In this issue:

www.peacehealth.org/PHSWfoundation

News aNd INformatIoN for frIeNds of PeaCeHeaLtH soutHwest medICaL CeNter

3 Heartfelt Blessing

Event

6 Endowment Honors Beloved Physician

Partners in Health

Elena Kharitonenko

and baby Elea

Delivering Dreams DailyNew Program Helps Mothers and Babies Thrive – See pages 4 and 5

Foundation Staff

360-514-3106email: PHSWfoundation@peacehealth.orgwww.peacehealth.org/PHSWfoundation

Board of Directors

George Middleton, President

Janis Wyatt, Vice President

Dorothy Jackson, Secretary

Connie Kearney, Treasurer

Kaycee Wiita, Past President

Rachel Beck, Fiscal Services Coordinator 360-514-2319

Tori Darnell, CFRE, Major Gifts Officer 360-514-3314

Dawn Johnston, Major Gifts Officer 360-514-3656

Alison Lazareck, Annual Giving Coordinator 360-514-3634

Sherry McCarthy, Operations Coordinator 360-514-3106

Carol Van Natta, Executive Director 360-514-3670

Susan Williams, Grant Coordinator 360-514-3106

Albert Angelo III

Linda Angelo

Bob Bernhardt

Jane Cook

John Greves, MD

Dick Hannah

T. David Hayes, MD

Philip B. Janney

Keith Knight

Ray Maly

Jim Martin

Mark Matthias

Patricia Nierenberg

David Ruiz, MD

Patrick Sheaffer

Nancy Steiger, RN, CEO/CMO, Washington/Alaska

Rick Terrell

Keith Wallace

Tom Young

Directors Emeritus

Brett Bryant

Stan Freidberg, MD

T. Randall Grove

Ed Lynch

Jan Oliva

Sally Schaefer

sPrINg 2015

2 Partners in Health – Spring 2015

Dear frienDs,

This issue of Partners in Health focuses on the outstanding work of the caregivers in our

Family Birth Center and Holtzman Twins Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). At PeaceHealth Southwest, we feel privileged to assist mothers and babies like Elena Kharitonenko, and newborn Elea, who are featured on the cover of this issue.

Every day in the NICU, PeaceHealth caregivers are helping our smallest patients survive and thrive. Through our new Centering Pregnancy Program, a collaboration of PeaceHealth Southwest and The Vancouver Clinic, expectant mothers and their babies are achieving better birth outcomes. Read more about this prenatal care program on pages 4-5.

As with so many areas of PeaceHealth Southwest, the excellent work we do with growing families is made possible through gifts from many individuals and organizations. The Center Pregnancy Program has been strongly supported by The March of Dimes and Macy’s. Students from Union High and Seton High recently raised more than $100,000 for the Holtzman Twins NICU. We are so proud of these young philanthropists and grateful for their support! If you also have a heart for this part of the hospital, we encourage you to give it your fullest philanthropic support, as well.

I can’t conclude without mentioning David and Patricia Nierenberg. Their commitment to our NICU has been extraordinary. The unit is named for David’s mother and aunt, the Holtzman twins, who grew from fragile preemies into healthy adults. The Nierenbergs encouraged the Union High School students to adopt the NICU as their chief charity interest and have supported all the students’ fundraising activities. We can’t thank Patricia and David enough for their leadership and generosity.

Whatever area of the hospital you support – thank you! Your philanthropic vote of confidence really does encourage us to do our very best for all our patients. Thank you for helping us continue PeaceHealth Southwest’s long-standing tradition of caring.

Gratefully,

Carol Van Natta Executive Director PeaceHealth Southwest Foundation

Partners in Health

Helen Keller said that that best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or even touched, but must be felt with the heart.

On February 10, the beauty of generosity was not only felt, it was also very visible at the blessing and dedication of the new Heart & Vascular Hybrid Catheterization Surgical Suite in the Firstenburg Tower. Donors, caregivers, HeArts of Clark County committee members, and artists crowded into the new surgical suite for an up-close look at what they helped build.

Thanks to those individuals and numerous others, the Foundation’s 2013 HeArts of Clark County fundraiser, which featured 30

Heartfelt Thanks Expressed at Opening of New Surgical Suite

beautiful six-foot-tall fiberglass hearts painted by local artists, raised $522,000 for the new surgical suite.

