Sheila and Dan Saklad Help the Next Generation of Nurses

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Sheila Saklad’s life was shaped by a passion for nursing — a passion that continues to touch the lives of others. 

Sheila’s grandmother was a nurse. Sheila’s mother was a nurse. So it came as little surprise when Sheila chose nursing as her career path. She and her husband, Dan, championed for nurses and healthcare over the course of their 54-year marriage. When Sheila passed away in August 2020 from complications of multiple myeloma, Dan knew what his wife would have wanted. Through the Dan and Sheila Saklad Foundation, he committed to giving $400,000 over two years to New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation and Cape Fear Community College Foundation to enhance the education of a new generation of nurses. 

The gift for the Novant Health Upward Mobility RN Scholarship Program, named in memory of Sheila, will provide scholarships for Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center team members who want to attend Cape Fear Community College to become registered nurses. “Certified nursing assistants, nurse technicians, and medical nursing assistants who are eligible for upward mobility scholarships can advance to a nursing degree in record time. That will ‘lift all boats’ for the medical profession and be most valuable for those in economic need,” Dan said. “Were Sheila still alive, she would advise these students to work diligently, seize the opportunities the Saklad fellowship provides, and be extremely proud of being a nurse, an extremely noble profession.” The Saklads’ long history of generosity includes an oncology education endowment at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Zimmer Cancer Center, established in 2012. “No words can express our feelings of appreciation and gratitude,” said Schorr Davis, executive director of New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation. 

Through the Upward Mobility RN Scholarship, team members receive up to two years of full tuition coverage for their licensing program, a flexible reduced work schedule with pay and benefits in order to dedicate time to their studies, and monthly meetings with a nurse mentor and career coach. “This heartfelt and gracious gift will allow individuals the opportunity to make their dreams a reality,” said Amy Akers, chief nurse executive for New Hanover Regional Medical Center. “Entering the nursing profession will provide them a way to give back to their community.” Scholarship recipient Marci Caceres, who emigrated from Guatemala as a child, dreamed of becoming a nurse — but wasn’t sure it was possible. 

She received a scholarship from Novant Health that helped pay for her nursing school and gave her the final boost she needed to become a registered nurse. “I am so blessed,” said Caceres. “That scholarship puts everything in place. Without it, this would have been very difficult.” The Saklads’ generous gift to the Novant Health Foundation will bring the scholarship’s same benefits to team members at the coast, Davis said. “Dan and Sheila’s passion for education will impact generations to come.” 

State-of-the-art procedure renews hiker’s knees so he can return to the outdoors

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At age 65, Redmond Manierre lives a more active lifestyle than most people in their mid-30s. He mountain bikes through his town of The Plains, Virginia, at least twice a week. He has hiked the Grand Canyon and participated in National Outdoor Leadership School. Recently, he decided to take up mountain climbing.

But what makes it all the more impressive is that a decade ago, Manierre was beginning to feel the effects of an arthritic condition in his knees. They had deteriorated to the point where there was very little tissue between the knee bones. While he was still able to participate in some outdoor activities, Manierre saw the writing on the wall and felt he needed to do something before the arthritic condition brought his active lifestyle to a halt.

On a whim, he attended a presentation at his local community center by Bart Hosick, MD, an orthopedic specialist at Northern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists. Dr. Hosick was speaking about a relatively new procedure he specialized in –

MAKOplasty surgery, a robotic-assisted procedure that functions as a partial knee replacement. It’s a much less invasive procedure than a full knee replacement.

“For many, the arthritic condition is too advanced for this surgery,” said Dr. Hosick. He adds that patients can’t be excessively overweight, can’t be smokers or poorly controlled diabetics, and need to have a desire to be active again. Luckily, Manierre checked all of the boxes, and he elected to have the surgery.

