2011
Kelsey-Seybold had record turnout for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic and Team Kelsey raised a combined $16,345 for the Komen Foundation at the 2011 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Houston. A record 86 Team Kelsey members, many of them breast cancer survivors, participated on race day.
This was Team Kelsey’s third year as a “Top 100 Fundraising Team” for the Komen Foundation. Our fundraising efforts were led by Edward Guerrero, Infusion Pharmacy coordinator, and Dr. Galin Morgan, radiologist, in collaboration with the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic and Kelsey Foundation sponsored Breast Cancer Support Group. Money-raising activities included:
- A jewelry class sponsored by Cancer Center physicians and employees and led by Nicole Tarner, daughter of Deb Tarner, nurse manager at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Cancer Center
- A pizza and jewelry making party by Breast Cancer Support Group members and other volunteers
- Two ice-cream and jewelry sale parties, one at Main Campus and one at The Lakes
Thanks to these fundraising activities, plus our walkers’ pledge collections and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic’s Crystal level sponsorship, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Houston raised more than $2 million for breast cancer research, education, detection and treatment.
Team Kelsey made great strides for ADA
Team Kelsey stepped out in a big way in the fight to cure diabetes. Forty-nine walkers joined in the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) annual Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes and raised more than $3,770 for diabetes research and education.
Team Captain Dr. Linda Ly led the Kelsey team, which surpassed its fundraising goal of $3,000 to become one of the top 10 sponsors of the ADA walk.
Team KSC Does MS-150
Bikers Raise $15,500 for Multiple Sclerosis Society
Kelsey-Seybold cyclists joined more than 13,000 other volunteers riding from Houston to Austin in the Multiple Sclerosis fundraiser, MS-150, April 16 and 17. This is the fourth year the team has participated in the two-day event that stops one night in LaGrange before continuing to Austin.
This year’s participants are (from left to right): Back row: Kenneth Janis (Co-Captain); Gary Golliher (Chief Volunteer); Hyunmo Koo; David Huynh; Dr. Thomas Williamson; Ben Oakes; Dr. Carlos Rivera; Dr. Thomas Doneker; Erik Burt and Kevin Higgins. Second row: Erin Golliher; Janeen Koo; Naomi Jones; Shenita Outland; Dr. Donnie Aga; (Co-Captain); Tony Greisinger; Melissa Stevens; Cherisse Montgomery; Tarah Alvarez and Dr. Michael Newmark. Kneeling: Candice Bailey and Lauren Schumacker. Not pictured: Omar Garcia and Rodney Porter.
Chief of Neurology Service at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Dr. Michael Newmark, who cares for many MS patients at Main Campus, joined the riders for the first time this year and said the heart-warming trip was met with a great deal of support from all the communities they rode through.
“MS is such an important disease to support,” he said. “We are just beginning to find effective new agents and only with greater resources can we bring about faster and better outcomes for our patients.”
Festival Fun
Kelsey-Seybold Official Health Care Sponsor of Children’s Festival
Members of the Wellness Department hosted a “Teddy Bear Clinic” for kids attending the 23rd Annual Houston Children’s Festival on April 9 and 10 at Tranquility Park, downtown Houston.
As the official healthcare sponsor of the event that drew more than 50,000 people over the weekend, Kelsey-Seybold gave free height and weight screenings to more than 2,000 children.
Representatives from the Children’s Health Insurance Program, an insurance plan that offers benefits to families who cannot afford healthcare for their children, were also onsite.
KelseyBear was also on location, greeting children, posing for pictures and helping give away more than 1,000 Kelsey-Seybold teddy bears.
Shown left to right: CHIP Representatives Jessica Cabrales and Lyn Nguyen, Keneisha Murphy (KelseyBear), Paula Smith (kneeling), Robert Pennon (behind KelseyBear), David Barefield and Kelly Cowthran.
The Bear Facts
Meet the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Mascot
There’s a new face appearing at many Kelsey-Seybold events. And this one’s all about helping kids get acquainted with healthy habits as well as learning the facts about good nutrition and hygiene. It’s KelseyBear – our new health-minded mascot! Since January, KelseyBear has become a regular part of the Wellness Team and their health-related attractions, making appearances at museums, downtown and at various clinics.
Wellness Program Manager, Deborah Sklenarik, said the inspiration behind the new mascot came from her experience working at the Children’s Festival in The Woodlands last fall. “I noticed the booths that had mascots with them were very popular with children,” she said. “Since we usually provide teddy bears at our Teddy Bear Clinics and other events, the most logical choice for a Kelsey-Seybold mascot was a bear. The name, KelseyBear seemed obvious too.”
“So far, KelseyBear has been well received with visiting children and their parents,” Deborah added. “And since our mascot wears a petite outfit, children are less intimidated by the costume than they are by larger mascots that appear more intimidating. KelseyBear is doing a great job helping us spread the word about wellness and nutrition. We’re looking forward to working together for a long time.”
