Spring 2016 by Foundation for Morristown Medical Center

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spRing 2016

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

Rededicating rippel If you have artifacts, communications, or stories from times gone by, we’re interested! Please email regi.diverio@atlantichealth.org

Jodi Joskowitz’s return to Carol G. Simon Cancer Center on April 14, 2016, was a sweet visit. There were no treatments for breast cancer this time; instead, she was a featured speaker at the Carol W. and Julius A. Rippel Breast Center Rededication, paying tribute to the people who turned her fight with the disease into “a human and dignified experience.” Joining Ms. Joskowitz at the lectern were Simon Cancer Center Medical Director Dr. Eric Whitman, Rippel Breast Center Medical Director Dr. Paul Friedman and lead volunteer and donor Katie Simon. Finn Wentworth, chairman of Campaign 3SIXTY, served as emcee, noting that $2.5 million was raised for breast health in the campaign, with $1 million going toward the renovation of the breast center at the hospital and the opening of a satellite screening center at the 435 South St. outpatient services building. Attendees toured the renovated space guided by Rippel Center staff.

Jodi Joskowitz

Becky Bedrosian

MMC turns 125 in 2017

Katie Simon cuts the ribbon flanked (l-r) by Dr. Hal Ginsberg, chairman, Radiology; April Dixon, manager, Radiology and Rippel Breast Center; Finn Wentworth, Brian Gragnolati, president and CEO, Atlantic Health System; Dr. Paul Friedman; Trish O’Keefe, president, Morristown Medical Center; Lydia Nadeau, director, Oncology Service Line; and Dr. Eric Whitman.

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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 hospital’s programs and services in direct patient care, clinical research, medical and public health education and preventive medicine.

FSC Logo (remove outlined box)

Patients find relief—and compassion—at the new Atlantic Digestive Health Institute pg 4 also inside: Innovation Fundraisers | The Baird Legacy | Community Building

UPDATE: FUNDS RAISED AS OF april 30, 2016 TOTAL: $106 million

child development and autism center

BREAK-OUT (still needed)

$983,000 Integrative Medicine $930,000 Pediatrics $74,000 Geriatrics

Communication and language delays? Behavior issues? Poor eye contact? Could your child be showing signs of autism? The Quicker the Better

Women’s Cancer Center One in three women in New Jersey will hear they have been diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Many of these same women have sought treatment and found healing at the Women’s Cancer Center. In fact, more than 1,300 patients in 2015 sought out our board-certified experts for gynecologic malignancies, including vulvar, vaginal, cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancers. Recently, demand has soared for Integrative Medicine modalities as more and more women look to these techniques for much-needed relief alongside their cancer care regimen. The center has also seen an increased need for genetic counseling and for the Child Life Program that outpaces current practitioner availability. To offer your support, contact Cynthia W. O’Donnell, JD, director of gift planning, at 973-593-2418 or cynthia.odonnell@atlantichealth.org

Cover illustration: Catherine Meurisse

Averaging more than 500 visits each month in 2015, the Campaign 3SIXTY-funded Child Development and Autism Center has experienced an 11 percent increase in patient volumes since moving last year from cramped quarters in the Anderson building to a space more than double the size at our Outpatient Medicine building at 435 South Street. More importantly, it has slashed wait times from six months to mere weeks in cases of new evaluations and diagnoses of autism in children under age five. “There is a tremendous value in getting the right intervention as early as possible,” says Tara Gleeson DNP, APN, manager of the center.

Can you wait months to find out?

Senior Champions Dick and Robyn Keelty have been sailing through their golden years attributing their sound health to good genes. But that didn’t stop them from giving $50,000 to the Geriatric Assessment Center for those who have to rely on these kinds of services every day. “I am sure there will be an increase in volume here in the next decade with the population shift we are experiencing now,” says Mr. Keelty.

Current Landscape: Waiting times for an autism evaluation can be over 6 months. At a leading children’s hospital in the region, it’s 18. Here in Morris County, there were no hospital-based autism centers. That’s why, at Goryeb Children’s Hospital, we’ve tried to fill that void. For years, our Child Development Center (CDC) experts have diagnosed and cared for children with developmental and behavioral concerns, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). But with 1 in 41 New Jersey kids now diagnosed with ASD according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the need had outpaced our resources.