After a brief recovery period, Manierre quickly felt like he had his knees back. Unlike full knee replacements, the MAKOplasty procedure preserves all of the patient’s knee ligaments, and reconstructs the areas around them. “It feels like a much more normal knee to the patient,” Dr. Hosick said. Within six months, Manierre was back to hiking, and even took on his biggest challenge yet: the Grand Canyon.

For Dr. Hosick, Manierre was the “poster child” for how MAKOplasty surgery can repair the knees without pain and allow the patient to return to the lifestyle he enjoyed.

“Our goal of surgery is to improve the quality of the patient’s life,” said Dr. Hosick. “Whatever surgery we do, we want to restore an active, pain-free lifestyle. The greatest reason people delay surgery is the fear of pain, and MAKOplasty is a much less painful, less invasive surgery that gives patients back their lifestyles, like Mr. Manierre’s – which is very active.”

Manierre, who didn’t take up mountain climbing until after the surgery, wasn’t shy to sing Dr. Hosick’s praises. “I have absolute confidence in him. He was an absolute pleasure to deal with,” he said. “He has, for lack of a better word, the best bedside manner of any physician I’ve ever met.”

Share your remarkable story with us so we can recognize your physician for his or her dedication to extraordinary patient care here. 

‘Beyond the call of duty’

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When Scott Howell brought his wife, Barbara, to the Novant Health Rowan Medical Centeremergency room in October 2017 for shortness of breath related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), he didn’t know he was getting ready to make a friend for life.

But critical care nurse Morgan Earnhardt was about to enter Scott and Barbara’s lives in a profound way, one that made them feel like she was more than simply an expert care provider – she was also like a trusted family member.

“Morgan was a godsend. She went above and beyond the call of duty,” Scott said. “Barbara ended up staying in the ICU for two and a half months, and Morgan basically just took over care of her. Every day Morgan was working at the hospital, she’d be there with Barbara. She explained everything the doctors said, and answered all our questions. She helped me with the insurance paperwork. She even came to visit with us on her days off.”

Morgan’s care didn’t end there. Knowing Barbara would be in a wheelchair when she returned home, she asked Scott if they had a handicap ramp. When she found out they were planning to build one but hadn’t started it yet, she  reached out to her boyfriend.

“I told Travis, ‘We need to build a ramp, and we need to have it done before Dec. 22, because that’s when Barbara is going home,’” Morgan said. Travis and his church members swung into action and built the ramp on Saturday, Dec. 16.

Morgan showed Scott and Barbara pictures of the finished ramp while Barbara was still in the hospital, and they were both very excited. “Barbara couldn’t really talk at that time because of her condition, but when she saw pictures of the ramp, she grinned from ear to ear,” Scott recalled.

Inspired by Morgan’s kindness and generosity, the Howell family made a donation to the Rowan Medical Center Foundation’s Guardian Angel program in her honor. This program allows grateful patients to recognize the special people who have provided remarkable care by making a gift in their name.

In February, Morgan received a recognition letter and a guardian angel wings pin to wear on her ID badge. Her name will soon appear on the recognition wall in the lobby area at Rowan Medical Center.

“All the nurses were great, my wife’s doctor was great,” Scott said. “But Morgan is special. She does an awesome job, she’s A+.”

Morgan felt the same way about Scott and Barbara. “Some patients you really just click with, and Barbara was one of those patients,” Morgan said. “I don’t know what it was about those two, but they drew me in like a magnet.”

Barbara Howell passed away in early February 2018, but Scott and Morgan are still in each other’s lives.

Scott texts Morgan to check in, visits her at the hospital every couple of weeks, and regularly brings food to Morgan and some of the other nurses who helped care for his wife.

“Morgan became like family,” Scott said. “I’ll stay in touch with her for the rest of my life.”

The Barometer of Medical Care

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Submitted by Peninsula neighbor, David Goodman

“The calling to pay forward the good fortune I received when my life was saved was an epiphany to lead by example. It became abundantly clear to me that my characterization of giving back is blending intellectual, emotional, spiritual components and frequently financial support.”

