Fall 2015 by Foundation for Morristown Medical Center

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FALL 2015

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What Have You Been Doing? Making things happen. Visit f4mmc.org or use your smartphone or tablet to view a video tribute to our donors.

LIVING TOXIC-FREE: EASIER THAN YOU THINK Dementia and scores of other chronic diseases are climbing at alarming rates. These conditions are increasingly more the norm than in our grandparents’ day. But do we know why? According to Joseph E. Pizzorno, Jr., a naturopathic doctor and one of the world’s leading authorities on science-based natural medicine, the reason is plain and simple: toxins. Our environment is now chock full of them – pesticides and pollutants in the air and myriad chemicals and metals inside the foods we eat every day. Dr. Pizzorno, who spoke at the Chambers Center for Well Being this past May as part of an ongoing Community Lecture Series sponsored by Qualcare, Inc., says, “Our bodies are enzyme machines fueled by proteins, vitamins and minerals. Toxins displace the vitamins and minerals, and as a result our bodies don’t work as well.” “Go organic, use health and beauty aids low in chemicals, and only eat browned foods sparingly since this cooking process produces harmful compounds that play a part in chronic disease,” he adds.

PERMANENT PRAISE It was unforgettable, for many, when Robert “Dick” and Louise “Jackie” Deskovick gave $5 million to Morristown Medical Center. Their name will now be remembered for generations to come. In recognition of their gift, the Franklin Building was re-christened the Deskovick Pavilion in September. To opt out of receiving this communication from the Foundation, please contact us at f4mmc@atlantichealth.org or 973-593-2400.

Writer: Laura Deal | Editor: Regi Diverio Layout: Susan Falcone, Envoi Design

The Foundation for Morristown Medical Center is a nonprofit public foundation whose mission is to inspire community philanthropy to advance exceptional health care for patients at Morristown Medical Center. Our objective is to use philanthropy to preserve and expand the hospital’s programs and services in direct patient care, clinical research, medical and public health education and preventive medicine.

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CREATIVE COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS KEEP THE HOSPITAL IN THEIR SIGHTS PG 4 also inside: Kids Taking Action | Denny Baird’s Innovative Legacy | Behavioral Health’s IMPACT

UPDATE: FUNDS RAISED AS OF AUGUST 31, 2015 TOTAL: $99.4 million

BREAK-OUT (areas fully funded):

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Behavioral Health Breast Health Cardiovascular Medicine Emergency Medicine Executive Health Head and Neck Cancer Maternity

center for advanced medicine in pediatrics BACK IN BALANCE

Imagine being told that your child faces a life-threatening illness or a complex chronic disease you barely understand. What next? Current Landscape:

SPOTLIGHT ON HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE

By 2030, the number of people in the United States over the age of 85 is expected to double to 8.5 million. At that age, chronic medical conditions abound and the need for palliative and hospice care options increase dramatically. While fundraising continues for the $5 million Nancy and Skippy Weinstein Inpatient Hospice and Palliative Care Center, its opening this fall couldn’t come soon enough. Elderly patients nearing the end of life whose symptoms may be out of control and acutely ill patients not on hospice but in need of symptom management will have treatment opportunities available in the 11-bed unit. Located in the main hospital, the center has the look and feel of an elegant private home along with easy access to all staff and services. Each suite is equipped with a private bath and is able to accommodate overnight visitors. To offer your support, contact Hyona Revere, director of major gifts, at hyona.revere@atlantichealth.org or 973-593-2429.

Flower Power A flower’s ability to cheer and comfort could be its most significant strength. And now young patients being treated for inflammatory and rheumatologic disorders can receive this benefit in Kayla’s Healing Garden, located next to the Farris Family Center for Advanced Pediatrics. Built with a generous gift from Foundation Board Chairman Christopher Baldwin and his wife, Linda, and named in memory of their daughter, the parklike setting is a welcome respite for children who need it most. Joel Rosh, MD, director of pediatric gastroenterology, often sits with patients in the garden while they are receiving transfusions: “It is a very calming place to be.” Pictured above: Linda and Christopher Baldwin.

Because pediatric patients with chronic illnesses require highly specialized care that crosses disciplinary lines, their families often travel from specialist to specialist for comprehensive treatment. This is not just inconvenient; it’s an impediment to well-integrated care.

