PARTNERS in Advancing Health

News for Donors and Friends of • Fall 2018

In This Issue Emory Saint Joseph’s Auxiliary, A Team of Health Care Emissaries BRAIN HEALTH Alzheimer’s Disease harlie Cayce is a humble leader, to supporting families while their loved in Focus Cquick to downplay his role as one is having heart surgery, Charlie and a longtime member and current the numerous others who volunteer president of the Emory Saint Joseph’s with the Emory Saint Joseph’s Auxiliary Auxiliary as simply wanting to “give have touched countless lives. EMORY EYE CENTER back” to the hospital that he credits RB Kids Day! for saving his life more than once. “It’s about empathy,” he says of After undergoing heart bypass surgery working with patients and their and having recently retired, Charlie families. “I’m there to reduce joined the volunteer group more than a their concerns, their fear of the SYSTEM EXPANSION decade ago. unknown. I try to make sure people Dekalb Medical are comfortable. I talk to them and Becomes The Emory Saint Joseph’s Auxiliary answer their questions. My goal is Emory Healthcare is entirely staffed by volunteers and to help patients have as pleasant of provides a variety of support services an experience as possible under the for Emory Saint Joseph’s patients and circumstances.” their families and caregivers. From In addition to the support they provide Thomas Family signing in new patients, to transporting for patients and families, Auxiliary Pays it Forward them to x-ray or the catheterization lab, (Continued on page 6)

Currently led by a heart patient, Charlie Cayce, the volunteer group is closely aligned with both patients and staff in delivering outstanding care. EMORY HEALTHCARE Partners in Advancing Health

When you or someone you love are With Your Support, We Are Significantly hurt or sick, you need a partner Improving Health in Our Community: who puts your wellbeing top of mind. Emory Healthcare is that n Emory currently has 18,977 n  The Emory Vaccine Center is one of partner. With the support of our participants enrolled in 1,895 clinical the largest academic vaccine centers in trials of investigational drugs, devices, the world, with scientists working on community, we are serving and procedures, making it the vaccines for influenza, Ebola, AIDS, and beyond and advancing the preferred destination for Georgians malaria, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and seeking innovative, world-class care other diseases. future of health care. close to home. n Winship Cancer Institute is the only n We are the only health system National Cancer Institute (NCI)- Our medical professionals and researchers in Georgia with three Magnet*- designated Comprehensive Cancer represent the full spectrum of disciplines designated hospitals—Emory Saint Center in Georgia and one of only and specialties, so Emory is able to provide Joseph’s Hospital, 49 in the country. Hospital, and Emory University advanced, compassionate, cutting-edge n The Woodruff Health Sciences Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital. Center invested a total of $125 million patient- and family-centered care to all the n Approximately 613,561 individual in research costs not covered by gifts people we serve. That includes providing patients are treated annually at Emory or grants in fiscal year 2016-2017. advanced access to clinical trials, investing in Healthcare. our core facilities, and growing our programs *Magnet Recognition® from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the highest and most prestigious distinction a healthcare organization can receive for nursing excellence and high-quality patient care. of distinction, including heart and vascular health, neurosciences, cancer, transplant and regenerative medicine, and orthopaedics. Support for Patients and Caregivers Every step of the way, we are informed and supported by donors and volunteers who share Featured at Emory’s Integrated our vision for improving the overall health of Memory Care Clinic our community. hen Harry Haisten’s wife Sandra was Your participation and support are always Wdiagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2013, he quickly realized that the welcomed and appreciated. disease had progressed more than her internist or neuropsychologist seemed to realize. That’s when he turned to Emory at the recommendation of a friend. In 2014, Harry enrolled Sandra in a clinical drug trial at Emory’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center—now The Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center—and was immediately impressed with the quality of care she received. When the Integrated Memory Care Clinic (IMCC) opened in 2016—a partnership between Emory School of Medicine, the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, and Emory Healthcare—the Haistens knew they were in good hands. Jonathan S. Lewin, MD “I was completely sold at the first appointment,” Harry recalled. When he and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Emory University Sandra arrived, they barely had to wait until a member of the staff came out, Executive Director, Woodruff Health Sciences Center introduced herself, and welcomed them both with warmth and reassurance. “I knew President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board, Emory Healthcare we were in the right place,” he said.

