OTT: Major medical
4/6/2009
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Ken Kemerer, left, son, Gary, wife, Mary, and her daughter Caitlin Bolick star at the Toledo Children s Hospital event. Gary was premature and weighed just 1 pound, 15 ounces at birth and spent the first three months of his life in the hospital. <br> <img src=http://www.toledoblade.com/graphics/icons/photo.gif> <font color=red><b>PHOTO GALLERY</b></font>: <a href="/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=TO&Dato=20090406&Kategori=COLUMNIST10&Lopenr=406009998&Ref=PH" target="_blank"> <b> OTT: Major medical</b></a>
Members of the medical community gathered to honor their own for their dedication to healing the sick. And while they were at it, they had some fun too.
Major medical coverage
While maybe not as fun-sounding as the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, the Medical Mission Hall of Fame is just as important. Three physicians were the rock stars at the induction ceremony and reception on March 28 on the University of Toledo Health Science Campus in the Atrium in the Center for Creative Education.
Physicians Jeffery Heck, John Howe, and Bruce Steffes, were inducted because of their significant contributions for the advancement of medical needs worldwide, and they are still beaming from being in the spotlight. Ditto for Dr. S. Amjad Hussain, who was presented with the Lawrence Conway Lifetime Distinguished Service Award for his humanitarian efforts in all aspects of his life.
The president of the mission, Dr. Lawrence Conway, along with the selection panel, makes the choices on the nominees. The Diller Foundation, headed by Dr. Janet Diller, bridges the gap between those with resources and those with medical needs.
Research has shown a little wine is good for you, so it was no surprise that the theme of St. Luke s Hospital Annual Medical Staff Annual Recognition Dinner on March 28 at Parkway Place was A Visit to Wine Country.
The annual black-tie optional event featured sparkling aperitif tasting from around the world, pairing them with international cheeses and other fine selections from the appetizer table. The Andersons Nick Kubiak was there to advise on the vino while jazz guitarist Chris Buzzelli set the mood.
A delish dinner and program followed. The host, Chief of Staff Louito Edje, kept the event healthy. Barbara Machin, head of the hospital s board of directors, welcomed everyone, and Daniel Wakeman, the hospital president and CEO, said a few words.
Two physicians received special recognition before the program that honored more than 30 physicians. Dr. Donna Woodson received the 2009 Clair F. Martig award for her service to St. Luke s.
Dr. Woodson, a leader, a mentor, a scholar, and an educator, served on the hospital s Medical Executive Committee for more than 10 years, and she became St. Luke s first female chief of staff in 1988. In addition to running a family practice for many years, she is on the faculty at UT s Family Medicine program.
Dr. Darrell Evans, Jr., was given emeritus status after his recent retirement.
No band, no entertainment, just people gathered together for a great cause: children. But excited as youngsters were, the supporters who attended An Evening with Toledo Children s Hospital March 26 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Levis Commons, Perrysburg were enthused too. Thanks go to 100 of the more than 350 guests who bought raffle tickets for a $1,000 prize.
However, everyone was a winner: Those who bought a ticket took home a hand-blown glass fish, and the hospital, which reaped $4,000.
There was other fun to be had too in the name of charity. Cocktails, dinner, and oodles of auction items including a Santiago Peninsula, Mexico, villa vacation, courtesy of Haley Van Demark, and a guitar autographed by country star Kenny Chesney, courtesy of Dr. Bob DeRosa, were among the temtping opportunities.
The reason for all of the enthusiasm that night was the tear-jerker of a talk from Ken and Mary Kemerer and daughter Caitlin Bolick, 19, of Adrian. They talked about Gary Kemerer, who was born prematurely on March 19, 2007, with his brother Jacob, who died about eight hours later.
For the first three months of his life, baby Gary, who was 1 pound, 15 ounces, and 13 inches long at birth, was in the hospital. Each of the family members said they all appreciate life more, and they will keep telling their story.
Thanks to sponsors, guests, and event chairmen Tim and Dee Janney and the 60 volunteers who were treated to pizza while guests dined, the event estimated a gross of $150,000; that includes the live-auction proceeds of $26,450 and silent auction, which raised $13,000. The expenses were not yet available to determine the net.