Able to accommodate both minimally-invasive and open surgical procedures for patients facing heart valve and vascular disease, this state-of-the-art surgical suite not only makes a difference for patients now, but also ensures that PeaceHealth Southwest can accommodate anticipated advancements in heart valve surgical procedures.

Special thanks to HeArts of Clark County Chair Connie Kearney, and Gala Chair Nicki Wann for their creativity and leadership!

A B

C

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation 3

a - foundation Board member Kaycee wiita and foundation Vice President Janis wyatt B - dr. dipesh Pokharel, foundation Board member dr. John greves and dr. shaun Harper, medical director, Heart and Vascular CenterC - Physicians, nurses and technicians happy to see their new surgical suite

4 Partners in Health – Spring 2015

The health of Clark County newborns and mothers should significantly improve over the next several years thanks to a remarkable new program called CenteringPregnancy. In partnership with The Vancouver Clinic, PeaceHealth Southwest recently began the region’s first CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care program which improves birth outcomes for babies and mothers.

Participants are enrolled through the obstetrics department at The Vancouver Clinic, the largest private medical clinic in Clark County. All deliveries will take place in PeaceHealth Southwest’s Family Birth Center. The goal for 2015 is to enroll 120 to 140 women in the CenteringPregnancy program.

Created by the Centering Healthcare Institute, CenteringPregnancy is a national model of group prenatal care that brings eight to 10 women together with similar due dates. Instead of traditional prenatal care consisting of 15-minute meetings with an obstetrician, CenteringPregnancy participants meet for two-hour sessions with a midwife and medical caregivers. CenteringPregnancy provides about 20 hours of prenatal caregiver/patient contact time compared to an average of five hours of caregiver contact time with traditional prenatal care.

At the beginning of each two-hour session, the expectant mothers receive individual check-ups to monitor their health and their babies’ development. Following the health

Region’s First CenteringPregnancy® Program Begins

assessments, they meet as a group to discuss topics related to pregnancy and childbirth. They learn about fetal development, nutrition, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, and infant care. In a setting of trust and support, the women are free to ask questions and discuss topics that prepare them for successful childbirth and motherhood.

The first CenteringPregnancy group began meeting last October. At that first session, everyone was very quiet, said Tressa Harris, MA,

“With the help of generous donors,

our new CenteringPregnancy

program will help women have

better pregnancies and births.”Linda Licatadirector, women's & Children's services PeaceHealth southwest

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation 5

but after five months of meetings, the women are talkative and comfortable with one another as they share their pregnancy experiences and learn how best to prepare for childbirth. They are looking forward to the April arrival of their babies.

National studies have shown that women in CenteringPregnancy groups have longer gestations, fewer Cesarean sections,

our new CenteringPregnancy program, in collaboration with the Vancouver Clinic, gives expectant mothers access to maternity care in a setting that provides both private check-ups and evaluation as well as group support and education.

"this continues to be a wonderful blessing for the NICu. It is very inspiring to witness these young adults’ enthusiasm for our mission," said John evered, md. the funds raised will improve the NICu experience and patient outcomes for mothers and babies by providing:

music therapy for mothers and babies

Infant massage and meditation for new mothers

Increased educational resources for parents

facility modifications designed to reduce noise and create a more soothing NICu environment

Thank you, Union High School!

sixteen talented union High school students competed on march 27 as part of the third annual (miss)ter union Pageant, a fundraiser for the Holtzman twins Neonatal Intensive Care unit.

Union High Students Raise More Than $100,000 for Babies!

and larger babies than women receiving traditional prenatal care. The skills and education they receive last a lifetime and can be passed to the next generation, thus improving the long term health of families in our community.

We are very grateful to the March of Dimes and Macy’s for providing grant support totaling $25,000 for this important program!

As part of the Campaign for the Neurosciences, a $1

million endowment is being created in honor of Jay D. Miller, MD, (above) a retired neurosurgeon and former member of both the PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Board and the PeaceHealth Southwest Foundation Board.

