Spring 2013 A publication of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation CHANGING for GENERATIONS Our journey of Pathfinders is published by Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation for friends and supporters continuous improvement of the Foundation. We welcome comments or suggestions from our readers for future stories. Editor: Jill Blokhuis, MS, CFRE Healthcare does not stand still; change is constant. Enhancing healthcare quality— Director of Development Operations which is the mission of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation—means we Photography: Brooke Doval, John Kerrigan, are always pushing outward to the forward edge of medicine. Good is never good Kristin Royalty and John Sake Gundersen Lutheran Medical Media enough, nor should it be when it comes to the care of our patients, or the health and Copywriting: Leslie Wegener well-being of the communities we serve. Juniper Hill Partners Design: Vendi Advertising We are in an exciting time of change right now. The signs are all around us, some To learn more about the Foundation’s medical more visible than others. New buildings are transforming our La Crosse Campus. education, research, and community health outreach programs, or to inquire about making New faces are preparing for new roles and responsibilities. New solutions are a charitable gift, please visit us at gundluth.org/ foundation or call the Foundation office at addressing new needs. New benefactors (as well as longtime friends) are finding (608) 775-6600. new ways to give and make a difference in the work of our Foundation. Within this constant state of progress, our mission remains constant. The stories in this issue of Pathfinders celebrate that mission and the people who embrace it. Philanthropy does more than connect us to change: philanthropy helps lead change. Development Department Chairman Children’s Miracle Spring 2013: IN THIS ISSUE Mark V. Connelly, MD Network Hospitals® Heather Gilles, Vice Chairman Program Coordinator A. Erik Gundersen, MD In Support of Growth and Change Mandy Nogle, Specialist Executive Director 3 Coleen Peterman appreciates care from the best Campus Renewal Philip Schumacher, ACFRE Campaign A Witness to Progress Chief Development Officer Kari Christenson, 5 Bill Ipsen takes pride in Foundation past, present & future Robyn Tanke, CFRE Project Manager Lisa Warsinske Senior Director Investing in Campus Renewal Admin. Support Community Engagement 6 Barb & Dave Skogen promote community involvement David Amborn, CFRE Special Projects Jeannie Gordon Making a Difference Director of Development Annual gifts support pathways for positive change Operations Administrative Support 9 Jill Blokhuis, CFRE Kimberly Bentzen-Tabbert Barbara Clappier Project Manager, Transforming Behavioral Health Heidi Janzen Special Events Morris family dedicates new adolescent care unit Suzanne Knutson 10 Debbie Kroner Mary Lichtie Meet Our Board Data System Betty Sacia 14 Personal reflections on the Foundation’s mission Bonnie Bathalon Lisa Sauer Kristine Darling Expressions of Caring Grant Writer 15 Recognition of commemorative and memorial gifts Deb Ward, CFRE The Miracle Connection 29 News from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® Happenings 33 Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation at work “Like” us at facebook.com/ On the cover: Coleen Peterman; Pat and Joanie Smith with grandson Jaxon; Marli gundersenlutheranmedicalfoundation Overgard and her cousin Elli Biermeier. Read how these Foundation friends—and others—see philanthropy as a way to change lives now and in the future. Their stories begin on page 3. © 2013 Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation If you do not wish to receive future fundraising requests from Gundersen Lutheran 2 // Medical Foundation, write to us at the address on the back cover. “I FEEL I AM HELPING PEOPLE… BY SUPPORTING ACCESS TO GREAT MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTHCARE SPECIALISTS.” Coleen Peterman visits with her primary care physician, John Udell, MD. Decades of care inspires grateful giving ow fortunate am I to have had two very Coleen has nothing but praise for all the Gundersen skilled primary care physicians caring Lutheran physicians she has seen over six decades, from the “Hfor me all these years!” That is Winona dermatologist who successfully treated her in high school resident (and longtime Gundersen Lutheran patient) Coleen to the medical team she credits with saving her life in the Peterman referring to two physicians with special ties to 1980s. “That’s when I first read about Gundersen Lutheran Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation. Medical Foundation, while I was hospitalized for those two weeks, seriously ill,” recalls Coleen. “That experience made The first, Edwin L. Overholt, MD, was a legendary leader me start thinking about supporting the Foundation to show who served for 25 years as the Foundation’s Director of how thankful I was for the care I received.” Medical Education. Dr. Overholt’s vision and commitment helped Gundersen Lutheran evolve into a premier academic Born and raised in