Partners Magazine- Winter 2010/2011 - No Insert

WINTER 2010/2011

A Year of Generous Support

A magazine of Rochester General Hospital Foundation

Look inside! special GalaPhoto Album

INSIDE:• Richard S. Constantino, M.D. Patient Access Center groundbreaking• The B. Thomas Golisano Pavilion & Emergency Center one year later• The Twigs continue their good work• News from Newark-Wayne Community Hospital

Artist’s Rendering: Future Newark-Wayne

Community Hospital ED

WINTER 2010/2011

Rochester General Hospital Foundation 1299 Portland Avenue

Rochester, New York 14621tel: (585) 922-4800 • fax: (585) 922-4889

www.giveRGH.org

Senior Vice President for DevelopmentJames P. Digan

EditorDerek DeSol

[email protected]

WritingMarty Aarons

Sara CraneJanine DeCook Derek DeSol

Robin Flanigan

PhotographyJeff BlackmanKeith Bullis

Clix PhotographyBrenda CohenRuth Crecca

Janine DeCookDerek DeSol Lisa Hughes

DesignDalmath Associates

PrintingMercury Print Productions, Inc.

Please note that Partners is produced approximately three months in advance of when it is received by readers. Stories and events occurring after

production will be included in the next issue of the magazine. Partners welcomes comments from our readers. If an error has been made, please accept

our apologies and notify the Foundation Office by calling (585) 922-4800. Thank you!

President:Mark C. Clement

Chairperson:Katherine T. Schumacher

Vice Chairperson:Ethan Welch, M.D.

Treasurer:Roberta Van Winkle

Secretary:Kevin L. Overton, Esq

Medical Liaison:Edward C. Tanner, M.D.

Scott AnthonyJosephine Braitman

David N. Broadbent, M.D.Freddie L. CaldwellDonald S. Cameron

Kevin T. Cannan

Kevin Casey, M.D.Cynthia Christy, M.D.

Richard S. Constantino, M.D.Charles Eagle, Jr.Louise EpsteinJack A. Erdle

Stephen Ettinghausen, M.D.Samuel R. HustonGregory P. Kausch

Peter Kouides, M.D.Elliott LandsmanJeffrey Leenhouts

Arthur (Fritz) LiebertCarl Luger

Irving MannRalph P. Pennino, M.D.

Wanda PolisseniPatrick N. Riggs, M.D.

Steven SchwartzDon Twietmeyer, Esq.John R. Valvo, M.D.

Joseph S. Vasile, M.D.

Rochester General Hospital FoundationBoard of Directors

The Richard S. Constantino, M.D. Patient Access Center is a facility

that is named after and will embody the warm, comforting nature

of one of Rochester’s most trusted and admired physicians.

Considering the man and the work he has been doing for over three

decades, you would have to assume that the groundbreaking ceremony for

such a special facility and special man would be an elegant and sophisticated

affair, right? Wrong!

Dr. Constantino’s humble nature often prevents him from fully embracing

over-the-top public acclaim. This fact inspired his brother Charlie and

Jim Digan from the Foundation to lure Rick into a ceremony that started

with a series of elaborately planned hijinks. To disarm him, the event was

intentionally kept small, attended by a handful of RGH leaders and staff.

During the faux ceremony, Dr. Constantino was subjected to a presentation

created to appear bumbling, full of presenters who gave unusual details

about themselves, answered cell phones during their remarks, and played

“Rock, Paper, Scissors” while on stage to determine the order of speakers.

At the end of the intentionally awkward torment, Dr. Constantino, who

was still convinced it was the real ceremony, was asked to pose for a photo,

Friends, Family and Hijinks Precede “Groundbreaking” Ceremony

The Richard S. Constantino, M.D. Patient Access Center is expected to open in the fall of 2011. The facility will be located at the end of the Eugene Polisseni Pavilion and will provide a centralized area where patients can register, receive pre-admission testing, counseling and comfort. Patients who enter RGH will receive the kind of warm welcome that Dr. Constantino gives to his patients every day.

allowing his friend Tom Golisano to surprise him from behind

a tall curtain.

“Am I late?” Golisano quipped before pulling back the unusually

large curtain to reveal over 100 of Dr. Constantino’s closest friends

and family members.

The Doctor was speechless. The “trap” had been sprung, and the real

ceremony, one fit for a man who has touched the lives of so many

patients and their loved ones, could begin.

The rest of the afternoon was consumed with the “real celebration”:

heartfelt stories about the Constantino family, about Dr. Constantino’s

warm nature, and his devotion to family, friends and patients. Often

times people would eventually fit into all three of these categories.

Funny anecdotes peppered the public address system, igniting

sporadic uproars of laughter as thousands of warm hugs were shared.

For Dr. Constantino, the ceremony was symbolic of his career—

because it was a family affair.

Left to right, Charlie and Dr. Rick Constantino; Wanda Polisseni with daughter Valerie Wilcox, R.N.; The Constantino Family

www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2010/2011 3

4 Rochester General Hospital Foundation

On September 16, 2009, a grateful community celebrated an

extraordinary gift made by a generous man. A year has passed since

the ribbon was cut, the party guests went home and the TV cameras

went dark. Since then, the story of Tom Golisano’s extraordinary gift

has been one of hard work by the people of Rochester General Hospital,

and one of hope for their patients.

Golisano’s transformational gift was the catalyst to alter the landscape

of emergency care in Rochester. In just one year of operation, patients,

EMTs and caregivers have trusted Rochester General Hospital’s B. Thomas

Golisano Pavilion and Emergency Center more than any other Emergency

Department (ED) in Upstate New York.