The Jay D. Miller, MD, Neurosciences Caregiver Education Endowment will fund continuing education for hospital employees who care for patients with brain and spine problems, including stroke, brain tumors, and traumatic head injuries. Nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other caregivers will benefit from the advanced training made possible by the endowment.

“We are thrilled that the endowment will be named for Jay Miller, one of the most distinguished physicians in southwest

Endowment Honors Work and Life of Esteemed Physician

Washington,” says Alden Roberts, MD, Chief Medical Officer of PeaceHealth's Columbia Network. “This endowment will help ensure that our neuroscience caregivers are trained to the highest possible level and can deliver the best possible care to our many brain and spine patients.”

Lee and Connie Kearney provided the $200,000 lead gift for the endowment. “We made this gift because of our deep respect for Dr. Miller and his lifetime of contributions to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center,” says Connie Kearney, a member of the PeaceHealth Southwest Foundation Board and major donor to the Medical Center.

More than $500,000 has already been contributed to the Miller Endowment. Fundraising will continue throughout 2015, culminating in the Peace of Mind Neurosciences Gala on Saturday, September 19 at the Vancouver Hilton.

$1,500,000 – thomas and sandra Young $400,000 – Connie and Lee Kearney $250,000 – oregon electric group $150,000 – foundation Board designated support $100,000 – sylvia Karabay $100,000 – david and Patricia Nierenberg $100,000 – rebound orthopedics & Neurosurgery $100,000 – ron and terry Prill $100,000 – Columbia anesthesia group $100,000 – dick seekins and Janna Brown $75,000 – Jim martin $50,000 – Candace Young, Phd $50,000 – dr. david Hayes and Lynda wood

Thank You NEURoSCiENCES CAMPAigN DoNoRS oF $10,000 oR MoRE

$50,000 – Bob and Karen Bernhardt $50,000 – george and Cindy middleton $30,000 – thomas a. Plein foundation $25,000 – Ladda toelkes $25,000 – dick and Judy Boyd $25,000 – Janis and dan wyatt $25,000 – anne and Jerry John $20,000 – drs. sarice Bassin and ed olson $20,000 – rick and Carol terrell $18,000 – ray maly $15,000 – dr. stan and Colleen freidberg $15,067 – dr. Jay miller and elise menashe $10,000 – Carol Van Natta and Bob Burdick $10,000 – Keith wallace and elizabeth thomas $10,000 – dr. Jaime and maria Nicacio $10,000 – dr. sally williams and steve weary

6 Partners in Health – Spring 2015

neurosCienCes Campaign progresses

Young Philanthropist makes gift Connie miller, rN team manager, Inpatient rehabilitation unit, and members of her team accept a $2,000 check from seton High school sophomore aidan ryan. ryan raised funds and used some of his savings to provide a highly specialized wheelchair for a patient who suffered a brain aneurysm.

“In 1991, at age 41, I suffered a ruptured subarachnoid brain aneurysm. Neurosurgeon Dr. Jay Miller was on call.

It wasn’t clear if I'd survive the night, but I did, and Dr. Miller performed my brain surgery the next day when I was slightly stabilized. I spent one week in intensive care and one more in recovery at the Medical Center.

I have no memory of two months, beginning the moment I lost consciousness when the paramedics arrived at my home. Following the aneurysm, my short term memory was very scattered for about nine months, making it difficult to tell if I was awake or asleep. It was almost like having an out of body experience.

In Her Own Words ... A Grateful Patient Gives Back

I remember being with a group of friends and my brain wasn’t able to keep up with the conversation. I would have something to say,

but not until it was two or three subjects later.

I was told I only had a 10% chance of a full recovery. But I’m one of the lucky ones, thanks in large part to Jay’s expertise. Half the people who suffer this kind of aneurysm don't make it to the hospital. Those who do make it usually experience permanent impairment. I was fortunate to have such a brilliant surgeon in Dr. Jay Miller.

I am truly blessed. I chose to make a gift in support of the endowment that honors him and that will continue his legacy of neurosciences care excellence. My contribution is a small way to say thank you.” - Jayne Sanders

thanks to dr. Jay miller’s great care, Jayne is able to enjoy time with her

grandchildren today.

