Providing Healthcare, Hope and HealingCommunity Volunteers in mediCine

Dear Friends,While many of us are celebrating holidays or enjoying the simple pleasure of downtime with family and friends, there are those around us who are suffering. they are in physical and emotional pain. they are trying to regain their health while working hard to make ends meet. they are the children and adults who seek respite from their suffering at our free clinic.

if we do nothing to lift them up; nothing to help relieve their pain and illness, we are merely compounding the suffering. Please join with us by supporting our mission. your gift will directly impact the medical and dental services administered by our volunteer clinicians and core staff and more importantly the health of our community.

Give now to our winter appeal so that our neighbors may continue to find the healthcare, hope and healing they deserve and desperately need.

sincerely,

Maureen Tomoschuk, President and CEO

Volunteers Renee Cassidy, MD (left) and Betty Parry working to set up one of several food tables that greeted the CVIM volunteers, staff and Board members at the annual

celebration. Dr. Cassidy volunteers her services seeing medical patients and Betty Parry offers support in the front office and medical records departments, and also serves

on the Hershey’s Mill Cocktail Buffet Committee and the clinic’s Volunteer Committee.

More than 150 attended the CVIM Volunteer Recognition Luncheon held at Westminster Presbyterian Church on November 4th. The event marked a milestone in CVIM’s 13-year history as it was announced that the volunteers gave more than 30,000 hours of service in the past year! Visit our website at www.cvim.org to see more photos taken at the event. The website also lists available volunteer opportunities. We hope you will consider joining our team!

Maureen Lok and Marty Laney, both members of the Main Line Quilters, recently donated beautiful handmade quilted aprons to be used in the clinic’s seasonal cooking classes. The classes for patients enrolled in the clinic’s nutrition therapy program feature healthy recipes and are designed to involve the whole family in preparing and eating the meals prepared. The aprons will be worn by the staff and volunteers who offer the classes four times annually. Thank you for sharing your talents Maureen and Marty! From left, Rachel Frost, CVIM Nutritionist, Maureen Lok, Main Line Quilter member and Natalie Kraut, CVIM Front Office Coordinator display the aprons.

300 B Lawrence Drive • West Chester, PA 19380 Phone (610) 836-5990 • Fax (610) 836-5998

WWW.CVim.org

Community Volunteers in mediCineProviding Healthcare, Hope and Healing Winter 2011

Winter 2011

300 B Lawrence Drive West Chester, PA 19380-4263(610) 836-5990

Fall 2011

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PAIDWest Chester, PA

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10th Annual CVIM Golf Classic Honorary Chairs, Joseph and Amy Frick show off the Vincent “Buck” Bell, Jr. Honorary Chair trophy at the outing held on June 14 at Applebrook Golf Club. Over the decade the event has raised $1.9 million for patient care thanks to extremely generous corporate partners who sponsor and play in the event year after year. We are particularly grateful for 10 years of support from Brushwood Stable, Siemens Healthcare, Tim & Stephanie Cost, Susan & Eric Eichler, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, and Citadel Federal Credit Union. For a complete listing of our 10th Anniversary Golf Classic Sponsors visit our website at www.cvim.org.

Dr. Susan Ward, volunteer rheumatologist, exams Carol’s hands for continuing signs of joint pain and swelling from her chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

Carol Lawrence, of West Chester, worked as a hairdresser for many years. She was on her tired feet long hours and using her hands until they hurt, but never really knowing why they hurt. Probably just from working hard. So she thought. Then the pain and tiredness became too much to bear. Without insurance she was not one to run to the doctor for every little ache. But, this was different. She went to her family doctor who was kind enough to see her and allow her to pay what she could for her care. Ultimately she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. RA is a chronic, long-term autoimmune disease that leads to joint pain, stiffness and fatigue. Without proper treatment the joints can become permanently damaged; a fact that would certainly keep Carol from making a living.

Because of the chronic and severe nature of the disease, Carol’s doctor referred her to CVIM where he knew she would receive the ongoing treatment, prescription medications and disease management education she needed. “If it wasn’t for CVIM, beams Carol, I would not be working today. They helped me with my arthritis, my weight and even gave me a pre-employment physical for my new job.” Carol has reinvented herself by eating better, losing nearly 40 pounds, and becoming a home health aide. She brings to her new job the same enthusiasm and love of people as she had as a hairdresser. Helping elderly or house-bound clients get the care and friendship they deserve is a natural calling for Carol. “I hold them all in my heart. And that is where I hold all of the CVIM people too. “

Carol does not reflect on the challenges she faced while she was working her way back to better health. Instead she attributes her success to CVIM. “Dr. Mary (the clinic’s medical director) calls me after hours to discuss my lab results. Jody (nurse practitioner) keeps me straight and makes sure I am doing what I am supposed to be doing in between visits. And, Dr. Ward has been so helpful and caring.” Dr. Susan Ward, volunteer rheumatologist, returns the compliment by stating, “Carol is doing very well and has come a long way from the first time we met. She is a compliant patient and truly wants to control her disease so she can be active and work.”

