| Your Support is Changing Lives
Dear Friends
This season offers a moment to pause and reflect on the importance of community and generosity. As we approach the year's end, our annual appeal holds special significance. This year has been one of challenges and triumphs—from recovering after Tropical Storm Helene to expanding our programs and services. Your support ensures that we can continue to adapt, innovate, and meet the healthcare needs of our region. |
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We are wrapping up our 2024 Annual Report to share with you. It will highlight the impact of your generosity throughout this past year. Between it and the 2024 Year-end Appeal below, you'll soon discover that Pardee Hospital Foundation rises to our challenges while simultaneously celebrating those triumphs that we achieve with and through you.
To that end, you will want to read all about the latest grant from Kenmure Fights Cancer, a group whose unwavering commitment continues to elevate healthcare for our community. Thanks to their latest support, Pardee Cancer Center has two new cutting-edge tools in its arsenal for early detection of breast cancer.
We are excited to share with you a story about our new Circle of Caring scholarship, which empowers Pardee employees to grow their careers and strengthen our healthcare system in service to the community.
Only a few tickets remain for the rescheduled 2024 Women Helping Women Luncheon on January 24, 2025. See below and get yours before they’re gone!
Be sure to check out the December schedule for Mammo on the Go and help spread the word about the availability of these life-saving preventative screenings.
You will be touched by a story from our very own Program Officer, Andrew Schmidt about why he challenges all of us to support the Moving Mountains Society, as he does. Teaser: It's not about how much!
Finally, we’re excited to announce our participation in the wildly popular 2025 Bearfootin’ campaign with our very own Women Helping Women Bear on Main St. Designed by Andrea Martin, a talented artist and dedicated Women Helping Women supporter, this bear will symbolize resilience and hope, sharing an incredible story of healing and community. You won’t want to miss reading all about it in this issue of Vital Signs
From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of our staff and board of directors, thank you for being part of this journey. May your Thanksgiving season be filled with love, gratitude, joy, and good health! |
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Pictured (from left): Pardee Hospital Foundation Director Amy Treece, Foundation Program Officer Andrew Schmidt, Scholarship recipients Makina Smith, Eden Sparks, Michala Jackson, and Joseph Zanolli. Foundation Donor Engagement Officer Matthew Kemper and Dr. Joel Callahan, Chief of Staff for UNC Health Pardee. Circle of Caring Scholarship recipients not pictured are Robert Anthony Errico, Amber Peterson,
Angela Rogers, Karon Edge, and Teresa McMurray. |
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| Pardee Physicians Inspire Career Growth Among Employees Through New Circle of Caring Scholarship Program At the heart of Pardee Hospital Foundation’s new Circle of Caring scholarship program is a vision shared by the hospital’s physicians: to inspire and support the career growth of their own employees.
UNC Health Pardee Chief of Staff Joel Callahan, the program’s chief visionary, and Chief Medical Officer Gregory McCarty have collaborated with the foundation and hospital administration to bring to life the goal of providing Pardee’s workforce with opportunities for continuous education and professional development, ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided to the community.
What began as a concept in 2023 has grown into a fully developed scholarship program, with strong support from donors and hospital staff. While Dr. Callahan and Dr. McCarty championed the Circle of Caring, they credit the entire Pardee team for pushing the program forward. With that support, the Circle of Caring continues expanding its reach. |
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Help us End the Year United in Care and Compassion
This year, thanks to your unwavering generosity, Pardee Hospital Foundation provided over $1.5 million in support for UNC Health Pardee's programs, people, and expansions this year. However, when Tropical Storm Helene hit, it devastated our community, impacting many of our own employees, including physicians, nurses, and lab technicians—some losing their homes. In response, the Foundation quickly shifted focus to help our teammates recover, ensuring they could continue their life-saving work.
While this critical support was essential, it delayed our fundraising for other important programs. We now face a $400,000 shortfall that must be addressed by December 31st.
Your past generosity has already made a remarkable impact, providing: - Lifesaving inpatient dialysis care
- Cutting-edge Panda Warmers for newborns
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Vital resources through Women Helping Women
- Mobile Mammo on the Go screenings for underserved populations
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Career growth for employees through the Circle of Caring initiative
To help us meet this critical need, please consider a year-end gift of $50, $100, or more. Every donation, no matter the amount, makes a difference. |
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Only a Few Tickets Remain for the Rescheduled 2024 Women Helping Women Event on Jan. 24, 2025 |
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Women Helping Women brings together over 400 members of our community, all dedicated to the
shared cause of providing supplementary support for women who require necessary medical treatment but who cannot shoulder the costs. Not only is it a Henderson County tradition, it is a testament to the power of unity and compassion.
This year’s luncheon will feature Sharon Delaney McCloud as the keynote speaker. McCloud, Director of Corporate Communications at UNC Health, is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, cancer survivor, and advocate for resilience.
Diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer twelve years after losing her daughter to leukemia, McCloud’s powerful story continues to inspire women to face their battles with courage. |
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Click anywhere in this image to make your appointment! |
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Bringing Art & Advocacy Together for Women Helping Women |
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Women Helping Women Committee Co-Chair, Andrea Martin |
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Andrea Martin, a celebrated artist and co-chair of Women Helping Women, is once again using her immense talent to champion a cause close to her heart. Andrea has secured a coveted Bearfootin’ Art Walk Bear for 2025 and will transform the blank canvas into a masterpiece celebrating the mission of Women Helping Women.
