NEWSLETTER - MAY/JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2006

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE February/March 2006 December 2005 September/October 2005 July 2005 June 2005 February 2005 January 2005

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• MONSIGNOR WILLIAM BROUSSARD HEALTH CAREER SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
• PARISH NURSING COURSE
• Bishops’ Advisory Committee on Health Care
• MEMBER UPDATE
  • CHA Members Take Home American Diabetes Association Honors
  • PROVIDENCE HEALTHCARE NETWORK Recognized as Top 100 Hospital
  • 20th Anniversary for Seton's HEART SPECIALTY CARE AND TRANSPLANT CENTER
  • New Medical Complex for COVENANT HEALTH SYSTEM
  • $9.5M Expansion for TRINITY MEDICAL CENTER
  • Anthony “Tony” Pfitzer Joins SJRHC as COO
• NEWS TO USE
• 91st Catholic Health Assembly June 4-6, 2006
• Embracing and Assisting Immigrants in Central Texas
• E-Newsletter Sponsor

E-NEWSLETTER SPONSOR

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

CHA OF TEXAS ANNOUNCES THE 2006 WINNERS OF THE MONSIGNOR WILLIAM BROUSSARD HEALTH CAREER SCHOLARSHIPS: One hundred three applicants were considered for the Monsignor William Broussard Health Career Scholarship awards.  The top thirteen have been awarded scholarships:

	Chelsea Curran Hook received a $1,000 scholarship.  She is attending Texas A&M University in College Station.  She is a sophomore student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and expects to graduate in May, 2008.  Upon graduation Chelsea plans to attend medical school to become a doctor and plans to practice in the Valley.  “To practice medicine in the Valley would fulfill my aspirations - to help others, to fully utilize my abilities, and to remain in the area I grew up in.” Chelsea attends St. Mary’s Church of the Galveston-Houston Diocese.
	Leslye Ayers received a $500 scholarship.  Leslye is a graduate student at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.  She is studying to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and she expects to graduate with a master’s degree in May, 2007.  Leslye is currently working as a registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital where she takes care of critically ill children – patients who have been in trauma, have received a transplant or are chronically ill.  When asked about her work Leslye says,” I adore children and yes at times it can be emotionally draining, but kids are amazing and so resilient…they bounce back from outrageous tragedies…and what makes it all worth it is that day they come walking back into the hospital to personally thank me for taking care of them while they were so sick.  As an advanced nurse practitioner, I will take on different role in caring for these children.  In short, I will be able to provide primary health care to children with the ability to assess, diagnose and treat patients.”
	Angela Merici Ballecer received a $500 scholarship.  She is a junior at Lamar University in Beaumont.  She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and expects to graduate in December, 2007.  Having grown up in a household in which her mother was a labor a delivery nurse, this field became appealing to her.  Angela said, “Being part of giving birth to new life is not only rewarding but also inspiring.  It will inspire me to explore other specialty areas such as NICU and pediatrics.  This scholarship will financially help me achieve my goals.”
	Sarah Michele Barber received a $500 scholarship which will assist with her pursuit of a Medical Degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.  During her 3rd year of medical school Sarah had the opportunity to spend 2 weeks working the oncology floor at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.  She says, “I was touched by the children, their families and the doctors and nurses that served the patients at such a critical moment in their lives.  One might say that I found my calling here.” Sarah is now a junior with plans to become a pediatric hematologist-oncologist.  She attends Christ the King Catholic Church in Dallas.
	Cara Michelle Conlan received a $500 scholarship.  Cara is attending the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio as a graduate student majoring in Physical Therapy. Cara’s goals include using her education as a physical therapist to serve in a third world country, on a Mercy Ship, or right here in the United States and help rehabilitate those who could not otherwise afford it.  She says, “This will be especially important in our country for individuals of lower income if the Medicare Cap of $1,750 remains.”  This scholarship will assist Cara to achieve her goals.
	Crystal Lynn Debbendener received a $500 scholarship.  Crystal is a second semester graduate student at Sam Houston State University in the Clinical Psychology program.  Crystal’s goal is to spend her professional career providing therapy to people with mental illness by becoming a licensed professional counselor in the state of Texas.  She feels inspired to help people of all different mental and cognitive levels.  She notes “many people who seek therapy have a low self-esteem and I want to help them feel better about themselves.  In addition, I want to help them deal with their difficulties successfully so that they can lead a more normal life and have a positive impact on society.”
	Ryan Joseph Harvey received a $500 scholarship.  Ryan is sophomore at Texas A&M University in College Station pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science.  Ryan says his faith has always been the top priority in his life.  He attends St. Ann Parish in Coppell – were he was recognized as an “Outstanding Altar Server” in 2004, Dallas Diocese, and St. Mary Catholic Center in College Station, Austin Diocese.  Last spring Ryan enrolled at Texas A&M University as a Biomedical Sciences major to build the foundation needed to be successful in medical school.  In addition to the demanding course load, he plans to take classes during the summer sessions so that he can graduate from college in 3 ½ years.  The scholarship will help ease the financial burden of his education.  Ryan states, “while my parents have savings put away to pay college expenses for me and my four siblings, their savings will not cover all expenses with all of us in college at the same time.”  He has an older brother in his third year of medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch, a sister in her third year of nursing school at Saint Louis University, a brother who’s a junior math major at Texas A&M University, and a younger brother enrolled at North Lake College.  “Each of us is working together with our parents to find the best way to fund our educations.”
	Brad Hollas received a $500 scholarship.  He is attending Texas A&M University in College Station.  He is a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.  After completion of his undergraduate degree, Brad plans to enroll in a renowned Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program to earn his education and license to practice Physical Therapy.  Brad said, “The idea of playing a significant role in the rehabilitation of injuries and helping others deal with their disabilities struck me as a very honorable and fulfilling occupation.  Given the large and rising cost of professional school, the Monsignor William Broussard Health Career Scholarship will greatly aid my family and me to fund my education.”
	Michael C. Knudson received a $500 scholarship.  Michael is a junior at Texas A&M University in College Station majoring in Information & Operation Management with a minor in Pre-medicine.  His goal is to become a physician who specializes in some aspect of radiology.  Michael said, “Through my experiences of job shadowing radiologists, as well as volunteering in the radiology department of the UTHSC at San Antonio University Hospital, I believe that I can make the greatest difference to my community – and beyond – through the study of radiology.”  Knowing the high cost of medical education, Michael will graduate in both university and business honor degree (BBA) programs in the Management of Information Systems.  “This enables me to earn a decent income in the summers for increasing college and medical school expenses, and to use it as a backup in case I am not accepted the first time when applying to medical school.”
	Debra E. Mulkey received a $500 scholarship which will assist with her pursuit of a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing at The University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston.  Debra is currently a senior.  Upon graduation she plans to work as a nurse for 3-5 years, becoming a Nurse Practitioner and eventually a nursing professor.  Debra wants “to start community outreach programs for health promotion and education, and to encourage our youth to consider a career in medicine.”  This scholarship will assist Debra to achieve her goals.
	Michelle Nguyen M. received a $500 scholarship.  She is a 3rd year nursing student at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and expects to receive her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2007.  “Growing up in a country where the citizens have to wait for longer periods of time before they get treated, even in life and death situations, I fully understand their (rural region patients) urgent need for help.  Therefore, my first priority after graduation is to help those patients and to assist other staffs to establish effective and reliable service in the rural area near the border of South Texas,” says Michelle.
	Krysten Elizabeth Phelan received a $500 scholarship.  Krysten is a junior at Texas A&M University in the Biomedical Science program.  She plans to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in May, 2007 and then begin medical school.  Krysten is interested in becoming a pediatrician. OBGYN or a cardiac surgeon.  She volunteers in her community – specifically free clinics like Health For All and the Prenatal Clinic in the city neighboring her university.  Krysten says, “I believe that it is my responsibility as a citizen and a child of God to help those in need.”  This scholarship will help lessen the financial burden in pursuit of her goals.
	Daniel Kai-Chun Yang received a $500 scholarship.  He is a first year medical student at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.  His is pursuing a Doctor of Medicine degree and expects to graduate in 2009.  Daniel’s goal is to become a physician-scientist and find problems confronting clinical medicine, join the efforts of the scientific community to identify solutions to these problems in the research lab, and then, most importantly, apply those solutions in actual medical practice.  Daniel says, “Through this course of events, I believe I can do more for patients than I could as a physician or researcher alone.  By combining both fields, I can draw upon the strengths of each in my efforts to provide the best medical care for all.  This scholarship will be a blessing because it’ll help lighten my financial burden and allow me to continue to use my time towards my studies and serving the community.”

