GU63.ORG TABLE OF CONTENTS

02 ABOUT GENE UPSHAW

04 THE GENE UPSHAW MEMORIAL FUND

06 GU MEMORIAL FUND PARTNERSHIPS

GU Memorial Fund Recipient: 08 GENE UPSHAW MEMORIAL TAHOE FOREST CANCER CENTER

GU Memorial Fund Recipient: 09 TAHOE INSTITUTE FOR RURAL HEALTH RESEARCH { 12 SUPPORT THE FUND

GENE UPSHAW 1945 - 2008 Like Us On GU63.org [ ABOUT GENE UPSHAW ]

Gene Upshaw was one of pro football’s true greats. As a longtime Truckee resident, Gene loved the majestic beauty of the mountains, the peaceful, laid-back community, and the place where he could relax and enjoy life with his family and friends. Gene passed away suddenly from pancreatic cancer in 2008 at Tahoe Forest Hospital, in Truckee, California. Gene was born in Robstown, Texas. He played at Texas A&I, (now Texas A&M), Kingsville. A Hall of Fame offensive guard for the Oakland Raiders for 16 seasons, Upshaw is the only player in professional football history to play in three Super Bowls with the same team in three different decades. In 1987, his first year of eligibility, Gene was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1999, he ranked number 62 on the list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. After a successful 16-year professional career with the Oakland Raiders, Gene served as the Executive Director of the Players Association for 25 years. During his long tenure at the helm of the NFLPA, he led the organization to a legal victory to secure free agency for all players in the NFL, negotiated the best player benefit package in professional sports and created the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFLPA, PLAYERS INC, which generated and continues to generate millions of dollars in royalties for the NFLPA and the players. In 1979 Gene was the recipient of the highest honor bestowed by the National Football League Players Association, the Byron “Whizzer” White Award. The award was established by the players in the National Football League to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to one of their own, Supreme Court Justice Byron Raymond “Whizzer” White — scholar, athlete, patriot, humanitarian and public servant. The NFLPA presents this prestigious annual award for outstanding service to team, community and country, to the player who is just as dedicated off the field as he is on the field.

2 [ GENE UPSHAW memorial fund ] changing lives through innovation and research

Gene’s wife, Terri, and sons Justin and Daniel, established the Gene Upshaw Memorial Fund in memory of Gene. In recognition of the extraordinary care he received at Tahoe Forest Hospital, The Gene Upshaw Memorial Fund has created a partnership with Tahoe Forest Health System to provide funding for important health programs and research. The mission of the Gene Upshaw Memorial Fund is to honor Gene Upshaw’s legacy and advance the Upshaw family’s passion for quality medical treatment, care for patients and their families, sustainability and advancement of medical technology, and funding for research in areas such as traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Gene Upshaw Memorial Fund is currently partnered with Tahoe Forest Health System, the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center, and the Tahoe Institute for Rural Health Research (TIRHR) to advance its mission.

Tahoe Forest Health System, A UC Davis Rural Center of Excellence

Gene Upshaw Memorial Fund

Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center Tahoe Institute for Rurual Health Research

• A national model for rural cancer care • Innovation and research for high quality health care • Medical Oncology, Hematology and Radiation • Collaborative partnerships with prestigious science Oncology and academic organizations • Most current treatment options • Current projects include • State of the art technology including virtual tumor Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Home Blood Monitoring Critical Care Products

To date, the Gene Upshaw Memorial Fund has generated nearly $825,000 to advance these important health initiatives. 4 [ GU MEMORIAL FUND PARTNERSHIPS ]

Tahoe Forest Health System A UC Davis Rural Center of Excellence

The vision of Tahoe Forest Health System is simple: To Be the Best Mountain Community Health System in the Nation. Tahoe Forest Health System includes Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, California, and Incline Village Community Hospital in Incline Village, Nevada.

A key strategy for advancing the vision of Tahoe Forest Health System is its relationship with the University of California Davis Health System. Examples of the partnership between Tahoe Forest Health System and UC Davis Health System include:

• Tahoe Forest Health System was the first-ever designated UC Davis Health System Rural Center of Excellence, recognizing high quality rural health systems that show leadership in redesigning health care delivery.

• Tahoe Forest Health System is an affiliate of the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, an integrated, collaborative, network that unites hospital-based cancer centers for the purpose of delivering high quality cancer care in rural settings. This partnership allows our cancer patients access to the latest clinical trials and a link to medical specialists through virtual tumor board technology.