Like many of the patients at CVIM, Carol also sees the volunteers and staff in the CVIM dental service. “She came to us with 5 large cavities and in terrible pain and in need of a root canal,” says Peter Thompson, DDS, Vice President of Dental Affairs. “Ultimately, we were able to save the one severely decayed tooth by performing the root canal. She was so excited that we were able to keep her smile whole.” You see, Carol uses that smile constantly—it, along with her heart, are the tools of her trade.

The mother of 2, grandmother of 6 and great grandmother of 2 is just one year away from her 60th birthday. She felt every bit that age a few years ago, but now that her RA is under control, her smile has been restored and her life is back on track—60 will be the new 40 for Carol Lawrence.

Working with her hands... and her Heart

Dear Friends,

As is always the case as we close the fiscal year, the summer months are filled with numbers and facts, budgets and planning and patient volume analysis. We continue to experience the trend of rising volumes across all departments—this past year ended with yet another double digit increase of 11% over the previous year.

While the business of running one of the largest Volunteers in Medicine clinics in our country could easily consume volunteer and staff leaders, we need only to walk by an exam room or dental chair to be reminded of the human factor. Dr. Albert Schweitzer said of the human element, “In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”

This is the essence of everything we do at CVIM. The patients receive nurturing, quality care during every visit. In turn, the staff and volunteers draw much reward from each patient’s unique strength and courage as they navigate their complex lives. We also benefit significantly from the community and corporate relationships we have enjoyed throughout our13-year history. Each relationship becomes a true partnership, serving many purposes –making all who participate better, stronger, and more complete.

At CVIM the community comes together--donors, corporate friends, community-based organizations, volunteers, staff and fellow healthcare providers—to ensure that the healthcare needs of the most vulnerable are met. Thanks to the ongoing and increased support of our partners, we have had a positive impact on the harsh, human reality of the growing numbers of uninsured families in Chester County.

This newsletter highlights just a few of our partners who represent the whole of a community that comes together to heal a community. You rekindle our spirit every day!

Cordially,

Maureen TomoschukPresident and CEO

Providing Healthcare, Hope and HealingCommunity Volunteers in mediCine

FALL 2011

• 1675 Foundation• Chester County Fund for

Women and Girls • County of Chester• Edgar R. Lawrence, DDS

Dental Endowment • Exelon • Genuardi Family Foundation• Health & Welfare Foundation

of Southern Chester County • The Patricia Kind

Family Foundation• The Nelson Foundation• Paoli Odd Fellows #290 IOOF • United Way of Chester County• United Way of Southern

Chester County • Westtown Goshen Rotary • XL Foundation

We are exceedingly grateful to the organizations and foundations that have consistently designated donated funds annually in support of our dental program. Coming Together to

Heal a Community Understanding that spiritual and physical health often are related, members of Main Line

Unitarian Church chose CVIM as the recipient of their May Offering Outreach. Shown here presenting the $1,517 gift to CVIM President and CEO Maureen Tomoschuk (far right) are Rev. Craig C. Roshaven, Assoc. Minister and church youth member, Leah Rusenko, a volunteer at CVIM. The clinic enjoys the generosity of faith-based organizations and welcomes inquiries on how your church might partner to make a difference.

Starbucks Coffee locations in Chester County and throughout the region support the clinics dental services by collecting hundreds of dental supplies including toothpaste, soft bristle brushes and floss. Rose Weller, Starbuck’s District Manager for Chester, Montgomery and Delaware Counties (right) and Alberta Landis, RDH, MEd, VP, Dental Services display just a fraction of the donated supplies. Starbuck’s also donates coffee to the clinic on a regular basis.

Dr. Mary Wirshup, clinic medical director (left) and Stephanie Cost, longtime supporter of CVIM, chat at a recent fundraiser organized by Caritas. Stephanie serves as Board Chair of this purposeful gathering of women who strive to improve their community through charitable and compassionate acts. The Caritas hosted “Cocktails for a Cause” event held in June, featuring relaxed socializing, delicious food and elegant raffle prizes while raising $8,000 in direct support of medical care for CVIM patients.