CHA of Texas congratulates all of the 2006 scholarship winners and the donors, Catholic Life and Aramark, who made this scholarship possible.

PARISH NURSING COURSE

The Parish Nursing Course held Sunday, March 26 - Saturday, April 1 at the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas was a great success.  We had 10 participants – Sarah Deacon of CHRISTUS St. John Hospital (Diocese of Galveston/Houston), Rosa Garza in care of CHRISTUS Spohn Health System Education Dept. and Audelia Gomez of Dubuis Hospital of Corpus Christi (Diocese of Corpus Christi), Bernadine Julun-Jacobs of Medical Center Southeast Texas and Christina Alexis-Wasson of Renaissance Hospital (Diocese of Beaumont), Elisabeth Origer, retired RN, (Diocese of Fort Worth), Evangelina Rodriguez of Seton Northwest Hospital and Marjorie Turner, retired RN, of (Diocese of Austin), Miriam Wells of Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital (Diocese of San Antonio) and Dorcas Townsend of Dubuis Health System (Diocese of Tyler).

Jean Deliganis, RN, PhD, Parish Nurse directs the program and teaches some of the sessions.  "Parish Nursing is the essence of holistic nursing care.  It is the practice of caring for the spirit, mind and body. It puts the art back into the 'Art and Science' of nursing," says Deliganis.  It is a week of intensive training including a history and philosophy of Parish Nursing, functions of the Parish Nurse, accountability and documentation, legal considerations for Parish Nursing, ethics in Parish Nursing and many more.  The course is based on the curriculum developed through the International Parish Nurse Resource Center in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Of the experience participant Rosa Garza said, “Dr. Jean Deliganis, Head Professor of this course was outstanding!  There are not enough words to describe her abundant knowledge she shared with all of us.  AWESOME!  GOD SENT, literally!”

The Kenedy Foundation provides funding for the CHA of Texas project which is designed to enhance the Parish health ministry by providing training and resources.

CHA of Texas would like to wish them all success in their Parish Nursing endeavors.

Bishops’ Advisory Committee on Health Care

CHA of Texas Annual Dialogue with the Bishops’ Advisory Committee on Health Care was held at the Oblate Renewal Center on April 3.  Representing CHA of Texas were Pat Carrier, Chair, John Brindley, Immediate Past Chair, Reed Edmundson, Vice Chair, Kathy McDonagh, Board member, Sister Carol Ann Jokerst and Brenda Trolin, Executive Director.  Representing Bishops were Bishops Aymond (Diocese of Austin), Carmody (Diocese of Corpus Christi), Pfeifer (Diocese of San Angelo) and Zurek (Diocese of San Antonio).

CHA of Texas would like to thank Dorothy A. Chesley, RN, Ph.D. and Rita Carlson, RN, MSN of Health Ministries Association Texas Chapter for their presentation on the promotion of health and healing through parish nursing at the Catholic Charities, Catholic Social Action, Parish Social Ministry Staff and Volunteers of the Archdioceses of Texas 20th Annual Gathering. 

MEMBER UPDATE

Covenant Health System

Covenant Health System Center For Outpatient Diabetes Education in Lubbock and Plainview and Trinity Medical Center’s Diabetes Self-management Educational Program in Brenham have recently received the American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for quality diabetes self-management education programs. 

The ADA’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational programs meet the national standards for diabetes self-management education programs.  Both centers were recognized for having knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management.  Congratulations!

PROVIDENCE HEALTHCARE NETWORK Recognized as Top 100 Hospital

PROVIDENCE HEALTHCARE NETWORK has been recognized as a Top 100 Hospital, for overall hospital performance, in the Solucient National Benchmarks for Success – 2005, published in Modern Healthcare.  Prior to this Providence had been named three times as a Top 100 Heart Hospital by Solucient, twice as a Top Orthopedic Hospital by HealthGrades, and twice as a recipient of the Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety by HealthGrades, but this is the first time they have made the overall Top 100 Hospital list published by Solucient.  Congratulations to Providence!