The 360° Solution: As part of Campaign 3SIXTY, we raised funds to relocate the CDC from its cramped quarters to a spacious suite at our Outpatient Medicine building at 435 South Street and to establish a dedicated Autism Center in an adjoining space. Now, we are focusing on program support, including: • Navigators to guide families through the complexities of comprehensive treatment • A psychiatrist to consult for help in managing children with difficult behaviors • An advanced practice nurse to assist in diagnosing and treating patients with ASD

Your Role: Our funding goal of $3.5 million is nearly complete, with estimated remaining costs of $230,000. With your help, we can bring this worthy campaign to a close. Donate now: f4mmc.org

In 2016, it is estimated that 2.5 million baby boomers will turn 70 years old with many needing highly specialized services within geriatric medicine. Since opening in 2013, the center—part of the David and Joan Powell Center for Health Aging—has offered health assessments and care plans that address the complex needs of older adults and their caregivers. If you’re interested in learning more about these critical services for seniors, please contact Major Gifts Officer Noelle Deihl-Harteveld at Noelle.Harteveld@atlantichealth.org or 973-593-2409.

Media Services

Q&A with Daniel Tobias, MD Dr. Tobias, director of gynecologic oncology at Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, discusses the growing field of Oncofertility as more and more cancer patients embark on fertility planning following cancer treatment. Q: What factors brought this field into being about a decade ago?

that preserving fertility is simply not a

A: Yes, of course. But engaging in open and

priority. Patients also may be overwhelmed

honest dialogue about all options so patients

by the complexity of what is involved with

can weigh the pros and cons regarding

preserving fertility and the potential costs

their treatment planning for both fertility

increasing desire of practitioners and

involved, which may not be covered by

and cancer is whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important. I have

researchers to provide cancer survivors with

insurance.

had patients who decided not to pursue

A: The field of Oncofertility grew from the

techniques that would help them become pregnant after cancer treatments are finished. The field has grown to include exploring

egg or embryo banking and have felt very Q: Should these services be offered to adolescents?

options for patients with malignancies specifically affecting their reproductive organs,

good about their decisions. I have also had patients who proceed with reproductive techniques to preserve future fertility. Cases

A: Discussion regarding future fertility is

especially with younger patients for whom

something that should be considered with

child-bearing is still a goal.

all patients, including adolescents. Obviously,

vary and the key is to explore what is best in each individual situation using the guidance of both cancer and fertility specialists.

with this particular patient population, it hy are some patients not presented Q: W

needs to be done with their parents, and

fertility options by their medical team at

consideration of the emotional maturity of

other hospitals?

the teenager should be part of the decisionmaking process.

A: Many patients are not offered or choose not to explore their reproductive options

ave you witnessed Oncofertility options, Q: H

because they are first and foremost focused,

which bring hope of a future family,

along with their physician, on saving their

dramatically improving a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

own life. In these dire circumstances, both

emotional and mental strength while

the patient and the physician often concur

going through cancer treatments?

f4mmc.org | Viewpoint

Gastro Health Hippocrates said that all disease begins in the gut. Fast forward to 2016 and it seems that every leading health magazine and medical website is re-visiting this ancient claim while cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other gut-related maladies continue to climb. There are a staggering 1.5 million IBD sufferers nationwide. Those in our region can now find relief at the expanded Adult IBD Center, part of the new Atlantic Digestive Health Institute, which opened in June 2015 at the Outpatient Medicine building at 435 South Street. “Due to processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, stress, toxins, genetics and other environmental issues, many western cultures are now teeming with gut issues in epidemic proportions,” says Razvan Arsenescu, MD, PhD, who joined the hospital last year as division chief of the institute and co-director of the center. Many of these gut issues can become quite severe. About one-third of patients with a form of IBD known as ulcerative colitis will require removal of the colon and rectum when cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions appear. And nearly 80 percent of patients with Crohn’s disease (another form of IBD) will require bowel resection due to obstruction and perforations relating to their disease. With the center in full swing for a year, the next step is to begin raising an additional $405,000 to cover a nurse practitioner for three years to assist the center’s physicians. Additional funding is needed for the center’s long-term vision, which will include expanding its medical staff, building a dedicated infusion center and an advanced endoscopy unit and establishing a research facility.