During a black-tie gala in 2014, David Goodman began to feel serious discomfort in his chest, abdomen and back. While setting up his camera gear to take pictures and make sure about the testimonial speech he was to give, the pain didn’t worsen but never went away. “Thinking the uneasiness was something minor, I ate dinner and delivered the testimonial.” Contemplating a trip to the ER, David and wife, Barbara, soon thereafter decided to head home and to add comic relief to the scary moment, Barbara said “if we need to go to the ER, I’d like to change out of these high heels – my feet are killing me”. This is the start to a journey – of multiple ambulance trips, numerous days in surgery after being diagnosed with a full length aortic dissection, and the raw emotions of a healing process – that makes listening to the Goodman’s experience with Novant Health, and their drive to give back, like turning the pages of a dramatic story with a happy ending.

In David’s own words:

Several decades ago, my father-in-law offered me advice, which is even greater today.  He said “Try to leave where you’ve been in better shape than when you came.  And that includes enjoying your life because so far, I’ve never met anyone who got out of life alive”.

In the aftermath of my experience, I grew to believe my surviving the multiple, complex and not without significant risk surgeries propelled me to lead by example. One of the components of my pay forward by example commitment is our establishment of a legacy plan which will allow those programs I/we support to continue in perpetuity.  This is what I call my invisible thread to the organizations and people that mean the most to me/us.  Hard for anyone to see or understand my connection but the strength can easily be felt.  I have addressed many groups since beginning this new journey, spreading the word of leading by example and the importance of leaving this world in better condition than when we arrived. Helping set an example of helping each other.   I have spoken at group gatherings of The Jewish Family Services of Greater Charlotte, The Foundation for The Carolinas, The Foundation for The Charlotte Jewish Community, Philadelphia University Alumni Association of NC, Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center’s Advisory Council, The Kent Cook Institute and served as Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation’s 2016 National Doctors Day Representative.

Greatness is born from consistency. In doing what others aren’t willing to do. In being able to persevere and deliver time and time again. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. You must be patient, and fall in love with the process if you are going to benefit. I consider myself the most fortunate person I’ve met.

My “Novant Experience” was my awakening of my pay forward commitment and today proudly includes being a Trustee at The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center where Barbara and I sponsor The Junior Ambassadors Program, and being one of the creators of an endowment honoring the lifetime commitment of Linda Beck who passed away last year.  I am a board member of The Kent Cook Institute, a Davidson-based metaphysical learning center. At The Peninsula Yacht Club, I serve as the Fleet Committee’s Boating Education Chair. In lieu of seeking attendance at boating education seminars, I crafted two comprehensive Boating Information Guides (190 and 300 pages) and 2 children’s Boating Safety Books, which were provided to members at no cost.

The bold statistic is that 20% of patients with aortic dissection die before reaching the hospital, overall 50% survive. I am fortunately in the very unpopulated group of those who came through without any complications, encumbrances, permanent damage or restrictions. This medical miracle group is miniscule.

Until I learned the harsh reality of the risk of my condition, and that my subscription to life might be cancelled, I had a very simple definition of quality medical care. If I had an earache, and the doctor prescribed an effective remedy, he was a good doctor. Similarly, if he discovered I had a condition I was unaware of, he was a scholarly diagnostician.

It became abundantly clear-cut that my life had be re-gifted and we needed to acknowledge those who gave of themselves for my benefit. Someone gave something to the Novant Health organization, to Dr. Robert Allen, to the entire staff, to make it possible for me to be here today. Now it is my and Barbara’s turn. Barbara and I first arranged for Dr. Allen to be knighted by Novant as a Guardian Angel and later the same for the ER attending physician at Novant Huntersville and critical care ambulance crew who, with the fate of my life at great risk, transported me to Novant Presbyterian. We hope we have set an example for others to fashion personal forms of recognition for those who aid their survival.

My survival was largely but not solely dependent on quality and dedicated medical care. I sincerely believe many invisible and indescribable healing forces were gifted to me. My wife, my family, my friends. All threaded together, invisibly, unselfishly for me.