Andrea’s vision for the bear is both inspiring and deeply meaningful. It will be displayed in downtown Hendersonville from May through October 2025, culminating in a public auction in October. Half of the auction proceeds will benefit Women Helping Women, offering a unique opportunity to showcase the community’s support for the Pardee Hospital Foundation.
Known for her mural Honoring Our Veterans in downtown Hendersonville, Andrea often uses her artistry to uplift others. Inspired by her grandfather, a decorated Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War, she channels her passion for honoring service into her work. Her Bearfootin’ Bear promises to reflect this same dedication to creating art that inspires and supports the community.
Thank you, Andrea, for sharing your extraordinary gifts and helping to make a difference through Women Helping Women! |
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Thanks to a Grant from Kenmure Fights Cancer, Pardee Cancer Center Leads the Way with Advanced AI Breast Cancer Detection |
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Thanks to a generous grant to the Pardee Hospital Foundation from Kenmure Fights Cancer, UNC Health Pardee’s Cancer Center has become an even stronger leader in breast cancer detection, integrating two new tools in the fight for early detection.
Volpara AI software and the Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) for Automated Whole Breast Ultrasounds (ABUS) are now both incorporated into the imaging program at Pardee Cancer Center. These cutting-edge tools enhance early detection, especially for higher-risk patients, while improving outcomes and streamlining exam interpretation.
“This transformative technology, made possible by Kenmure Fights Cancer, allows us to deliver faster, more accurate diagnoses,” said Adam Wilkins, Administrative Director of Oncology Services. “We’re proud to be among the first UNC Health sites to adopt these groundbreaking approaches to breast imaging.”
The AI-driven Volpara software supports radiologists by interpreting complex imaging data, assessing lifetime breast cancer risk, and identifying immediate concerns. This technology will also play a pivotal role in expanding the Pardee Cancer Center’s High-Risk Breast Clinic, offering patients a more personalized and comprehensive approach to care. |
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| Why I Chose to Give Back to Pardee and Why I Encourage You to Join Me |
When I joined the Foundation team at UNC Health Pardee, I wanted to align my passion for philanthropy with a mission that makes a meaningful impact in our Western North Carolina communities. That decision was solidified last fall at the Women Helping Women luncheon. Surrounded by neighbors and friends, I realized how many of them were directly connected to Pardee’s compassionate caregivers.
Inspired, I made it a personal goal to not only join Pardee as a team member but also to support its mission by becoming a Moving Mountains giving society donor.
Even with financial challenges like daycare and rising costs, I committed to being a recurring donor—and it’s one of the most fulfilling decisions I’ve made. Almost a year later, I feel deeply connected to Pardee’s work and proud to support the providers improving health outcomes for our loved ones. Won’t you join me? Your gift—at any level—can help transform nonprofit healthcare in our region. Together, we can make a lasting impact. |
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Pardee Named to “Newsweek's America’s Best-in-State Hospitals 2025” List
The America’s Best-In-State Hospitals ranking has been compiled using hospital quality metrics sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the AHA Annual Survey of Hospitals Database, patient experience surveys (HCAHPS), and a voluntary survey on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). The list serves as a critical resource for patients seeking high-quality healthcare close to home during times of crisis.
We owe this recognition to our #OneGreatTeam! Your commitment, skill, and compassion make all the difference in delivering exceptional care to our community every day. Thank you for all that you do! |
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Pardee Earns Leapfrog Safety Grade “A” Pardee has proudly received an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group, reflecting our steadfast commitment to patient safety and excellence in care. Leapfrog’s comprehensive grading system assesses over 30 key measures, spotlighting our focus on reducing errors and implementing preventive safety measures. |
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UNC Health Pardee is pleased to welcome John Asenjo, DO to Pardee BlueMD - 611 5th Ave. West in Hendersonville Dr. Asenjo is a board-certified family medicine physician, with a special interest in lifestyle medicine and veterans’ health, who studied at Touro University College of Medicine in New York City and completed his residency at Adventist Health Tulare.
As an Army Veteran, Dr. Asenjo brings a unique perspective and dedication to the health and well-being of fellow veterans, understanding the specific challenges they may face. Dr. Asenjo’s patient care philosophy is one of holistic, patient-centered care that is informed by his upbringing, cultural heritage, and a firm belief in the power of lifestyle medicine.
When not treating patients, he enjoys reading good nonfiction books, watching documentaries, volunteering in his church and community, writing poetry, traveling, fitness, boxing, playing futbol, vegan/plant-based cooking, permaculture and hobby farming, and – above all – spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Learn more about Dr. Asenjo here |
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Supporting Our Community's Health
Pardee Hospital Foundation is dedicated to raising funds and awareness to meet the specific needs of UNC Health Pardee. As a non-profit public hospital owned by Henderson County but not funded by it, UNC Health Pardee relies on community support to advance patient care, enhance technology, foster research, and support vital clinical programs. Through the generosity of our donors, the Foundation ensures that UNC Health Pardee will continue to provide exceptional care and inspire health for generations to come.
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