4 Focus On | f4mmc.org

“We have been able to attract a critical mass of experts who are available to offer a multidisciplinary approach to this painful and disruptive disease,” says Rolando Rolandelli, MD, co-director of the center. “This is not a disease that has one cause so a team approach is best-suited, especially in treating complicated cases that can often become life-threatening.”

Another key example of the center’s team approach is its transition clinic, which helps young people build critical skills to cope with the disease during adulthood. The adult center works closely with Goryeb Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric IBD Center, which is the largest in the state and is now housed at the Farris Family Center for Advanced Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP).

Collaborating with psychiatry, nutrition, surgery, pathology, radiology and integrative medicine, the center has created a one-stop shop unlike any other program currently offered in New Jersey.

“For 21- and 22-year-olds, this is the age of leaving school and often home, entering the work force and starting families, and it is best fostered by working together with an adult medical care team to help them gain their independence,” says Joel Rosh, MD, director of pediatric gastroenterology at CAMP, who works in the transition clinic.

A major component in IBD treatment is offering psychiatric counseling services, “Many IBD sufferers can struggle with panic attacks, anxiety and depression due to the urgency of needing to find a bathroom at any given moment and the level of bodily pain experienced on a frequent basis,” says Elana Monchar, MD, a psychiatrist who works with IBD patients in talk therapy and medication management. Depression can also be exacerbated since a majority of patients are diagnosed between the ages of 18 to 35, disrupting their formative years and causing issues relating to intimacy. Body image and extreme physical discomfort as well as how this disease interferes with relationships are some of the topics covered in counseling. A focus on diet intervention and its role in helping to curb symptoms also tops the list of a typical IBD patient’s treatment plan. Vlad Proudan, MD, of the Metabolic Medicine Center at the hospital often consults with IBD patients who struggle with obesity, in particular. Dr. Proudan urges avoiding high carbohydrate and high fat diets that have little protein and fiber, since this combination is believed by some to be a trigger for intestinal inflammation and IBD symptoms. “We usually start with the complete elimination of simple carbohydrates, such as cereal grains, legumes, potatoes and dairy products,” says Dr. Proudan. “Some IBD patients also show signs of malabsorption and malnutrition, which requires increased protein consumption.”

Oftentimes, patients of all ages with extreme cases will find their way to Morristown’s program when other options for a cure have been exhausted. “Our patients were previously the ones who were sent out of state because there was no program able to help them in New Jersey,” says Dr. Arsenescu. “We want to fill that void.” Take 35-year-old Ana Grullon who has suffered with a severe form of Crohn’s disease for years. Severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, bumps on her legs and ulcers in her mouth were some of the symptoms Ana struggled with prior to her introduction to Morristown’s center. “There are no words to explain the compassion Dr. Arsenescu gave me aside from all of his knowledge,” says the cardiovascular technician employed by Atlantic Health System who, frighteningly, had dropped 30 pounds in 4½ weeks just prior to coming to the center. Ms. Grullon was placed on a combination of treatments, including biologic therapies that target specific parts of the immune system. They helped her disease and quickly alleviated her symptoms. “Dr. Arsenescu talks to you as more than just a patient,” she says. “He has made me feel cared for.”

“ Due to processed foods, sedentary

lifestyles, stress, toxins, genetics and other environmental issues, many western cultures are now teeming with gut issues in epidemic proportions.”

Illustration: Catherine Meurisse

–Razvan Arsenescu, MD, PhD

N e lson Schae n e n J r. a n d R ich ar d Di eg na n

oth men point to their own fathers’ work ethic as the B defining characteristic that has shaped them most.