The new facility has provided the space and technology to treat a higher

volume of patients while improving safety and clinical outcomes. “The

positive changes have been unbelievable. We are expected to operate at a

high level and we’re given the resources to do that,” explains Peter Sichak,

R.N., who is a Clinical Leader on the ED floor.

Spacious private rooms, a new bedside labeling system, and tools

previously reserved for Operating Rooms are just some of the features

of the new facility. “A lot of Emergency Departments around the country

have two people in a room separated by a curtain. In that situation,

it’s very difficult and often uncomfortable to have a private conversation

with a patient or do procedures where you need several people working

in the room. It can actually hinder patient care,” explains ED physician

Dr. Jay Keyes.

With the versatility to administer a wider range of surgical procedures

in the ED itself, many patients who otherwise would be admitted to the

hospital can go home the same day they arrive. “The rooms are like

miniature operating theatres. They have plenty of space and are equipped

with high intensity lighting to help focus on where you are operating.

It’s a good place to work,” explains Dr. Greg Lakin, Chief Resident in

Plastic Surgery.

The state-of-the-art design, engineered with improved patient flow in

mind, has allowed the team to adopt new, more efficient practices that

accelerate this process while also improving the quality of care. “A lot

of EDs are sort of cobbled together. This facility allows us to handle

the volume of patients very well because of the way it was planned,”

says Dr. Keyes.

The Golisano ED Continues to Thrive

“The positive changes have

been unbelieveable.” – Peter Sichak, R.N.

Emergency Room Clinical Leader


achieving excellence

The new design allows incoming patients to be taken to

particular units quickly, something that is critical in situations

such as heart attacks. “We have dedicated elevators to get

patients to the Cath (Cardiac Catheterization) Lab when they

have a heart attack, which is critical because time equals

muscle, for heart attacks” explains Dr. Grams.

One of the most telling metrics in measuring successful

emergency care is the amount of time it takes for a patient to

be seen by a provider. Since the opening of the B. Thomas

Golisano Pavilion and Emergency Center, the average amount

of waiting time for a patient to see a provider has been reduced

to 29-32 minutes, down from 90-105 minutes in the old facility.

“We don’t have people in the waiting room for six or eight hours

like they do at other places,” remarks Dr. Keith Grams, Chief of

Emergency Services for Rochester General Health System.

After one year, the seed planted by Tom Golisano’s generosity

has come to fruition, bringing visible, tangible results for

patients and their families. Even more inspiring is what lies

on the horizon beyond year one. In December 2010, the

new Louise and Henry Epstein Family Pediatric Emergency

Department, an extension of the B. Thomas Golisano Pavilion

and Emergency Center, opened to the public, creating a

comprehensive safety network for children and young adults

in the Greater Rochester area.

These success stories can be directly attributed to the generosity

of Rochester General Hospital’s supporters and the hard work of

its employees and caregivers. Those key groups of people will

help author the success stories of 2011 and beyond—the

ongoing improvements in facilities, equipment and practices

will continue to build upon the success of the B. Thomas

Golisano Pavilion and Emergency Center.


As 2010 comes to a close, we are grateful to reflect

on a year in which we continued to receive warm

and generous support from our friends and

neighbors. Throughout our history, Rochester

General has overcome challenges to address the

needs of our community, and the message is clear

that we need to rise to the occasion once again.

In the fluid landscape of healthcare, one of the

remaining constants is the fact that change will

always be looming—change in community need

and change in elements like technology, best

practices, resources and government policies.

This is why our institution must always be ready

to adapt our plans and goals to most effectively

and responsibly address the healthcare needs of

our region.

Currently, our health system is preparing for

widespread capital improvements throughout

not only Rochester General Hospital, but also our

affiliates, including Hill Haven Nursing Home and

Newark-Wayne Community Hospital (NWCH).

One year ago, we were planning to focus our

investment into a new patient pavilion on the

RGH campus. Since that time, we have identified

a series of profound improvements that we can

make throughout our hospital and affiliates that

will benefit more of our patients with a

responsible investment. Eventually in the long

term, these plans may still include a patient

pavilion. However, we must first address the

objectives that will ultimately make our health

system, as a whole, an even stronger community

resource.

For this comprehensive facility improvement plan

to work, we need your help. Your generosity

will have a direct impact on our ability to make

improvements on both the RGH campus and our

system facilities throughout the region, including

a much-needed Emergency Department at

Newark-Wayne Community Hospital (NWCH).

Currently, the Emergency Department at NWCH

is serving a patient volume that is double what the

current facility was built to serve. Creating a

facility designed to meet the needs of the growing

patient demand in the Wayne County area is an

example of one of the several critical projects

that we will share with the community in greater

detail in 2011. To learn more about how you can

support any of the affiliates of Rochester General

Health System, please call (585) 922-4800.

Our health system cannot exist without the

generosity of the community it serves. Thank

you for supporting the work that we are so

privileged to do.

A Message from Jim Digan Senior Vice President for Development

A Special ThanksThe end of the year is a time to give thanks to our donors, friends, leaders and employees.

