July 2024

Image reads: From the desk of the Executive Director

Looking back on the past year of Gratitude and Growth: Celebrating Pardee Hospital Foundation

As we end one fiscal year and begin a new, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support we've received throughout the year. Your unwavering commitment to our mission has played a pivotal role in advancing the health and well-being of our community.

In addition to your support allowing us to acquire critical equipment for various departments across UNC Health Pardee, you have also made possible a new state-of-the-art Cath Lab and provided essential care to uninsured and underinsured women through our Women Helping Women program.

There is so much going on at the Foundation right now, I am excited to share so many updates with you.

For those of you able to join us at our Summer Soiree on Friday, June 21st, thank you again for coming and we hope you had a dazzling time. We enjoyed kicking off the summer with you. At the Soiree, we honored Dr. Navin Anthony, as our 2024 Physician of the Year and Kenmure Fights Cancer as our Philanthropist of the Year. You will read more below about how both Dr. Anthony and the members of Kenmure Fights Cancer share a deep desire to improve the quality and value of life in those around them.

We hope you will save the date of August 24th for a concert with Blake Ellege at Point Lookout Vineyards. Ten dollars from every ticket sold will benefit Women Helping Women. A major thank you to Point Lookout Vineyards for naming Pardee Hospital Foundation as the benefactor for this concert.

Alongside our Women Helping Women committee, I am thrilled to share the name of our 2024 Women Helping Women luncheon speaker and hope you enjoy reading a bit more about her journey navigating around and through multiple cancer diagnosis. Interested in getting involved with Women Helping Women? We have opportunities to serve on our volunteer committee, and support via sponsorship.

While we understand that our donors do not seek recognition, we also know that our acknowledgment efforts honor your gifts while also inspiring others to support our mission. With this in mind, our New Donor Recognition Program aims to highlight the tangible differences your generosity makes in the lives of our patients and the overall community.

We will be introducing new donor levels later this month with the names of participating donors appearing in our Annual Report, which will be published this fall. If you would like to make a gift and be included in the publication, please let us know.

Part of the transition from one year to another at Pardee Hospital Foundation is the rotation of members on our Board of Directors. In June we graciously thanked Dr. Jerry Collucelli, Kandi Hendricks, Carey O'Cain, and Myra Watkins for their years of service and commitment to Pardee Hospital Foundation.

With growth comes opportunity and a new opportunity we have at the Foundation to support the Women and Children's Department at Pardee is to fund a Panda Infant Warmer. I hope you will take the opportunity to learn more about this in the article below and consider a gift that will directly impact the lives of our youngest Pardee patients.

Thank you once again for your incredible support this past year. Together, we are making a positive impact on the health and well-being of our community.

With gratitude,

Amy Treece
Executive Director

Image reads: UNC Health Pardee Highlights

Before hundreds of guests, Pardee Hospital Foundation announced the 2024 Physician of the Year and Philanthropist of the Year and celebrated expanding services throughout the region.

UNC Health Pardee Oncologist Dr. Navin Anthony - a member of the Pardee team since 2012 - received this year’s Physician of the Year honor during the Summer Soiree on June 21st at Kenmure Country Club.

Those who nominated him, including patients and community members, had much to say about Dr. Anthony’s dedication to the people he serves. They called him a leader and advocate committed to providing top-notch care for the community.

However, it was not just patients who recognized Dr. Anthony’s exceptional qualities. Throughout the nomination process, Pardee's teammates shared stories of his unwavering dedication, from calling patients late into the night to ensure their peace of mind to always being in their corner and facilitating collaborative decision-making.

During introductory remarks about Dr. Anthony, Nicola Barksdale of First Citizens Bank said, “He is inspired to continue to work in the emotionally taxing field of oncology/hematology by his patients. He has this unique ability to form a special bond with his patients and celebrate every small or large ‘win’ during their journey while providing guidance during difficult times.” Barksdale observed that this shared relationship truly inspires Dr. Anthony in the medical field. The Physician of the Year honor was underwritten by First Citizens Bank.