Mr. Schaenen and Mr. Diegnan joined forces last year as volunteers to co-chair the Denny Baird Chairman’s Fund for Innovation. The late Mr. Baird’s years of dedication to the community and his service to Morristown Medical Center and the Foundation, where he served as a trustee and the first chairman of its board, were the reasons behind creating this fund in his honor. Originally the two volunteers were given a goal of $250,000.

Sal Benedetto

There’s mutual consensus between Nelson Schaenen and Richard Diegnan that Denny Baird’s legacy can’t be described in a few phrases, but with the mere mention of his name, wallets opened and checks were drawn, to the tune of more than $500,000, fueling research and innovation at Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute.

“They immediately told me they could do Nelson Schaenen; Richard Diegnan; Dr. Greg Mulford, chairman, Rehabilitation Medicine; and Joy Baird better,” says Jim Quinn, chief development officer at the Foundation. “Here was a case where the volunteers were raising the bar on the fundraiser.” religious faith and unshakable devotion to his wife and Seasoned businessmen and volunteers, these two didn’t lack seven children. the knowledge, stamina or resources needed to pull off this lofty “We worked at this just like our dads taught us, putting in a lot of endeavor, but rather rolled up their sleeves and got to work. The money came in as quickly as the phone calls and letters requesting hours as co-chairs, but the outcome reflected Denny Baird more than the people who were raising the money,” says Mr. Schaenen, donations went out. a lifelong Madison resident who befriended Mr. Baird in the 1970s Both men point to their own fathers’ work ethic as the defining when he first moved to town. characteristic that has shaped them most and given them the ability He recalls the two of them bonding easily as sports enthusiasts and to achieve success in business and, later on, as devoted husbands, getting to know each other on the playing fields of Morris County. fathers, grandfathers and philanthropic leaders. Mr. Schaenen’s father worked in the city’s financial district at the same time he ran a farm in Basking Ridge, which sold milk to a creamery nearby and eggs to a wholesaler in Little Falls. “You work hard on a farm,” says Mr. Schaenen. “Animals don’t take a vacation you know.” Mr. Diegnan remembers his father, an immigrant from Ireland, as a hard-working milkman in South Plainfield equipped with a strong

6 Portrait | f4mmc.org

Mr. Diegnan remembers sharing a common fondness for the Foundation with the late Mr. Baird. He treasures their years of service together on its board: “Denny would always speak up and say the right thing. I remember having pre-meetings with him and telling him what I wanted to say because he always said it better.” “What struck me most about Denny was he always had ideas and a plan on how to execute them,” says Mr. Diegnan. “Having an innovation fund in his name is a true legacy to what he always stood for.”

The Inside Perspective Media Services

The Morristown Club provided an intimate forum on February 24, 2016, for 50 donors to have breakfast with Brian Gragnolati, president and CEO of Atlantic Health System, and hear his take on the main factors affecting health care. Seats quickly filled, necessitating a second breakfast on April 27. Pictured left: Alpa Jimenez of Towaco with Brian Gragnolati

On April 21, 2016, author Lee Woodruff used personal anecdotes to teach a packed crowd in Malcolm Forbes Amphitheater how the four Fs—family, friends, faith and fun—can help them navigate through tough times. Her presentation, Superwoman is a Myth, was sponsored by the Women’s Health Philanthropy Council with support from Foundation trustee Cathy Herbst, her husband, Dick, and J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Council Chair Katie Simon served as emcee for the lecture, which was followed by a Q&A with panelists Dr. Thomas Zaubler, chairman of Behavioral Health; Dr. Michael Giordano, child and adolescent psychiatrist; and Carole Reifsnyder, life coach at the Chambers Center for Well Being.

Media Services

The Four Fs

Forty five attendees joined Director of Gift Planning Cynthia W. O’Donnell, on December 1, 2015, for tea with savories and sweets and a tour of the Morris Museum’s glass art exhibit guided by the museum’s executive director, Linda Moore, pictured right.

