In celebration: Thanksgiving 2012
For one patient and his family, this Thanksgiving was spent in celebration and appreciation of a life lived thanks to the gift of organ transplant. Steven received a liver transplant one year ago at SLH. He was one of the first liver recipients after the launch of the liver transplant program in May 2011. Steven vividly remembers last year's Thanksgiving holiday spent waiting at home for "the call." Due to complications of his liver disease and dietary restrictions at the time, Steven remembers feeling nauseous and unable to walk around much. In addition to liver-related problems, he suffered extreme headaches from the medications he had to take at that time. Despite treatment, the progression of his liver disease prevented him from continuing to work as an apprentice electrician.
Since Steven's liver transplant, he has finished his apprenticeship and is now working as a journeyman electrician. He enjoyed a long overdue family gathering and was able to visit with relatives he hadn't seen in years. He now proudly professes his excitement to become an uncle again.
When you ask Steven what he's thankful for this year, he recalls those who helped him through his time of need: his family, his friends, and his donor. During his time of illness, Steven says he experienced how much people cared, and he tries to never take them for granted. This Thanksgiving and all year round, Steven cherishes the gift of life he was given from his donor.
Please join SLH's Liver Transplant Team and Steven, a liver transplant recipient, as we remember what Thanksgiving is all about. We thankfully celebrate those who gave - our organ donors.
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Making a difference
Each and every day our dedicated and passionate employees make a difference in the lives of our patients, visitors, and colleagues. We would like to highlight some of those stories. If you have a colleague you would like to recognize, please send the employee's name and how he or she made a difference to slhrounds@saint-lukes.org.
"Thank you to each of you in radiology and ED for treating me with respect and kindness! You've really made an enormous positive difference! Your comfort, too, helped me overcome what was happening to me. Blurred double vision and inability to use either leg for so many hours was scary to me, and you were caring for me through each step. I value your service and professionalism!"
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Pharmacy staff seminar
On Nov. 8, two members of the Saint Luke's Pharmacy staff traveled to Omaha, Neb., to present a seminar to the Creighton University Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Matt Wolf, Pharm.D., BCPS, health system pharmacy management resident, and Mark Woods, Pharm.D., FASHP, BCPS, clinical coordinator and residency program director, presented a seminar titled, "Pharmacy Practice Models: Impact on Pharmacy Students" to approximately 60 members of Creighton's SSHP. The presentation was designed to familiarize students with trends and terms related to pharmacy practice models and how those models should be taken into account as they evaluate clinical rotations and residency training opportunities.
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Holiday Silent Auction
It's that time of year again for the Holiday Silent Auction! If you or your department would like to decorate a wreath or tree to donate to the Silent Auction, you can pick up items on Dec. 3 at the Saint Luke's Cancer Institute's Administrative Offices (Suite 5100 in Medical Plaza III). You or your department also have the option of donating a themed basket full of goodies for the auction. Baskets, trees, and wreaths need to be returned to Suite 5100 by Dec. 10.
Proceeds from the Holiday Silent Auction benefit Saint Luke's Multidisciplinary Clinics and Cabot Westside Medical & Dental Center. For more information, contact Steven Morrison at ext. 21538 or Whitney Ford at ext. 22079.
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Worldwide Candle Lighting Ceremony
The Grief Support Committee at Saint Luke's Hospital is hosting their annual Worldwide Candle Lighting Service on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. in the SLH chapel. This worldwide ceremony is held for one hour every second Sunday in December to unite families and friends and remember children around the globe who have died. This invitation is for anyone in the community. Please join us for candle lighting, music, readings, and refreshments.
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42nd Annual Dr. Robert D. Conn Heart Conference
Dec. 6 - 7
The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center
Register now for the 42nd Annual Dr. Robert D. Conn Heart Conference, Dec. 6 - 7, at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo. This conference will focus on improving the quality of care for patients with cardiovascular disease using evidence-based medicine and a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
The conference is intended for cardiologists, electrophysiologists, general practitioners, internal/family physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other allied health professionals. This educational event is a joint sponsorship of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City.
For more information and to register, click here. SLHS non-physician employees can call UMKC CME at 816-235-6808 for special discount registration forms.
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Make a Holiday wish come true... Adopt-An-Angel
Crittenton Children's Center's annual Adopt-An-Angel program began  in November, aiming to give a happy holiday to more than 300 children currently in residential, foster care, and home-based programs.