IMPACT, the first program of its kind in New Jersey, seamlessly integrates psychiatric services into the primary care setting. “The primary care system is the de facto mental health center for patients struggling with mental illness in the United States, yet over 80 percent of people with depression and anxiety who frequent primary care settings do not get adequate treatment,” says Tom Zaubler, MD, chair of psychiatry and behavioral health.

The 360° Solution: To help patients with complicated illnesses, we’ve established the Farris Family Center for Advanced Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP). CAMP brings together pediatric specialists who collaborate across disciplines, share services and expertise, and give patients accurate diagnoses so they can receive the care they deserve. CAMP includes a Pediatric Inflammatory Disease Center, an Aerodigestive Program, a Long-term Follow-up Program for Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and a Craniofacial Program.

The Transformation: Focusing on the whole patient, CAMP incorporates psychosocial support, behavioral interventions and integrative medicine with medical and surgical procedures. Our experts look at pain, stress, effects on school attendance and performance, and the disruption of family life for parents and siblings to gain a complete understanding of our patients’ needs. Patients also benefit from exposure to clinical trials and new therapies not available anywhere else.

Your Role: CAMP start-up funding is nearly complete. With your help, we can bring this worthy campaign to a close. Estimated remaining costs: $450,000, including personnel expenses over the first three years DONATE NOW: f4mmc.org

Cover Illustration: Paul Zwolak

Patients with crippling feelings of depression and anxiety need immediate, specialized care, the kind not typically available in a primary care setting – until now. A $225,000 grant from the Marion E. C. Walls Trust and a $300,000 donation from the Women’s Association are making an impact.

“In the primary care setting, the system is not set up to provide sufficient follow-up care,” he explains, “and the overwhelming majority of patients do not get better, often going off their medications.” With IMPACT, a behavioral health care manager and psychiatrist have been added to Internal Medicine Faculty Associates, the hospital’s primary care practice. The behavioral health care manager provides psychotherapy and case management, while the psychiatrist provides caseload supervision and guidance for the primary care physician, with regard to medications.

Becky Bedrosian

Q&A with Brenda Matti-Orozco, MD Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine and Palliative Medicine As Division Chief, Dr. Matti-Orozco provides clinical leadership, service support and oversight at the Nancy and Skippy Weinstein Inpatient Hospice and Palliative Care Center, which offers a private space for patients who are seeking these much-needed services. The center is the first of its kind at the hospital and designed for acutely ill patients who require 24-hour skilled nursing and physician assessment. that will only add to a person’s suffering

choices or through sheer will. Because of

are often confused when they are different

and still not cure the underlying condition or

this mindset, there is a very strong sense

specialties?

prevent death.

that death occurs as a result of a mistake or

Q: How come palliative care and hospice care

not doing enough, which can lead to unnecA: W hen the term palliative care came into use

Q: What does it mean to die well?

essary feelings of blame or guilt.

over 30 years ago, it was a synonym for hospice; the label doesn’t disappear over-

A: J ust as the ‘good life’ differs for each person,

Q: W ho can we look to for clues on the right

night. We now use the term palliative care to

feelings around death are highly individual.

refer to care directed at suffering regardless

People nearing the end of life often experi-

of prognosis. Hospice, on the other hand,

ence changes on many levels, including

refers to care given to patients who are likely

functional, social, financial, and sometimes

look like chaos to one person is actually

to have less than six months to live, when

philosophical. For most people, being free

another person ‘staying in character’ up until

the primary focus is on quality of life and

from pain, having time with loved ones and

their last breath. We cannot force peace on

control or relief of symptoms.

finding meaning with life are vital compo-

a dying person any more than we can cure

nents to this process.

death. Our culture embraces miracle cures

Q: Does our culture have a fear of embracing death?