rural Arcadia, Coleen moved to Winona medical center, able to recruit and retain the best and shortly after graduating from high school and marrying her brightest talent in healthcare today. That includes Coleen’s late husband, Kenneth. She worked as a secretary, first for current physician, John Udell, MD, a 1990 graduate of the a local lumber company, then for Winona State University. Foundation’s internal medicine residency program and a Coleen’s last job was with the Winona County personnel stellar example of the ‘next generation’ physicians who department, where she was employed for 17 years doing demonstrate why Gundersen Lutheran’s reputation for work that she loved. The Petermans had a lakeside cabin in educational excellence is so well-deserved. northern Wisconsin near Hayward, and enjoyed fishing and socializing with their summer neighbors. » Pathfinders Spring 2013 // 3 The late Edwin L. Overholt, MD, served for 25 years as the Foundation’s Director of Medical Education. Having access to quality healthcare is something Coleen and Kenneth appreciated deeply. “I grew up on a Douglas W. White, MD, PhD is director farm and now live in an area where of the Foundation’s Rheumatology many people look to Gundersen Research Laboratory. Lutheran for their healthcare needs,” says Coleen. “By contributing to the received over Foundation I feel I am helping people the years.” in Arcadia and Winona by supporting access to great medical care and Coleen’s Grateful patients healthcare specialists.” husband help drive growth Kenneth passed away in 2011, and she and change When Coleen began showing admits that she is only now getting symptoms of painful fibromyalgia, settled in her retirement after years Dr. Udell referred her to Gundersen of caregiving. She sold the cabin up Philanthropy plays a vital role in Lutheran rheumatologist Douglas north, moved into a new town home, advancing Gundersen Lutheran White, MD, PhD. A member of the and looks forward to enjoying more Medical Foundation’s mission medical staff since 2009, Dr. White opportunities “to travel and do the of medical education, research is chief of the Rheumatology division many things around Winona that I and community health outreach. and also serves as director of the could not take advantage of when I Donors like Coleen Peterman, Foundation’s Rheumatology Research was working.” Coleen adds, “Nothing who seek opportunities that Laboratory. “His knowledge and warms my heart more than helping will change individual lives and experience is something I really people. One way I can do this is impact communities as a whole, appreciate,” says Coleen. “Dr. White by supporting Gundersen Lutheran can be assured that the work of is friendly, asks good questions and Medical Foundation. I am happy to be Gundersen Lutheran Medical has the ability to really find out how a member of their Legacy Society.” Foundation does both. you feel.” Legacy gifts—those created through Our donors are able to make gifts Her symptoms have improved greatly a will, trust, life insurance, property in support of a wide variety of with Dr. White’s care, something transfer, or life income program— charitable purposes based on Coleen attributes to having access to ensure that a donor’s support of quality their own interests and wishes. a physician/researcher who is up to healthcare at Gundersen Lutheran Beyond the support of our date on the latest treatments. She has continues beyond their lifetime. It’s general mission, the Foundation directed many of her Foundation gifts a meaningful and personal way to has more than 100 restricted to support medical research—mainly support a cause that’s important to each funds that provide resources in the area of cancer research— giver. Coleen prefers to think of it as for specific programs and and most recently expanded that “causes” since the Foundation’s mission services that matter most to our giving to include the Rheumatology/ encompasses three key areas: medical patients, their families and the Arthritis Research Fund that supports education, research, and community communities we serve. Dr. White’s work. “Dr. White is a health outreach. wonderful addition to the medical staff Let us help match your passion and to the research program,” Coleen As a patient, Coleen chooses to express with an opportunity to make a explains. “It gives me great pleasure her gratitude for the many ways the real difference in the future of to help support Gundersen Lutheran Foundation’s mission has touched healthcare. Contact Robyn Tanke, Medical Foundation to show my her life by the quality of care she’s CFRE, Chief Development Officer, appreciation and somehow give back received. As a donor, she is gratified to at 608-775-4711 or rrtanke@ for the excellent medical care I have be able to do the same for others. n gundluth.org. 4 // gundluth.org/foundation “I’VE WATCHED (GUNDERSEN LUTHERAN) GROW SINCE I WAS A BOY. NOT ONLY DO I APPRECIATE IT, I’M VERY PROUD OF IT.” Decades of change inspire pride and joy here were you in December Now age 95, Bill Ipsen has been a W of 1949? Wilbert (Bill) Ipsen of Gundersen Lutheran patient since he La Crosse remembers.