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Harry, who serves on the IMCC’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, has nothing but praise for the IMCC and its staff. When Sandra developed a respiratory infection right before a planned Christmas visit to see their daughter and grandchild, Harry called the IMCC and they treated Sandra “as Introducing the kindly and quickly” as any healthcare Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease provider they had ever seen. Research Center As part of its team-based, nurse- Emory University has renamed its Alzheimer’s led approach to care, and with the Disease Research Center (ADRC) in recognition of assistance of a social worker, the IMCC The Goizueta Foundation’s ongoing support for is better preparing dementia patients Harry is glad to see Sandra getting the transformational research toward developing a and caregivers to meet the challenges care she needs so she can spend time with treatment for the disease. that lie ahead. As IMCC clinical their children and grandchild. team lead Carolyn Clevenger, DNP, The Goizueta Foundation’s $25 million gift explains, “The unknown is a fear for of 13% for dementia patients. The this year follows an initial investment of $25 anyone affected with dementia, so we 24/7 access that IMCC patients and million in 2014—and a subsequent $3.9 million strive to ensure that we share the best their caregivers have to on-call staff is supplemental gift—to launch and support the information about what is happening the major reason for this significant Emory Healthy Aging Study and the Healthy now and what’s to come so that decrease, and reflects the quality of care Brain Study, both of which are ongoing and still caregivers and patients know what to that sets the IMCC apart from other enrolling participants. These two landmark clinical expect. Patients and families shouldn’t similar clinics. studies have dramatically expanded the reach and be surprised by anything the clinicians impact of the Emory Brain Health Center and aren’t surprised about.” What has become clear already is the the ADRC. profound impact that the IMCC’s One of the unique elements of the approach has on its patients and their The gifts are a tremendous vote of confidence coordinated care that the IMCC caregivers, families, and loved ones. in Emory’s leadership and steadfast dedication provides is their support for caregivers. By managing medications, focusing to developing new diagnostics, biomarkers, and “They recognize the complications and on comprehensive primary palliative fundamentally changing the course of this disease, trauma that caregivers go through,” care, providing caregivers with support according to Allan Levey, MD, professor and chair explained Harry. The education, and education, and coordinating of the Department of Neurology, and director of resources, and support that Harry has needs across the healthcare system, the the renamed center. received from the IMCC as his wife’s IMCC is changing the way Emory cares “This new gift will not only allow us to continue caregiver has helped him navigate for people living with dementia and enrolling participants in these studies, but also to Sandra’s care more effectively, but has their families and this care is improving eventually offer therapies to affected individuals also helped him manage the emotional quality of life for Emory patients and to either delay development of Alzheimer’s or halt toll of caregiving and connect with their caregivers. it altogether,” noted Levey. others who are in similar situations. “The staff has been such a great “The Integrated Memory Care Clinic support,” he said. is not just about this one clinic,” Clevenger explains. “We are creating The Haistens’ story highlights the a best-practice approach to integrating ways in which the IMCC is helping dementia and primary care that can be patients living with dementia and used nationwide.” their caregivers throughout the care process. In just over two years of Gifts to the Emory Brain Health The Emory ADRC, now renamed The Goizueta operation, the IMCC has earned a 97% Center impact patient care, research, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, is part of satisfaction rating from patients, and and education. To learn more the Emory Brain Health Center. It is one of 32 contact Courtney Harris , director of at less than 2%, the rate of avoidable Alzheimer’s disease research centers supported by development, at 404-727-5282 or hospitalizations among IMCC patients the National Institute of Health in the nation. [email protected]. is well below the national average 3 EMORY HEALTHCARE Partners in Advancing Health

Emory Eye Center Hosts Special Day for Child Survivors of Eye Cancer lmost 20 years ago, ophthalmology Achairman Tom Aaberg, Jr., MD, suggested that Emory Eye Center (EEC) host a fun-filled day for children who had faced a cancer of the eye known as retinoblastoma (RB). Since 1999, that celebration has grown into a tradition that the children, their families, and EEC volunteers eagerly anticipate.

“RB Kids Day is one of my favorite things,” says retina specialist Baker Hubbard, MD, who treats these children and assumed leadership of the event in 2001. “These patients and families have been through very trying times. Seeing them together reminds us of what we’re doing and why we do it.”

Retinoblastoma is a tumor of the “What started off as a small picnic for a food, and an inflatable slide or bounce retina, or back lining of the eye, that few children has tripled in size over the house. A visit from the nonprofit group is primarily found in young children, years, with hundreds of families and Happy Tails is always a highlight, with occurring in one in every 20,000 live volunteers in attendance,” Dobbs says. trained therapy animals adding to the births. The hereditary form of RB can “I love watching Dr. Hubbard recognize fun. affect both eyes and sometimes other each RB child individually and present organs of the body; non-hereditary RB them each with a small gift to show how “I love watching the kids play with usually affects only one eye and is not as much they all mean to us.” the Happy Tails dogs,” says Fowler, prone to spread. another Emory Eye Center technician. “I initially went to RB Kids Day as a “They’re so cute with their painted Emory Eye Center faculty, staff, and volunteer to check in people who come,” faces and RB Kids Day t-shirts. And community volunteers work to plan Gardner says. “Now I help organize all they’re all smiling.” RB Kids Day for months. Many, such the volunteers for the event.” as ophthalmic technicians and imaging “One of the best things about the picnic specialists Jannah Dobbs, Janay Volunteers are an important part of the is that families with newly diagnosed Gardner, Melanie Fowler, and Rhonda day, with many EEC faculty and staff babies get to see the successes of the Waldron, have participated for years. getting their families involved. There are older kids and how ‘normal’ they are,” arts and crafts, games with prizes, music, says Rhonda Waldron, who helped 4 EMORY HEALTHCARE Partners in Advancing Health