I would like to take this special opportunity to thank two individuals with whom I have

the pleasure to work very closely. 2010 marked the end of Don Twietmeyer’s term as Board

Chair of the RGH Foundation. Don has been a passionate and charismatic leader, and we are

thankful that he will remain a member of our board. As sad as we all are to see Don’s term

end, we are thrilled to begin working with our new chair, Katherine Schumacher. Katherine

has served on our board, most recently as Vice Chair, and we were thrilled to introduce her

to our supporters at the Hansford Society Dinner and the Founders Society Gala. I would be

remiss if I did not include a heartfelt thanks to both Don and Katherine, whose leadership

enables our team to accomplish so much.

giving back to rgh


Their Special Day Becomes a Time to Remember, a Time to Give

Like most brides-to-be, Jennie Santo couldn’t wait for

her wedding. A buzzing sense of urgency to perfect

things like invitations, flowers and food was about

to take hold and not let go until she looked at Justin, her

groom, and said “I do.”

Both families were thrilled. Particularly excited was Jennie’s

mother and best friend, Joan Hornby. Joan was fighting

cancer and the news of her daughter getting married brought

a welcome burst of joy. When Jennie asked her mother to be

her maid of honor, Joan’s excitement was matched only by

her steadfast optimism.

However, before long, a different sense of urgency reared

its head. Joan’s battle was becoming increasingly difficult—

her outlook less and less optimistic. Firmly clutching their

family priorities, Jennie and Justin decided to get married

much sooner than they had planned, because they wanted

Joan to see her daughter get married and be a part of their

special day.

Sadly, Jennie and Justin lost the race against Joan’s cancer

when she passed away about four months before the

wedding. While she may not have been able to attend the

August 1 wedding, the bride and groom wanted to make

sure Joan’s presence was felt.

Instead of giving a traditional wedding favor to their guests,

Jennie and Justin made a generous

donation to Rochester General

Hospital’s Lipson Cancer Center,

where Joan received care and comfort

during her brave battle with this

terrible disease. At the wedding,

each guest received a simple

bookmark (at right) with a message

from the bride and groom,

extending their heartfelt gesture of

philanthropy and making sure Joan

remained part of the wedding.

Jennie Santo (now Mrs. Jennie

Smith), made her late mother’s

presence felt on one of the most

important days of her life,

helping to improve the lives of

others in the process. If you

have a moment in your life that

you want to seize in

order to help others, call

the Rochester General

Hospital Foundation at

(585) 922-4800 or email

[email protected].

The Foundation team will work with you to do something

that fits your priorities and your passion. Your generosity

represents something special to our patients, caregivers

and staff. Let us make sure it’s also special for you and

your loved ones.

Jennie and Justin ontheir wedding day


he main campus of Rochester General

Hospital is large and sprawling. Many

patients, visitors and employees use

landmarks to find their way around. “Meet me by

the Twig Auditorium,” “it’s just past the Twig Gift

Shop,” or “let’s grab lunch in the Twig Café.”

Often, people who are new to the Rochester General

Hospital community are unaware of the Twigs and

their role in helping to create Rochester General

Hospital’s deep-running culture of philanthropy.

“Twig” is a name that peppers the RGH campus almost

as much as it peppers the history pages of Rochester’s

first hospital. Founded by Miss Lois Elliott Whitney in

1887, the genesis of the Twig organization was rooted

in a social gathering of close friends. Miss Whitney, a

member of City Hospital’s (later changed to Rochester

General Hospital) Board of Lady Managers, passed

sewing materials to her friends, suggesting that while

they socialize, they hem napkins for the hospital.

The group had so much fun that they agreed to meet

again and bring more friends. The group began to

contribute money to help purchase materials as they

continued to meet and make linens for the hospital.

Too humble to consider themselves a “branch” of the

hospital, they called themselves a “Twig.”

Educated both locally and in a Paris art school, Miss

Whitney led the way as the Twigs began to hold

fundraising events such as evenings of theatre and

entertainment and “The Donation Festival,” which was

eventually replaced by the Annual Twig Sale in the early

part of the 20th century. In 1889, just over two years

after she had created the original Twig, Miss Whitney

died of peritonitis. The day before she passed, she told

her friend, Mrs. Arthur Hamilton, “Do not lose interest

in the Twigs, for they may grow to be a power for good.”

“Twigs” Entwined in Rochester General History

And grow they did. Before long, 18 different Twigs had

sprouted, each adopting its name from the order in which

it was created (for example, Second Twig, Third Twig, etc).

Eventually Twigs began to take on other names, often those of

various types of trees and bushes. Over the course of the 28

years that followed Miss Whitney’s first social gathering, the

Twigs grew to 27 groups with a total membership of 436. In

addition, as members of Rochester City Hospital Twigs moved

to other parts of the United States, they frequently would use

the “Twig model” to help their newly established communities

create hospitals similar to the one they supported in Rochester.

Today, you can find Twig organizations supporting healthcare

institutions across the country, such as Northern Westchester

Hospital, part of the New York-Presbyterian Health Care

System; Inova Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, VA; and

Kosair Children’s Hospital, part of the Norton Healthcare

System in Louisville, KY.

Over the 121 years following the passing of Miss Lois Whitney,

the Twigs have continued to grow, supporting the hospital

through two World Wars, the Great Depression and into

the 21st century, where they are invaluable partners with

Rochester General Health System. Since 1947, the Twigs have

operated the hospital’s Twig Gift Shop with their volunteers

as the only staff. All proceeds from the Twig Shop benefit

the hospital. Annual Twig Sales are still held, as well as the

Autumn Promenade of Shoppes and several bake sales, craft

sales and other sales throughout the year. The Twigs also raise

funds with an annual golf tournament and the American Girl

Fashion Show. Since 1987, the Twigs and Rochester General

Hospital Association, the managing body of today’s modern

Twigs, have contributed over $5 million to support Rochester

General Health System..