KelseyBear was not available for a personal quote, but wants to assure fans that the next appearance will be at the Festival De Mayo 2011 event from noon ’til 6 p.m. at Reliant Center.
2010
After-Hours Nurse has 'Heart of Gold'By John PerryFeatured in Texas Medical Center News
Unless you work weekends at The Lakes, you might never get to meet Sandra Strassner, R.N., B.S.N. She’s a triage nurse one After-Hours Nurse Hotline, where she’s been advising callers about their symptoms almost every Saturday and Sunday since November 2000.
“A lot of the callers are asking about fevers and temperatures,” Sandra says. “We answer questions and provide them with continuity-of-care assurance beyond normal business hours.”
Using doctor-approved protocols to assess symptoms, After-Hours nurses can advise callers, page on-call physicians and even schedule appointments.
When not providing telephonic care, Sandra takes an active homebuilding role in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity.
“It’s important for people to have a home,” Sandra says. “I strongly believe it’s a human’s right that people have a decent place to live.”
Since 1998, her commitment has taken her to such faraway places as South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines, but also closer to home like Biloxi, Miss.
Wherever the location, she pays her own way. Once there, she’s a double asset. While plying her construction skills she also applies her nurse’s training by attending to colleagues at the volunteer’s clinic.
An R.N since 1980, she is considered a valued member of the After-Hours team.
“Sandra is a long-term employee with a heart of gold,” says Lynn Smith-Cronin, R.N., B.S.N., manager of After-Hours triage. “She barely misses a day and is always willing to step up and help when we have a nurse who is unexpectedly off.”
Her Call Center team members appreciate Sandra’s work ethic and her sensitivity to patients.
“She’s spiritual and compassionate,” says Nancy Perkins, R.N., B.S., with Kelsey-Seybold since 2000. “Patients are extremely blessed when Sandra’s their After-Hours nurse.”
Sandra with President and Mrs. Carter at Biloxi, Miss.
Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted to building decent and affordable housing. Homes are built using volunteer labor and are sold for no profit. President and Mrs. Carter have been continuously involved since 1984.
2009
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic employees and patients alike will join together during the month of October to support two great causes: Light the Night and Race for the Cure.
Mark Your Calendar: Oct. 3, 10 and 25
Team Kelsey will be at Sam Houston Park downtown for Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Oct. 3. We’ll participate in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Oct. 10 at Discovery Green Park and Oct. 25 at Market Street in The Woodlands.
Light the Night
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night Walk is a nationwide event that is held each year to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of patients and their families battling leukemia, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and myeloma.
Kelsey-Seybold led corporate donors for the 2008 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Campaign in Houston with 27 teams raising nearly $27,000, setting a new record and surpassing six other local companies in donations.
Team Kelsey raised $22,000 raised through bake sales, theme-party lunches, payroll contributions and fundraising walks.
Donations go toward blood cancer research for the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic is proud to once again to serve as an official sponsor.
Kelsey-Seybold’s fundraising teams have participated with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for nearly 20 years and with the annual Light the Night campaign since 2001, with Team Kelsey annually raising an average of $18,000.
Race for the Cure
In 2008, the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Cancer
Center brought together employees, physicians, patients and their friends and family members to form Team Kelsey-Seybold in Houston’s Komen Race for the Cure in the fight against breast cancer.
This was Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Cancer Center’s fourth year to participate in the event and the most successful in fundraising efforts. Team Kelsey-Seybold raised $15,252 for cancer research, education, detection and treatment.
Team Kelsey was recognized for being one of the top 15 fundraisers in the Houston area and three of its team members were recognized for being individual top fundraisers. The Susan G. Komen Houston affiliate topped groups worldwide in funds raised.
Our Radiology Department and Cancer Center are spearheading this year's effort.
2008
Kelsey-Seybold Leads in Corporate Donations for 2008 Light the Night Campaign
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic led corporate donors for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2008 Light the Night Campaign in Houston. The Kelsey-Seybold teams raised nearly $27,000, setting a new record and surpassing six other local companies in donations. This year's campaign raised a grand total of $475,000 toward blood cancer research for the 2008 campaign for the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter.
"This has been an outstanding campaign and I am so very proud of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic and the passion of our employees to make a difference," said Joan Wolochin, social worker and Light the Night coordinator at Kelsey-Seybold. "Despite Hurricane Ike and the current economy, Kelsey-Seybold was out there fighting to find that cure for all blood cancers."
Kelsey-Seybold employees raised $22,000 alone through bake sales, theme-party lunches, payroll contributions and fundraising walks. In addition to the funds that employees raised, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic will make a $5,000 corporate donation. Kelsey-Seybold's fundraising teams have participated with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for nearly 20 years and with the annual Light the Night campaign since 2001. Kelsey-Seybold been a corporate donor since 2001 and annually raises an average of $18,000.