Sal Benedetto

Afternoon Tea

Happenings | f4mmc.org

boosting

research

Not only are prostate cancer rates in New Jersey among the highest in the country, but there are few hospital-based urology cancer research programs available here, which makes the Foundation’s goal of raising $500,000 for a

cancers are on the increase, which makes this a timely endeavor.” —Arthur Israel, MD

8 News | f4mmc.org

new Urology Cancer Research Program sweet news to many. Physicians at Garden State Urology (GSU) have raised $50,000 toward the program this spring. “This initiative is an important component of giving our patients comprehensive care,” says Arthur Israel, MD, a partner in the practice and director of the hospital’s Men’s Cancer Center. “Urological cancers are on the increase, which makes this a timely endeavor.” In 2015, bladder, kidney and prostate cancers claimed the lives of 60,000 nationwide, with 356,000 new diagnoses projected for 2016. “Despite this fast growth in cancer rates, funding for research has decreased dramatically,” says Dr. Israel. The Morristown program will focus on disease detection, prevention and treatment. Patients will gain access to clinical trials to test new drug, surgical and medical device interventions. For additional information, contact Cynthia W. O’Donnell, JD, director of gift planning, at 973-593-2418 or cynthia.odonnell@atlantichealth.org

Becky Bedrosian

“ Urological

(l-r) Rosemary Stefiniw, RN, manager, Oncology, Urology, Pulmonary and Sports Research Data and Outcomes; Dr. Arthur Israel; and Darlene Wendling, RN, nurse coordinator, Oncology Research

Healing Hands Working on patients with a variety of conditions, Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner Joan Millspaugh used only her hands to bring marked relief and healing to many. Now, a $50,000 endowment for the Inpatient Integrative Medicine (IM) program from her and husband Sandy—which they hope will spur others to give similarly—guarantees many will benefit from this modality and other IM techniques for generations to come. Jin Shin Jyutsu is a gentle, non-invasive form of energy medicine that restores harmony and balance to the body, mind and spirit. “When you are able to relax people, you improve their capacity to heal faster,” says Mrs. Millspaugh, who worked as a practitioner throughout the hospital for many years. Elijah Geanoules

grant-bills

= hope

$7,500: To Jessica Geanoules, this sum represented a new beginning,

Doubly Helpful

coming to her at the perfect time as a grant from the Foundation’s relief

Gliding around the operating table with ease while wearing the ZeroGravity Radiation Protection System he purchased for the Electrophysiology Program, donor Frank Diassi knew his money had been put to good use.

fund Project Independence. It gave Mrs. Geanoules the financial ability to dig out from under soaring medical expenses from her son’s diabetes diagnosis last summer.

When he found out they were in need of a second system, Mr. Diassi didn’t think twice about donating another $100,000 for the purchase.

“Typically our son, Elijah, would come to work with us,” says Mrs. Geanoules. “But with his medical condition I couldn’t continue to bring him. The money eased a lot of the stress of how we were going to take care of him and juggle our business at the same time.”

The weightless body shield alleviates the need for physicians to wear heavy lead aprons while administering radiation to patients.

Helping patient families who fall behind on their bills since 1989, Project Independence recently received close to $1 million in funding from the William E. Simon Foundation, Sal and Fran Davino, Mark Simon, Dr. Elizabeth Clemente and Edna Conway.

“These doctors don’t need the added weight on their neck and back while doing delicate operations,” says the 81-year-old Far Hills resident. “I’m delighted in giving these dollars because I can see there is a real need and, even better, tangible results.”

Shelley Kusnetz

To offer support toward Project Independence, contact Susan Johns, major gifts officer, at 973-593-2413 or susan.johns@atlantichealth.org

f4mmc.org

| News

The Perfect Fit What makes a statement about your personal style more than wearing a pair of your favorite jeans? The Jeans Friday Initiative at Atlantic Health System’s headquarters (475 South Street) not only showcases the latest fashion trends in denim, but also gives employees a chance to help one other. Charging $1 per Friday garnered more than $4,000 for the Foundation at Morristown Medical Center’s Employee Relief Fund in 2015.