Crittenton's "angels" have completed their wish lists and included items such as bedding, shoes, bath and body products, coats, games, and toys. Although the holidays can be a very difficult time for many Crittenton youth, the Adopt-An-Angel program provides positive remembrances and gifts for children who otherwise wouldn't enjoy the holiday season this way.
With the help of employees, departments, and community members who adopt an angel, Crittenton makes holiday wishes come true for children who have no family, or whose families are not able or willing to participate in such activities.
To adopt a Crittenton Children's Center angel or for more information, send an email to adoptanangel@saint-lukes.org or call Sherry Ott at 816-767-4124.
In addition to adopting an angel, individuals, departments, or groups can also help make holiday wishes come true with the following:
- Cash donations in any amount.
- Donation of holiday gift boxes/bags, bows, and other supplies.
- Donation of items for our general wish list to be used throughout the year.
- Volunteering to wrap presents and/or host a holiday party or event.
For monetary donations, please make checks payable to:
"Crittenton Holiday Fund"
Crittenton Children's Center
Attn: Krista Allen
10918 Elm Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64134
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| Noteworthy
Saint Luke's in the news
SLH has been making news, and our staff is sharing its expertise in the media. Click on the link below to see the full story.
Unblocking Completely Blocked Heart Arteries, Fox 4, 11/24/12
Town Hall meetings
The December Town Hall meetings have been canceled and will be rescheduled at the beginning of the year.
Retirement receptions
Please join us in celebrating Madeline Gregg's retirement at her reception on Friday, Nov. 30 from 1 - 2 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room at 8320 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo. Gregg has been working for Saint Luke's Health System for 14 years. Her manager, Esteban Ponce, describes her as "an excellent employee always thriving to provide outstanding customer service."
A retirement reception will be held for Lois McKinley, M.D., on Friday, Nov. 30 from 2 - 5 p.m. in the Women's Courtyard. Dr. McKinley has been on staff with our Multi-Specialty Clinic and prior to that she had her own practice. She has served the community well for many years and we wish her well on her retirement.
Ken McGregor, LAN administrator for Cardiovascular Research at MAHI, will be celebrating his retirement on Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 3 - 5 p.m. in the Women's Center Conference Room.
Apply now for M.S.N. program at SLCHS
Saint Luke's College of Health Sciences is currently accepting applications for the M.S.N. program that starts in January. The application deadline is Jan. 4, 2013. Classes begin on Jan. 15, 2013. Currently, there are two tracks to choose from in the M.S.N. program: nurse educator and adult acute care nurse practitioner. SLHS employees and alumni of Saint Luke's College who start in January will receive a 10 percent tuition discount for the entire length of the program.
Saint Luke's College is located at 624 Westport Road, Kansas City, Mo. If you have questions about the M.S.N. program, please contact Josh Richards at 816-932-6748 or via email.
Fit & Festive Team Challenge
Registration for Fit & Festive, a six-week Team Challenge for the holiday is open! Get your team together to commit to balancing healthier choices with less healthy choices. Team members earn points by exercising, maintaining or losing weight, and managing stress. Points are lost by eating desserts, extra helpings, and drinking holiday drinks. The first 50 team captains with five or more registered team members will receive $10 eStore vouchers. The top five teams will win $50 Giving Cards, which are a donation to a favorite charity. Click here for more details. Go to Aetnagetactive.com. If you're new to the web site, use the company name "SLHS" and your employee identifier to register.
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2013 SLH Summer Student Scholars Program
The Summer Student Scholars Program is designed to provide an opportunity for eight college undergraduates with an interest in health care to spend six weeks in a clinical or research area of emphasis at SLH. The hope is to someday see some of these students become members of the SLH medical staff.
The SLH-funded program will begin the week of June 10, 2013. Orientation will be held June 7, 2013. Application deadline is Jan. 4, 2013. Applicants accepted to the program will be notified by March 4, 2013.
For more information or for an application, please contact Jeanne Kimball in Medical Education at jkimball@saint-lukes.org.
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Thursday, Dec. 6
Noon
BMW Conference Room
SLH
"Holding on for the Holidays"
Panelists: Sharil Baxter, bereavement coordinator, Saint Luke's Home Care & Hospice; others TBA
Co-facilitators: Michael Salacz, M.D., and Tarris Rosell, Ph. D., D.Min
Lunch will be provided.
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