Penn Highlands Clearfield Auxiliary Holds Annual Meeting

Leslie Jeffries was elected president of the Penn Highlands Clearfield Auxiliary during the group’s annual meeting held Sept. 8 at the Clearfield-Curwensville Country Club.

Other members accepting leadership roles within the auxiliary are: Gigi Gearhart, president-elect; Gwen Crandell, vice-president; Kristi Johnson, treasurer; Audrey Heichel, recording secretary; and Betty Buckell, corresponding secretary.

Outgoing President Judy Corcino thanked members for their assistance during her tenure and pledged her continued support of the auxiliary.

In addition to electing new officers, the auxiliary heard an overview of hospital activities in the past year and reviewed accomplishments.

Heichel introduced guest speaker Gary Macioce, Penn Highlands Clearfield president.

Macioce began by thanking the auxiliary for providing $72,000 in financial support to the hospital in the past year. The money was used to purchase a new microscope for cataract surgeries.

He noted that Penn Highlands Clearfield realized many accomplishments during the past year, such as the addition of several new physicians including Wilkerson Compere, M.D., an internal medicine physician; Traceyan Mendez, M.D., a family practice physician; Maofu Fu, M.D., medical oncologist at the Nathaniel D. Yingling, M.D., Cancer Center; David Bundy, D.O., emergency medicine specialist; and Anuj Chopra, urologist.

Earlier this month, George Saborio, M.D., an internal medicine and sports medicine specialist, began practicing in Clearfield, and Salman Azim, M.D., also internal medicine, started at the Philipsburg clinic.

For the fifth year in a row, the hospital was recognized as a top performer in the Highmark Quality Blue program. This project focused on preventing hospital-acquired infections. Penn Highlands Clearfield scored 92.5 out of a total score of 100, ranking the hospital fourth out of 93 hospitals in the Highmark network.

Macioce noted the Express Lab service is doing well, and so is the pain clinic, which opened in June. He also reported that Penn Highlands Clearfield contributed $105 million to the local economy last year.

Macioce shared what’s on the horizon for the hospital, including plans to open its new Moshannon Valley Community Medical Building later this fall.

The 23,000-square-foot-building, located on 7 acres near the intersection of North Front and Railroad streets in Rush Township, will be the new home of Philipsburg Medical Services. Services provided at the location include primary care, surgical services, orthopedic services, outpatient diagnostic testing and ophthalmology.

Among the new services planned are a walk-in clinic, digital mammography and bone mineral density testing. A docking area will provide for mobile healthcare services, including MRI.

Before concluding his remarks, he reiterated his appreciation for the auxiliary.

“Hospitals were founded on volunteerism, and you, like all volunteers, are our legacy. Your efforts make the hospital a better place for our patients and their families. The auxiliary serves as an inspiration for our employees and physicians,” he said.

In other business, Kristi Johnson, treasurer, announced the auxiliary ended the fiscal year with a balance of $179,372.35. Fund-raising efforts included the Charity Ball, which raised $7,776.64.

The auxiliary reviewed its achievements during the past year. Among them:

• The Scholarship Committee, chaired by Marie Cordiano, awarded three $1,000 scholarships. The recipients were Jamila Cohen, Clearfield County Career and Technology Center; Kristin Amos, Lock Haven University; and Dimitri Sidorick, St. Francis University.
• The auxiliary hosted its 27th annual health fair for fourth graders on May 5 at the Clearfield Driving Park. According to Ginny Johnson, chairman, students from Clearfield Area Elementary, St. Francis and Clearfield Alliance Christian schools attended.
• Chairman Nina Johnson reported the Comfort Items Committee delivered 671 toys, 178 surgical pillows and 36 chemotherapy turbans to the hospital during the fiscal year. She thanked the committee members, including Deborah Pulchinello, for the numerous hours they give to create these items. She also noted Thrivent Financial for Lutherans purchased fabric for the toys.
• Donna Shaw, manager of The Cottage, reminded members of The Cottage’s annual holiday open house scheduled for Nov. 8 from noon until 5 p.m., and said volunteer help is always needed. She thanked The Cottage volunteers for their support.
• Outgoing Vice President Marge Conaway noted there are now 147 paid members; 28 are lifetime members.
• It was announced that the 105th Charity Ball will be held on Dec. 12.
  
  The Penn Highlands Clearfield Auxiliary meets the second Tuesday of the month at noon, with the exception of January, July and August, in the First Floor Conference Room at the hospital. For more information, please log on to www.phhealthcare.org. Auxiliary information is listed on the Penn Highlands Clearfield home page.