My condition also motivated me to document my feelings on what should be used as the barometer of medical care quality. Holding true to my constitution of leading by example, I developed a compilation of health care reality check questions I share with practitioners, hospitals, staff members, support staff, etc. to ask themselves. Below are just a few of the bullet points.

Do your patients…

• Categorize you as good at what you do? Going one step further, do you feel they categorize you as a great human being?
• More than good, do they consider you to be a remarkable listener? More than being just professionals, do they value the fact that your staff’s attitude is exceptional?
• Hospitalization is scary and traumatizing. Do you make it friendly and pleasing? Is your analysis and diagnosis the most effective it can be? Do you value the practice of medicine is a team not individual effort?
• Do you understand, and can you convey the difference between fact and faith? Fact is reporting/discussing the illness diagnoses and treatment regimen. Faith is providing their patients the strength to recover.
• Are you heartfelt? ‘Heartfulness’ spend time to look beyond the medical reports and understand the suffering and pain that patients are going through. Are you a ‘heartfelt’?
• Medical care requires being more than a doctor, nurse, associate, intern, etc. You need to be a therapist, supporter, friend, well-wisher and angel in disguise. You need to install confidence. Are you? Do you?
• Every health care entity and person helps the quality of life for patients every day. But does your team offer as if every patient was the most important person on earth?
• Medicines can cure, but talented and inspirational words can give the strength to fight from within. Do you do just that?
• The strongest prescription is a provider’s positive attitude. Do you take time to share that prescription?
• A patient’s testimonial is less of a recognition of professional expertise, and more of a recommendation of the ability to listen, care and heal. Do your patients vouch for the fact that your abilities are unmatched.
• Do you replace the Fear of Illness with Trust in Recovery?
• Do you take a moment to conclude your visit with a patient with “thank you for allowing us to take care of you”?
• Similarly, do your patients thank you for taking care of them? If works both ways.

On my hospital discharge day, Barbara & I took time to individually thank those who were a factor to the success of my hospital stay. I was so touched when most of them acknowledged me but also stated” but this is what we do!” That stuck with me. So, to all at Novant who provided me with the quality of care that would forever become etched in my heart, when asked why I chose to repay that goodness to the group of ‘heartfelters’, I say “this is what I do”.

If you’d like to submit a Grateful Patient story, click here.

From Friend to Guardian Angel

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It’s not often that a childhood best friend is still by your side during life milestones into your adult years. But, fortunately for Nicole Kloss, a friend she’s known since she was 3 years old supported her through two unexpected and frightening events. Leah Dillon was by Nicole’s side during two surgeries as her anesthesia CRNA at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center.

“It was very comforting to have Leah with me,” said Nicole, director of corporate health. “We had full trust in everyone on my care team, but felt even better with Leah providing a second set of eyes for my family who she’s known for so many years.”

Leah’s remarkable care drastically helped Nicole calm her nerves. “She has a special way to put everyone at ease, even with so many things happening all at once,” said Nicole. “And, after my surgeries I experienced absolutely no nausea from my medications. I would recommend Leah to any surgery patient at NHPMC!”

Inspired by Leah’s compassion, Nicole chose to make a donation to NHPMC in her honor. The Novant Health Guardian Angel program allows grateful patients to do just this, recognizing the special people who have provided remarkable care.

In May, a ceremony was held for Leah at NHPMC. She received a pin to wear on her ID badge, and her name is now on the Guardian Angel recognition wall at NHPMC. Several team members attended her ceremony to show their support, including Paula Vincent, NHPMC president and COO, and Kenneth D. Weeks, MD (both pictured with Nicole and Leah).

Thank you Leah for continuing to provide exceptional care. And, thank you Nicole for choosing to honor a well-deserving team member.

Novant Health Foundation provide opportunities for patients to donate on behalf of a team member or department in all of our markets.

Learn more or submit a Grateful Patient story here.