Becky Bedrosian

Since 2011, the initiative has raised close to $25,000 with funds distributed to the Overlook, Newton, Chilton and Morristown foundations, on a rotating basis, specifically to help employees when their homes are damaged by natural disasters.

forever endowed Lavender to Comfort All medical personnel are trained that Code Pink means infant abduction and Code Blue cardiac arrest, but now a new code—lavender— cues medical staff to colleagues who may be overwhelmed with emotional fatigue and need a break. Last fall, hospital chaplain Debra Grek delivered these new ‘Code Lavender’ care boxes, which contained tea bags, lavender oil, lavender sachets, chocolates, cookies, a Starbucks gift card and contact information for counseling services, if needed. Ms. Grek won a $1,725 mini grant from the Foundation, which covered the costs of purchasing 30 care boxes to help calm those working on the front lines, which seemed to be just what the doctor ordered.

News | f4mmc.org

Take a nurse with a passion to give, add the right financial vehicle to fund her dream of providing fellow nurses with exceptional training, and everybody wins. Lolita Navarro-Iqbal, psychiatric APN, retired from full-time nursing in January 2015, but a decade earlier she began a legacy of learning for nurses following in her footsteps when she endowed the Lolita Navarro-Iqbal Psychiatric Nursing Continuing Education Fund. Since then, she has contributed thousands of dollars toward this effort every year. Nurses and practitioners annually attend a one-day conference at Morristown Medical Center to advance their knowledge of psychiatric disorders and gain key insights into how behavioral health issues affect patient care. “What’s appealing about establishing an endowment is that it’s permanent, produces annual income for the medical discipline of your choice and the principal is never invaded,” says Cynthia W. O’Donnell, JD, director of gift planning at the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center. To learn more, contact Ms. O’Donnell at 973-593-2418 or cynthia.odonnell@atlantichealth.org

a tradition of giving

Two Times Better

Joan and Collier Baird, Jr., having lived most of their lives in the Morris County area, regularly cared for their community in many ways. In keeping with generations of Bairds before them, they made provisions in their wills to recognize those who had, so lovingly, cared for them.

Donating $10,000 says a lot about a person. When that gift is matched by not one but two employers, it speaks volumes more. Such is the case with Joan Cregan’s gift to Campaign 3SIXTY, in memory of her late husband Frank R. Cregan. With their previous employers—The Prudential Foundation and William E. Simon Foundation— both matching Mrs. Cregan’s gift, the resulting $30,000 will be split among Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, the Child Development and Autism Center, and the Yarnis Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Rehabilitation Center.

“For our parents, Morristown Medical Center, the staff, and physicians were very special,” says Collier Baird III. “Both of my parents suffered from COPD and were under the wonderful Collier Baird, Jr. and wife Joan care of Dr. Harvey Gerhard. The treatment and support they received went beyond expectation—so thoughtful, professional and comforting.” Media Services

The late Mr. and Mrs. Baird included a testamentary trust in their wills to benefit the hospital. Their children all knew that earmarking this money— $440,000—toward a new Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center made the most sense to help other COPD sufferers.

Mrs. Cregan, a new member of the Brookfield Legacy Society Advisory Council, knows her husband would be proud: “He was always involved in giving back to the community.”

For additional information on trusts and estate planning, contact Cynthia W. O’Donnell, JD, director of gift planning, at 973-593-2418 or cynthia.odonnell@ atlantichealth.org.

giving begets giving Everything we do has a ripple effect. We see this kind of impact in philanthropy when grateful patients become generous donors and the companies for which they work follow suit. Take the recent $50,000 gift to the Chambers Center for Well Being from grateful patient Thomas Marino and his wife, Joanne, an avid proponent of integrative medicine. Mr. Marino’s company, CohnReznick, LLP, then gave an additional $50,000 to honor his retirement as CEO. That donation went toward the Child Development and Autism Center, in keeping with the company’s focus on helping children.

Crafting Kindness Is there more to painting and beading than meets the eye? There sure was for 55 New York Life employees who raised their paint brushes after work last fall to decorate night lights and mini chalkboards, gift wrap each one and draft handwritten notes to pediatric patients at Goryeb Children’s Hospital. For every hour the employees clocked, New York Life donated cash to a charity of their choice. They pooled their monies and gave $3,175 toward the Child Life Program. “Surprisingly, we had a lot of hidden artists in our midst that night,” says organizer and New York Life employee Melissa Kuter.