"The Physician of the Year Award represents an opportunity for us to recognize and express our gratitude to the exceptional physicians within our community who consistently go above and beyond to deliver outstanding healthcare services," said Amy Treece, Executive Director of Pardee Hospital Foundation. Dr. Anthony’s unwavering dedication and commitment to excellence have impacted the lives of individual patients and colleagues and contributed to advancing healthcare standards."

Dr. Navin Anthony, 2024 Physician of the Year pictured with Pardee Hospital Foundation Board Member Nicola Barksdale representing our Physician of the Year Sponsor, First Citizens Bank.

Dr. William Medina with members of Kenmure Fights Cancer: (L to R) Jackie Murrill, Maral Johnson, Lorraine Watson, Mark Goldstein, Karen Preston, and Lisa Raufeisen.

In a break from its tradition of recognizing an individual or couple, the Foundation named the nonprofit organization Kenmure Fights Cancer its 2024 Philanthropist of the Year.

Over the years, Kenmure Fights Cancer has funded critical programs and equipment at the Pardee Comprehensive Cancer Center. They have also funded contrast-enhanced mammography software and technology to upgrade blood compounding in the Cancer Center Infusion Pharmacy. They are the largest donor to Pardee’s Mammo on the Go, a mobile mammography unit offering the same state-of-the-art, digital 3D breast imaging that is available at the breast center. Two exam rooms in the Pardee Cancer Center are named in honor of Kenmure Fights Cancer.

“Rather than staying behind the gates of their neighborhood, these residents look outward to recognize the needs of the entire community, and they work to improve the lives of everyone,” said Dr. Bill Medina, retired Pardee Oncologist and the 2014 Philanthropist of the Year. “The word ‘philanthropist’ doesn’t fully capture the remarkably generous and compassionate nature of the people behind Kenmure Fights Cancer,” he said.

The evening also included a report from Treece about the hospital’s expansion of services. In the last year, UNC Health Pardee opened a new cardiac catheterization lab and expanded services in cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, and primary care by adding new providers.

“Looking forward to the next few years, growth is inevitable, and the community’s support will be needed more than ever as we open four new medical office buildings across Hendersonville, Mills River, and Transylvania County, providing care to underserved areas,” said Treece.

“It is an honor to host you, our guests this year, whose support ensures that our community's medical needs are met with urgency and excellence.”

Click here to view the Summer Soiree Photo Gallery

The Women Helping Women committee is thrilled to announce our

2024 Women Helping Women speaker:

Sharon Delaney McCloud

Sharon Delaney McCloud is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, keynote speaker, emcee, host and cancer survivor. She’s married with three kids and during her free time, you’ll find Sharon planning their next family vacation. Sharon is very active in the community and serves on a number of Boards of Directors and advisory committees for non-profit organizations in North Carolina.

Sharon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from Florida State University before embarking on a career as a television journalist. From the Persian Gulf War to John Glenn’s historic return to space to the Super Bowl to hurricanes, floods, politics and entertainment, she has covered thousands of stories that have affected people’s lives on a daily basis. Sharon also moderated gubernatorial and mayoral debates throughout North Carolina and served as a mentor for young journalists beginning their careers.

Sharon’s journey with cancer started at the young age of 14, when her father was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer, who only lived 3 months after the diagnosis.

A battle that Sharon never saw coming, was with her daughter, Macy. Macy was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at six months old. AML progresses rapidly, with an intense treatment plan. Macy was undergoing ten days of 12-hour chemo infusions, on a nine-month plan, which is a gruesome treatment plan for a child to endure.

In 2005, after four months of treatment, Macy succumbed to cancer at ten months old.

