Spring 2015 by Foundation for Morristown Medical Center

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SPRING 2015

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HELP COMPLETE the

f4mmc.org/Campaign3SIXTY Becky Bedrosian

Make an INVESTMENT in an area that MEANS the MOST to YOU.

CIRCLE

Dr. Joseph Trunfio helps Dr. Grant Parr don a ceremonial medal and Dr. Linda Gillam presents a commemorative lab coat to Dr. John Brown III

PARR EXCELLENCE On Feb. 25, 2015, 90 well-wishers turned out to celebrate the establishment of the Dr. Grant V.S. Parr Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery and the investiture of Dr. John Brown III as the first holder of the chair. Lead donors Anesthesia Associates were joined by nearly 100 other benefactors in raising $2 million to endow the chair, which honors Dr. Parr as the founder of the cardiac surgery program. The 27-yearold program now handles 1,500 open-heart surgeries each year. Chairman of the Foundation Board Chris Baldwin served as master of ceremonies for the program, which featured remarks by Atlantic Health System President and CEO Joe Trunfio and Huck Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine Dr. Linda Gillam. Both Dr. Parr and Dr. Brown received commemorative medals.

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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 hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs and services in direct patient care, clinical research, medical and public health education and preventive medicine.

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THE TRANSFORMATIVE BLENDING OF HEALTH CARE AND TECHNOLOGY PG 4 also inside: Tributes to Two Shining Lights | Philanthropy-Minded Young Professionals | Another Project Independence Success

UPDATE: FUNDS RAISED AS OF APRIL 30, 2015 TOTAL: $96.3 million

BREAK-OUT (funding needs):

$1,536,000 Integrative Medicine $1,480,000 Pediatrics $338,000 Project Independence $227,000 Geriatrics $190,000 Behavioral Health $107,000 Hospice/Palliative Care

project independence VERIZON ENABLES HEART SUCCESS WITH MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

While the Affordable Care Act promises health care coverage to those previously underinsured or uninsured the reality of high deductibles can put financial stresses on families least equipped to weather them. When beset by serious illness, these are the people who may lose their jobs and ultimately their homes simply by taking time off to receive treatment or to care for a loved one.

SENIORS EMBRACE GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT CENTER The elderly population in Morris County, growing by leaps and bounds, is projected to increase in number by more than 20,000 in the next 10 years alone. This significant population shift, coupled with the highly specialized nature of geriatric medicine, has made the Geriatric Assessment Center, within the David and Joan Powell Center for Healthy Aging, a sought-after destination for seniors seeking comprehensive care. A priority of Campaign 3SIXTY, the center opened in the fall of 2013, offering complex health assessments and care plans that address the needs of older adults and their caregivers. As fundraising toward the $2.3 million goal continues, additional services are being added. The center will begin conducting post-discharge assessments for seniors hospitalized for a fall or motor vehicle accident. And the center will be offering primary care on a limited basis, allowing seniors to receive services addressing all of their medical needs, under one roof. To help us fund more critical services for seniors, please contact major gifts officer Noelle Deihl-Harteveld at Noelle.Harteveld@atlantichealth.org or 973-593-2409.

Brewing Generosity A free cuppa Joe can be a great way to start the day or the perfect mid-day break, which made the first two employee coffees, hosted by the Foundation, a huge success. The Foundation held the coffee gatherings to get the word out about the employee campaign that is now underway and steadily raising money for Campaign 3SIXTY. Director of Annual Giving Joette Rosato plans on hosting several more coffee events throughout the year: “It’s not only about the campaign but also to educate employees on the importance of fundraising and what the foundation is doing year-round to benefit the hospital.” Pictured above: Marina Debanich, RN

Current Landscape: The late William E. Simon started Project Independence 26 years ago to help patients at Morristown Medical Center who fell behind in their bills because of extended periods of illness. Hospital caregivers identify financially burdened patients and a committee decides who will receive a one-time grant of up to $7,500.

The 360° Solution: Since its inception, Project Independence has helped nearly 2,000 community members, distributing more than $6.4 million. But we want to do more. By increasing the Project Independence pool of assistance to $3.5 million, we can expand our reach and help more families. The William E. Simon Foundation has already donated $3.1 million, bringing us close to our goal.

The Transformation: Project Independence helps patients maintain their independence, selfesteem and dignity; keep their families together; and ultimately resume normal and productive lives.