The Weisiger Family and Novant Health: working together for 74 years to save and improve more lives in our community

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The Weisiger family’s connection to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center began in 1941, the day Agnes Binder Weisiger was born at Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. The connection now spans across two generations, with Agnes, her husband Ed Sr., stepson Ed Jr., and his wife, Dr. Betsy Fleming, recently announcing a multi-million dollar gift towards the development of the multidisciplinary Heart & Vascular and Cancer outpatient facility.

This new comprehensive center, to be located on the corner of Hawthorne Lane and Fifth Street, will offer access to leading-edge treatments, centralize communication between patients and specialists, and decrease patient costs. Services and amenities will include the performance of clinical trials, a radiation and surgical oncology clinic, a congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation clinic, an infusion center, a team of nurse navigators, and a retail pharmacy.

Cancer and heart disease are the number one and number two killers in the country, and the Weisiger family immediately connected with the new Heart & Vascular and Cancer outpatient facility for personal reasons. Agnes is a breast cancer survivor, and her husband, Ed Sr., had an atrial fibrillation, a common but serious abnormal heart rhythm.

“When I found out Presbyterian was going to do this, I wanted to be there to support the new initiative. This facility will allow more people to receive proper care and health education. They don’t have to go to the ER first,” Agnes says.

At a youthful age of 15, Agnes’ first job began at Presbyterian Medical Center as a candy striper. From that moment, her compassion for others blossomed into a multi-decade nursing career. After graduating from Presbyterian School of Nursing in 1963, she dedicated endless hours at the intensive care and coronary care units. She then graduated from UNC Chapel Hill’s Family Nurse Practitioner School, passionately worked for the next thirty years at hospitals, area medical clinics, and did mission work in India. Agnes lives by her personal motto that “nurses are caring people.”

Like Agnes, Ed Sr. is always encouraged to solve an issue or uncover a need, and he provides unwavering support for Agnes’ tenacity. And as the next generation of philanthropists, Ed Jr. and his wife, Dr. Betsy Fleming, are equally community-minded. Ed Jr., President and CEO of Carolina CAT, believes that the Weisiger family’s contribution will provide healthy and positive outcomes for patients living with heart and cancer challenges.

In addition to the financial contribution, Ed Jr. supports the community by volunteering at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Woodberry Forest School, and The Carolina Thread Trail. Dr. Betsy Fleming, President of Converse College in Spartanburg, SC, believes her love and passion for the arts translates into understanding and caring for people. Particularly in women’s health and wellness, Dr. Fleming encourages others to address issues with courage.

Together, the Weisiger family champions finding solutions to health challenges, and the family name is recognized ubiquitously as a result of becoming grateful patients, with past sponsorships of the echocardiography lab, the Weisiger chapel, and the mobile mammography program.

After his atrial fibrillation scare, Ed Sr. became an advocate for others to receive heart screenings and sponsored the echocardiography lab. In addition, the Weisiger Chapel, located on the third floor by the Harris Hospice Unit was named in his honor. As a retired CEO for Carolina Tractor, Ed Sr. also served on the foundation’s board for many years.

Diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in the summer of 2011 which led to a bilateral mastectomy, Agnes received prompt and attentive care.  “After finding a lump on a Friday, I saw a physician on Monday, and began a treatment plan thereafter. The process was click, click, click, and very efficient at Presbyterian,” Agnes says.

She is now cancer-free. In honor of her cancer battle and in celebration of the remarkable treatment from Presbyterian, Agnes and Ed Sr. sponsored a mobile mammography unit in 2011 to provide breast cancer screenings, further raising breast cancer awareness to save lives.

“There are many people who can’t get to appointments due to work or family obligations. This unit will make the process easier for them,” says Agnes.

Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation is indebted to the Weisiger family, starting from the day Agnes was born here and her tenure of selfless work as a nurse practitioner, and now continuing to support us along with her family. The multi-generational Weisiger family embraces the new Heart & Vascular and Cancer outpatient facility with open arms, a poignant symbol of their 74-year connection to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center.