So the next time you wonder how the Twig Birthing Center

got its name, or why there is a Twig Discharge Center for

patients who leave the hospital, think of the strong, caring and

passionate women who have worked tirelessly to support our

community hospital and in the process, set an example that is

emulated throughout the country.

Today, Rochester General enjoys the support of 80 active and

emeritus Twigs with over 600 members. To learn more about

the Twigs, how to support them or how to get involved, visit

www.RochesterGeneral.org/rochester-general-hospital/twigs/.

“Do not lose interest in the Twigs, for they may grow to be a power for good.” – Miss Lois Elliott Whitney, Twigs Founder


Research provided by Rochester Medical Museum and Archives. To learn more about the history of Rochester General and healthcare in our community, visit www.RochesterGeneral.org/Archives.

Sources: Lehr, Teresa K. and Philip G. Maples. To Serve the Community: A Celebration of Rochester General Hospital. Virginia Beach, 1997.

Informational Pamphlet: Fiftieth Anniversary of the Twigs 1887-1937

Auxiliary Newsletter, published by Committee on Women’s Hospital Auxiliaries of the American Hospital Association; Vol. II, No. 6, Sept. 1950

As the vehicle to deliver Rochester General

Health System’s high level of care to Wayne

County, Newark-Wayne Community Hospital is

a critical cog in our integrated healthcare system and its

ability to serve the region at large. We are approaching

the end of a tremendously exciting year for Newark-

Wayne Community Hospital, the DeMay Living Center

and Rochester General Health System. As we strive to

make the most comprehensive modern medicine more

accessible to people in the Wayne County area, we have

victories to celebrate and challenges to address.

However, before I delve into specifics, I must extend

my deepest thanks to our supporters. Without your

help, this year’s successes would have been much more

difficult to achieve and our future challenges would

seem much more daunting.

In September we opened the doors to our new Adult Day

Care facility, allowing us to expand our treasured “Friends

for the Day” program. This attractive and practical

alternative to a nursing home offers medical and nursing

care, door-to-door transportation, assistance with

personal care, nutrition and counseling, therapeutic

recreation and rehabilitation services. For 19 years, the

“Friends for the Day” program has satisfied a significant

community need, and recently that need has grown.

Because of this new facility, we are now better equipped

to provide senior citizens and people with disabilities the

services that maintain their quality of life.

In October we celebrated the ribbon cutting of the

brand new Hologic Selenia Dimensions Digital

Mammography Unit and Suite, which will make breast

cancer screenings more accurate, comfortable and

accessible to people in our community. Investments

such as these are critical in supporting the early

detection of breast cancer. Additionally, we will now

be able to provide an additional

600 mammograms per year.

Advances such as these are

made possible by the

generosity of people like you.

Newark-Wayne Community

Hospital is committed to

addressing the healthcare

needs of Wayne County and

its surrounding neighborhoods, and we are able to

honor that commitment because people choose to give

back to their community hospital.

Despite a year of milestone success, our work is far from

finished. Although our Emergency Department has

made tremendous advances in reducing wait times and

improving service, the staff is working in a facility that

was built to serve half of the patient volume that it is

currently being asked to serve. That is why we are

thrilled to break ground on our new Emergency

Department in spring of 2011.

Even with our excitement, we know that in order to

maximize this precious opportunity to modernize

emergency care in our community, we need your help.

Your gift, no matter its size, can help us build an

Emergency Department that will serve as a security

blanket for you, your family and your neighbors.

Thank you again for believing in Newark-Wayne

Community Hospital. As 2010 comes to a close, we look

forward to being there for you in 2011 and beyond.

A Message from Annette Leahy


Annette Leahy,President of Newark-Wayne Community Hospital and DeMay Living Center


ommunity leaders, friends, and past donors of

Newark-Wayne Community Hospital learned

about plans for a $14 million facility

modernization plan to revitalize and modernize local

emergency care at a celebratory wine tasting in August.

The event was sponsored by Scott Marshall and Bill and

Becky McKee and held at Boller Point Vineyard. Several

elected officials attended, including New York State

Senator Michael Nozzolio, Chair of Wayne County Board

of Supervisors James Hoffman, and Sodus Point Mayor

Michael Sullivan.

Annette Leahy, President of Newark-Wayne Community

Hospital and DeMay Living Center, and several key

physician leaders talked about the planned addition,

which will include a new and expanded Emergency

Department and the modernization of the hospital’s

Outpatient Services.

In order to make these critical facility improvements

possible, Leahy and her team announced the launch of a

new fundraising campaign, and stressed the importance

of philanthropic support from local civic leaders to help

meet the community’s growing need for emergency care.

“The number of patients seen in our Emergency

Department (ED) has more than doubled in the last ten

years,” said Dr. Robert Biernbaum, Chief of Emergency

Services. “We cared for more than 22,000 patients last

year in an ED built to care for 11,000 patients. Despite

the space and facility issues, our quality data and patient

satisfaction scores are demonstrating that we are

providing very good care to those patients and their

families. We are pleased that Rochester General Health

System’s and Newark-Wayne’s Boards and Leadership

Teams are enthusiastically supporting the new ED

project, which will enable us to provide an even better

patient experience.”

“This investment in Newark-Wayne Community Hospital

demonstrates our commitment to a modern facility that

will meet our community’s needs,” said Dr. Arun Nagpaul,

Medical Director. “The Medical Staff has grown

tremendously and many other enhancements have been

made to provide the highest quality care. We are focused

on our patients – their care and their satisfaction; we look

forward to proceeding with this project.”

Leahy said the hospital would also submit a Certificate

of Need Application to New York State to open an urgent

care service next summer as a pilot program on the

campus of the former Myers Hospital.