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation 7

To make a gift to the Miller Endowment, contact Dawn Johnston, Major Gifts Officer, at 360-514-3656 or djohnston@peacehealth.org.

save the Date – may 7CasCaDe soCiety Dinner

Join us at the Heathman Lodge as we welcome members of both the Cascade and Columbia Societies in a joint celebration of outstanding leadership and visionary support of local medical excellence!

A highlight of the evening will be the awarding of the Nat B. Giustina Award to David and Patricia Nierenberg for their incredible philanthropy and volunteerism.

If you are not yet a member of the Cascade or Columbia Societies, we'd be delighted to welcome you as a new member at this event. Cascade Society members give $1,000 annually and Columbia Society members make planned gifts to benefit the hospital. To join, contact Alison Lazareck at 360-514-3634 or visit www.swdonate.org to make your gift today.

Meet Nancy Steiger, PeaceHealth Executive for Washington, Alaska

8 Partners in Health – Spring 2015

Cascade society members Bob and sonja frasier visit with sally Cramer at a party hosted by dick Hannah in march.

golf organizers Kathy gull, Linda angelo and sandi fischer put on a wonderful tournament!

PeaceHealth in the Desert

In early April, PeaceHealth shared that Nancy Steiger, Chief Executive Officer

(CEO) and Chief Mission Officer (CMO) for Washington and Alaska, would take the Columbia Network reins after Sy Johnson, the previous network CEO/CMO, announced he is leaving the organization in late April.

Steiger, a former oncology nurse, had previously served as CEO/CMO for PeaceHealth’s Northwest Network before taking on her new dual-state role in November 2014.

“We can all be proud of all what has been accomplished in the Vancouver-area market over the past two years,” she said. “The community is on a strong path, and I have no doubt we all will succeed.”

Steiger is moving to Vancouver and will maintain close to a full-time presence for PeaceHealth in southwest Washington.

An accomplished administrator and a firm believer in the power of philanthropy, she looks forward to the opportunity to meet our PeaceHealth Southwest donors at upcoming functions, including the Cascade Society Dinner on May 7.

Community Connectionsmany thanks to our generous and creative community partners who help raise vital funds in support of our patients and programs at PeaceHealth southwest!

If you or your company or organization are interested in benefiting the patients and programs at PeaceHealth Southwest, contact Alison Lazareck, Annual Giving Coordinator, at 360-514-3634 or alazareck@peacehealth.org.

Girlfriends Run for a Cure Half and Quarter Marathon

Sunday, October 11 – Vancouver n www.nwpersonaltraining.comThe ninth annual NW Personal Training Girlfriends Run for a Cure will once again feature the Pink Brigade, benefitting the Kearney Breast Center. Pink Brigade Guys, who fundraise or donate $500, are the only men invited to participate in this all-women’s race!

mark your CalenDar!

Oregon Electric Group Golf Tournament

Monday, September 28 – Vancouver Practice your swing in preparation for a great day of golf to benefit the PeaceHealth Southwest Campaign

for Neurosciences. The third annual Oregon Electric Group golf tournament is sure to be a great day at Royal Oaks Country Club. To play, contribute, or sponsor, e-mail Keith.Knight@oregon-electric.com.

Jean Rahn, who guided the PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation through its first major capital campaign, died April 2 at her home in Camas. She was 68.

Jean was executive director of the Foundation for eight years, from 2005 to her retirement in 2013. During her tenure, she managed a fundraising campaign that raised a record-setting $53 million. It included funds to build the Firstenburg Tower, the Kearney Breast Center and the Holtzman Twins Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“Jean was a wonderful person and a consummate professional,” says Kaycee Wiita, former Foundation Board president. “Her work at the hospital changed the face of philanthropy in Southwest Washington forever.”

Jean Rahn Leaves Fundraising Legacy

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation 9

emerick Construction Company’s golf team

Pink Brigade guy Krieg Kjer

Jean’s legacy includes a pair of $15 million donations from Ed and Mary Firstenburg and David and Patricia Nierenberg, among the largest gifts ever made in Southwest Washington.

Foundation staff remained close to Jean after her retirement and visited with her just a few weeks before her death.

“Jean was her usual positive, caring self until the end,” says Dawn Johnston, major gift officer. “We all feel blessed to have had her as a boss and mentor.”