• Tahoe Forest Health System is an affiliate of the UC Davis Rural PRIME medical education program, allowing UC Davis medical students to rotate and work in rural areas like Truckee/North Lake Tahoe as part of their MD and MPH programs. Medical students rotate through pediatrics, OB-GYN, and family practice clerkships at Tahoe Forest Hospital throughout the year.

• The Tahoe Forest Health System subsidiary, the Tahoe Institute for Rural Health Research, has an agreement with UC Davis that provides for collaborative research efforts.

With a strong focus on high quality rural health care delivery, collaboration, performance excellence, community engagement, innovation and excellent patient care, Tahoe Forest Health System was named one of America’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in 2011/2012, and one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in America for Patient Satisfaction.

Tahoe Forest Health System offers a diverse range of outpatient services including home health, hospice, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy, occupational health, skilled nursing/extended care facility, children’s center, health clinic, medical fitness center, pharmacy, and physician multi-specialty clinics. The new Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center opened in July 2012.

Tahoe Forest Hospital UC Davis Medical Center UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center 6 [ GU MEMORIAL FUND RECIPIENT ] GENE UPSHAW MEMORIAL TAHOE FOREST CANCER CENTER

Located in the High Sierra town of Truckee, California, the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center has a purpose as grand as its elevation: To provide the best rural cancer treatment in the country, and to do it in the most honest, supportive and compassionate way possible.

As a proud affiliate of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center offers patients access to clinical trials and linkage to the most respected thought leaders on cancer treatment through virtual tumor board telemedicine technology.

The new cancer center building opened in July, 2012, and offers a full battery of the latest medical oncology evaluation, diagnosis and treatment programs, including a new radiation oncology wing, featuring state-of-the-art True Beam radiation oncology, in addition to PT scan, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, the latest in imaging services, comfortable and modern infusion center, and onsite pharmacy and lab.

As with any modern cancer center, there are comprehensive patient and family support programs, a family resource and teaching center, and breast prosthesis and wig salon. Clinical studies confirm that patient and family support services play an important role in treating cancer. Our programs are designed to meet the social, psychological, emotional and functional needs before, during and after the course of treatment. We use an integrated, whole-person approach that addresses each individual cancer patient’s journey, all offered at no cost.

The Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center is led by Medical Director and Oncologist, Laurence Heifetz, MD, FACP. After 30 years in Oncology, Dr. Heifetz is admired for his personal and honest approach. He was a founding partner of Tower Hematology Oncology Medical Group at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, and is a clinical professor at UC Davis. Dr. Ahrin Koppel specializes in Medical Oncology and Hematology, and earned her medical degree from Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. She has experience in research at both UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and is well-published in the field of hematology, oncology and neuroscience. Radiation Oncology Medical Director, Daphne Palmer, MD, joined GUMTFCC after practicing at Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nevada, where she was Medical Director for the Department of Radiation Oncology. She completed her medical degree at UCLA. Dr. Palmer is skilled in treating a wide range of tumors and has completed comprehensive training with experience in stereotactic radiosurgery. Assistant Medical Director, Dr. Melissa Kaime, MD, FACP comes to the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where she was a staff physician in the Department of Hematology/Oncology. Prior to that she was the US Navy Medical Corps Hematology/Oncology Specialty Leader for the Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Kaime completed her medical education at the St. Louis University School of Medicine. 8 CURRENT TIRHR PROJECTS [ GU MEMORIAL FUND RECIPIENT ] MTBI IDENTIFICATION This project is attempting to develop a simple device to diagnose mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI). The device would signal The Tahoe Institute For Rural Health Research when participants should be sidelined and would determine when they were healthy to return to play. The goal is to prevent athletes from suffering successive head impacts when the brain is already CRITICAL CARE The Tahoe Institute for Rural Health Research (TIRHR), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tahoe Forest Hospital injured resulting in more severe brain trauma. This research District, was formed in August 2009 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The mission of TIRHR is to develop innovative technological or programmatic products and practices, which improve the affordability and delivery is being conducted with the cooperation of the Tahoe Truckee The Critical Care Product (CCP) of high quality healthcare to rural and underserved communities. Challenges for these communities include Unified School District, the Tahoe Forest Hospital Emergency will meet an urgent need in scarcity of physicians, particularly specialists; geographical isolation; distance traveled for care; and resource Room, Incline Village Community Hospital Emergency Room operating and emergency rooms limitations (financial, technological, facilities and equipment).TIRHR is particularly interested in innovations that and the emergency clinics at local ski resorts. Representatives of smaller hospitals. The CCP reduce healthcare costs or reform healthcare delivery in rural hospitals, clinics, and remote or home settings. of TFHS and TIRHR are working, within the Tahoe region, to will provide rapid access to the educate parents, coaches, athletic trainers and athletes about Project ideas for TIRHR typically originate from healthcare professionals, primarily from remote or rural precise Critical Care Algorithms concussion treatment and prevention. Particular emphasis has environments, who work with more limited resources and are looking to solve an unmet need. The innovations needed to stabilize a patient developed by TIRHR will reduce the cost of care and/or improve quality of care and will therefore be applicable been placed on the danger of successive impacts to a brain during a medical emergency. The to a wide variety of healthcare settings, both rural and urban. The scientists and engineers working as already mildly injured. The Institute works with Tahoe Forest product will guide the medical management or staff of TIRHR have significant experience in conducting revolutionary research and bringing Health System’s Sports Medicine Program to conduct pre-season staff step-by-step through the important new technologies to market. The Board of Directors of TIRHR consists of members that are cognitive testing of athletes within the local school district and prescribed protocols, while associated with Tahoe Forest Health System (TFHS), TIRHR’s collaborative partners, and Tahoe community regional ski resort competitive sports programs. This includes recording critical information. leaders. post mTBI tests on athletes who may have suffered an injury, not Improved outcomes are expected, only within these organized efforts, but through all local health Collaborative Partners particularly in smaller hospitals clinics who report more than 400 mTBI’s annually. Through the where patient symptoms, TIRHR has collaborative agreements or arrangements in place with a number of prestigious partners. These Sports Medicine Program, it’s determined when an injured athlete requiring use of these algorithms, arrangements allow TIRHR access to the faculty, scientists, research findings, equipment, facilities, and funding has recovered and can return to the sport. In addition, Institute is infrequent. TIRHR is in the grants of these organizations. Current collaborative relationships include: researchers conduct educational programs for athletes, parents, process of preparing patent • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and first responders about mTBI at no charge. applications in conjunction with this project. • The National Science Foundation • University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Schools of Medicine and Nursing HOME BLOOD MONITORING • Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology (CBEST) at UC Davis (CBEST advances research, development, and application of new optical/photonic tools and technology in medicine and the life sciences) A blood count monitoring device is being designed that will accurately monitor a patient’s blood count at home. • UC Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research The system is designed for home use by patients who require on going blood count monitoring such as those who • UC Davis Innovations Center A state-of-the-art research laboratory with a focus on changing the future of healthcare have undergone chemotherapy or major surgery, or those fighting a significant infection. The device will report the delivery in both rural and urban settings results to the doctor’s office, allowing the condition of the patient to be assessed daily. It will also be a meaningful • UC Davis Clinical and Transitional Science Center (CTSC)- (A two-time recipient of the NIH Clinical and Translational tool in clinics or other medical settings that do not have more sophisticated blood-monitoring devices on site. The Science Award, CTSC provides UC Davis researchers with connections, assistance, training and tools to help ability to monitor a patients blood count inexpensively, without utilizing a hospital lab, will reduce health care costs translate ideas into products to improve health and healthcare delivery. and will allow for more frequent monitoring, thereby improving quality of care. In its initial stages, funding for this • UC Davis Graduate School of Management project has been provided by the National Science Foundation. 9 10 [ A MESSAGE from terRi Upshaw ]

I am extremely proud to announce the establishment of the Gene Upshaw Memorial Fund, which will be held and administered at the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation. Net proceeds from our Gene Upshaw Memorial Golf Classic and all future events, as well as individual and corporate contributions, will be placed in the Fund. Our family will then have the opportunity to bestow grants from the Fund to advance quality medical care for patients and their families, sustainability and advancement of medical technology and important projects such as traumatic brain injury research.

Not only will the Fund support the beautiful new state-of-the-art Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center, officially named at the grand opening ceremony in July, 2012, but we will expand to support the many programs of the Tahoe Institute for Rural Health Research. Specifically, their research into traumatic brain injury (TBI) will help make sports safer for athletes of all ages in every community and provide educational programs for athletes, parents and first responders.

None of this would be possible without your support. Whether you join us as a sponsor of this year’s Gene Upshaw Memorial Golf Classic, make a donation or award a grant to the Gene Upshaw Memorial Fund, or simply sign up to volunteer on tournament day, we welcome your participation.

Te r r i Honorary Chair HOW TO GET INVOLVED? VISIT WWW.GU63.ORG

• Make a tax deductible gift to the Gene Upshaw Memorial Fund • Establish multi-year or planned gifts to the Gene Upshaw Memorial Fund • Serve as a sponsor or participate as a golfer in the Gene Upshaw Memorial Golf Classic

Contact Martha Simon, Director, Fund Development, Tahoe Forest Health System at [email protected], or 530.582.6329.

12 GU63.org