Your Role: With your help, we can increase funding to Project Independence by 10% each year over the next few years. Estimated cost: $400,000 DONATE NOW: f4mmc.org

With support from Verizon, the Thomas E. Reilly Heart Success Program at Gagnon is launching a study of remote-monitoring technology with 100 heart failure patients that may slash re-admission and emergency department visits. The study examines how mobile technology helps patients manage their conditions. Before discharge, a SEEQ ™ MCT wearable sensor from Medtronic, Inc., will be placed on each patient’s chest to collect and wirelessly transmit heart rate, electrocardiogram data and arrhythmia status in real-time, around-the-clock, to the care team. A decline in any one of these disease indicators can cause rapid and often fatal outcomes, which makes this innovation a game-changer for many. The study will also equip sub-acute patients with a DocView m-Health Solutions™ app. This mobile app tracks when patients take their medications and records symptomatic data, such as swelling and shortness of breath. Patients simply answer questions on an iPad, three times a week. In addition to the SEEQ ™ sensor, home-based patients will receive Medtronic’s Cardiocom to monitor additional indicators, such as blood pressure and weight readings, among other capabilities. “Marrying technology with patient care programs can boost the quality of life for those who need it most,” says Rose Stuckey Kirk, president of the Verizon Foundation.

Shelley Kusnetz

Q&A with Keerti Sharma, MD Since opening its doors, the Geriatric Assessment Center within the David and Joan Powell Center for Healthy Aging has experienced soaring patient volumes, totaling more than 1,300 visits in the first year alone, with significant increases expected in 2015. Led by Director Keerti Sharma, MD, the center offers seniors a complete evaluation of complex physical and psychosocial issues, neurological and cognitive exams and a full review of medications to help them function independently, for as long as possible. Q: What is the biggest concern for families who have elderly relatives living on their own?

meds are simply too expensive or they don’t

always prepared to deal with the manage-

have any way to get to the pharmacy for

ment of major cognitive changes, such as

replenishing their prescriptions.

Alzheimer’s disease, where day-to-day care

A: F amilies often worry about their loved one’s

can be intense. Finances, too, play a large

personal safety, such as falling or having a

Q: How do healthy eating habits and daily exer-

medical crisis. They are afraid that no one

cise extend the ability for seniors to thrive in

will be aware that they are in distress and

a home setting?

part when seniors have not planned to live into their late 80s and beyond. Q: What are some pro-active practices we

may need medical help. Often times, families are concerned about social isolation of their

A: N ot eating well-balanced meals can hamper

loved one, too, which can lead to depression

energy and the ability to function properly.

and a lack of desire to follow a routine that

Poor nutrition is associated with a higher risk

keeps them healthy and safe.

of mortality because it can trigger the onset

can implement as we see our parents getting frailer? A: A s a family, you need to plan, plan, and plan

of a disease or contribute to an increased

some more. Financial planning and a home

risk of falling. Studies also confirm that

safety assessment are two top priorities.

plays a role in elderly people’s ability to cope

a formal exercise program absolutely

Seniors, oftentimes, find themselves living in

on their own?

slows down the rate of cognitive decline

the same home they moved into years ago,

in the elderly.

and it may need to be adapted to accom-

Q: Explain how the management of medications

A: O lder adults, on average, take up to eight medications every day, and many of these may have negative side effects when taken

modate a newly developed disability. Families Q: What are we, as a culture, not prepared for in the aging of our parents?

together. Often, these mistakes happen because there are several doctors prescribing

may also consider hiring help in the home or deciding whether another caregiving setting is ultimately necessary.

A: P eople are living longer, and this phenom-

medications and no one has an overview of

enon has presented the development of

the senior’s medical profile. Sometimes the

more complex illnesses. Families are not

f4mmc.org | Viewpoint

HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY Robert Ley remembers when his link to the outside world was a radio, the size of a piece of furniture, in the family room of his childhood home. Now he carries an iPad in one hand to check weather forecasts and traffic updates and to communicate with physicians at Morristown Medical Center. A patient in a pilot study with the Thomas E. Reilly Heart Success Program at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute, Mr. Ley (who suffered a heart attack 20 years ago) uses a mobile app, DocView m-Health Solutions™, to keep hospital caregivers apprised of his symptoms. “If I step out of line and my numbers are not what they should be, I get a call right away,” says the 83-year-old Sussex County resident. Nancy Bonnet, RN, administrative manager of Heart Success, knows remote monitoring technologies help to boost the quality of life for heart failure patients being ‘watched’ at home through wireless transmissions. “The idea is to prevent illness and keep them out of the hospital,” says Mrs. Bonnet. “It helps our staff to be proactive and reach out, when needed, to reinforce education.” Even telecommunications giants are putting their technology to work in new ways. Verizon recently gave $400,000 to Heart Success, to help even more heart failure patients manage their chronic disease using mobile solutions (see story on back inside cover).

