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Methodist Medical Center Foundation
Newsletter
Methodist Medical Center: The Heart of the Community About to Hit The Press
Oak Ridge Academy of Dance supports WAC
MMC Physicians were Serving Up Smiles at the St. Patrick’s Pancake Breakfast
Oak Ridge Wal-Mart donates $2,500 to Methodist Medical Center’s Breast Cancer Initiative
Opportunities to Make a Difference During Challenging Times
A Gift That Keeps On Giving
Methodist celebrates 65th anniversary, unveils new history book
Generous Christmas spirits make Holiday Lights shine at MMC
MMC Volunteers honored on National Philanthropy Day
Oak Ridge Academy of Dance supports Women Against Cancer
Interested in financial stability in these uncertain economic times?
New IRA Uses for the New Year
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Methodist Medical Center: The Heart of the Community About to Hit The Press (05/07/09)
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To commemorate the Methodist Medical Center’s 65th anniversary, the MMC Foundation has undertaken the initiative to create a book, which will tell the story of this one-time Army hospital. The book explores the rich history of medicine in Oak Ridge and how our hospital has evolved into today’s Methodist Medical Center. A committee of MMC Foundation board members, physicians, local historians and others are working on compiling oral histories, photographs and other memories. The book is scheduled for release this spring.
Here are just a couple of tidbits from the pages of our history to whet your appetite:
Gen. Leslie Groves, commander of the Manhattan Project, made it a habit to have his annual physical at Oak Ridge Hospital, and Dr. John DePersio, a New York native who was later the hospital’s Chief of Staff, was called in to read the general’s electrocardiogram, according to Peggy Spitzer’s 1983 “An Affectionate History of Oak Ridge Hospital.”
Col. Charles Rea, the hospital’s Chief of Clinical Services, in making suggestions on the etiquette required for treating a general, had said, “For God’s sake, be nice to him.”
Dr. DePersio, then a lieutenant in the Army, read the electrocardiogram and told Gen. Groves that all was well, except he had a left axis deviation. When the general asked for an explanation, the doctor said it meant he was too fat. Gen. Groves is reported to have said, “That will be all, Lieutenant!”
Return to normalcy after World War II did not come easy for Oak Ridge or the town’s facilities, including Oak Ridge Hospital. An Oak Ridge Journal editorial on Feb. 28, 1946, commented:
“Someone has remarked, with perspicuity, that all over the United States communities are returning to normalcy, but Oak Ridge, unique among them, has no normalcy to return to. Born in answer to a military need, holding the line now while awaiting Congressional decisions, the town advances toward normalcy, rather than taking a well-worn path back to something old and familiar.
“One indication of that trend is the changeover in the operation of Oak Ridge Hospital, officially effective tomorrow. The Oak Ridge Hospital has long been recognized as one of the best operations in town. The Oak Ridge Journal files contain twenty letters praising the hospital for every one criticizing it.
“We have every assurance that operation of the hospital facilities will continue to be excellent. Dr. Salisbury, the new Director of Services, has a long and distinguished record in medical services. Hospital authorities have explained in detail the system under which medical service will now be offered. The plan is the ‘normal’ one accepted by long-established communities.”
For more information or to reserve a copy of Methodist Medical Center: The Heart of a Community at a special pre-publication price, call the MMC Foundation at
(865) 835-5261.
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Oak Ridge Academy of Dance supports WAC (05/07/09)
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The Oak Ridge Academy of Dance and their Contemporary Dance Ensemble have worked tirelessly, in conjunction with the WAC (Women Against Cancer) at Methodist Medical Center Foundation, to bring life-saving technology to our region!
The ORAD and Contemporary Dance Ensemble have donated $1,333 to the Breast Coil initiative!
We still need your help! We must purchase the Breast Coils for our MRI to be able to effectively diagnose women who need further testing once an abnormality has been found.
Currently, our patients have no choice but to travel out of our community to receive this service and we need your help to serve our region and shorten the length of time that women must wait for their results.
Each and every donation is important and will be doubled by the matching funds we have available.