And, with the dedication and true sense of compassion exhibited by the Weisiger family, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center is proud to announce the name of the new cancer center as the Edward I. and Agnes B. Weisiger Oncology Institute.  We are excited about the possibilities this facility will offer to those in and around our community dealing with the devastating effects of cancer.

Donate today to help us save lives and improve the health of our communities, one person at a time.

Physicians at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center donate funds for respite rooms

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Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center opened four respite rooms that provide a private space where patient families can nap, shower or have quiet time. These rooms, funded by the physicians through Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center Foundation, will give families the separate space they need while spending countless hours in the hospital with loved ones.

Many families with a critically ill loved one in a high-acuity area of the hospital, like the intensive care unit, are reluctant to leave the hospital. These rooms will allow families to take a break, while remaining nearby. Each room is equipped with two twin beds and a full bath.

This project is an example of the many ways donations to Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center Foundation support patients. Each room received fresh paint, updated bathrooms, window treatments, new furniture and a refrigerator. Families are able to stay up to 10 hours at a time.

“Our mission behind these respite rooms is to make our patients and their families comfortable,” said Dr. Lawrence Nycum, senior vice president of medical affairs of Novant Health. “The rooms will allow our patients to have their loved ones close by, while it also gives our patients’ families a place to rest during a stressful time.”

“My mother has been in the ICU for a week now, and the staff have helped me reserve a room for two nights,” a recent guest explained. “The rest and nice, hot shower were priceless after spending three straight days in the ICU waiting room, worried about my mother. I live over an hour away, and it is difficult to drive back and forth. I am very thankful for the care.”

“My fiancee and I were to be married last Saturday; however, he was admitted to the hospital on Friday and a catherization was performed. Early on Tuesday, he had open heart surgery,”  shared another guest of a respite room. “Being offered a quiet place to spend the night where I feel close to him while he is being taken care of is more of a blessing than I can put into words. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Donate today to important causes like this initiative and help us save and improve more lives at Novant Health.

Lambe Conference Center at Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center

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Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center recognized longtime Kernersville residents Imogene and Clarence Lambe, Sr., during a special dedication ceremony in June 2016 after the couple donated funds to complete a new 5,400 square foot conference center at the hospital.

With a firm belief in the importance of high quality care in Kernersville, the Lambe family was instrumental in bringing Novant Health to the community and have been  generous supporters since the Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center opened its doors.

The Lambes’ donation allowed for the conference center to be built, furnished, and equipped with audio-visual needs. Completed in 2016, the space is used for hospital education and wellness programs and is available for use by the general public for meetings and special events.

Donate today to help us save lives and improve the health of our communities, one person at a time.

Behavioral Health crisis teleassessment makes an impact in Haymarket

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The Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Access team is an experienced, multidisciplinary team that provides timely screenings of patients facing mental health and addiction emergencies. Last year, nearly 2,500 patients were assessed by this specialized team in person and via teleassessment, including 440 patients at Novant Health Haymarket Medical Center’s emergency department.

Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center Foundation is raising funds to support the expansion of the healthcare system’s behavioral health crisis teleassessment to 24-hour, 7-days-a-week access to patients in each Novant Health UVA Health System emergency department.

Teleassessment can reduce the time the patient spends in the emergency department with the goal to have the crisis assessment completed and disposition recommended to a physician within two hours from the time the original consult was ordered.

Currently, Novant Health UVA Health System Culpeper Medical Center’s emergency department provides care to approximately 40 to 60 patients per month with mental health and substance abuse challenges. Of these, Novant Health UVA Health System Culpeper Medical Center estimates approximately 50 patients per month would benefit from behavioral health teleassessment capability.

Funds from the foundation’s 27^th annual golf tournament will go towards expanding this critical service in our communities.

If you cannot participate in the tournament, donate today to support this cause.

Generous gift continues to carry out wishes

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