A: P atients and families will make different choices if information about prognosis is

A: T here is no right way to die, and what may

and finishing one’s bucket list. However,

Q: Why is it important to know one’s prognosis or one’s likelihood to die?

way to die?

the most profound moments can happen in a living room or hospital corridor. When someone has the bravery to face death, it

A: O ur culture holds a strong belief that death

provided. Knowing there is only a short time

can be controlled. Medical care is abundant

left lets them make choices on how to best

and accessible through a 911 call. Patients

spend that time. They can also avoid the

and families often believe they, too, can

pursuit of non-beneficial care or interventions

ward off death by making the right medical

can often create a deep sense of peace.

f4mmc.org | Viewpoint

COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS To ride a jet-black Harley, to learn to surf or to sport hot pink hair may sound like bucket list items for some. In this case, however, it only begins to express the variety of community-run events that bolster revenue and extend goodwill toward Morristown Medical Center. These diverse money-makers have grown in both volume and prestige over the last several years. A record-breaking 65 events took place in 2014, doubling the amount from the previous year. The year before that, in 2012, a “Friend of Philanthropy Award” was created that annually recognizes an outstanding event that yields more than $10,000 for the hospital. From arranging gallery showings and art workshops to staging comedy nights and race car driving exhibitions to climbing the highest mountain peak in every state and shaving one’s head, community-based fundraisers add, on average, a quarter-ofa-million dollars each year to fund myriad hospital programs and equipment needs. While the events run the gamut from artsy to zany, the event organizers themselves are an eclectic bunch: shop owners and scouts, students and coaches, retirees and rock collectors, musicians and marathoners, rock and rollers or rock and readers, poker and bridge players, cyclists and spinners, bakers and chocolatiers, writers and poets, knitters and quilters, gamers and Zumba instructors, and even a thirty-something CEO of a national nonprofit organization. The group who ran the most profitable fundraiser in 2014 was composed of electrical workers at IBEW Local 102 in Parsippany who happened to be motorcycle

4 Focus On | f4mmc.org

enthusiasts. Feeling a strong connection to the hospital after working on its renovation and construction for almost 20 years, they organized the Motorcycle Ride and Classic Car Show fundraiser, which netted a hefty $21,000 for Goryeb Children’s Hospital. What made this event so successful was the loyalty of their colleagues: “There is a great sense of brotherhood in our organization,” says David Fiore. “Many of our brothers and sisters [in the neighboring unions] even came out to enjoy the camaraderie.” This kind of fierce allegiance can also be seen in patients and their families who have had a positive experience with the hospital. Bryan Gregg, owner and chef of Escape restaurant in Montclair, N.J., remembers the superior care he received at Carol G. Simon Cancer Center that helped him overcome testicular cancer. “It’s hard to explain but every time I came for treatments there was a sense of calm that seemed palpable,” says Mr. Gregg. A Farm-To-Fork Dinner series, which consisted of a five-course gourmet meal, held several times throughout the year was Chef Gregg’s way of saying thank you. Other grateful patients and their families organized carnivals and Sunday Fun Days (watching their favorite football team with food and drink) or sold handcrafted bracelets. Some enticed supporters with extra virgin olive oil from family groves in Italy and still others threw elaborate food and wine tasting parties. Many others fundraise because they are motivated by a national cause. Hoping to fight cancer, for example, a group of corrections officers organized a pinkthemed dinner dance, while a skating club sold pink laces and a Morristown-based hair salon’s stylists applied pink hair extensions to hundreds of customers. “Many of our clients have dealt with breast cancer,” says Laboratory Hair Studio Owner Mark Kuzma. “They have been so loyal and kind to us. It was a privilege to give back in a way that would be meaningful to them.”

Cause-related fundraising also drove the Market In May shopping extravaganza where local designers and vendors sold household furnishings, gifts and fashion accessories at insider prices, sponsored by the Women’s Association. Proceeds benefitted the Women’s Heart Health Program at Gagnon. Sporting events are yet another popular fundraising hook. Wrestlers, swimmers, golfers, tennis and WIFFLE® ball players all bring their A-game while proceeds for the hospital pile up. And don’t forget basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, football and soccer enthusiasts who play to their heart’s content while scoring tons of cash for their favorite areas of Morristown Medical Center. In fact, more than 600 children and adults of all ages day-dreamed of being the next Michael Jordan while swishing foul shots at the Hoop-A-Paluza fundraiser event held at Millburn High School several years back. “What’s really great is not only are we raising money but we’re also showing kids it can be fun,” says Lori Robinson, the organizer of that event. “We want to instill philanthropic values in kids at a young age.” Over the last several years these sport-related fundraisers brought in, on their own, $350,000 that went toward a variety of clinical areas, including oncology, pediatrics, behavioral health and orthopedics. While there are any number of reasons people decide to undertake a fundraising event, sometimes a random encounter is all the motivation one needs. Take T.J. Eaton, CEO of A Little Helping Hand nonprofit organization, who met a young boy with autism at the beach and saw how much he loved the water. Since then, Mr. Eaton has taught more than 50 children with autism and special needs how to surf. Proceeds have benefitted Goryeb. “The really great events all seem to have one common denominator: people with a passion to give back,” says Michelle Meszaros, donor relations manager at the Foundation.