For more information, please call Mary Sue Greiner at (865) 835-5262 or email
mgreine1@covhlth.com.
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MMC Physicians were Serving Up Smiles at the St. Patrick’s Pancake Breakfast (05/07/09)
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MMC physicians were serving up smiles and pancakes during the Methodist Medical Center Foundation’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Pancake Breakfast held Saturday, March 14. Methodist employees and the community turned out to support the event, socialize with some of their favorite doctors, enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes, and tap their toes to a little live Irish music.
Special thanks to all of those who helped make this event a success: Drs. Joe Bondranko, Mark Bowles, Diane Fabricius, Todd Justice, Wendell Lawson, Mark McClinton, Jim Michel, and Shannon Sorah; retired physician and Foundation board member, Dr. Paul Spray; Foundation board members Lou Dunlap, Nancy Gray, Tom Hilton, Debbie Magill, Stacy Myers, Carol Smallridge, and Jean Stone; and Methodist’s President and CAO, Mike Belbeck.
The proceeds from the event will benefit the programs and services supported by the Methodist Medical Center Foundation, specifically the Congestive Heart Failure program, which offers educational help for developing self management skills, one-on-one counseling, and support groups to help patients maintain their quality of life while dealing with a chronic disease.
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Oak Ridge Wal-Mart donates $2,500 to Methodist Medical Center’s Breast Cancer Initiative (05/07/09)
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The Wal-Mart Supercenter in Oak Ridge showed support for the women of this area by donating $2,500 to Methodist Medical Center’s Breast Cancer Initiative. The Oak Ridge Wal-Mart’s generous contribution makes the company one of the campaign’s lead donors. The initiative is being led by the MMC Foundation and a team of local women called the WACs (Women Against Cancer). Together, they are waging war against breast cancer through an effort to bring a new level of technology to the medical center’s existing MRI equipment in an effort to provide enhanced breast imaging.
MRI capabilities have long been available at Methodist, but with new advancements in the technology, it is becoming known as a more precise method of detecting breast cancer and a beneficial addition to screening mammography. To continue to provide patients with the highest level of service, a specialized upgrade to the existing equipment is needed. This enhancement will reduce travel time and wait time associated with the additional screenings, and ultimately patient anxiety.
The Breast Cancer Initiative seeks to provide Methodist Medical Center with both the equipment – specialized MRI coils for use in breast cancer diagnosis – and the software and training required to provide the highest possible MRI diagnostic care for the people of this area. This campaign is ongoing and giving opportunities with matching funds are still available.
For information and contribution opportunities, please contact the Methodist Medical Center Foundation at (865) 835-5262.
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Opportunities to Make a Difference During Challenging Times (05/07/09)
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The words recession, credit crisis, closures and layoffs are becoming all too common in our newspapers and television newscasts. These are uncertain times and a natural reaction would be to circle the wagons. But as you know, diseases and people needing medical care don’t go away during challenging economic times.
The physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals supported by the MMC Foundation can’t circle the wagons. We are open 24/7 to take care of people, but we are not immune to what is going on. Economic difficulties impact healthcare providers, too. The opportunity to make a difference through volunteering and charitable giving has never been more important and more needed.
Join us in helping to:
• support the caring work of the chaplain at Methodist Medical Center
• provide for patient and family education for those benefiting from the Wellness Place
• make available free housing and hospitality for patients and families at the Hospitality Houses
• volunteer your time at Methodist Medical Center
Here are some creative ways of making a difference during these challenging times:
• Establish a charitable bequest in your will – a gift that only is funded from what is left of your estate after you have provided for yourself and loved ones
• Create a charitable gift annuity – a method that ensures you and your spouse a steady, fixed income for the rest of your lives and the satisfaction of creating a future gift to improve and enhance healthcare for others
To receive complimentary information on these ideas, call or e-mail Mary Sue Greiner at mgreine1@covhlth.com or (865) 835-5262. As difficult as our lives may seem, we know there are others who have it much tougher. We appreciate your consideration of ways to provide a helping hand in the communities served by Methodist Medical Center.