It was CohnReznick’s second gift to the hospital. The first—to Goryeb Children’s Hospital—was coordinated by the retiring CEO right after he was a patient at Morristown Medical Center. Around this same time, he also began giving personally to the hospital largely as a result of his appreciation for Dr. Aaron Chevinsky. “I was the worst patient going in,” says Mr. Marino. “But my care was so wonderful, I quickly became the proverbial grateful patient.”

Julie Dennis

f4mmc.org | News

health alliance alliance

Making the communities served by the hospital among the healthiest in the nation is not just a tagline for Trish O’Keefe, PhD, RN, president of Morristown Medical Center, but rather a mandate she lives daily.

Joy Giver Overseeing the making of hundreds of gift boxes for patients at the BD Diabetes Center for Children and Adolescents sounds like a grown-up task, but Kaitlyn Healey pulls off the entire production—raising money, buying gifts and packing boxes—effortlessly in between her 3rd grade homework assignments.

A new partnership between the hospital and the Morris School District is one example, forging new community relations and bringing health to the forefront. “We’ll be able to help school-age children with important health and wellness principles through our programs and resources,” says Ms. O’Keefe.

The Sparta resident was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last summer and has raised $2,500 to keep these gift boxes coming, enlisting her brownie troop, elementary school, local businesses, friends and family to help out.

In the mix are countless opportunities to promote physical health as well as reaching those in this age group that struggle with mental health, particularly anxiety and depression.

“I received a gift box in the hospital, and it cheered me up,” says the 9-year-old. “It gave me the idea to do this so I can bring joy to others.” Media Services

The partnership also hopes to inspire young adults to consider careers in science and health, giving them opportunities to shadow doctors and nurses at the hospital. This latest collaboration joins other efforts, such as the hospital’s annual donorsponsored Community Health Day and Foundation-funded ambulance (see adjacent story), that tap hospital resources for the good of the community.

Rescue Ready It’s resourceful, ready to help in the worst of circumstances and available round-the-clock to residents of Morristown. What’s even better is this fully-equipped ambulance was purchased with $120,000 of unrestricted funds from the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center.

“Emergency services are a vital resource, and they also embody the core of our mission as a hospital foundation,” says Chris Baldwin, chairman of the Foundation Board of Trustees. “This gift delivers on our promise of being a trusted network of caring and provides the community with exactly what it needs.” Pictured: (l-r) Jim Smith, Atlantic Ambulance Corp; Trish O’Keefe, president, Morristown Medical Center; Rick Goryeb, Foundation trustee; Karen Johansen, president, Morristown EMS; Tim Dougherty, mayor, Morristown; Brian Gragnolati, president and CEO, Atlantic Health System

12 News | f4mmc.org

Bob Karp/Daily Record

Rolling into Morristown’s rescue station last year, the new set of wheels doubles Atlantic Health System’s emergency medical services presence in the area.

Trish O’Keefe, PhD, RN, and Mackey Pendergrast, Morris School District superintendent

fighting TO WIN

Knit One, Give Too

Cancer never fights fair, but now the new African American Wellness Coalition is gaining momentum in the battle, championing those at risk. Teaming up with Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, the hospital’s Community Health Department and various local communitybased organizations, the coalition recently trained 10 health ambassadors, within the African American community, to get the word out on the importance of early detection and screening.

The Knitting with Love Twig of the Women’s Association has been clicking their needles busily to produce more than 130 blankets for Goryeb in the last four years, while at the same time raising $5,000 through vendor sales that will help pediatric patients with nerve damage, in particular. The Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department recently purchased much-needed play equipment for children with peripheral nerve injury, spinal cord injuries and spina bifida to use during their therapy sessions. “We know this benefits the children most, but it also benefits us knowing we have made a difference in their lives,” says Merry LeBlond, chair of the Knitting with Love Twig.