Illustrations: Paul Zwolak

PLANNING AN EVENT? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 1. S ubmit an application to the Foundation 90 days prior. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Michelle Meszaros, Donor Relations Manager

2. G et Foundation approval to solicit contributions, sponsorships or in-kind gifts from local businesses. 3. G et Foundation approval on advertising, invitations or other promotional materials. 4. C omply with all federal, state and local laws governing charitable fund raising.

HOW WE CAN HELP 1. S hare our logo for your materials to validate it as a legitimate hospitalrecognized event. 2. P ublicize the event on our website and in varied hospital channels. 3. A rrange a photo opportunity when the proceeds check is presented. 4. F ollow-up with post-event publicity, which may include a Facebook post or a mention in the Journal.

VI NCE AN D M E R E DITH CR EO

“ It’s important for me . . . because they saved my life, and it’s my way of saying thank you.” – Meredith Creo To explore thrift shops in Soho for that one hidden gem may sound like something a teenage girl loves to do with her ‘bestie.’ It certainly is one of Meredith Creo’s favorite pastimes. However, her companion is not a classmate or neighborhood buddy but her dad, Vince, who accompanies her on these trips into the city all the time. “We are so much alike,” says the 16-year-old Madison resident. “Of course, we do butt heads sometimes. And we don’t always agree on everything. But, for me, if someone says that I am like my father, it is a big compliment.” Not only is New York City one of their go-to places but also Morristown Medical Center. The pair volunteers tirelessly to raise funds for Goryeb. “We pretty much dove right in,” says Mr. Creo. They both work with Kids4Kids, a philanthropic committee run by children and teenagers whose fundraisers benefit the hospital’s pediatric services. Parents are allowed to join as members. Mr. Creo is also a member of the Pediatric Philanthropy Council, which raises funds for Goryeb.

Father and daughter showed up together on the assigned day, in the pouring rain, and dug holes, planted flowers and shoveled mulch off a flat-bed truck, for hours. That was six years ago and the two haven’t slowed down yet. They are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. At a spring Action for Distraction Run/Walk fundraiser, Mr. Creo manned the registration table as Meredith handed out tee-shirts to participants. They both stayed for clean-up duty well after the runners and walkers had gone home. And every year, in the weeks leading up to the Family Fun Day fundraiser, the pair can be spotted hanging flyers on bulletin boards and store fronts throughout neighboring communities. What drives their passion to give back? It began the day Meredith was born at Morristown Medical Center, almost a month before her due date. “They went to extraordinary lengths to make sure everyone was 6 Portrait | f4mmc.org

Becky Bedrosian

When Meredith joined the group at nine years old, her first project was to help plant flowers at the new Mickey’s Garden. Kids4Kids planned to transform a small area outside of Goryeb into a garden that patients could visit for a change of scenery and some fresh air.

being cared for,” says Mr. Creo. “What stood out most to me was the compassion and dedication of the nurses and doctors toward the family as well as the patient.” Meredith was treated for a life-threatening condition known as omphalocele, which means her liver protruded through her belly button, contained in a sack of fluid. After spending nearly three weeks in neonatal intensive care, she was able to go home. “This is a very special place to me,” says Meredith. “It’s important for me to raise money for Goryeb because they saved my life, and it’s my way of saying thank you.”

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THE NEXT GENERATION At its inaugural event, May 2, 2015, the Young Professionals Group welcomed more than 50 attendees to the Jockey Hollow Bar and Kitchen for a happy hour fundraiser to benefit Goryeb Children’s Hospital. The millennials enjoyed cocktails and live music while raising over $10,000 for the Joan and Edward Foley Pediatric Intensive Care Unit expansion..