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A Gift That Keeps On Giving (05/07/09)
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The obituary in the local papers noted that Bobby Roy Franklin of Lenoir City died at age 65 at Parkwest Medical Center as 2007 wound to a close. But as Paul Harvey would say, here’s the rest of the story.
Mr. Franklin was a longtime resident of Lenoir City and spent many years working at the local Viscase plant before retiring. According to his brother, Mr. Franklin was also a longtime patient at Parkwest Medical Center.
“Bobby had a lot of heart problems and was treated at Parkwest for probably ten or more years. The doctors and nurses did a great job with him which is why he probably lived as long as he did,” said Barney Franklin, who also noted their mother received great care at Parkwest Medical Center.
As a way of thanking the caregivers and hospital which provided him with quality care over many years, Bobby Franklin created a charitable bequest in his last will and testament. This generous gift comes from what is left of one’s estate after taking care of your own needs and those of your loved ones. In this instance, Mr. Franklin’s bequest was not restricted to a certain area but rather for the best use as determined by Parkwest Medical Center’s administration. Following discussions with Mr. Franklin’s brother and the executrix of his estate, Parkwest Medical Center chief administrative officer Rick Lassiter focused on two areas.
“We decided to utilize a portion of Mr. Franklin’s gift to benefit our cardiac care program which obviously meant a lot to him. In addition, we thought it would be appropriate to allocate some support for our Chaplain’s Fund which represents a wonderful way to directly benefit patients and some of our own employees who experience hardship and need a helping hand” said Mr. Lassiter.
Do you have a will? Has it been updated within the past few years? Are you interested in providing a helping hand as Mr. Franklin did for the benefit of a healthcare program or service at Methodist Medical Center? If so, please call or e-mail Mary Sue Greiner at mgreine1@covhlth.com or (865) 835-5262 for a complimentary “Update Your Will” brochure which has 14 reasons why your will may be obsolete. We’ll also include a list of ways you can make a charitable bequest which only gets funded with what remains in your estate after your bills and family are cared for appropriately.
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Methodist celebrates 65th anniversary, unveils new history book (02/03/09)
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On November 13, a large crowd of Methodist Medical Center staff, past and present, volunteers and community members gathered to celebrate the hospital’s 65th anniversary. The event was just a few days shy of the medical center’s official birthday of November 17, 1943 – when Mrs. A. Carter Crymble became the first inpatient at the then 50-bed Army hospital.
“Sixty-five years ago, Oak Ridge was not on any maps, but even ‘Secret Cities’ needed healthcare, and the hospital that was to become Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge was established,” said Mike Belbeck, Methodist’s president and chief administrative officer. “Methodist has a unique history that extends beyond its beginnings into a legacy of medical innovation and excellence. The field of nuclear medicine diagnostics and treatment was born here. The concept of intensive care units in East Tennessee was pioneered by this medical center. We were the first hospital in the state to earn the coveted Tennessee Quality Governor’s Award. And just last year, we were the first in the region to repair a hole in the heart using the very latest in robotic technology.”
To capture this rich history and to commemorate the hospital’s 65th anniversary, the Methodist Medical Center Foundation has undertaken the initiative to create a book, which will tell the story of this one-time Army hospital. It’s a book that will explore the 65 years of the hospital and how it has evolved into today’s Methodist Medical Center. The book’s title and cover design were revealed during the event.
“You will love this book and the story it will tell of how we evolved through trials and successes into the truly outstanding health center we have today,” said Bill Wilcox, Oak Ridge historian and member of the MMC Foundation history book committee. “Regarding Oak Ridge history, most historians’ attention has been on what our founders did here at the four Manhattan Project plants. This effort to dig out, write up and publish this hospital’s story is extraordinary because it is a history that has never been told and now will be.”
A committee of MMC Foundation board members, physicians, local historians and others are working on compiling oral histories, photographs and other memories to tell a story 65 years in the making. The book, Methodist Medical Center: The Heart of the Community, is scheduled for release in spring 2009.