The event supports several programs, including three central-city school-based health clinics, emergency financial assistance to patients and families, free care for uninsured children, bereavement support programs, and a comprehensive pediatric cardiology program.
Dr. Hunter Patch Adams was the right prescription as the guest speaker for Flower Hospital Medical Staff Dinner March 20 at The Pinnacle. His message was about living a life of joy, and he spread plenty of it while he was in town. During that afternoon he dressed as a clown and brought laughter which is of course the best medicine to patients at the Flower Hospital Hickman Cancer Center and Toledo Children s Hospital.
Decorations matched the light mood, with colorful clown-themed centerpieces, balloons, and ribbons. The person whose birthday was closest to that day went home with the centerpiece at that table.
Honored was nurse Marcia Gora, who received the first Flower Hospital Medical Staff Nursing Excellence Award. A raffle for four prizes, including the grand prize of $1,000, got blood pumping in excitement. The lucky winner was Dr. Asish Mukherjee.
Among the 300 attendees were: Barbara Steele, ProMedica Health System regional president; Dr. Richard Fell, Flower s chief of staff, and his wife, Luann; Dr. John Evanoff, Flower chief of staff-elect, and Rachelle Raymer-Gilbert; Larry Peterson, chairman, ProMedica Health System board, and his wife, Jill; Jim Armstrong, chairman of Flower s foundation board, and his wife, Joyce; Dr. Kathy Carlson, hospital president, and her spouse, Steve Babcock; Pam Jensen, senior vice president of professional services, and her spouse, Bob, and Jeanne Drouillard, vice president of nursing, and her husband, Greg.
Art for the cure
The American Diabetes Association s 8th Annual Celebrity Art Auction Gala Saturday night at the Hilton Garden Inn was success, with $53,000 netted to help fight diabetes.
Emcees Julia Johnston and Doug Moats of FOX Toledo, kept the evening rolling while Martin Allen, vice president of HCR Manor Care, and Kelly Burkholder-Allen, partner of Errata, LLC, were chairmen.
Signature artist Harold Roe, four-time winner in the Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp competition, unveiled his piece created for the American Diabetes Association.
Alto saxophonist Wess Warmdaddy Anderson, longtime member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis band, entertained. Guests sipped and noshed as they looked over the silent-auction items before an elegant and tasty dinner at tables with lovely donated centerpieces.
The live auction followed, and it was a hit. Local artists teamed up with celebrity artists: community leaders corporate, medical, civic, and entertainment personalities and created some masterpieces.
Also featured was ADA s 2009 Youth Ambassador, Sean Armbruster, a junior at St. John s Jesuit High School, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes two years ago. Sean, paired with welder and teacher John Sliwinski, has a 4.5 grade point average and is taking math at UT. Clare and Tod Armbruster won the bid on their son s Wisteria Bench after a heated bidding war. Tom McHugh of Heidelberg was the lucky winner of Ol Number 7, the piece created by Toledo Fire Chief Michael Wolever and Dave Wisniewski. The winner of Mr. Roe s signature piece, Proud Pair, went to Harlan Reichel.
Seen were Fran and Nita Voveris, Beth and Mike Collins, Tricia Fugee, Brent and Lauri Wilson, Cynthia and Jack Ford, Joyce and Chuck Woodmancy, Raymond Bourey, Beata Lecka-Czernik, Sonjia Najjar, and many others. Gala proceeds fund diabetes research.
Final Four flurry
There s morE than one way of getting one s heart pumping on the way to better health, and members and guests at Stone Oak Country Club found some action in rooting for their favorite team in the NCAA Final Four on TV.
Drink specials, lots of appetizers, final-four squares, and of course, big screens. Tonight, no major party is slated at the club, but the party more than likely will continue at homes.
Those not burning as many calories as actually playing basketball but having fun anyway were Elaine Canning and Dan Kory, John and Janie Miller, and Russ and Stephanie Beamish.
For photos of this and other events you ll find them at toledoblade.com.
May the best team win!