MORNING MEDITATION On June 17, 2015, 54 campaign and annual giving donors gathered at The Morristown Club for a thank you breakfast and presentation by Jean Marie Rosone, coordinator of integrative oncology. Board Chair Chris Baldwin welcomed the guests and the Stewardship Committee hosted the event, which will be repeated annually. In a lovely surprise, one of the attendees and her husband made a generous gift to integrative oncology afterwards.

SHOW AND TELL

Pictured above (l-r): Donors Len and Brenda Sichel with Dr. Stephen Winters at the cardiology event.

In a departure from the typical written report on how donations are being used, donors were invited to three events this past spring to hear the latest from department chairs in pediatrics, cardiology and oncology. Attendees met and chatted with physicians from each area and heard first-hand experiences from patients on how donations made a difference in their lives.

Pictured below (l-r): Dave and Jill Farris listen as the Valerie Center’s Joann Spera demonstrates a Vgo robot, which gives young patients the ability to ‘attend’ school and interact with teachers and classmates.

Pictured above (l-r): Moira Christoudias, MD; Diane Haley, LCSW; Rosemary Stefiniw, manager, oncology research; Gil Baez, manager, oncology services; Beverly Afonso, donor and co-chair, Cancer Center Community Advisory Board; and Pauline Yannece, former patient.

Happenings | f4mmc.org

village

HEALER

There is nothing new about Mary Anne Wood’s love of children. The mother of three and member of the Pediatric Philanthropy Council at Goryeb teaches Sunday school at her church and volunteers at her children’s school.

We understand

And if that’s not enough to demonstrate this high priority in her life, she (and her husband, Ray) recently donated $250,000 to Campaign 3SIXTY toward the Joan and Edward Foley Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Child Development and Autism Center.

how fragile the family

“We are honored to support such exceptional health care opportunities for all children, especially the ones who truly need the special attention,” says Mrs. Wood. “Our children were fortunately all born healthy and continue to be so, but we have many friends who delivered premature babies and needed the resources of a top-notch neonatal unit.”

becomes when

“We understand how fragile the family becomes when a child is sick or struggling with disabilities,” she adds. “It takes an entire village to ensure a child’s well-being.”

a child is sick or struggling

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Shelley Kusnetz

with disabilities.

Mary Anne and Ray Wood

POISED FOR SUCCESS O-arm Surgical Imaging System

UNSTOPPABLE The Foundation’s unrestricted fund, in true superhero fashion, often saves the day and is quick to change course at a moment’s notice to support a new piece of equipment, technology or start-up program that may otherwise go unnoticed and unfunded. Take, for example, the recent gift of $300,000 that gave the Orthopedics Department the ability to purchase an O-Arm Multi-dimensional Surgical Imaging System. “This new piece of technology gives us the capability to efficiently and safely perform complicated spinal surgeries,” says William Dowling, MD, chair, Department of Orthopedic Services at the hospital.

For Leonard and Brigid Bailey, watching their daughter grow up with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was difficult, yet helping other children with the same affliction has been easy. It’s also why they recently gave a $24,000 grant from the Bailey Family Foundation to the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at the Farris Family Center for Advanced Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP). CAMP will use the funding to launch yoga classes, promoting relaxation and reducing stress for children and teens suffering with rheumatologic and inflammatory diseases. The grant will also add a support group for parents, providing them with strategies to show their children how to live life to its fullest, despite the disease.

Another $230,000 in unrestricted funds purchased an advanced echocardiography machine, which detects early heart damage caused by some cancer treatments as part of the Cardio-Oncology Program at Gagnon. Unrestricted funds derive their super human strength from unrestricted endowment income, unrestricted donations and an investment portfolio overseen by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

HELLER’S VISION The founder of two multi-million dollar New Jersey companies, the late Isaac Heller once said that spending time with family and giving gifts to charity were what mattered most in his life. Mr. Heller was a long-time supporter of Carol G. Simon Cancer Center and most recently donated $500,000, just prior to his passing, to establish a new program in thoracic lung cancer. In recognition of his gift, the program will be named The Helaine and Isaac Heller Thoracic Lung Cancer Program. “The Heller family’s generosity and vision has ensured that Morristown Medical Center’s lung cancer program has the flexibility to maintain its leading position in the field largely due to our ability to access the very best technology available,” says Dr. Mark Widmann, chief of thoracic surgery. An endowment, using $400,000 of the gift, will be established for the program. The remaining $100,000 will go toward equipment costs and services that boost patient care.