Statistics show that African American women are 40 percent more likely to die of breast cancer because of late diagnoses and limited treatment options. “More than a dozen women, who otherwise may not have, had mammograms at one of our recent events,” says Amy Lewis, coordinator of the Morris County Cancer Education and Early Detection Program at the Simon Center. Funds are needed to continue outreach efforts. To learn more, contact Cynthia W. O’Donnell, JD, director of gift planning, at 973-593-2418 or cynthia.odonnell@atlantichealth.org.

mr. Philanthropy The name Gar Burwell and the word philanthropist each define the other so seamlessly that the 25-year donor’s recent $230,000 gift to Morristown Medical Center may meld the two indefinitely. Mr. Burwell’s gift will be split three-fold. The Nancy and Skippy Weinstein Inpatient Hospice and Palliative Care Center will gain $50,000: “I am especially interested in the palliative component of this center, which brings the opportunity for spiritual health while at the same time dealing with long-lasting illness,” says the lifelong Madison resident. The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), which engages the elderly in conversation to ward off delirium, will receive $90,000, and another $90,000 is earmarked for the Inpatient Integrative Medicine (IM) Program.

A Fitting Tribute Pam Kerschner never tired of hearing her mother’s most cherished memories as a Lt. Commander in the Naval Nurse Corps during WWII and as the first nurse to be hired by Western Electric. Ms. Kerschner recently honored her mother, the late Mary A. (Metzger) Morton, by giving $7,500 to the Silver Guardians Nursing Assistant Program at the hospital. The program increases a nursing assistant’s training in caring for geriatric patients at the hospital, building skills and awareness with this population. “Morristown Medical Center took very good care of her for the brief period she was in,” says Ms. Kerschner of Morristown. “Her mind was as sharp as can be even up until the last minute.”

“Both HELP and IM hold long-lasting benefits for the patient,” says Mr. Burwell. “I often think of the patients who go into the hospital without any family and am concerned for their mental health. I like to focus on the betterment of the individual.”

Mary A. (Metzger) Morton

f4mmc.org

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SPOTLIGHT ON the Child Development and Autism Center Visit any sandbox at recess and shout outs of mine and give me are second nature for most 2-year-olds, especially when toys are around. Not so for 3-year-old Katia Soubra who struggled with understanding these simple commands until recently, thanks to an early intervention team and services at the Child Development and Autism Center. Katia’s autistic features were discovered shortly after her 18-month check-up, and early diagnosis played a large role in getting her on the right track. “She has an older brother, and I was comparing what he did at her age,” says Katia’s mom, 40-year-old Maria Soubra, a nursing coordinator at Overlook Medical Center. Last December was Katia’s first visit to the center. Working with speech and behavioral therapists, she focused on structured play, using toys as therapy tools. Katia quickly began understanding concepts of ownership.

Shelley Kusnetz

“She recently was able to enroll in full-day prekindergarten,” says Mrs. Soubra. “She hasn’t cried yet, so I am thinking she likes it.”

Katia and Maria Soubra

UPDATE: FUNDS RAISED AS OF april 30, 2016 TOTAL: $106 million

child development and autism center

BREAK-OUT (still needed)

$983,000 Integrative Medicine $930,000 Pediatrics $74,000 Geriatrics

Communication and language delays? Behavior issues? Poor eye contact? Could your child be showing signs of autism? The Quicker the Better

Can you wait months to find out?

Your Role: Our funding goal of $3.5 million is nearly complete, with estimated remaining costs of $230,000. With your help, we can bring this worthy campaign to a close. Donate now: f4mmc.org

NON PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #1502 475 South Street | Morristown, NJ 07960

spRing 2016

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

Rededicating rippel If you have artifacts, communications, or stories from times gone by, we’re interested! Please email regi.diverio@atlantichealth.org

Jodi Joskowitz

Becky Bedrosian

MMC turns 125 in 2017

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

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Patients find relief—and compassion—at the new Atlantic Digestive Health Institute pg 4 also inside: Innovation Fundraisers | The Baird Legacy | Community Building