MOST WIRED ORGANIZATION Using wireless technology for health benefits has been a top priority of Morristown Medical Center’s parent organization, Atlantic Health System (AHS), for years. AHS was named one of Health Care’s Most Wired organizations for the fifth consecutive year, according to the results of a survey released by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, the journal of the American Hospital Association. “How we deliver care and where we deliver care is changing,” says Linda Reed, RN, vice president of Behavioral and Integrative Medicine and chief information officer at AHS. “Smartphones and tablets give people access to care in their car, at home or on a plane.”

4 Focus On | f4mmc.org

Last year, Morristown Medical Center launched the “Be Well” app, helping users track their weight, blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol and document their medications, among other features. Patients can access their personal electronic health records through the Atlantic Health Connect app or check when it’s time to refill their medications with ePharmacy. If an emergency visit to the hospital is necessary, they can check Emergency Department wait times. Apps can even sync with Fitbits®, a wristband that tracks activity and calories and has been helpful for children with obesity issues at Morristown’s Family Health Center. The NJ SIM Foundation gave $10,000 to the center to purchase 100 more devices this year. Moreover, at HealtheConnect, a technology store at the hospital that started with seed funding from Campaign 3SIXTY Chairman Finn Wentworth and his wife Kim, staffers introduce patients and visitors to new health technologies that they can connect to via their smartphones, tablets and computers.

GOOGLE GLASS FINDS MEDICAL APPLICATIONS Google Glass may have been a bust with the consumer market, but it has proven valuable in the medical field. This embellished pair of eyeglasses comes equipped with a smartphone-type display on the lens and voice command support as well as Bluetooth connectivity. It improves medical education in the operating room when worn by Jordan Safirstein, MD, director of the Transradial Angioplasty Program at Gagnon. “Having a hands-free video camera filming surgery has transformed my ability to teach,” says Dr. Safirstein, who offers training to doctors in the final year of their cardiology fellowship at Gagnon. “I narrate and my students ask questions from a remote setting in real time, or I tape it for later instructional uses.” Google Glass has been useful, too, in home care situations where expert care can reach more patients, in less time.

“It has given our home-based heart failure patients the advantage of being evaluated by a Nurse Practitioner (NP),” says Eileen Moran, RN, clinical administrator for Atlantic Home Care and Hospice. “The NP can view the situation from her office in real time through Google Glass and use her advanced clinical skills to guide the visiting nurse, who is in the home with the patient.”

KID-FRIENDLY ROBOTS R Baby Foundation pledged $25,000 to bring the hospital’s first pediatric emergency teleconferencing robot to life earlier this year, helping patients living in remote areas of Sussex County. The robot, stationed at Newton Medical Center, is linked directly to Goryeb’s Joan and Edward Foley Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Gagnon Pediatric Emergency Department. This high-resolution technology allows physicians to be virtually at the bedside of Newton Medical Center patients. “It’s one of the newest medical frontiers,” says Ethan Wiener, MD, associate director of pediatric emergency medicine at Goryeb. “We can’t have expert services everywhere for everyone, but if we can get into the room with eyes and ears, we can help.” Robots are also giving patients who can’t attend school a presence there nonetheless. Four student-size VGo robots are now available to attend classes in their place, courtesy of a $33,000 gift from the NJ SIM Foundation to the Valerie Fund Children’s Center. A live video image of the student displays on the robot’s face, and his or her voice projects from speakers. As the robot glides along school corridors, the student interacts with teachers and peers. “The VGos are clearly making a significant impact, providing a solid educational connection for students,” says Douglas Gabel, president of NJ SIM Foundation. So what do medical apps, Google Glass, and robots mean for the future of medicine? “The patient wins,” says Ms. Reed. “They get faster access and more control over their care. Technology has shifted power to the consumer.”

