excela Health has recruited two distinguished cardiothoracic surgeons and two interventional cardiologists to its Heart & Vascular Center based at Excela Westmoreland Hospital. All four offer extensive experience in their areas of expertise and enhance the level of heart care already available at Excela Health. They bring the complement of cardiovascular specialists to 17 caring for patients across Excela’s service area. Welcome to cardiothoracic surgeons Michael Culig, MD, MMM, and Hiroyuki Tsukui, MD, PhD and interventional cardiologists David Lee, MD, FACC and Vinod Kudagi, MD Dr. Culig comes to Excela from the Allegheny Health Network where he was part of McGinnis Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgical Associates at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. Throughout his 30-year career he has held various leadership positions including division chief for cardiovascular surgery. More recently he also served as physician champion for Operational Excellence. His focus over the past decade has been centered on improving patient outcomes.
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Dr. Tsukui returns to southwestern Pennsylvania following many years of professional practice in his native Japan. Dr. Tsukui comes to Excela from the Hokkaido Cardiovascular Hospital in Sapporo, where he was chief of cardiovascular surgery, and former program director. His training included a research fellowship at the McGowan Institute For Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and surgical fellowships in
artificial heart and thoracic transplantation, and advanced adult cardiac surgery at UPMC. Dr. Tsukui is board certified in surgery, thoracic surgery and cardiovascular surgery as well as in implantable left ventricular assist device and superficial femoral artery stent graft implantation. Dr. Kudagi joins the Excela Health cardiovascular program following five years of private and hospitalbased physician practice in both interventional and general cardiology. Most recently he was part of the St. Luke’s University Health Network in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, where he was responsible for starting a cardiac and peripheral intervention program at one of the network’s hospitals. Among his specialties is transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Dr. Lee recently concluded fellowship training in both general and interventional cardiology at the University of North Carolina Medical Center in Chapel Hill, where he was named chief cardiology fellow. His specializations include percutaneous coronary interventions, peripheral vascular interventions, and minimally invasive therapies for pulmonary embolism. During fellowship training, Dr. Lee led a clinical trial investigating daily exercise therapy using fitness monitors to improve the quality of life for patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). He will be evaluating and managing patients with PAD in a new Claudication Clinic based at Excela Square at Latrobe.
2019 Frick Golf Classic A perfect early Fall day made for perfect playing conditions Sept. 20, 2019, for the more than 150 golfers who joined us at Greensburg Country Club to help raise over $75,000 for Emergency Services at Excela Frick Hospital. The proceeds are designated toward upgrades and renovations, and other critical needs within Frick’s Emergency Department. The event included prizes for a hole-in-one winner of a 2020 Chrysler Jeep and a $28,000 cash prize. Golfers enjoyed a hearty breakfast buffet followed by lunch on the course. Cocktails and dinner followed the day of golf at which time all guests and sponsors were recognized and thanked for their participation and generosity. Top sponsors included ArTECH, A. Martini, Handyman Joe, Penn Line and SEI Investments. We are truly grateful for the contributions of all who supported the Frick Hospital Foundation’s fundraising efforts. Looking “Fore”ward to our next outing in September 2020!
Dave Lynn, Ed Wodarczyk, Mike Delmar, Steve Brown from Penn Line
Ron Eberhardt, Event Chair, John Sphon, Acting CEO, Al Novak, Chief Dev. Officer
Excela’s Rosemary Yunetz and Mary Olinger help golfers select their FootJoy gift
The Leonida family enjoys the day
Tom DeFilippo, Tom Albanesi, Excela CFO, Sarah Distefanis, Lisa Gilbert
Maryann Singley, Excela VP, Jeff Feret, Scott Koscho, Excela VP, Dane Ficco, Excela VP
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The following individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations contributed to or provided sponsorship for the Foundation from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019:
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A. Martini & Co., Inc. ABS Building Systems Integrators, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Erik J. Agostoni Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Albanesi Allied Universal Allscripts Gene Angelcyk, in memory of Ernest Martinelli Anonymous (6) Antero Resources Corporation ArTECH Group LLC Frank B. Artuso, in memory of Nora A. Whipkey Linda Assard Aster Assefa, MD Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Marlene A. Barbe Christopher J. and Amelia G. Bartels Bella Terra Vineyards Brian Berry CRNA Phyllis L. Bertok and Rich Lopretto Dr. and Mrs. Peter M. Billey Kevin S. Bode, in memory of Nora A. Whipkey Eric Bononi and Honorable Michele Bononi Bracco Diagnostics Inc. Mr. and Mrs. James Breisinger Jill Briercheck Brooks Family Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Gerald S. Browdie Dr. Lance M. Brunton Michael Busch Butz Masonry Mr. and Mrs. James Cahill, in memory of Paul D. Patla California University of Pennsylvania Capital Strategies Investment Group LLC Mr. and Mrs. Scott P. Carnivale Caseworks, Inc. Susan A. Caslow MD Maureen E. Ceidro Mr. and Mrs. Ray Charley, in memory of Alanna J. Barber, Bernie Klawinski, Elizabeth Courtney, Rita A. Hudock, Roland Martino, Susan R. Sniezek Bryan J. Clement Clinical Informatics Department, in honor of Helen Burns, RN, PhD
Comcast Spotlight Commerce Bank Commerce Bank - New York Composidie, Inc. Patrick M. Condo and Jan Taylor-Condo Consolidated Communications Craig Communications Inc. Thomas DeFilippo Mr. and Mrs. Angelo J. Delaini, Jr. David A. Delaini Delisi, Keenan & Associates, P.C. David S. and Johnette Z. DeRose Janice Devine Direct Energy Business Duraloy Technologies, Inc. David P. Dzuban John M. Dzuban Eastern Door Controls, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Eberhardt Edward C. Brinker Trust - The Pittsburgh Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Karl E. Eisaman Laurie English, in memory of Pearl L. Jack; in honor of Michael Pry Envinity Building Energy Solutions Estate of Helen R. O’Masta Excela Health Home Care & Hospice Excela Health Marketing and Communications Excela Health Medical Staff, in memory of Nora A. Whipkey Excela Health Physician Practices Jennifer Faris Timothy A. Fedele, Esq. Robert P. and Phyllis J. Felt, , in memory of Nora A. Whipkey Traci M. Fick Fire Fighter Sales and Service Co. FirstEnergy Corp. Ford’s Complete Construction Service LLC Mr. and Mrs. Kim Forsyth Fotorecord Print Center Dr. Carol Fox, in memory of Nora A. Whipkey Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Frye Michael A. Garofalo Sherry Gaston, in honor of Carol Fox, MD
Sharon Goldstein, MD Gottlieb LLC DBA Martin Gottlieb & Associates LLC, in memory of Nora A. Whipkey Terence L. Graft Graybar Electric Greensburg Care Center Amy L. Grubb Gulisek Construction Co. H. F. Lenz Co. Betty W. Hammer Handyman Joe Harmon House Care Center Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. Hempfield Manor Zachary Henderson, in honor of Donna Jasko HIGHMARK Hillendale Farms of PA, Inc. Hobart and William Smith Colleges, in memory of Joyce B. Dow C.B. & L.F. Hollingsworth Trust Delores Hund, in memory of Linford Stewart Linda Hund, in memory of Linford Stewart Image Associates Architects, Inc. Indiana University of Pennsylvania Raymond Isadore, in memory of Therese Isadore Donna Jasko, in honor of Albert J. Novak Robin S. Jennings, in memory of David P. Busch, Ralph E. King Jewish Healthcare Foundation Dr. Geoffrey Joseph Dirk L. Kalp Ellen Katter Dr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Kettering Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Kluska Scott A. Koscho, in memory of Thomas E. Sphon Jean Kostelnik David Kubicek Dr. and Mrs. Richard F. Kucera, M.D. Martin and Dr. Karen Lang Lapels - A Fine Men’s Store Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation Latrobe Hospital - Excela Health
Lawyers Abstract Company Aaron Leitch Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, Inc. Efren Leonida, MD Kathleen B. and Russell D. Lewis, in memory of Joyce B. Dow Tim Loch Honorable and Mrs. Charles H. Loughran Dr. David Lucas Richard G. Lucas, Jr. Andrew and Allison K. Lutz, in memory of Pearl L. Jack Mamaux Supply Company, Inc. Suzanna Masartis MBM Contracting Peggy McGowan, in memory of Pearl L. Jack Medcare Equipment Company, LLC Medpipe Maintenance Corporation Joann Menzer, in memory of Frank J. DeCarlo Evelyn Merriman Merry X-Ray Corporation Dr. and Mrs. Mark Milchak Mr. and Mrs. Frank R. Milito Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mongell Darren Moore Mr. and Mrs. Brett M. Morgan, in honor of Thomas S. Albanesi Mr. and Mrs. Wayne D. Moser Mountain View Rotary Club Norwin Elks Lodge No. 2313 Albert J. Novak, Jr., in honor of Traci M. Fick Sally Anne and Albert Novak Mr. and Mrs. Barry Numerick Old Joe Club Charities, Inc. Optum 360 Otis Elevator Co. Ron Ott Paper Products Co., Inc. Virginia A. Pastor Patricia A. Smiy Foundation Penn Line Service, Inc. Peoples Pestco Professional Services Teresa Petrick Jack E. Pickens Peg Pilipovich Pittsburgh Interior Systems John Plassio PNC Financial Services Group