Eric Y. Eichler, Malvern and Stacy Sempier, Paoli, recently joined our Board of Directors. Eric is returning to the Board after serving from 2002-2007. He is the Chairman of LCOR, Berwyn, as well as a past Board member of the Academy of Natural Science, Philadelphia; Governor of Urban Land Institute and past Board member of the National Multi Housing Council.

Stacy is the Director of Cardiovascular Marketing for Main Line Health Service. She is a retired VP for Global Product Marketing & Communications Healthcare IT Division at Siemens Medical Solutions and a past Board President and current Volunteer for Home of the Sparrow.

For a complete list of CVIM Board members, please visit our website at www.cvim.org.

CVIM Welcomes New Board Members:

spend a few minutes talking with Kim duswalt of West Grove and you’ll find that her passion and excitement for her new career in nursing is palpable. Her first semester at the CAT Brandywine Practical Nursing Program is going well—extremely well! She has a 4.0 straight A average! But her life’s journey has not always made the grade.

several years ago, as a single mom of one son, Kim tried to start her nursing education. But the need to put food on the table and to care for her son caused her to put her dream on hold and to begin working as a waitress to help make ends meet. like many of the patients seen at CVim that are working in the hospitality profession, Kim was uninsured and without a family doctor. A friend told her about the free clinic, then

located in Frazer, and so she made a couple of visits for minor health problems. But, in 2004, when her health became more of an issue she began coming to CVim’s current location in West Chester on a more regular basis. Kim’s blood sugar was out of control and she was diagnosed with diabetes. Working as a waitress at a local high-end restaurant she could not afford to have a low energy level or have her spiking and dropping blood sugar keep her off balance emotionally. she needed immediate intervention.

the CVim staff enrolled her into the diabetes management program, including nutrition counseling, ongoing emotional support and free prescription medications. “no matter how down or ill i was, they always lifted me up. they listened. it was like being treated by good, no, really good friends who sincerely cared about me, states Kim. they even came to visit me at the restaurant!” It took a while before Kim regained her health and through it all she kept waitressing and the CVim team kept ‘working’ on her. “dr. mary would call me at home often to be sure I was doing ok.” Kim tears up when she emphatically states, “Any good doctor or medical professional can deliver technically sound care—but not everyone can give you the emotional support you need to heal. The CVIM staff and volunteers did that for me.”

With her health back on track and her son now starting a new life and marriage, Kim was ready to revisit her dream to become a nurse. enrolling in the practical nurse program had another benefit—she would have student medical insurance. But, that meant leaving CVIM at least for her medical care. As Kim states, “there is nothing worse than feeling just terrible physically and then being treated poorly. that never happened at CVim. their positive attitudes are just as important as the good medicine they practice.”

Kim will surely remember how she was treated at CVim as she progresses toward her nursing career. she plans to graduate in December 2012 and at some point after working for awhile she would like to continue her studies toward receiving her registered nurse license. Hearing her talk about the difficulties she has faced and her determination to make a better life for herself makes one think about the last line of the Florence Nightingale Pledge: “and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.”

Kim looks forward to saying these words out loud and to a life of serving her patients. in fact, she hopes to be able to return to CVIM someday—but this time as a volunteer nurse!

Former CVIM patient, Kim Duswalt looks up from her nursing studies to share her joyful story of finding healthcare, hope and healing at the clinic.

Held on october 2nd at the sullivan House, the open hearts of the guests that attended the event and the dedication of the committee helped to raise $8,600 for Judy’s Cookie Jar fund. The Cookie Jar pays for patient tests and therapies provided outside of the clinic. A grateful patient who had received care at CVIM volunteered at the event in order to give back to the organization. The Cocktail Buffet is organized by current and former CVIM volunteers who live in Hershey’s mill.

Shown here are members of the organizing committee, seated first row from left, Barbara Fitzgerald, Cathy Thorn, Audene Paulson, Betty Parry; second row from left, mary Weaber, Beryl grossman, sherry gold, nancy reynolds, ruth Petkofsky; third row from left, nancy stock, Wilma glendenning, yvonne Ward and Margie Joyce. Not present for the photo, Ginny Kettenring, Virginia Fanfera, Doris Leigh and Doris Mortimer. CVIM thanks them for the visibility and funding provided to the clinic!

More Than Making The Grade

“No matter how down or ill I was, they always lifted me up.” ~ Kim Duswalt

“Their positive attitudes are just as important as the good medicine they practice.”

A Personal Message of Gratitude...

CVIM Patient Mark Nelsay

An early autumn chill did not dampen the success of the 7th Annual Hershey’s Mill Cocktail Buffet!