“We want to test this out to see if it can be a viable

option for people living in the Sodus, Sodus Point and

northern Wayne County areas during the busiest time

of the summer season. With state acceptance, we will

proceed and will keep the people in that area abreast of

the situation as it evolves. We want to provide the best

care possible to patients throughout the county and look

forward to piloting this service.”

RGHS Announces $14 Million Facility Modernization Plan for Newark-Wayne Campus

nwch news


On October 19, in the heart of Breast Cancer

Awareness Month, friends, advocates, leaders and

employees of Newark-Wayne Community

Hospital celebrated the opening of a brand new Digital

Mammography Suite that will help promote the early

detection of breast cancer and other breast diseases in

patients who live in Wayne County. Among those in

attendance was Congressman Dan Maffei, who played a

major role in helping the hospital secure a $99,000 grant

to support this project.

“The New Hologic Selenia Dimensions Digital

Mammography Unit is the latest generation in diagnostic

mammography and offers a superior patient diagnosis

with lower radiation, increased imaging precision and a

more comfortable exam experience,” explained Dr. Martine

Backenstoss, Mammography Section Chief for Rochester

General Health System’s Department of Radiology.

“Patients in this region can expect exceptional breast

disease care starting with the diagnosis from this unit,”

said Dr. Lori Medeiros, Medical Director of the Breast

Center at Rochester General Hospital, an affiliate of the

Lipson Cancer Center and of Newark-Wayne Community

Hospital. Dr. Medeiros is a surgeon and an expert in

treating breast cancer and other breast diseases.

Newark-Wayne Community Hospital’s board-certified and

fellowship-trained radiologists specialize in the diagnosis of

breast cancer and are part of a dedicated, multidisciplinary

team that forms the Breast Center at Rochester General

Hospital. The Breast Center team works to provide the

same outstanding quality of care throughout the entire

region served by Rochester General Health System.

“Our practitioners each have devoted years in training and

in practice to care for patients with breast diseases,” added

Dr. Medeiros. “We are exclusively focused on providing

the best care and guidance for each patient. This (digital

mammography unit) enhances that care right from

the start.”

New Digital Mammography Suite Opens

Front, left to right: Peter Blandino, Mayor of Newark; Congressman Dan Maffei; Dr. Martine Backenstoss, Section Chief Mammography, RGHS; Dr. Lori Medeiros, Medical Director RGH Breast Center; Yvonne MacTaggart, Manager, Radiology; Back (left to right): Mohamed Razak, President, Razak Associates; Bob Havrilla, Chair, NWCH/DLC Board of Directors; Hugh Thomas, Sr. Vice President and Corporate Council RGHS; Peg Churchill, NWCH Board Member and Executive Director Wayne County Industrial Development Agency; Missing: Dr. Cheryl Avanzato


nwch news

Left to right, Rev. Tim Johnson, NWCH/DLC Foundation Board Chair; Jim Hoffman, Chair Wayne County Board of Supervisors; Senator Mike Nozzolio; Ida Dick, ADHC participant; Christine Stalker, Director ADHC; Annette Leahy, President NWCH/DLC; Helen Blandino, Aux-iliary Board and NWCH Village Board Trustee; Assemblyman Robert Oaks, Laurie Crane, Huron Supervisor; Back Row: Mark Klyczek, Administrator DLC; Lucinda Collier, Rose Supervisor; Peter Blandino, Mayor of Newark; Congressman Dan Maffei; Robert Havrilla, Chair, NWCH Board; Not in View: Bill Hammond, Macedon Supervisor; Robert Kelsch, Ontario Supervisor

Left to right, Rev. Tim Johnson, NWCH/DLC Foundation Board Chair; Jim Hoffman, Chair Wayne County Board of Supervisors; Senator Mike Nozzolio; Ida Dick, ADHC participant; Christine Stalker, Director ADHC; Annette Leahy, President NWCH/DLC; Helen Blandino, Aux-iliary Board and NWCH Village Board Trustee; Assemblyman Robert Oaks, Laurie Crane, Huron Supervisor; Back Row: Mark Klyczek, Administrator DLC; Lucinda Collier, Rose Supervisor; Peter Blandino, Mayor of Newark; Congressman Dan Maffei; Robert Havrilla, Chair, NWCH Board; Not in View: Bill Hammond, Macedon Supervisor; Robert Kelsch, Ontario Supervisor

New Facility for “Friends for the Day”

On September 9, leaders from Newark-Wayne

Community Hospital, DeMay Living Center and

the Wayne County community celebrated the

grand opening of the hospital’s new Adult Day Health Care

(ADHC) facility, the new home for their “Friends for the

Day” program. Annette Leahy, President of Newark-Wayne

Community Hospital and DeMay Living Center, emceed

the program and was joined by several local politicians,

dignitaries and Rochester General Health System leaders.

The ceremony emphasized the importance of providing

comprehensive care and services for seniors and adults with

disabilities. In the new facility, this program will be able

to accommodate more participants and address a growing

local need to provide these adults with health monitoring,

rehabilitation, socialization, recreation and personal care.

One of the highlights of the ceremony took place when Ida

Dick, a participant in the program, shared how “Friends for

the Day” has improved and enriched her life.

“They (the ADHC staff and caregivers) are so kind and they

help us so much,” remarked Dick. “They have made my

life better. This place is special and these people are special

- they really care about us.”