“ The patient wins. They get faster access and more control over their care. Technology has shifted power to the consumer.” –Linda Reed, RN

AN DR EW B R U E N AN D E M I LY S I M O N

“ My parents and grandparents hope that my generation will follow in their footsteps.” – Andrew Bruen Known to be confident and community-minded, the millennial generation is a force to be reckoned with, which makes Andrew Bruen and Emily Simon perfect for the task at hand. As co-chairs of the Young Professionals Group, they are challenged with boosting awareness of and raising money for Morristown Medical Center, among their twenty something (and under 40) contemporaries. “Both Emily and I recognize the dire need to begin mobilizing our generation in sharing a collective passion for the hospital,” says Andrew Bruen, a Morristown resident who began volunteering for the hospital as a boy.

This sense of obligation to the community is a core value of the group’s steering committee. Apprising young professionals of the programs and services available at the hospital and bringing them up-to-speed on Campaign 3SIXTY funding goals are top priorities for the first year. At press time, the group was planning its inaugural event, a happy hour at the Jockey Hollow Bar and Kitchen to raise funds for Goryeb Children’s Hospital. “I would like to get young people in the area, especially those who did not grow up around here, involved,” says Emily Simon, whose parents (J. Peter and Janet) and grandparents (William E. and Carol G.) have a long legacy of philanthropy with the hospital. A cost engineer for Turner Construction Company in New York City, Ms. Simon is a self-described extrovert who says her outgoing nature was developed out of necessity. “I grew up with three brothers and a house full of very large personalities,” she says. Her vivaciousness has turned out to be one of her biggest strengths in engaging new people with ease and involving them in projects at the hospital that are near and dear to her heart. “I was voted into the position of ski team ‘mom’ in college, responsible for making sure the freshmen felt welcomed,” says

6 Portrait | f4mmc.org

Becky Bedrosian

“I remember helping my mother [Susan Bruen], former president of the Women’s Association, with many Mansion in May events,” says Mr. Bruen, whose father (Bill) is chairman of the Brookfield Legacy Society. “My wife, Callie, and I definitely plan on teaching our daughter, Ella Rose, the importance of giving back just as my mom and dad taught me. It’s more meaningful than simply writing a check.”

Ms. Simon, a 2011 graduate of Lafayette College. “As the season went on, I saw how important this seemingly nominal gesture resonated with everyone.” Mr. Bruen whole-heartedly agrees that making people feel welcomed and valued will be pivotal elements in the group’s overall success. As a financial advisor for UBS Financial Services in Florham Park, Mr. Bruen enjoys meeting new people and building relationships with them: “It’s important to be natural and to be a good listener.” Both Mr. Bruen and Ms. Simon sense the urgency of bringing their skill sets to the table at this critical juncture in time for the good of the hospital. “My parents and grandparents hope that my generation will follow in their footsteps,” says Mr. Bruen. “But without a group like this one, we won’t be prepared to step up to the plate.”

CHILD CENTERED The dedication and tour of the new Child Development and Autism Center drew 100 enthusiastic supporters to 435 South Street, Jan. 8, 2015. The new center was made possible by community donations of $3.2 million to Campaign 3SIXTY. Funding is still being sought for programming needs.

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Sal Benedetto

Pictured clockwise from left: Speaker Debbie Behar, whose teenage sons Justin and Chris were diagnosed with autism as children and have been under the care of the center’s Dr. Kathleen Fadden for 12 years. Staff who educated attendees about center programming (l-r) Emily Sy-te; Wendy Fruehling, RN; Shelly Lanzkowsky, MD; Tosan Livingstone, MD and Amy Tankersley. Pediatrics Chairman Walter Rosenfeld, flanked by Christie Gisser and Prudence Pigott, co-chairs of the Women’s Association’s 2014 Mansion in May (which raised $1 million for the center), and WAMMC president Dannette Merchant.

A MANY-SPLENDORED THING

CAMP FRIENDS

A crowd of 150 women (and one or two men) listened, laughed, and scribbled personal questions for celebrity therapist Laura Berman, PhD, to answer at the Love and Libido lecture, in Malcolm Forbes Amphitheater, April 16, 2015. A panel of medical experts from the hospital joined Dr. Berman in advising the audience how to “enjoy intimacy through all stages of life.” The Women’s Health Philanthropy Council hosted the event.

The Women’s Association of Morristown Medical Center saw yet another area of the hospital that benefitted from their generosity, Jan. 8, 2015. Members of WAMMC’s board toured the Farris Family Center for Advanced Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP), joined by Dr. Walter Rosenfeld, Fran Drigun, RN and the Foundation’s Jim Quinn. The group had donated $500,000 of the 2008 Mansion in May proceeds to benefit the center.