The Family Waiting Area on the 8th floor of the Firstenburg Tower will be named in Jean’s honor. “We were able to share this news with Jean before her death,” says Johnston. “She was very touched and pleased.”

Donations in Jean’s memory can be made to the PeaceHealth Southwest Foundation or to her church, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

When he died at age 75 last October, Anthony (Tony) Migas left PeaceHealth Southwest a wonderful gift that is both good and simple, two attributes this hardworking man appreciated. Tony made the Cancer Center the beneficiary of his $104,000 life insurance policy.

“This is a gift that will help provide hope and healing to so many patients,” said Jack Bunkley,Service Line Director of Oncology Services.

Both Tony and his wife, Kathleen, felt cancer’s sting. After having seven children, Kathleen was diagnosed with breast cancer. She died at age 42 after it metastasized into lung cancer. “Mom and Dad were so grateful for the kindness and care the Medical Center provided,” said Tony’s son, Patrick Migas.

Tony experienced his own health challenges, including cancer, open heart surgery, and Parkinson’s disease. He died peacefully, surrounded by family, at the Ray Hickey Hospice House.

Migas Gift Furthers Cancer Care

Hoping to Help Others? If you'd like to include a charitable gift to PeaceHealth Southwest in your estate plans, please contact Carol Van Natta, Executive Director, PeaceHealth Southwest Foundation, at 360-514-3670 or cvannatta@peacehealth.org. We will be happy to help you and your professional advisor any way we can.

10 Partners in Health – Spring 2015

anthony e. migas1939 – 2014

Kathleen and tony on their wedding day

Tony believed there is always something to be done to ease suffering and hardship and that beauty is never far away.

His gift exemplifies that and will help thousands of patients in our community.

“Gifts like Mr. Migas’ further our ability to provide the very best to our patients and to remain on the leading edge of cancer care in southwest Washington.”

Jack Bunkleyservice Line director of oncology services

The Ray Hickey Hospice House has been caring for individuals facing the end of their lives since 2004. It was created to offer local families a home-like environment where loved ones could receive compassionate end-of-life care. Over the past 10 years, more than 5,000 individuals have spent their last days at Hospice House, a place of peace and dignity.

As with any care facility, various operational and equipment upgrades are necessary. When built, the House didn’t have a full kitchen. It was thought that patients’ appetites would diminish in their last weeks of life, and that meals could be transported from the hospital’s main campus. Eating, however, is one of the few comforts patients can continue to enjoy to the end.

In an effort to accommodate patient needs, Hospice House installed a small apartment-sized kitchen, but has since found:

The space isn’t large enough to prepare food for multiple patients at one time.

The current residential-grade appliances take longer to cook food than

Ray Hickey Hospice House Needs Better Kitchen to Serve Patients

commercial-grade appliances. They are also not designed for professional use and have shorter life spans.

With no ventilation system, cooking odors can't escape and the refrigeration units overheat.

The Hospice House team plans to refurbish the kitchen to provide nourishing meals to dying patients in a more efficient manner by:

Expanding the kitchen’s footprint by 33%

Upgrading all appliances and countertops to commercially standard equipment

Upgrading the electrical system

Installing a ventilation system

The Foundation is raising $300,000 for this project, and has received $185,000 from generous donors so far. If you are interested in supporting this project, please contact Dawn Johnston at 360-514-3656 or djohnston@peacehealth.org. In addition, several other opportunities to support the Ray Hickey Hospice House are available, including naming opportunities for patient rooms.

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation 11

The Gala for Neurosciences Excellence September 19, 2015 | Hilton Vancouver

Po Box 1600 Vancouver, wa 98668

WEB SiTE:

www.peacehealth.org/PHswfoundation

FRiEND US!

www.facebook.com/peacehealthsw

SEpTEmbEr 19 – mark your calENdar for an incredible evening!

Gala co-chairs, Terry Prill and Sandra Young, and the PeaceHealth Southwest Foundation, are proud to present the Peace of Mind Gala, benefitting neurosciencescaregiver education.

Gala sponsorships ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 are available. To inquire or secure your sponsorship, please contact Alison Lazareck at 360-514-3634 or alazareck@peacehealth.org.