For many participants, this DeMay Living Center program

is an attractive alternative to a nursing home. Now in its

19th year, it has been consistently ranked in the top 10%

of Adult Day Health Care programs in the United States for

participant and family satisfaction.*

“There are so many individuals who live alone - with

family members or other caregivers trying to help meet all

of the medical, nutritional, recreational and social needs for

them,” explained Christine Stalker, Director of the ADHC

Program. She added, “This new building will enable us to

help more Wayne County residents and their families.

* Based on benchmark studies by Vital Research, a company that benchmarks Long Term Care and Adult Day Health Care programs


NWCH Galan November 20, 300 people came to Casa Larga

Vineyards for the Newark-Wayne Community

Hospital Foundation Gala. Jennifer Johnson,

anchor for 13 WHAM News This Morning emceed the

“Tuscan Evening” themed celebration. A night of gratitude

and promise for the future, guests thanked retiring NWCH

President Annette Leahy for her tremendous service and

cheered when she announced her involvement in the new

capital campaign. The centerpiece of the campaign is a new

Emergency Department on the Newark-Wayne campus.

ExCLUSIVE EVENT SPONSOR


nwch news


Susie Earl Hosts Gathering at Her Sodus Point HomeThis summer, community members were invited to an event at

Susie Earl’s home in Sodus Point to learn about the clinical

progress made at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, notably

the improvements in emergency care, which will be further

augmented by Rochester General Health System’s plans to replace

the Emergency Department on the Newark-Wayne campus.

NWCH’s Annual Golf TournamentOn August 16, supporters of Newark-Wayne Community Hospital

came to Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club for the annual Newark-

Wayne Community Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament. In

2011, the Golf Tournament will celebrate its 20th year. To learn

more or to get involved, please call (585) 922-4800.

NWCH News Briefs


community news

RGHS Acquires Kings Park Office Complex Purchase will allow RGHS to relocate and centralize support services; add versatility for future expansion of outpatient services

n October, Rochester General Health System (RGHS)

announced the purchase of the Kings Park Office

Complex, a 21.1 acre property located in Irondequoit

at the corner of Ridge Road East and Kings Highway,

approximately one-half mile from the RGH campus.

The purchase of Kings Park provides important flexibility for

Rochester General. Relocating support services and other

administrative functions to Kings Park will create additional

clinical space at the hospital, accommodating growing service

lines and further enhancing the patient experience. It will

also help RGHS create a more efficient operation because the

health system will be able to consolidate previously leased

office spaces while also eliminating the need to expand

parking and storage facilities on the RGH campus. Longer

range plans also include the possibility of housing outpatient

services at this facility in order to improve access for patients.

“We are excited about the expanded options and flexibility

such a high-quality complex as Kings Park offers,” said Mark

Clement, president and CEO of Rochester General Health

System. “Current market conditions make the acquisition of

Kings Park a great value for our health system and one that

will provide great benefit to both our patients and staff.”

Formerly the home of ESL Federal Credit Union support

services center, the three-building complex features 305,000

square feet of office space and is the fifth-largest class A office

park in Monroe County.

Ridge Rd. E.

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Golisano Foundation Honors Jim SuttonOn October 28th, the Golisano

Foundation, founded by Paychex

founder B. Thomas Golisano, presented

its first ever Leadership Awards for

Exemplary Health Care Services. The

Golisano Foundation Leadership Award was established to

recognize and honor individuals who have demonstrated

extraordinary work to expand access and improve healthcare

services for people with developmental disabilities, change

attitudes, and raise awareness for the gifts and talents of

people with developmental disabilities.

One of the five recipients was James Sutton RPA-C, Director

of the Office of Community Medicine for Rochester General

Health System.

Jim Sutton has a passion for providing high quality medical

care to underserved patients in need—and that passion spills

over into volunteer work when he’s not on the clock at

Rochester General Medical Group’s Clinton Family Health

Center. A physician assistant for 23 years, Jim has always

been eager “to place myself in areas of high need and see

what I can do to help out.”

Geographically speaking, those areas have included inner-city

Los Angeles, small villages in Egypt, and now an urban clinic

serving a predominantly Hispanic population. However,

Sutton also has a long history of working with people who

have developmental disabilities, a relationship that started

about 15 years ago when he began to give on-the-spot

physicals to Special Olympics athletes who had not been

medically cleared to compete.

Sutton graduated from the University of Washington

Physician Assistant program in 1987 and completed a

residency in Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine in 1993.

He is an adjunct clinical professor at the Rochester Institute

of Technology and teaches physician assistant students in

family medicine at Clinton Family Health Center, where he

has worked since 1997.

Sutton is also the co-author of the book, Top 5 Questions to

Ask Your Doctor and has a special interest in healthcare policy

and the development of programs that target disparities in the

healthcare system.

On October 1, Rochester General Health System (RGHS)

acquired the Joseph C. Wilson Health Center Building from

Lifetime Health Medical Group. Rochester General will use this

space to accommodate increasing patient volumes and program

needs, primarily for outpatient services and specialty practices.

Opened in 1973, the Joseph C. Wilson Health Center offers

83,000 square-feet of clinical and office space and is located

at 800 Carter Street, on land owned by RGHS. The building

was named in honor of Joseph C. Wilson, who transformed his

family business, Haloid, into the xerox Corporation we know

today. Established in 1963, the Marie C. and Joseph C.

Wilson Foundation continues to provide generous support

of initiatives which address healthcare, education, and

social issues.

The transfer of ownership of the building to RGHS was within

the original land use agreement and has been part of a long

term plan for the Rochester General Hospital campus and both

organizations felt that this was an advantageous time to make

the transition. By relocating divisions of outpatient services and

specialty practices to the Wilson Health Center building, RGHS

will be providing a more convenient setting for patients.