Happenings | f4mmc.org

seeds

OF WELL BEING

Drawing from their own experience, Peter and Sharon Cocoziello recently gave a leadership gift to the Chambers Center for Well Being, hoping to teach others that eating fresh and healthy foods is preventive medicine at its best.

We need to

“Coming from an Italian family, we ate our meals straight from the vegetable garden,” says Mr. Cocoziello, who has a large garden and chickens on his Oldwick estate.

begin educating

In recognition of Mr. and Mrs. Cocoziello’s gift, the Pediatric Integrative Medicine Area will be named to honor their children: Peter, Daniel and Alexander. In the future, the couple would like to see the center offer healthy cooking classes for children.

our children to take better care of them-

“We need to begin educating our children to take better care of themselves through the foods they prepare,” says Mrs. Cocoziello. “Kids love planting seeds and watching them grow. Preparing meals from their own garden is fun and good for them, too.” “Every teenager should learn how to cook 10 meals before they leave home,” Mr. Cocoziello adds.

selves through the foods they

8 News | f4mmc.org

Shelley Kusnetz

prepare.

Sharon and Peter Cocoziello with their grandchildren

Ritchie Commercial & Freelance Photography

TASTEFULLY DONE There are no golden tickets in the thousands of chocolate bars Wendy Taffet gives to patients at Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, but they are just as valuable. Barbara and Robert Luciano

HOMETOWN LOYALTY Although it was more than 45 years ago, Robert Luciano will always remember the care his father received at Morristown Medical Center while being treated for pancreatic cancer. Over the years, donating to the hospital became his and his wife Barbara’s language of loyalty. Most recently, a $500,000 gift toward Campaign 3SIXTY was earmarked for the Nancy and Skippy Weinstein Inpatient Hospice and Palliative Care Center and the Head Family Inpatient Psychiatric and Behavioral Health Center.

“My mom is a breast cancer survivor and her chemotherapy treatments were not pleasant,” says the owner of Enjou Chocolat in Morristown. “I know a chocolate bar can make someone smile.” Ms. Taffet began lecturing on the health benefits of chocolate to patients in the Inpatient Integrative Medicine (IM) program six years ago. She now donates 10 percent of the profit on certain chocolates sold at the store to IM as well.

Previously, the Lucianos earmarked $1 million to areas such as the Sameth Emergency Department expansion and the Campaign for the Heart, which helped to finance the construction of Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute. Residents of Convent Station for almost 50 years, they changed their permanent residence to Florida in 2010. They continue to spend summers in New Jersey, however, and still refer to Morristown as their hometown hospital. Now with children and grandchildren in the area, Mrs. Luciano says: “I like to know there’s a first-rate medical facility available if they need it.”

iPRACTICAL

ROBOTIC ADVANCES While robots may be mechanical and unemotional, the robotic surgery team at Morristown Medical Center couldn’t be more overjoyed to use the new da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system, purchased with $1 million of a recent $5 million gift from Dick and Jackie Deskovick. “The new machine allows for an increased range of motion within the abdomen of the patient,” says Ayal Kaynan, MD, director of minimally invasive and robotic surgery for Morristown Medical Center. “This version, with improved visual definition and clarity, greatly expands the types and the complexity of surgeries we can accomplish here.” Robotic surgery offers many advantages to patients, including smaller incisions, less blood loss during surgery, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.

Whether it’s playing a favorite song during a loved one’s passing, Skyping a child’s wedding that could not be attended because of hospitalization, translating a conversation from one language to another, or allowing patients to watch videos of what to expect with their upcoming procedure, the new iPad in the Pastoral Care Department has done virtually everything except sit idle on a shelf. “It seems like a day doesn’t go by when we aren’t thinking up new ways to use the iPad to help our patients,” says Chaplain Debbie Grek. Pastoral Care purchased the device with a Foundation mini grant, which uses unrestricted donations to fulfill patient care needs.

“With our new system, many more patients will be able to take advantage of less invasive surgery options,” says Dr. Kaynan. Surgeons plan to use the new system for many conditions, including hernia; diverticulitis; liver, pancreatic and kidney tumors; and bladder, colorectal and gynecologic cancers. f4mmc.org

| News

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West Morris Mendham High School students are learning more than math and science facts these days. A new class in philanthropy is teaching them that giving trumps receiving, any day of the week. Classmates began to understand the inherent goodness in giving while, as part of their class project, they raised $500 for Goryeb Children’s Hospital last fall. Main Street Philanthropy is working with high schools to help students develop a charitable giving outlook: “Philanthropy changes the giver,” says Yale Levey, a Mendham resident and co-creator of the nonprofit organization. Donors fund classes and students issue grants augmented with fundraising activities they pursue. A face painting event on the Morristown Green fueled the gift for Goryeb.