EMORY DOCS ARE TOPS

Atlanta magazine’s annual Top Doctors® issue has hit newsstands with seven Emory Eye Center physicians included. They are Maria Aaron, MD; Allen D. Beck, MD; Valérie Biousse, MD; Hans E. Grossniklaus, MD, MBA; G. Baker Hubbard, III, MD; Nancy J. Newman, MD; and Ted H. Wojno, MD.

The 2018 list includes 781 physicians representing 59 specialties. Many are associated with Emory: Emory Healthcare physicians, Emory Healthcare Network physicians, Emory University School of Medicine faculty, and Emory medical staff physicians.

For the July 2018 Top Doctors feature, hundreds of metro-area doctors were asked to name their most respected colleagues. The process sought nominations not only of physicians who excel in academic medicine and research but also those who exhibit excellence in patient care— only one eye. Another patient spent a those to whom nominating physicians would send year raising money for RB research and their own families. presented a check to Dr. Hubbard at the next picnic.

“The best part of RB Kids Day is seeing how many children are thriving and winning the battle with retinoblastoma,” Hubbard says. “They Aaberg plan the inaugural event. and their families are heroes, and it’s a “They see the children running and privilege to work with our team to host playing, and get to talk with other a special day for them.” parents who truly understand what To make a gift to retinoblastoma they’re going through.” research at Emory Eye Center, contact Karla Ruggiero, development director, They also hear some amazing stories, at 404-778-4121 or karla.ruggiero@ such as the RB patient who earned an emory.edu. athletic scholarship to college—with 5 EMORY HEALTHCARE Partners in Advancing Health

System Expansion Highlights Saint Joseph’s Auxiliary (Continued from page 1) Dekalb Medical and Emory Healthcare Merge volunteers manage the hospital gift mory has the most comprehensive health care system in the state, with Emory- shop and fundraise for the hospital owned or Emory-affiliated locations in 43 counties. The newest addition to the E through events. In recent months, system is Dekalb Medical Center, which was officially joined with Emory Healthcare they purchased new and functionally on September 1, 2018. improved wheelchairs and new The merger integrates DeKalb Medical’s 55 practice locations, 800 doctors, and flatscreen televisions for patient rooms 4,000 staff members with EHC’s 2,000 physician providers and 23 regional affiliate that include educational channels hospitals. DeKalb Medical’s North Decatur hospital, Hillandale hospital, and focused on health and wellness. Downtown Decatur long-term acute care facility have been rebranded to EHC. “Our volunteers are an integral “Emory’s commitment to making a part of our hospital family,” says significant capital investment in DeKalb Allison Hager, Director of Guest and Medical facilities over a seven-year Volunteer Services at Emory Saint period will help DeKalb Medical Joseph’s. “Many were patients or realize its full potential of facilities and family members during hospital stays programs,” said EHC President and and this inspired them to help others CEO Jonathan Lewin, MD. going through a similar experience. Wherever they serve, they bring DeKalb Medical staff and employed warmth, empathy, and compassion physicians have become EHC DeKalb Medical officially became a part of to our patients and staff. In addition the Emory Healthcare system on September employees, according to EHC Director to volunteering and fundraising, they 1, 2018. DeKalb Medical’s hospital on of Communications Janet Christenbury. serve as advisors to help us design North Decatur Road is now named better ways to take care of our patients Emory Decatur Hospital. and their families.” The Auxiliary also supports nurses, Kaiser Permanente and Emory Healthcare Partner staff, volunteers, and their families through scholarships to help them mory Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente will collaborate to develop a new care pursue careers in health care. During Emodel that provides Kaiser Permanente members expanded and improved access the winter holidays, their annual Light to comprehensive care. of Love Christmas Tree event raises funds to honor hospital staff; last The agreement commits both organizations to create an integrated care and year, they used the funds to upgrade coverage model for Kaiser Permanente members at Emory University Hospital equipment and amenities for the Midtown and Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital. In anticipation of this agreement, hospital’s food services department. Kaiser Permanente has provided a capital contribution toward expansion of both hospitals to accommodate the new and existing patients while maintaining After serving as the Auxiliary vice outstanding quality, service, and access. president, Cayce assumed the role of president in January 2018. “Emory and Kaiser Permanente share closely aligned missions to serve our communities and bring together the best of academic scholarship, research, and “The beauty of the job is that I’ve got patient-and family-centered care” said Jonathan Lewin, MD, EHC President and some amazing people in leadership,” CEO, who expects a transformative effect on care models, nationally, from the he explains. “My goal is to make our unique collaboration. volunteers feel appreciated, help them get to know each other, and make the Both organizations anticipate caring for Kaiser Permanente members at Emory Auxiliary a fun place to work. Some University Hospital Midtown and Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital beginning folks have been volunteering for 25 or October 2018. 30 years, but we’re also growing and bringing in younger folks.”