20th Anniversary Celebration

SETON HEALTHCARE NETWORK’S HEART SPECIALTY CARE AND TRANSPLANT CENTER celebrated its 20th anniversary.  The center, which opened on Feb. 2, 1986, held an anniversary event with food, music and a slide show with photos of patients from the program in celebration of their more than 260 life changing transplants.  “For 20 years, the Seton Heart Specialty Care and Transplant Center has given patients and their families a second chance at life,” said John Oswalt, Medical Director, Seton Heart Specialty Care and Transplant Center.  Forty-two patients and their families joined the Heart transplant team members of the SETON administration for an emotional reunion.

New Medical Complex in Southwest Lubbock

COVENANT HEALTH SYSTEM announced development of a new medical complex in southwest Lubbock.  The facility, a 90,000 square-foot medical campus, will include an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center, primary care physician offices, specialty physician offices, laboratory, mammography, ultrasound and cardiac testing, an urgent care center, community education offerings, wellness service and dialysis.

“The southwest Lubbock development will allow Covenant Health System and partnering physicians to better serve our patients in Wolfforth, southwest Lubbock and surrounding communities,” said Bill Bopp, vice president of business development at Covenant.  “We are pleased to work together to improve health and wellness in our community.”

$9.5 million expansion project

TRINITY MEDICAL CENTER in Brenham marked the completion of a $9.5 million expansion project March 19 with an Open House showcasing the hospital’s new surgical center.  The facility offers five large operating rooms - larger in size to accommodate all the equipment and technology required for today’s surgical procedures – 10 pre-op cubicles, 10 recovery cubicles, two private pre-op rooms and nurses stations conveniently located in both areas for close monitoring of patients.  The new state-of-the-art Surgical Center means added comfort, safety, privacy and convenience for patients.  It provides all the convenience of an outpatient surgical center along with the safety of a hospital. 

Of the many to thank, Trinity CEO John Simms gave special thanks to everyone involved in the project, from employees and department managers to the hospital’s board of trustees and the Trinity Health Services Foundation Board for raising $1.1 million toward the project.  The project is the third major endeavor undertaken by Trinity since it was created by the consolidation of Brenham’s two former hospitals in 1989.  In 1992, the hospital’s Birth Center was completed, and in 1999, the new Emergency Department was unveiled.

Anthony “Tony” Pfitzer joins St. Joseph Regional's leadership teams as COO

ST. JOSEPH REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER CEO Jack Buckley announced in a February press release that Anthony “Tony” Pfitzer has joined the leadership teams as Chief Operating Officer for SJRHC.  He started on February 27.  “Tony is a tremendous individual who brings a lot of energy and experience to our team,” said Buckley.  “He has worked in Catholic health care organizations for most of his career and will dedicate himself to fulfilling the Mission that the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio brought to our community 70 years ago.”

Buckley remains CEO of the Regional Health Center, but Pfitzer oversees all day-to-day operations of the 286-bed Regional Health Center, including St. Joseph Rehabilitation Center in Bryan, and the Behavioral Health Unit at Grimes St. Joseph in Navasota.

NEWS TO USE

91st Catholic Health Assembly

91st Catholic Health Assembly will be held from June 4-6, 2006 at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, FL.  The assembly will feature an Innovative Forum in which people from Catholic health ministry organizations will share with session attendees their knowledge, experience, and creativity in developing programs and services to assist persons in need. 

Featuring plenary presentations by:

CHA members, register today at www.chausa.org/assembly

presents...

Embracing and Assisting Immigrants in Central Texas

A one-day conference to assist service providers and faith based communities in understanding the needs of immigrants and strategies to improve services.

Continuing Education Units for Social Workers / Continuing Nursing Education Units Available

For more information on the topics that will be covered at the conference please visit http://old.austindiocese.org/ccctx/pdf/EAI_brochure.pdf
To print a registration form please visit http://old.austindiocese.org/ccctx/pdf/EAI_registration.pdf

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