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GIVING FEELS GOOD

CARE THROUGH CRISIS Born at 32 weeks and weighing less than a 2-liter bottle of soda, the now 17-yearold all-county runner Andrew Vita paid a visit to Sam’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) this year. He brought along his twin sister, Brianne, and twin 15-year-old siblings, Corey and Courtney; it’s where all four were cared for as premature babies. They came with a donation of more than $1,000 and to pay homage to a man whom they often heard praised around their home: Gaines Mimms, MD. Dr. Mimms left an indelible impression on the twins’ mother and father, Kathleen and Andrew. “You can imagine how hard [the NICU stay] was for us,” says Mrs. Vita. “Dr. Mimms held our hands through the entire ordeal.” Andrew and Corey organized two tag days at Oratory Prep, their high school in Summit, where students paid $5 to dress in regular clothes for the day. “We often talked of doing something for the NICU,” says Mrs. Vita. “I know if it wasn’t for those doctors and nurses, my children surely wouldn’t be here today.”

HELPING HEARTS In a partnership between Cardiovascular Medicine and Oncology, Morristown is helping patients complete their cancer treatments without heart side effects. A new Cardio-Oncology program will provide early detection and treatment for side effects on the heart caused by some cancer treatments, particularly those for breast cancer and lymphoma. Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lowell F. Johnson Foundation, an advanced echocardiography machine has been purchased that can detect early heart damage in these patients. “Cancer treatments do have the potential to damage the heart even in patients who have no underlying heart disease,” says Linda Gillam, MD, MPH, the Dorothy and Lloyd Huck Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine. “Advanced cardiac ultrasound [echocardiography] imaging can detect even mild damage so that we can institute treatment early.”

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Pictured above (l-r) Andrew, Brianne, Courtney and Corey Vita

COMFORT DURING THE UNTHINKABLE Helping a child face terminal illness or life-limiting conditions with dignity is not easy for a parent. Thankfully, services such as Goryeb’s Pediatric Palliative Care Program are ready to comfort families and help them during this difficult time. A recent $110,000 grant from the Valerie Fund to expand pediatric palliative care services at Goryeb could not have come at a better time. “Demand for our services has skyrocketed,” says Sheryl Vassallo, MD, a pediatric palliative care physician at Goryeb. The grant will fund the hire of an advanced practice nurse and also cover conference costs in advanced palliative care training for several members of the palliative care team. “There is a great need for continued education and training to ensure that every child is treated with the abundant care and dignity that my son was blessed to receive at Goryeb,” says Doris Lezcano, the mother of 18-year-old Leo, who died of a brain tumor last year. “They made us feel like we were their only priority.”

SAVING PLAY Who knows the joy of receiving a new toy better than a seven-year-old? Anna Kayton saved her coins and bills for a year, totaling $58.10, so that her donation to the Child Life Program at Goryeb Children’s Hospital could buy new toys for pediatric patients who were facing serious illness and surgery. “I felt happy that I did it because I know that kids love new toys,” says the elementary school student from South Orange. Anna’s dad, Mark Kayton, MD, is a pediatric surgeon at Goryeb: “Anna knows that the Child Life Program is essential in helping kids with their hospital stay. Playing with appropriate games and toys can help our patients focus on getting better.”

climb on

Raising nearly a quarter of a million dollars for diabetes has been all uphill for Bryan Neider. The founder of Climb4aCure, he and his nonprofit organization raise money through mountain climbing to help diabetics live victoriously, despite the disease. Mr. Neider’s intent is to support diabetes centers throughout the country by scaling the highest peak in each state and then donating proceeds to nearby medical facilities that specialize in diabetes. Recently, he climbed High Point Monument in Montague, NJ, and donated $5,000 to the Diabetes and Endocrine Institute at Morristown Medical Center. “I have the financial resources to access health care that many of my fellow diabetics don’t have available to them,” says the 58-year-old hiker from Menlo Park, CA. “Diabetes is a disease that disproportionately impacts those who don’t have the financial means to vigilantly manage it.”