A CLEAR COURSE When Bob and Carol Mulholland found out about the hospital’s new Geriatric Assessment Center they knew immediately that their $25,000 gift would be earmarked here. “It hit close to home for us. My wife and I both have elderly parents,” says Mr. Mulholland. “My mother has had some form of dementia for 15 years now.” Mr. Mulholland remembers when he and his siblings didn’t know where to turn for help while searching for the best living arrangements for their mother. “Thirty years ago we had the Dr. Spock book that set the bar for raising our children, but we haven’t found that same kind of benchmark in geriatrics until now,” he added.

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PENNIES FROM HEAVEN Prying open piggy banks for a good cause may seem like small potatoes. But not so for students from the Morris School District who gave $10,600 to the Child Life Program at Goryeb after tapping into these common, yet effective, financial reserves. The annual Coins for a Cause fundraiser, held this past spring, motivates elementary school students to give back to their community. “It’s wonderful to see students at such a young age doing so much for their community,” says Child Life Specialist Kristin Holtzman. “Their thoughtfulness toward children who are hospitalized is inspiring.” The proceeds will help to fund equipment needs, such as iPads, and supplement therapeutic programs offered through Child Life. Pictured above: Students from the Morris School District

GIFTS GALORE A child’s allowance can be a tightly guarded treasure. But a group of children from Hunterdon County didn’t think twice about using theirs to purchase gifts for patients at the Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Goryeb. The children volunteer on behalf of the Amanda Styles Cirelli Foundation (ASCF). They also raised funds for the Goryeb gifts by manning their own lemonade stands and in lieu of receiving birthday gifts. Friends and family contributed to the cause as well. Tammie Catherwood founded ASCF to honor her late sister Amanda, an elementary school teacher who was passionate about her students. Ms. Cirelli died of cervical cancer while in her late 20s. Pictured above: Young volunteers for the Amanda Styles Cirelli Foundation

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ROCK ON Anyone with good business sense knows that launching a product to the right audience, at the right time, with a cause-related connection, can mean soaring profits. Such was the case for 8-year-old Alex Haag of Randolph who sold rocks (found in his backyard) to visiting family members to raise money for Goryeb. Alex labeled each rock with a price between $10 and $15 dollars. He then placed them in a box with a makeshift open/closed sign. His marketing savvy paid off – the enterprising young fundraiser netted $75 for the hospital. “I want to help kids that are sick,” says the Center Grove Elementary School student. “I feel sad when I think about kids who need help. Selling rocks is a good idea because I have a lot of them.”

REAL HELP In Labor and Delivery, all eyes were on Victoria. Her baby’s shoulder had been stuck in the birth canal, and breathing had stopped. Now, a massive postpartum hemorrhage had begun. Fortunately for all, Victoria is a birthing simulator, used to train medical teams in emergency situations such as these. Made possible by a $50,000 grant from the Willits Foundation, Victoria is the second computer-based birthing simulator residing year-round at the Deskovick Maternity Center.

Donor William Ju, MD, tries out the Ultima, monitored by Damion Martins, MD.

every

MEASURED STEP Who would guess that one piece of equipment could deliver the kind of training advice that athletic novices and Ironmen, alike, yearn for? Thanks to a $32,000 gift from the David M.C. Ju Foundation, an Ultima™ CPX metabolic stress testing system has been purchased for the Sports Medicine Department that will accomplish just that. Heart and lung performance are measured in detail while an individual runs on a treadmill and breathes into a mask connected to the system.

Gaumard Scientific

“These are common scenarios anyone on our staff could face when they come to work,” says Pam Melon, RN, perinatal clinical nurse specialist. “It’s easiest to do when you’ve done it once before.”