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50,000 HOURS = Paying it Forward Twofold ike Thomas glows when sharing stories of his late wife MLin, who succumbed to colon cancer ten years ago at the age of 57. Lin, a successful business owner, mother, and runner, had skipped a routine colonoscopy only to be diagnosed a few years later with stage IV colon cancer. They Emory Saint Joseph’s Auxiliary sought second opinions from notable physicians and cancer serves more than 50,000 hours centers in the Southeast, including Winship Cancer Institute, annually, the equivalent output and ultimately, Lin chose to receive treatment at Winship of 24 full-time employees because of the positive and warm interactions she had with the physicians, nurses, volunteers, and staff. Lin Fearrington Thomas As Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital It was that same friendly and caring Winship Cancer Institute is embarks on a partnership with Kaiser atmosphere provided by the Winship Permanente that will expand the team that inspired Mike to begin the only National Cancer hospital’s staff, space, and services, volunteering. Mike’s daughter, Institute (NCI)-designated Cayce is also focused on recruiting Maggie, and his current wife, Tammy, Comprehensive Cancer more volunteers for the Auxiliary. encouraged him to pursue the Center in Georgia and one volunteer work. What began as a one- of only 49 in the country. “We have tremendous talent in our day-a-week occurrence soon became volunteers,” he says, smiling. “There three days a week. want to do more to help battle cancer. are so many accomplished folks who Through combined estate gifts and bring a lot of skills to the table. It makes Mike is now a familiar face, checking stock transfers, Mike and Tammy my job easy.” patients in at Winship’s first floor lab. have made gifts of nearly $500,000 His favorite thing is to hear a patient to Winship to support colon cancer say, “I won’t see you again for six research. Anyone who has met the VOLUNTEER months, because I’m in remission.” Thomases would, without a doubt, OPPORTUNITIES Mike warmly responds, “I’ll miss attest to their warm, caring hearts. seeing you, but I’ll be happy not Call for details about seeing you for the reason you aren’t The entire Winship crew—from volunteering at Emory Saint coming.” Then, everyone smiles. Mike the scientists developing new Joseph’s or another hospital shares these heartfelt interactions with breakthroughs in the lab, to the team or medical facility in your area: Tammy, who has also developed a deep running clinical trials, and the skilled EMORY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL admiration for the hard work of those nurses caring for patients—speaks 404-712-0375 dedicated to sharing and overcoming warmly about the guy with the big smile the cancer journey at Winship. checking patients into the lab three EMORY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL MIDTOWN times a week. 404-712-0375 Inspired by what they have witnessed WINSHIP CANCER INSTITUTE at Winship, both Mike and Tammy Today, Tammy and Mike, inspired by 404-778-2405 Winship’s research and patient care, EMORY SAINT JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL including that of Lin, are determined 678-843-7292 to assist in battling cancer every day. Together, with Winship, they are EMORY JOHNS CREEK HOSPITAL committed to diminishing the impact 678-474-7028 cancer can have on our loved ones. EMORY REHABILITATION HOSPITAL Winship Cancer Institute offers multiple 404-712-0375 opportunities to support patient care and fund research. Please contact You can also learn more and Jennifer Morthland, development director, submit a volunteer application for more information at 404-727-5863 or at emoryhealthcare.org/about/ [email protected]. volunteering/index.html. Tammy and Mike Thomas in Tuscany 7 1364 Clifton Road NE Atlanta, GA 30322

This is my legacy.

“AS A PATIENT OF THE EMORY EYE CENTER, I know firsthand that Emory delivers the best care. That’s why I’m including a planned gift for glaucoma research in my estate plans, as well as a bequest advancing Alzheimer’s research and a gift to Winship Cancer Institute to defeat cancer. Emory’s researchers are fighting for better treatments, better quality of life, and—above all—cures.”

Have you planned your legacy? Emory.edu/giftplanning 404.712.2155

Jim Lewis Douglasville, Georgia