Twelve years later, Sharon was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer. Throughout her battle, she thought of Macy. If her resilient and tough little girl could sit through the unending hours of treatment, she could do this. It was not an easy battle, but Sharon likes to remind other fighters to take it day by day, hour by hour. It’s also important to lean on your tribe, whether that’s close friends, family or both. You are not alone.

Sharon underwent five months of chemo, followed by a double mastectomy, then ended her treatment with seven weeks of radiation. In 2017, Sharon was a candidate for the Penelope-B Trial with Pfizer. This trial lasted thirteen months with an oral dose of medicine every three weeks, concluding her cancer battle in 2018.

Macy is Sharon’s why. She continues to tell Macy’s story to honor her fight and memory. Throughout all of her treatments, Macy did it with a smile on her face.

In 2021, Sharon saw a need to help in the healthcare industry and wanted to serve those who needed it most. Sharon now serves as the Director of Corporate Communications at UNC Health. In her role at UNC Health, she is training and coaching leaders across the organization to be more effective communicators whether it be for a conference, board meeting or public speaking.

Sharon also serves as a speaker, trainer, emcee, journalist and DEI executive. In a recent podcast, Sharon spoke to her Irish heritage, “We’re born talkers, it’s in our DNA.” Thank you, Sharon, for living and breathing your calling by helping people amplify their impact, resilience and leadership.

We hope you will join us October 18, 2024 at Blue Ridge Community College for our annual luncheon and to hear from Sharon.

Click HERE for more information about the luncheon, BECOMING A SPONSOR,
or joining the volunteer event committee!

SAVE THE DATE TO JOIN US AT POINT LOOKOUT VINEYARD FOR A CONCERT BENEFITTING WOMEN HELPING WOMEN!

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Pardee’s Tiniest Patients Need You!

We need your help with an urgent request to support the Women and Children’s Department at Pardee. Our goal is to raise $21,669.64 to purchase an additional Panda Infant Warmer, a vital piece of equipment that ensures the safety and well-being of newborns in our care.

The Importance of the Panda Infant Warmer

The Panda Infant Warmer plays a crucial role in our labor and delivery unit. The Panda Infant Warmer provides oxygen delivery and oxygen saturation monitoring. Necessary suction equipment is another essential component the Panda Infant Warmer provides. It also helps regulate the baby's body temperature immediately after birth, ensuring they remain warm while our care team conducts essential assessments. This equipment is used in every birth to provide access to necessary resuscitation equipment. Additionally, it provides a safe and warm environment for newborns while they are unclothed and unwrapped. The Panda Warmer also facilitates easy foot printing and banding, which are critical first steps in newborn care.

Why We Need Your Support

Provide immediate stabilization for newborns.
Enhance the quality of care for newborns.
Ensure every baby receives the immediate warmth and care they need.
Support our dedicated medical team in providing the best possible start to life for each infant.

Your generous donation will help us:

With your help, we can reach our goal of $21,669.64 to fund a new Panda Infant Warmer fully. No matter the size, every contribution brings us closer to providing the best care for our youngest and most vulnerable patients.

Please consider visiting www.pardeehospitalfoundation.org and donating today to support this essential cause. Your contribution will directly impact the lives of newborns and their families in our community.

Thank you for your continued support and generosity!

Click HERE to donate to the Panda Infant Warmer

(Hunter) Subaru Loves to Care

We are deeply grateful to Pardee Hospital Foundation Board Member Randy Hunter for facilitating the generous donation of eighty blankets for the patients of the Pardee Cancer Center.

This wonderful contribution was made possible through the Subaru Loves to Care program and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Thank you, Randy and Hunter Subaru (LINK), for helping keep our patients comfy and cozy during their treatment.

Pictured above (L to R): Andrew Schmidt, Pardee Hospital Foundation (PHF) Donor Engagement Officer, Amy Treece, PHF Executive Director, Randy Hunter, PHF Board Member and Chairman of Hunter Automotive Group, and Matthew Kemper, PHF Donor Engagement Officer.