With Thanks and Gratitude to our Supporters PNC Healthcare Lawrence Powers PRISM Response, Inc. Prudential Realty Co./PRC Commercial Radiologic Consultants, Ltd. Ramsey Excavating, LLC Redstone Highlands Dr. and Mrs. David Richards Rizzo’s Malabar Inn Tina Roberts, in memory of Ernest Martinelli Robert Rogalski, in honor of Erica Shaffer Kathleen Rosatti, in memory of Pearl L. Jack, Richard Rager, Virginia Steffenson Richard J. Rosky, Jr. Ryan Moving, LLC. S & T Bank Safari Contract Cleaners Saint Vincent College Salandro Refuse, Inc. Meghan Scalise Schneider’s Dairy Mr. and Mrs. Don Scott Vickie D. and Robert H. Scott Charles Seamens SEI Investments Sentry Mechanical LLC Seton Hill University Erica Shaffer Dr. Rupam Sharan and Dr. Rachel Sharan Siemens Industry Inc. Silvis Group, Inc. Linda Gioia Simon Smail Auto Group Bridget L. Smidga Dr. and Mrs. Jack D. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Tom Sochacki Solsys Medical Mr. and Mrs. John Sphon, in memory of Pearl L. Jack; in honor of Sherry Gaston SSM Industries Inc. Jess Stairs Standard Bank Staples Business Advantage Randall J. Stas Stericycle Stewart McArdle Sorice Whalen Farrell Finoli&Cavanaugh, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Stewart Stover & Co., Inc. George R. Sweeney Charitable Trust Fund
Dr. and Mrs. Michael Szwerc The Meadows Racetrack and Casino The Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Greater Pittsburgh H. L. Thomas, Inc. Kaaren Tintori and Mark J. Tintori Tribune Review - Trib Total Media Marion E. Truscott TUDI Mechanical Systems, Inc. Dr. Randi B. Turkewitz Tuscano-Maher Roofing, Inc. Sharon L. Twaddle United Way of Allegheny County United Way of Southwestern PA Unity Pathology Associates Unity Printing Co., Inc. University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg UPMC Health Plan UPMC Hillman Valbridge Property Advisers Annette Vella, in memory of Harry A. Thoburn Wagner Outdoor Advertising Co. Dale & Paula Walker Elliott and Carol Weinstock WEMS-Westmoreland Emergency Medicine Spec Western PA Electrical Labor Management Cooperation Committee Westmoreland Electric Services Westmoreland Hospital Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Whitehead WHJB Corporation Dr. A. R. Wigle, M.D. Dr. and Mrs. Mark S. Williams Willis Towers Watson Scott A. Wilson WPXI-TV Janine Wright Thomas Yarabinetz Greensburg YMCA
Every year, your generous gift supports essential projects at both Westmoreland and Frick Hospitals. Your contribution helps to fulfill our mission to improve the health and wellbeing of every life touched. We depend on your support to improve the quality and availability of the very best health care practices for all our patients. Please see enclosed letter and consider making your donation today online at www.excelahealth.org search foundations or use the enclosed envelope. We thank you for your consideration of a gift.
Planned and estate gifts make a tremendous impact to an organization as well as offer tax benefits to the donor. Two particular ways in which YOU can help promote leading edge clinical care and support of patient care: 1. make your gift using shares of appreciated stock; our hospital will realize the full, fair market value of your gift and you will avoid paying capital gains tax! 2. make your gift through your IRA; instruct your IRA administrator to make a direct distribution to Excela; you will not be taxed on the distribution and it will count towards your required minimum distribution! For more information or a personal appointment, please contact our office at: 724-832-4146
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A Means of Support NOW is the time! Use your IRA to support Westmoreland and Frick Hospitals! With an IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVER, you are now able to make a gift from your IRA account to qualified non-profit organizations without any federal income tax liability. Here’s how it works:
There are some limitations: • The gift is not subject to income tax therefore it is not tax-deductible. • Gifts may be outright contributions only. • You may make up to $100,000 in charitable gifts from your IRA.
• You must be 70 years of age or older • Instruct your IRA administrator to make a gift directly from your IRA to Excela Health (ask us for a sample letter of instruction) • IRA Rollovers DO count toward your minimum required distribution for the year
WESTMORELAND/FRICK HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Ray T. Charley, Chair Ronald E. Eberhardt, Vice Chair David S. Delisi, Treasurer Edward Miedel, Distribution Committee Chair Carol Williams, Secretary Charles W. Anderson Karl Eisaman Richard D. Harrer Jr. Jacqueline Horrall, Ph.D William A. Jenkins, MD John P. Kline Hon. Charles H. Loughran Gerald D. Lucia Paul Mongell Don Scott Jess M. Stairs
so there is time to ensure your gift will be made this calendar year! For more information on remembering the foundation in your estate plan, contact Al Novak, Vice President and Chief Development Officer at anovak@excelahealth.org or 724-832-4146.
Emeritus Gerald S. Browdie, DDS Terrence L. Graft Betty W. Hammer Anita L. Owen Charles M. Seamens Michael J. Stewart, Esq.
Staff
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Albert J. Novak Jr., MPM, Vice President and Chief Development Officer Holly DiBiasi, Manager Maureen Crevak, Executive Assistant
WESTMORELAND/FRICK HOSPITAL FOUNDATION