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Sally was 95 when she was diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer in August 2019. Dr. Kyle Richards, a specialist in urologic oncology at UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center, presented the same treatment options to Sally that he would to a younger patient. Sally could either pursue no treatment, start chemotherapy, or have a radical cystectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the bladder and diverting urine through an ileal conduit made of a section of small intestine. The ileal conduit passes urine through Sally’s abdominal wall and into a collection bag outside of her body. Sally was willing to pursue the surgery. “I was a nurse, so I understand the procedure,” Sally says. “And, I was treated very well.” Dr. Richards strongly believes in eliminating ageism from health care and not withholding treatment based on a patient’s age. Sally’s success shows all treatments should be considered for every patient. “We are pushing the boundaries in treatments for cancer,” Richards says. “As the population ages, we need to be innovative, creative and courageous in the treatment plans we offer whether that be surgical, medical or radiation based.” Sally is now four years out from her surgery and recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Her key to a long life is formulating good habits and living life to the fullest. “Have faith and hope. Everything will work out for the best,” Sally says. “I am a strong person because of my positive attitude. A healthy mind leads to a healthy life.”

Working at a Level 1 Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Program – Randi Davis, MSN, NP, APP supervisor – treats adults with serious neurological illnesses in our Neuroscience ICU in Madison, WI. Randi uses state-of-the-art technology to treat the most complex trauma and stroke cases in the state – something most won’t experience throughout their entire career at other organizations. -- Consider joining our remarkable advanced practice provider team. You may be eligible for up to $10,000 sign-on bonus and relocation assistance.

After moving from the Philippines more than 20 years ago for her nursing position at UW Health, Christine Abong and her husband Francis, who works as a medical assistant, are filled with pride that their daughters Frances Christylle and Katrina Ella decided to become nurses. Their daughters choose the UW Health Nurse Residency Program, making them a full-fledged UW Health family. They share a passion for healing, which further strengthens Christine’s commitment to making a positive impact in health care. “I try to be honest with my children and tell them that nursing is not an easy job, and it’s not for the weak of heart. But you get to take care of someone and give kindness and compassion. When you see what your actions can do for someone else and they are appreciating you, you’ve already won, because you are making a difference in their lives,” says Christine. Pictured (left to right): Francis, Frances Christylle, Katrina Ella and Christine Abong.

In 1990, Rudy Jackson, DNP, MHA, RN, CENP joined the U.S. Army and became a combat medic (91A). Today, he serves as senior vice president, chief nurse executive at UW Health. “I think those who have served in the military make great employees because we're committed. We are very structured. We're very task oriented. And we have a lot of loyalty to the organizations that we work for,” he says. In the late ‘90s, he decided to go to school and was looking for a career that would give him an opportunity to provide for his family, found that in nursing. “We have so many opportunities within nursing. Someone could take care of patients in pediatrics, geriatrics, labor and delivery, palliative care, inpatient or ambulatory. The spectrum of specialties is vast and nurses can pick and choose what to do based on their passion. It’s an amazing profession,” Rudy says. After 15 years as a bedside nurse, he transitioned to hospital administration. He’s passionate about the academic mission of UW Health to train the next generation of health care professionals and is incredibly proud of the 5,300 nurses who provide patient care and have helped the organization achieve the gold standard Magnet Designation. Rudy retired from the Army as captain in 2017 and is grateful for the 27 years he served. He has met military brothers and sisters from all over the world and has shared memories that only someone who has worn the uniform understands. “As an enlisted soldier, I learned the value of hard work, how to follow orders, how to support the mission and how to step out of my comfort zone and do things I didn’t realize I was capable of. As an officer, I learned how to advocate for my team, how to support my team and how to make decisions but also own mistakes. These skills have translated to civilian life and have served me well in nursing,” Rudy says.

The Nepali American Friendship Association (NAFA) is a Madison-based organization established in 2005 to create a sense of community for people of Nepali heritage in our area. One of the organization’s most important programs, Kakshyā has four levels for Nepali language teaching and learning named after the mountains in Nepal. Run entirely by volunteers, the program serves as a bridge to support community ties, retain cultural heritage and empower students to draw inspiration from each other. “Teaching the next generation about our heritage and everything that exists back home gives me such pleasure. I love seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces as they learn a dance or song or write poems. The involvement of the whole community brings a sense of togetherness that amazes me,” says NAFA President Abiskar Bharati. You’re likely to see many members of the association volunteering at community events such as the Monona Run 5K & 20K and Brat Fest. As part of the NAFA Leadership Excellence Awards Scholarship, high school students are required to give 40 hours of community service. NAFA members also host events such as Children’s Day and Sāhitya Sānjh –Nepali literature and culture night. They also gather to celebrate many Hindu religious festivals, and host weekly soccer and volleyball matches. NAFA community soccer players placed second in their first intrastate tournament in Milwaukee last year. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/djFkHW9T UW Health is proud to support the Nepali American Friendship Association and as we celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month this May, we’d like to acknowledge the many contributions of our Nepali community.

"When caring for patients I take a collaborative, honest and transparent approach. I care about the individual patient and their life as a whole," says Dr. Sancia Ferguson. As a rheumatologist, she is especially skilled in treating patients with lupus and connective tissue disease, and she is experienced in reproductive health and rheumatological diseases. Dr. Ferguson and her patients are a team. Her patients are at the center of decision making as it relates to their health. She helps provide information to support their decisions as a mutual approach to their care. Dr. Ferguson was honored for her exceptional leadership with a 2023 Physician Excellence Rising Star Award. Rising Stars are physicians who have been with UW Health for 2-5 years. These awards are special because the nominations come from peers—clinicians and staff who felt compelled to share how these physicians are creating legacies at UW Health as gifted teachers, visionary leaders and extraordinary clinicians.

Marcia Foltz is a nurse who exemplifies all the qualities we want to see in our medical providers. She routinely goes above and beyond to ensure patients get their procedures done in a timely manner, which is incredibly important for these patients who are often being diagnosed with a life-changing cancer diagnosis. Marcia provides exceptional care for all patients, which can often require additional effort for patients with poor socioeconomic determinants of care. She works even harder for those patients to ensure their ability to access appropriate care is not negatively impacted. Marcia coordinates transportation, provides education, and engages in frequent communication to develop trust and ensure they get appropriate follow-up care. As a team member, Marcia always works collaboratively and educates other nurses about the unique needs of these patients, often developing workflows that are used as the model for other procedural services. Marcia received a 2024 Nurse Excellence Award because of her exceptional contributions to patient-and family-centered care, and the support she provides to nurses and other care team members. These awards are special because the nominations come from colleagues who felt compelled to share just how amazing these care team members are in embodying all that it takes to provide remarkable health care.

After receiving positive feedback from patients about the drive-thru process that was set up at John Wall Drive during the COVID-19 pandemic, we explored how that model could be used long term. As a result, drive-thru services were expanded to include routine and seasonal vaccinations and testing, while expanding and elevating the role of RNs to serve as site leads that help train clinical support technicians on the job—serving as a win for our workforce and a convenient option for patients. Pictured (left to right): clinical support technician Dylan White, RN site lead Jessica Gonzales and RN site manager Linda Yim. #NursesWeek

We strive every day to provide inclusive and affirming care for our LGBTQ+ patients and families. UW Health is honored to once again receive the designation of “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” in the 2024 Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). The HEI is a national benchmarking survey of healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. More info: https://uw.health/3WydSFO

To our UW Health RNs, thank you for your continued contributions to our nursing practice and patient care. We couldn’t do what we do without you. #NursesWeek