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Following a year-long Beacon fellowship, Huda Syed began a new role as the health system’s accountable care organization (ACO) manager. She jumped at the chance to take part in a University of Notre Dame pilot program for women in leadership since she’s admittedly still early in her career. Syed attended ND Elevate alongside 15 other women at all different levels of experience and roles at Beacon, ranging from doctors and nurses to office and operational staff. Beacon partnered as a participant in the pilot because of its own diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including some that are women-centric. “The exercises provided takeaways that I can use in my career as a leader,” Syed said.
Like many of us, Amy Heiby was watching Monday Night Football last month when NFL player Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field. She saw an athletic trainer run across the field to tend to the player. That trainer’s actions, which are credited to saving Hamlin’s life, have shined a spotlight on all those who train, care for and support athletes at sporting events. “When I was watching the game, I started thinking like an athletic trainer and analyzing the situation. Thinking of the response steps to take to help the athlete. I felt adrenalin pumping and started feeling a connection to (Hamlin) because I wanted him to be OK, to live,” says Heiby, a Beacon certified athletic trainer at Holy Cross College. “I want members of my communities to truly understand the role of the athletic trainer and to know that a Beacon athletic trainer is a cut above the rest.” Read much more from Heiby and other certified athletic trainers at Beacon who reflect on the NFL incident and their profession
Tracey Daggy, CFRN, TCRN, started her nursing career with no intention of being a Memorial MedFlight nurse. During her first week as an emergency room nurse at a local hospital, several children arrived via ambulance from a house fire. A helicopter flew in from Fort Wayne to transport the patients to a burn center in Kalamazoo. The flight nurse’s actions made a lasting impression on Daggy. "All I remember from that day is the flight nurse came in confident,” Daggy said. “She did the job with absolute precision and purpose, and when she left I remember thinking, ‘Wow! That was impressive.'” One day five years later, a phone call changed her life . “A friend of mine called and said, ‘There is a medical helicopter coming to South Bend, and I think you have the personality and skill set for it,'” Daggy said. “She gave me a phone number, and I immediately called to set up the process.”Shortly after that, Daggy became South Bend’s first certified flight nurse. 17 years later, she recently completed her 1,000th Memorial MedFlight patient transport. Congratulations Tracey!
When a group of Beacon Children’s Hospital associates nominated Dee Ullmer, RN-NIC, for the 4moms NICU Nurse of the Year award, they didn’t have to go far to gather kudos for the nomination form: her patients’ parents. "She loved my son like her own child, holding him and comforting him when I couldn’t be there." "She empowered my husband and me to care for our ventilator-dependent son and feel like real parents rather than bystanders.” “She strives to make you feel welcomed and at ease in the NICU and made me feel like no matter what, everything was going to be okay.” With these positive testimonies — and many more from her colleagues — it’s easy to understand why the nonprofit organization Project Sweet Peas and baby gear manufacturer 4moms chose Dee as one of 10 national finalists for the first-ever Nominate a NICU Nurse program. “I was completely surprised and honored to even be nominated,” Ullmer said. “It’s nice to be reminded how important the work we all do in the NICU is to our families, patients and co-workers.”
In honor of Black History Month we would like to celebrate the Black/African American Associates of Beacon. Each day on our Facebook page, we will highlight one associate by sharing a little information about them and putting them in the spotlight! Together, we are building an inclusive and equitable culture at Beacon Health System that encourages, supports and celebrates the diversity of our associates. There is more work to be done, but we are focused on creating an organization that is reflective of the communities we serve, where everyone feels supported and empowered. We share a sense of pride, passion and belonging in our commitment to deliver outstanding care, inspire health and connect with heart. Diversity, equity and inclusion are three different, yet interrelated concepts, that refer to a workforce and culture that reflects and respects unique differences of individuals, that assures fair and equitable opportunities, and where individuals feel a sense of psychological safety, inclusion and belonging. To learn more about Black History Month, please visit the link below.
The whirlwind of being admitted to Memorial Hospital’s special care obstetrics unit for sudden preeclampsia and heading into surgery soon after to deliver her baby at only 28 weeks gestation scared first-time mom Sarah Foster. “I felt terrified knowing our baby would be born so tiny and underdeveloped,” Sarah says. “It was hard not to think of every worst-case scenario.” Surrounded by a team of supportive nurses and doctors, she willed herself to think positively. It was one of the most emotional moments of Sarah’s life. “I was so surprised to hear her cry that I cried.” Layla Fae Foster, weighing just 1 pound, 14 ounces, needed maximum oxygen and constant monitoring in Beacon Children’s NICU. One month later, Layla has hit her milestones. Sarah and husband Kurt of Walkerton are proud as well as grateful. “We will never be able to properly thank everyone who has supported and cared for our family at Beacon Children’s Hospital.” Approximately 10% of the processed for every meal purchased during Restaurant Week in Downtown South Bend will be donated to Beacon Children's Hospital.
New Three Rivers Health President Maria Behr has a passion for serving beyond the hospital’s walls. In just three short months, Maria has immersed herself in the Three Rivers community, too. During the holidays, Behr spoke at the Lights of Love ceremony presented at Three Rivers Health, helped judge the Fisher Lake Christmas lights and visited downtown businesses. She now serves as a board member for both the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce and Covered Bridge Healthcare, a federally funded health center serving the needs of St. Joseph County, Michigan. She also joined the Government Relations Committee of the Chamber, donates regularly to local causes and has many more plans for working with the community and its leaders. “This is my new community, and I want to be a part of it,” Behr said. “I want to get to know community members, and I want them to get to know me as well.”
For Beacon associates Kimberly Green Reeves and Lynn Coleman, giving back to the community isn’t just something they do professionally. It is a way of life. South Bend Mayor James Mueller and Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood recognized Green Reeves and Coleman during the 37th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration and Day of Service for their lifetime of passion for community service. Both were presented with the Drum Major Award for Community Service by Mayor Mueller during the event, sponsored by the Martin Luther King Foundation in partnership with the South Bend Heritage Foundation, Project Impact and the Civil Rights Heritage Center.
With so much uncertainty in the world, you can feel confident that we aren’t going anywhere – Beacon’s health care providers continue to care for you and your loved ones as we have for decades. From wellness exams to surgeries, our experts live the Beacon promise of delivering Clinical Excellence to everyone, every day – from children to adults. Beacon Health strives to deliver Clinical Excellence through all of its offices and services. With the dedication of 7,000+ staff and physicians, Beacon Health System is able to provide quality service through eight hospitals and 150+ care sites across seven counties and two states. We want to help you live a healthier life. That is why we focus on excellence as part of our mission. We wouldn’t think of giving you anything less than our best – because that is what you deserve. Relax - we’re here to help you be a healthier you.
Three Beacon hospitals achieved INspire recognitions recently by the Indiana Hospital Association for excellence in infant and maternal health. The awards are based on following best practices in six key areas including: safe infant sleep, breastfeeding, tobacco prevention and cessation, perinatal substance use, obstetric hemorrhage and maternal hypertension. Congratulations to our dedicated teams who care for our region's moms and babies at Community Hospital of Bremen, Elkhart General Hospital and Memorial Hospital of South Bend.