“It’s an absorbing story that’s not just about new and improved facilities and healthcare, but about the great people who made it all happen,” continued Wilcox. “Like one story we learned about from the WWII days when a young physician, Capt. Julian Ragan, was closing up the OB-ward late one night, happy to know that for once no patients were spending the night. But as he went to turn out the lights he noticed on the far end of the ward what he thought was a sleeping pregnant woman. He went over and pulled the sheet back covering her head and a sleepy, but irritated, uniformed officer sat up – the first Dr. Ragan had ever seen with two stars on his collar! It was none other than the Manhattan Project’s Commander in Chief, Major General Leslie R. Groves from Washington, D.C. He told Ragan, who was trying to decide whether to salute or crawl quietly away, ‘Just leave, Captain, and turn off the lights. When I come to Oak Ridge this is the only place I can ever escape to for a little nap.’”
Donations are also being accepted to help underwrite the cost of the book. Early donors for this project include: Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Clary, Nancy and Harvey Gray, Dr. William Hall, Hobson Yoder Financial Group, Dr. and Mrs. Allen Loy, Dr. Jim Shanks, Dr. Paul Spray, Dr. David Stanley and The Vascular Diagnostic Center.
“This book will honor those who worked here in the past and, we trust, it will inspire our great doctors, nurses, administrators, support staff and volunteers to continue on the quest to keep improving the quality of our health services for the next 65 years,” added Wilcox.
To make a contribution in support of this special project, please use the form on page 3. For more information or to reserve a copy of Methodist Medical Center: The Heart of a Community at a special pre-publication price, call the MMC Foundation at (865) 835-5261.
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Generous Christmas spirits make Holiday Lights shine at MMC (02/03/09)
Hospitality Houses celebrate another successful campaign
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For 11 years, the Hospitality Houses of the Methodist Medical Center Foundation have provided a home away from home for patients and their families who come to Methodist Medical Center for treatment. More than 3,500 guests have been welcomed into the Hospitality Houses. Thanks to the community’s generosity during the Holiday Lights for Health campaign, the houses will continue to provide lodging, food and comfort to the guests who pass through their doors.
Holiday Lights for Health is the annual fund raiser that supports the Hospitality Houses through the sponsorship of lights. The Methodist Medical Center Foundation held a dedication ceremony on December 9 to thank this year’s donors, who gave their support by contributing more than $36,000 to Holiday Lights, an amount which has continued to grow even as the official campaign comes to a close. The money raised through the campaign is used to pay for the houses’ daily operations, utilities, food and overall upkeep.
The Hospitality Houses and the Foundation extend their sincere thanks to all those who give their support to the houses. These generous gifts allow the Hospitality Houses to fulfill their mission of providing comfort free of financial burdens. So, on behalf of the many guests these gifts will help, thank you.
For more information about this and other opportunities to support the Hospitality Houses, please call (865) 835-5261.
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MMC Volunteers honored on National Philanthropy Day (02/03/09)
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The Methodist Medical Center Volunteer Organization recently received recognition for their contributions to MMC during the regional Association of Fundraising Professional’s National Philanthropy Day celebration. The volunteers were nominated by the MMC Foundation.
The MMC Volunteer Organization is a body of more than 200 men and women who give generously of their time and talents to help MMC. Annually, they average more than 55,000 hours of service to the medical center. Over the years they have donated more than $782,000 to the hospital for needed supplies, machines and equipment. One of their ongoing projects is an annual medical scholarship program for sixteen schools in our service area.
Volunteers work in, or provide service to, most every area in the hospital. They operate the coffee and fruit carts; serve as liaisons in the waiting rooms; assemble patient charts; provide clerical support; assist with community outreach programs; staff the Hospitality Houses; deliver newspapers, flowers and cards; operate the hospital gift shop; and raise money through special sales. We are so proud to honor these unsung heroes – they are the epitome of a giving heart!
