In This Issue Cord Blood Bank Saves Amelia ... - SSM Health Care

12 NetWork — Our Bimonthly Publication for Employees, Physicians and FriendsDiversity Graduates Make DifferenceST. LOUIS—There was a bit ofpomp and circumstance.For the pomp, managers, directorsand other professionals of colorfrom throughout SSM Health Caredonned gold academic stoles for theirNov. 1 graduation from the two-yearDiversity Development Association(DDA). They were handed certificatesfrom SSM Health Care President/Chief Executive Officer Sr. Mary JeanRyan, FSM.“This is your day,” Yvonne Tisdel,corporate vice president for humanresources and system diversity, said inher opening remarks. “Two years of hardwork and youʼre here. You made it.”Also, there was an appreciation ofthe circumstances. Graduates of theDDA program amassed 48,918 trainingpoints by taking part in leadershipopportunities, professional developmentcourses and continuing education. Morethan a third of the 35 graduates alreadyhave earned masterʼs degrees or arecurrently working on acquiring them.“You represent a lot of yearsin the diversity journey for SSM,”Steven Barney, senior vice president– human resources told the graduates.“Individually and collectively youʼre thevery foundation of our capacity to beeffective caregivers in our communities.”One of the goals of the DDAprogram was to grow leaders whowill make a difference to health careby bringing fresh perspectives to their“Individually andcollectively you’rethe very foundationof our capacity to beeffective caregiversin our communities.”jobs. Liz Hills, director of patientfinancial services and registration atSt. Francis Hospital & Health Centerin Blue Island, Ill., spoke about thegraduatesʼ fellowship and urged themto continue “to be heard.”“What companies are looking forin their managers today—the No. 1skill—is an ability to motivate andengage others,” said Hills, who spokefor the other graduates.“And thatʼs what DDA has done forme,” Hills added. “It has helped me getmotivated and to get more energized tomotivate and energize others.”Keynote speaker Dr. Johnetta Cole,president of Bennett College for Womenin Greensboro, N.C., was the keynotespeaker and she offered the graduatessome advice. “You need to know yourstuff,” she said. “Thereʼs simply nosubstitute for competency.”2006 graduates and guests of the Diversity Development Association include first row, left to right Necole Miller, Corporate Vice President for Human Resources and System Diversity Yvonne Tisdel, SSM Health CarePresident/CEO Sr. Mary Jean Ryan, FSM, Bennett College for Women President Johnnetta Cole, Sr. Antona Ebo, FSM, Senior Vice President–Human Resources Steve Barney, Rachelle Nelson and Deronda Clark. Rowtwo: Janet Watley, Evelyn Stalls, Gina Johnson, Mandy Hayes-Chandler, Elizabeth Hills, Lisa Shin, Ann Beverley Giustiniano, Denise Sykes-Collins, Susan Fulton, Candace Crown, Deborah Stricklin and Mary Sanders. Rowthree: Bobbie Fields, Brenda Fields, Joseph Conrod, Molia Strickland, Tonya McClelland, Patricia Martin, Deirdre Hargrove-Krieghoff, Karen Davis and Deborah Henley. Row four: Robert Smith, Kendrick Joshway, JaimePillai, Ferninand Nyarko, Homer Robinson, Cornelius Sanders, Phil Atkins and Wendell Reese. Not shown: Shirley “Marti” Edwards, Christina Johnson and Ernise Williams.Opportunity Knocks Through School at WorkWhat are the recent graduates ofCardinal Glennon’s School at Work sayingabout the program?Knock on podium. “Do you know whatthat is? That’s opportunity knocking!”—Pauline Cauley, Blood Bank clerk“I plan on going back to school inJanuary for Business Administrationand this program has helped me getback in the habit of going to school.”—Suzanne Gerstner, pediatric intensivecare unit secretary“It has been a great experience!”—Debby Costa, pharmacy technicianSSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center’s first class of School at Work graduates (front row, leftto right): Pauline Cauley, Vivian Collins, Jeff Scott and Suzanne Gerstner. (Back row, left to right) Cardinal“No matter how much schooling you gothrough it doesn’t compare to this. AndGlennon President Doug Ries, Coach Karen Miller, graduates Debby Costa and Iris Goines, Coach Kendrickit doesn’t compare to the camaraderieJoshway, graduates Diane Luna-Williams and Rene Robertson, and Karen Busch, corporate manager ofwith your students and coaches.”SSM University, joined in the celebration. Not pictured are graduates Tashundra Gantt and Lori Francis.—Rene Robertson, lead centralizedSchool at Work is a new, eight-monthemployee development program of SSMUniversity. Employees in entry-levelpositions can enroll. A new round ofclasses will be enrolling in 2007 at St.Louis-area hospitals SSM CardinalGlennon Children’s Medical Center andSSM DePaul Health Center; St. FrancisHospital & Health Services in Maryville,Mo., and the Mount Vernon, Ill., campusof St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Inc.appointment scheduler“I’m the kind of person who likes tocontinue my education and explore asmuch as I can.”—Iris Goines, lab support technicianSt. Francis Hospital TeamTravels to PhilippinesBy Michael HarrisonBLUE ISLAND, ILL.—Whenregistered nurse Perla Grino-Garcia fliesto the Philippines in January, she won’t bestaying in a five-star hotel.Instead, she and six colleagues fromSt. Francis Hospital & Health Center inBlue Island and St. Mary’s Health Center inRichmond Heights, Mo., will put their medicalexpertise to work in a place where healthcare is a luxury few can afford.The group is traveling with the IndianaPhilippine Medical Association on its annualmedical mission to Aklan, Philippines.“People don’t have medical insurancethere, and there’s a need for doctors,”Grino-Garcia said. “Doctors on the missiontrip provide free surgeries for cleft lip andpalate, thyroidectomies, hysterectomies…My nursing colleagues and I will be workingin the recovery room.”Grino-Garcia will be joined by registerednurses Dona Hoffman, Betty Darling, ColleenOliver and Feme Gamboa; physician’sassistant Steve Milenkovic; and secretaryEva Johnson. Another nurse, Mary SueMcKennan, is from St. Louis.November / December 2006SSM Health Care