“The transfer of the Joseph C. Wilson Health Center building

ownership is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to

improve services and provide easier access to our patients,”

said Mark Clement, president and CEO of Rochester General

Health System. “The growth we are experiencing at RGHS is a

reflection of the trust and respect our community has in our

health system. We view the decision to improve access to

services into the Wilson Health Center as part of our

commitment to provide exemplary care and service to every

customer, at every encounter, every time.”

RGH Acquires Wilson Building

ochester General Health System (RGHS) is an

institution built upon generations of vision,

generosity, altruism and sacrifice. Those who have

contributed to its success intimately understand the value of

caring for the greater community good.

The Emeritus Board Summer Session on August 11 at

the Rochester Academy of Medicine presented a unique

opportunity to gather some of the leaders of our past. Former

board members of Rochester General Hospital, The Genesee

Hospital, Rochester General Health System and the Rochester

General Hospital Foundation (formerly ViaHealth) gathered

to discuss the latest developments that are taking place

throughout RGHS. RGHS President and CEO Mark Clement,

Rochester General Hospital Council Chairman Dan Meyers

and RGHS Chief of Emergency Services Dr. Keith Grams,

were on hand to lead the discussion and answer questions.

Dr. Grams’ presentation on the transformation of the RGH

Emergency Department since the opening of the B. Thomas

Golisano Pavilion and Emergency Center in October 2009 was

the centerpiece and definitive highlight of the afternoon’s

conversation. Stories of the unit’s ascension to the busiest

Emergency Department in Upstate New York in 2010 illustrated

the dramatic progress they have made while maintaining their

focus on goals to continue to improve the unit.

As Rochester General Health System works to lead the way

in the changing landscape of healthcare, members of the

board emeriti have an opportunity to play a pivotal role. To

further embrace the leaders of the past, the RGH Foundation

is planning to hold two board emeriti events in 2011. The

first will take place in the spring and a second will be held

in the early fall. Past board members of Rochester General

Hospital, The Genesee Hospital, Newark-Wayne Community

Hospital, RGH Foundation and the Rochester General Health

System Board are all welcome to attend.

Former board members will be provided with details in early

2011, but if you are a former board member and want to find

out more, please contact Derek DeSol at (585) 922-4800 or

[email protected].

Past Leaders Meet to Discuss the Future of Healthcare

Above, Dan Meyers (left) and RGHS President and CEO Mark Clement spoke at the Emeritus Board Summer Session. Below, Dr. Keith Grams addresses the group.

community news



A planned gift can help put the final touches on so

many of life’s goals. It can provide security and

income for family members, it can carve an indelible

legacy to remember a life of giving, and it can allow

someone to make a larger gift than they could make during

their lifetime. In many cases, a single planned gift can

accomplish all three of these things.

To celebrate and recognize the generous people who have

committed to making a planned gift of $5,000 or more to

Rochester General Health System, the Foundation held the

annual Hansford Society Dinner on September 16 at the Inn

on Broadway.

“A planned gift is a reflection of truly stunning generosity

and passion,” remarked Jim Digan, Senior Vice President for

Development, as he kicked off the evening’s program.

The dinner also marked the first event for the Foundation’s

new Board Chair, Katherine Schumacher, who balanced

her message between the need for planned giving with

gratitude toward those who have already made the

commitment. “Generous and thoughtful estate planning

is quite often the very thing that puts our institution in the

financial position to address the pressing healthcare needs of

our region,” she explained in her first public remarks as

Board Chair.

At the 2009 event, attendees learned about the new

B. Thomas Golisano Pavilion and Emergency Center, then

just several weeks from opening to the public. This year,

Dr. Keith Grams, RGHS Chief of Emergency Services, showed

the crowd how much of an impact the facility, which was

largely supported by philanthropy, has made on emergency

care in Rochester after just 11 months of operation.

Planned giving supports initiatives that often come to

fruition after the donor has passed away, but for one evening,

Dr. Grams illustrated what can happen when generosity and

commitment converge to transform the way our community

receives healthcare.

To learn more about how planned giving can work for you,

your family and Rochester General Health System, call the

Foundation at (585) 922-4800.

Hansford Dinner Celebrates Planned Giving

Above, left to right, John Biemiller and Marge Bergeson; RGHS System Board Chairman Bob Dobies and Dr. Joseph Incavo; Dr. Leo Landhuis and Dr. James Stormont.

Imagine what 1,000 gifts of $10 can do:

donor news

It’s true, big donations to non-profit organizations like

Rochester General Health System get a lot of attention. You

might be thinking, “I can’t afford to send in $10,000 or even

$100. Why bother donating at all? My gift is too small to

help out.”

Every year, we receive many gifts from generous people who

are grateful for the care they or a family member received at

Rochester General Hospital or one of our affiliates. The

majority of these gifts are under $50, and so far in 2010,

over 50% of our donations have been $10 or less.

Each gift adds up to money that Rochester General Health

System uses to help those in need, purchase life-saving

equipment, improve patient safety, and further the education

of employees.

Your $10 could purchase you a week of morning coffee.

Or, combined with the support of your neighbors and

community, it could help give Rochester and the surrounding

counties the best healthcare possible, something everyone

depends on for themselves and their loved ones.

Imagine what 1,000 gifts of $10 can do:

• $10,000 can help purchase a Sim Newbie $10,000 covers over 2/3 of the cost of this state-of-the-art

piece of equipment that looks like and simulates the

physiology of newborn baby. It helps medical

professionals to learn, practice on, and receive feedback

from real-life emergency situations without compromising

the safety of our children and grandchildren.