PURPOSEFUL PEDALING Hitting the gym before daybreak is a good discipline for a healthy body, but workout enthusiasts at POE Cycle’s early morning spin classes, last fall, weren’t just sweating up a storm for their own well-being. They were helping to raise $15,000 for the Integrative Medicine (IM) program at Carol G. Simon Cancer Center. The Far Hills-based gym, in an effort to boost awareness of the Simon Center and support breast and ovarian cancer patients, contributed funds to the hospital for every 6am spin bike that was filled during the months of October and November. An anonymous donor matched the amount raised, and all proceeds went toward supporting IM services for cancer patients.

The gift to Morristown will pilot an educational program in the community that helps people make informed choices while living with diabetes.

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WHEELS TO HEALTH Marty Epstein lives and breathes the motto that hangs in his bicycle shop, ‘Saving the World with Bikes,’ which explains why he recently jumped at the chance to help local youth in need of exercise. The owner of Marty’s Reliable Cycle in Morristown gave 17 bicycles to the Family Counseling and Guidance Program, a service affiliated with the hospital’s Family Health Center that counsels children struggling with obesity and their families. Mr. Epstein worked with the program’s coordinator, Joanna Smith, to identify children and teens in need of physical activity who didn’t own a bike. “It’s a win-win for everyone,” he says. “It’s great for the kids, for the program and for my personal satisfaction.”

community

NEEDS TAKE PRIORITY Kindness, generosity and charity are at the forefront of Morristown Medical Center’s mission to the community and, for 2015, that commitment only got bigger. The Foundation increased the hospital’s Community Health Department’s underserved grant from $156,000 to $200,000. “We believe that being healthy requires more than just treating sickness,” says Gwen Rippey, manager of Community Health. “It also takes a full commitment toward engaging in preventive medicine.”

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Much of this prevention is accomplished through screenings and educational programs for diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure and osteoporosis offered to residents who would otherwise do without. For example, 56-year-old Morris Township resident Gwen Pritchett was surprised at one of these screenings when she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes: “I guess I had ignored the signs. My sugar levels were extremely high.”

WILLFUL THINKING When Claude V. Offray, Jr., was diagnosed with arthritis, he chose to look past the obstacles and see only the possibilities. What he envisioned was a center, with Morristown Medical Center physicians, that would provide education, early detection and treatment for adults living with arthritis and osteoporosis. Now in its 15th year, the Offray Arthritis Center is expanding thanks to a $500,000 bequest from his estate. “It was my privilege to work alongside Mr. Offray in launching the center,” says Center Administrator and Chief Nursing Officer Trish O’Keefe, PhD, RN. “He had a robust desire to help others.” For information on how you can help others through a gift in your will, contact Cynthia O’Donnell, director of gift planning, at 973-593-2418 or cynthia.odonnell@atlantichealth.org.

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In 2014, the underserved grant provided screenings for 2,773 people, flagging 540 abnormal test results. Those individuals were immediately referred to their physicians, a clinic or the Emergency Department for further care.

IN MEMORIAM We sadly say goodbye to our beloved friend and the “heart” of Goryeb Children’s Hospital, Joseph P. Goryeb, who passed away peacefully on April 8, 2015, surrounded by family. He was 84. With his unassuming manner and hearty laugh, he made a living by saying “Yes” and gave generously of his time and money to the hospital. The Goryeb family’s $4 million in seed money brought the dream of a children’s hospital into existence. “Joe Goryeb’s legacy is not simply a stateof-the-art children’s hospital, but the lives of thousands upon thousands of children that were made better because they receive care here,” says Walter Rosenfeld, MD, chairman of pediatrics at Goryeb.

CLEAR COMPASSION After losing both her son and her husband to cancer, Lynda Haran reflected on the care they received while at Morristown, which went above and beyond what other medical facilities had offered them. It led the Basking Ridge resident to donate $1,000 to the Leonard B. Kahn Head and Neck Cancer Institute in recognition of her husband’s six-year battle with neck cancer. “Spending the last 10 years caring for my son and husband has left me with a profound respect for those special individuals who comfort the ill,” says Mrs. Haran. “They clearly understand and empathize with the monumental struggle cancer patients and their families are confronted with.”

An honorary trustee and honorary chair of the Pediatric Philanthropy Council, Mr. Goryeb leaves behind three children, Joseph, Richard and Lynne, along with their respective spouses, Jeanne, Leslie and Jim, and nine grandsons. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Marge, in 2009.