Victoria and her newborn

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD Tiffany and Thomas Bartzak made a commitment to love, honor and cherish one another on their wedding day this past July. But it didn’t stop there. They also decided to do the same for a hospital full of children, most of whom they didn’t even know. Opting out of wedding favors, they gave $300 to support the Child Life Program. The area appealed to the couple because they have an 18-month-old, and Mr. Bartzak’s 8-year-old cousin, Jack Garzon, has also been a patient at Goryeb since last February. “We wanted to make it easier for these kids to be kids,” says Mrs. Bartzak. “That’s what every child deserves, and that’s what this program delivers.”

“Having been trained as a physician and a researcher, I believe that having accurate data on meaningful health parameters can be a powerful way to help patients become actively involved in taking care of their health,” says donor and Foundation trustee William Ju, MD. “The machine calculates caloric intake needs and measures what fuel (fat or carbohydrates) you burn at different heart rates,” adds Damion Martins, MD, director of Executive Health, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. “It helps everyone train smarter, not harder.”

Thomas and Tiffany Bartzak and their daughter Caelyn Nicole

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making

MOVEMENT A PRIORITY

CIRCLE OF SUPPORT Larry and Eileen Paragano are the kind of people who like to see others succeed. So it only made sense for the Bernardsville residents to want to help Robert Coyne, MD, and Stephen Winters, MD, by funding the nurse educator position for the Center for Rhythm Management at Gagnon.

Jumping out of bed and grabbing a cup of coffee is often accomplished without much thought. But for those coping with movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, this morning ritual is a brutal reminder of the impossible.

Mr. Paragano came to Morristown Medical Center for emergency pacemaker/defibrillator surgery a few years ago, which was performed by Dr. Coyne.

Glenn Yarnis watched his father, and grandmother, struggle with this exact scenario. It led Mr. Yarnis and his wife, Marcie, to make a leadership gift to establish the Yarnis Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Rehabilitation Center.

“The procedure saved my life,” says Mr. Paragano. It also forged a bond between the two that expanded over time to include Dr. Winters.

Pictured: Eileen and Larry Paragano

Their intention with the center is to help patients (and their families) live better lives by learning how to manage movement disorder diseases in a more productive way. “We had a bad outcome with my Dad,” says Mr. Yarnis. “He had to be placed in a nursing home by age 65 and passed away a few years later. We want others to fare better.”

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“We see the entire cardiac rhythm team as kind and caring and want to help them whatever way we can,” says Mr. Paragano.

PRAISE PERSONIFIED For David and Karen Mandelbaum, singing the praises of Stephen Winters, MD, couldn’t come easier. Recently, they took their accolades an octave higher by purchasing an ultrasound system for the Cardiac Rhythm Management Department at Gagnon.

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The center will focus on patients’ balance control and postural stability by using therapies that mimic the challenges of daily life.

Mrs. Mandelbaum has been treated for arrhythmia by Dr. Winters for about a decade: “He should get the doctor award of the century. I have never met anyone like him anywhere. He even returned my call at 2 am, when he was overseas, to check on my condition.” The ultrasound system will help to prevent injury to blood vessels in the neck and groin region while catheter-based procedures, including ablations, are being performed.

Pictured above (l-r): Dr. Greg Mulford; Glenn, Samantha, Marcie, and Josh Yarnis; and Deb Visconi, director of operations

Pictured: David and Karen Mandelbaum

12 News | f4mmc.org

Pictured left: Physical therapist Juliana Hamel Thomas helps patient Heidi Santore demonstrate the LiteGait

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A GOOD CALL Jocelyne Blanc couldn’t put her finger on it, but knew something was amiss with her 5-month-old son Maximus. A trip to the pediatrician landed him at Morristown Medical Center with a diagnosis of infant botulism.

CURATIVE MEANS Being told by physicians that they wouldn’t stop working until she was healed is something Polly La Duc will never forget. It is also the motivation behind a recent $75,000 gift that she and her husband, John, made for the Wound Healing Program to fund a nurse navigator position.

Jocelyne Blanc and husband Adam Kalkin share their story at Goryeb Children’s Hospital donor event

The physicians at Goryeb went to work, and Maximus is a happy toddler today. In return, Ms. Blanc and her husband, Adam Kalkin, gave $10,000 to the hospital as a token of their overwhelming gratitude.