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Oak Ridge Academy of Dance supports Women Against Cancer (02/03/09)
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The Oak Ridge Academy of Dance and their Contemporary Dance Ensemble are working in conjunction with the WAC (Women Against Cancer) at Methodist Medical Center Foundation to bring life-saving technology to our region! Proceeds from the ORAD and Contemporary Dance Ensemble’s “Holiday Spectacular,” which was held on December 13, benefited the Breast Coil initiative as well.
The MRI at MMC’s Breast Center needs the Breast Coils to effectively diagnose women who must have further tests once an abnormality has been found from their mammogram. Simply put, the MRI is the camera and the Breast Coils are the lens that we need. Currently, our patients must travel out of our community to receive this service and we need your help to serve our region and shorten the length of time that women must wait for their results.
Each and every donation is important and will be doubled by the matching funds the Foundation has available.
For more information, please call Mary Sue Greiner at (865)835-5262 or email mgreine1@covhlth.com.
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Interested in financial stability in these uncertain economic times? (02/03/09)
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Our retirement funds and investments more closely resemble a yo-yo these days. Wouldn’t it be comforting to have one income stream you could count on?
A charitable gift annuity may be your answer. Are you interested in:- a guaranteed amount of income for the rest of your and your spouse’s lives (no longer having to face the uncertainty of a diminished check)?
- an increase in what you are currently earning from a CD, money market, bond or stock dividend with much of this income being tax-free?
- an immediate charitable deduction to help reduce your taxes?
- the opportunity to gain further savings from capital gain taxes by using an appreciated asset such as stock? (Even with the recent market downturn, most long-term held stocks have considerable appreciation which translates into significant capital gain taxes should you sell. By using this stock to fund a charitable gift annuity, you avoid payment of capital gain taxes.)
- the satisfaction of making a future gift to MMC Foundation benefiting improved patient care? (You can also specify a particular program or service AND can use this gift to create a permanent endowment providing your and your family’s name with a forever legacy of caring.)
Peace of mind from today’s economic uncertainty is a great way to start the New Year! For a complimentary, confidential report giving you specific advantages of a charitable gift annuity, please contact Mary Sue Greiner, director of development, at mgreine1@covhlth.com or (865)835-5262.
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New IRA Uses for the New Year (02/03/09)
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Last fall’s “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008” contained a provision which extended the IRA charitable rollover opportunity through to the end of this year. Basically, those aged 70 ½ or older can contribute otherwise taxable amounts pulled out of a traditional IRA or Roth IRA directly to tax-exempt charities such as MMC Foundation.
These “qualified charitable distributions” are federal income tax free to you. Since tax-free treatment equals a 100% write-off, you don’t get to claim any itemized deduction for a qualified charitable distribution. (IRS says that would be double counting!) A qualified charitable distribution means a payment by your IRA trustee directly to a qualified public charity (certain donor-advised funds and supporting organizations are excluded). The money cannot pass through your hands. This rule applies for 2008 and 2009 tax years but you cannot donate more than $100,000 in either of these years.
Bottom Line: IRA dollars are called “double-whammy” dollars because you pay an income tax on the distributions and what is left is subject to estate tax. This “window of opportunity” represents a great way to eliminate the “double-whammy” and pay off that pledge to your church or school. It’s also a good way to create a new gift to your charities of choice or endow your existing charitable interest. Suppose you are already giving $250 a year to, for example, MMC Foundation. Why not make a tax-free distribution of $25,000 to create a permanent endowment producing at least $1,250 per year directly benefiting this charity! In this way, you have multiplied your original charitable giving five-fold…and this will continue for your lifetime and beyond! Another Advantage: While you can’t “roll” IRA dollars directly into life-income charitable giving plans (gift annuities, charitable trusts), in many instances the income tax exposure you receive when you receive a distribution can be offset by the charitable deduction you would receive for creating a gift annuity or charitable trust.
For additional information, please contact Mary Sue Greiner, director of development, at (865)835-5262 or mgreine1@covhlth.com.
This information is provided as an educational service of Covenant Health’s Office of Philanthropy and is not intended to be legal or financial advice. For this, see an experienced financial planning professional.
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