With deep sadness, we acknowledge the passing of longtime Foundation honorary trustee and hospital volunteer Lorraine Aresty, 83, on March 25, 2015. “Lorraine was a caring and loving human being,” says Jim Quinn, chief development officer for the Foundation. “She put others ahead of herself. Every time we connected, her first question was ‘How are you and your family?’ She and her late husband, Jerry, were true humanitarians and philanthropists.” She leaves a legacy of caring and a model of support at Morristown Medical Center and other organizations that provide help with educational, medical and Jewish concerns.

A TOY STORY Toy shop owner Anthony DeSalis knows that toys have the power to put a smile on a child’s face. This time, however, they put tears in the eyes of Tara Gleeson, DNP APN, manager of the Child Development and Autism Center. Tons of Toys, with locations in Chatham, Madison, Wyckoff and Bernardsville, donated $2,000 worth of new toys to the center this spring. These were not just any toys but those specifically designed to help children with developmental delays and autism. “Many of our children need to be taught how to play,” says Ms. Gleeson. “The toys will be a great asset for the kids that attend our center. They offer countless opportunities for therapy.”

Mrs. Aresty will be missed by all who knew her, and especially her family which includes daughter, Karen Aresty Kustel (Robert); son James; grandchildren Matthew (Minyoung), Samuel, Michael, and Peter, and many loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Jerome, in 2009.

Pictured: Tara Gleeson with Anthony DeSalis and Tons of Toys CEO Ken Maitta

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SPOTLIGHT ON PROJECT INDEPENDENCE Julia’s Story

As a single mom with teenage triplets and her own pediatric practice, Julia Bramwell, MD, was on task from morning until night. She also allotted extra time to help her wheelchair-bound son, Phillip, who was born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. In 2013, the mother of three was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leading to months of chemotherapy and the closing of her practice. Paralleling her medical crisis, Phillip underwent spinal fusion surgery. “I lost my health insurance and income,” says Dr. Bramwell. “A mountain of medical bills was coming in every day.” That’s when Project Independence stepped in. The fund, designed to help patients through catastrophic crises, covered some medical expenses and a mortgage payment. It was “a saving grace during our darkest time.”

Shelley Kusnetz

Today, with a new job and good prognoses for all, the Montville resident says, “We focus on the small things that make life joyful.”

UPDATE: FUNDS RAISED AS OF APRIL 30, 2015 TOTAL: $96.3 million

BREAK-OUT (funding needs):

$1,536,000 Integrative Medicine $1,480,000 Pediatrics $338,000 Project Independence $227,000 Geriatrics $190,000 Behavioral Health $107,000 Hospice/Palliative Care

project independence VERIZON ENABLES HEART SUCCESS WITH MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

SENIORS EMBRACE GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT CENTER The elderly population in Morris County, growing by leaps and bounds, is projected to increase in number by more than 20,000 in the next 10 years alone. This significant population shift, coupled with the highly specialized nature of geriatric medicine, has made the Geriatric Assessment Center, within the David and Joan Powell Center for Healthy Aging, a sought-after destination for seniors seeking comprehensive care. A priority of Campaign 3SIXTY, the center opened in the fall of 2013, offering complex health assessments and care plans that address the needs of older adults and their caregivers. As fundraising toward the $2.3 million goal continues, additional services are being added. This spring, the center began evaluating seniors for psychological trauma following accidents and counseling those dealing with grief. And now, the center is offering primary care on a limited basis, allowing seniors to receive services addressing all of their medical needs, under one roof. To help us fund more critical services for seniors, please contact major gifts officer Noelle Deihl-Harteveld at Noelle.Harteveld@atlantichealth.org or 973-593-2409.

The Transformation: Project Independence helps patients maintain their independence, selfesteem and dignity; keep their families together; and ultimately resume normal and productive lives.

Your Role: With your help, we can increase funding to Project Independence by 10% each year over the next few years. Estimated cost: $400,000 DONATE NOW: f4mmc.org

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SPRING 2015

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Make an INVESTMENT in an area that MEANS the MOST to YOU.

CIRCLE

Dr. Joseph Trunfio helps Dr. Grant Parr don a ceremonial medal and Dr. Linda Gillam presents a commemorative lab coat to Dr. John Brown III

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

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THE TRANSFORMATIVE BLENDING OF HEALTH CARE AND TECHNOLOGY PG 4 also inside: Tributes to Two Shining Lights | Philanthropy-Minded Young Professionals | Another Project Independence Success