Last year, Mrs. La Duc came to the hospital for help with a surgical wound that, after eight months, hadn’t healed. “They were enthusiastic even when I had doubts,” says Mrs. La Duc, who healed completely after four months of treatments. “The physicians, nurses and staff all made me feel that this was a fight we were in together. I was grateful to have them on my side.”

“When I heard the botulism diagnosis, I thought, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” says Ms. Blanc, but she realizes now it was their quick-thinking and skillful care that saved her son’s life. “On top of the expert medical care, the love and support shown to my family was mind-blowing,” says Ms. Blanc. Music therapists visited the room and sang “Itsy-Bitsy Spider” to Maximus. Massage therapists even offered Ms. Blanc their services at no additional charge.

Polly La Duc

“Everyone treated us like family and cared for my baby as if he were their own,” says Ms. Blanc.

GREEN THUMBS

IN MEMORIAM Some people carry a heavy load with such finesse it seems easy. Such was the case with the late Denny Baird, who tirelessly served his community, Morristown Medical Center and the Foundation for many years. Mr. Baird passed away peacefully on May 6, 2015, at the age of 70. To honor his legacy, the Foundation has created the Denny Baird Chairman’s Fund for Innovation, which recently reached $300,000 in donations. This special endowment will be used to fuel research and innovation at Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute and recognize the life of Mr. Baird who served as a Foundation trustee and the first chairman of the Foundation’s Board. “Denny was extremely civic-minded and cared deeply about giving back to the community,” says Jim Quinn, chief development officer at the Foundation.

Digging in the dirt is fun for any kid and even more so when their parents join in. That happened this past summer as more than 30 participants from the Family Counseling and Guidance Program planted three container gardens outside of Goryeb Children’s Hospital. The families returned each week to pick tomatoes, peppers, basil, beans and thyme. Sponsored by Grow It Green, a nonprofit organization in Morristown that creates sustainable farms and gardens throughout the community, the joint effort taught families the importance of growing and eating your own produce. “Anything that would interest children to eat healthier is a good thing,” says Joanna Smith, LCSW, program coordinator at the Family Counseling and Guidance Program.

Mr. Baird is survived by his wife of 47 years, Joy; son Chip and his wife Tressa of Bernardsville; son David and his wife Jill of Arlington, VA; son Andrew and his wife Sarah of Kent, CT, and eight grandchildren.

Juana Vidal and daughter Emily Rosales

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SPOTLIGHT ON EMPLOYEE GIVING CAMPAIGN Maureen’s Story Could the secret of loving your job have more to do with what you give rather than what you get? Maureen Colon, RN, started working at Morristown Medical Center in 1996 and began setting aside money from her paychecks – not for a vacation or a luxury item, but for the hospital. “My family and I have received superb care from the hospital,” says the clinical coordinator of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Gagnon. “I have personally and professionally benefitted from this institution and thought it was the right thing to do.” Her donations, initially, went toward construction of Carol G. Simon Cancer Center. After that, she began donating toward the new cardiovascular institute. Once Gagnon was completed, she easily found other projects to get passionate about.

Shelley Kusnetz

“If I come to work focused on getting a paycheck, it’s a different work experience,” she says. “I like to see myself as providing a service and helping people. The added benefit is that I get paid for it too.”

UPDATE: FUNDS RAISED AS OF AUGUST 31, 2015 TOTAL: $99.4 million

BREAK-OUT (areas fully funded):

Media Services

Behavioral Health Breast Health Cardiovascular Medicine Emergency Medicine Executive Health Head and Neck Cancer Maternity

center for advanced medicine in pediatrics BACK IN BALANCE

Imagine being told that your child faces a life-threatening illness or a complex chronic disease you barely understand. What next? Current Landscape:

SPOTLIGHT ON HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE

Cover Illustration: Paul Zwolak

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FALL 2015

CalendarofEvents For upcoming events, log on to f4mmc.org and select News & Events

What Have You Been Doing? Making things happen. Visit f4mmc.org or use your smartphone or tablet to view a video tribute to our donors.

Writer: Laura Deal | Editor: Regi Diverio Layout: Susan Falcone, Envoi Design

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CREATIVE COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS KEEP THE HOSPITAL IN THEIR SIGHTS PG 4 also inside: Kids Taking Action | Denny Baird’s Innovative Legacy | Behavioral Health’s IMPACT