Thank you to our Outgoing Pardee Hospital Foundation Board Members

Today, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the outgoing board members of the Pardee Hospital Foundation for their unwavering support and dedication. Your service has made a lasting impact on our community, and we are truly grateful for all that you have done.

Pardee Hospital Foundation Executive Director Amy Treece shares "The commitment to excellence these Board Members have made leaves a lasting impact on our community. Their dedication and support have made a remarkable impact on healthcare in our community. Thank you, Myra Watkins, Kandi Hendricks, Carey O'Cain, and Dr. Jerry Collucelli for your service and commitment to improving lives."

Sharing & Caring: Pardee Teammate Giving Society

As a new employee of Pardee this past February the very first form that I filled out during Employee Orientation was the Pardee Foundation Sharing and Caring Pledge Form.

You may ask, “Why was this so important to you that you completed the form even before the presentation?”

Through the support of the Foundation, Pardee Hospital offers services to this community that would otherwise not be available. I believe in the need for hospitals to have this support to stay innovative and do what I can to contribute.

The need to support the Pardee Foundation is a ‘no brainer’ for me! I encourage my coworkers to sign up for Sharing & Caring and make a donation through payroll deduction.

Barbara Crume, PT, ATP

Assistive Technology Professional

Wheelchair Seating Clinic

UNC Health Pardee

Q & A with Board-certified General and Colorectal Surgeon,

Dr. Coen Klos, MD

What led you to pursue a career in colorectal surgery?
During medical school at the University of Amsterdam I was captivated by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract early on. At the same time, I really enjoyed being in the operating room because it is a place where a team of providers gets to work closely together and is allowed to truly devote all its attention to one goal: a successful operation for the single most important person in the room – the patient. These two interests led me to complete and publish several research projects in colorectal surgery.
Incidentally, during this time that my mother was diagnosed with rectal cancer at a relatively young age. After undergoing chemoradiation therapy and surgery she is now a rectal cancer survivor. All these experiences combined solidified my goal to become a colorectal surgeon. I completed my general surgery residency at Washington University in Saint Louis and my colorectal surgery fellowship at the University of Wisconsin. After more than 3 years of proudly providing colorectal surgery services to the veterans at the John Cochran VA Medical Center in Saint Louis.

Why did you choose Pardee, and how do you see yourself contributing to the organization?
I am happy to offer my services to the community at Pardee. This opportunity brings my wife back to the area where she grew up and will allow my kids to spend more time with their grandparents.
My wife is a stroke survivor and after being on the patient side with her going through a multidisciplinary process of diagnostics, critical care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up, emphasized the importance and major advantages of having access to as many components of care within the same health care system.
My role at Pardee within the surgery department improves the multidisciplinary treatment process for those who need colorectal surgery services. Think of colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, complicated diverticulitis, and pelvic floor disorders, for example. Collaboration between primary care physicians, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists, pathologists, hospitalists, pharmacists, and now the colon and rectal surgeon can all occur seamlessly at Pardee.

Colorectal surgery has seen advancements in recent years. What approaches or technologies have you integrated for improved patient outcomes?
Most colorectal surgeons have been able to perform a large share of their cases by a minimally invasive approach. However, in recent years, colorectal surgeons have started to perform minimally invasive surgery using surgical robots.
UNC Health Pardee now offers robotic surgery to its patients using the da Vinci® surgical system for colorectal surgery and urologic surgery, including prostate, kidney, and bladder procedures.

Pardee Named One of Becker's 100 Great Community Hospitals

Community hospitals are crucial in providing access to local, convenient, affordable care. That’s why UNC Health Pardee is honored to be the only in WNC to be included on Becker's 100 Great Community Hospitals list!

As one of our region's last remaining nonprofit hospital systems, we provide comprehensive, leading-edge care and are committed to responding exactly where, when, and how we are needed. To receive this recognition highlights Pardee's exceptional commitment to quality care and community service.

Representing WNC with this honor is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our #OneGreatTeam.