• $10,000 can purchase five new heated dialysis chairs When having their blood filtered, often as a result of

problems in kidney function, dialysis patients suffer from

uncomfortable chills. We are working toward replacing

the dialysis chairs with new models that are heated,

providing a much more comfortable treatment experience

for our patients.

• $10,000 can provide 10 nursing scholarships for $1,000 each Nursing scholarships allow our staff members financial

support to either obtain a nursing degree, or return to

school for advanced education. Education not only keeps

our staff up to date on best treatment practices, but also

helps retain our hard-working nursing staff.

• $10,000 can provide 200 home blood pressure monitors These monitors are distributed to a population that cannot

afford to buy them for themselves, but are suffering from

hypertension or are at risk to develop the condition. This

equipment helps patients monitor their blood pressure on

their own before their condition becomes serious or fatal.

Throughout the year, and especially around the holidays,

we depend on the $5, $10, and $20 donations that allow

us do big things to help our community. To give the

gift of great health, you can return the envelope included

with Partners magazine, make a gift online at

www.giveRGH.org, or call the Foundation office at

(585) 922-4800.

Every Gift Does BIG THINGS


n October, Mark Clement, president and CEO of

Rochester General Health System (RGHS) announced

the appointment of Brian Jepson as President of

Rochester General Hospital (RGH). Jepson will report to

Clement and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of

RGH, the health system’s flagship affiliate.

A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives,

Jepson brings more than 16 years of progressive healthcare

leadership experience to RGHS. He most recently served as

Executive Vice President and Chief

Operating Officer at Metro Health

Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

During that time, Metro Health was

chosen three years in a row by

Thomson Reuters as a Top 100

Teaching Hospital. He earned a

Bachelor’s Degree in Business

Administration and a Master’s Degree in Healthcare

Administration from Ohio University.

Since coming to Rochester, Jepson and his wife Tammy have

settled in Victor with their four children, Curt, 15, Trent, 13,

Garrett, 8 and Joanna, 6.

Q: What excited you the most about coming to

Rochester General?

A: The RGH team and their commitment to providing

exceptional quality and unparalleled service to our patients.

Q: So far, what have you enjoyed the most in your

new position?

A: Interacting with the Board, Medical/Dental Staff and team

members. There are so many

exceptional people at RGH. It is a

great privilege to be part of a team that

is always focused on getting better.

Q: Since you started your job, have

you been surprised by anything from

RGH or the Rochester community?

A: I have been surprised by how friendly and welcoming

people are at RGH and in the Rochester community.

Relocating my family from the Midwest to New York State,

I wasn’t sure what to expect. Rochester has exceeded my

expectations for being a family-friendly place in which to

work and live.

Q: What challenges are you most excited to take on in the

foreseeable future?

A: Preparing RGH for how healthcare will be delivered in the

future. Care Connect, our electronic medical record system,

will revolutionize how care is provided at RGH. I look

forward to leading RGH through this critical implementation.

Q: What is your vision for RGH?

A: That we provide “world class” healthcare to every patient,

every encounter, every time. Our patients deserve it!

Meet Brian Jepson, the New President of Rochester General Hospital


“Rochester has exceeded my expectations for being a

family-friendly place in which to work and live.”

Brian and Tammy Jepson at the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Gala in November.

donor room


This past August, the Rochester General Hospital

Foundation was excited to unveil a new website

at www.giveRGH.org that makes donating online

or registering for Foundation events simple and

straightforward. Beyond making a gift, the new

website offers the ability for donors to create a

Personal Fundraising Page. Now members of the

community can raise money for Rochester General

with a customizable webpage that allows family

and friends to make donations on their behalf.

Great ways to use Personal Fundraising Pages:

• For your birthday or other special occasion, you can

raise money for the hospital in lieu of gifts.

• When you run a 5k or another race, you can have

people make donations to RGHS to support you.

• You can dedicate a fundraising page in honor or in

memory of a loved one.

Setting up a Personal Fundraising Page can be accomplished

in a few simple steps.

1. Visit www.giveRGH.org. Under the upcoming

events box, click “Personal Fundraising Pages” and

“Register Now.” The site will walk you through the

process of creating a profile for yourself. Your address

and phone information will remain confidential—it is

only for the RGH Foundation office to contact you,

if necessary.

2. You will be prompted to set a fundraising goal for

yourself, review the disclaimer, and finally, review your

information to ensure accuracy.

3. Once registration is complete, you can select

“personalize my fundraising page,” which will allow you

to add a custom message, create a unique web address to

share, and upload images and video.

4. In the “My Events” link on the left hand side of the

screen, you can edit your profile; see donations you have

given; set up alerts with Twitter, Facebook, or your

mobile phone; and send email to your family and friends

about your fundraising page.

After your page has been set up, your friends and family

can visit www.giveRGH.org and search for your name to

find your page, or they can use the personalized address

you created.

If you have any questions about Personal Fundraising

Pages or would like additional help, please contact

Sara Crane at [email protected] or at

(585) 922-4800.

Create Your Own Fundraising Page!

Don’t forget to follow the RGH Foundation on Facebook (search Rochester General Hospital Foundation) and on Twitter (RGH_Foundation)!

PARtnERs

1299 Portland AvenueRochester, New York 14621

www.giveRGH.org

Winter 2010/2011

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 1367Rochester, NY

it’s that time of year again...Want to make a year-end gift to Rochester General Health System? Use the pre-paid envelope inside or make a gift online at www.giveRGH.org.

Documents

Partners Magazine- Winter 2010/2011 - No Insert