Mooresville clinic lauded for public health service to Morgan Co. needy

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – The St. Thomas More Clinic has received the Tony and Mary Hulman Health Achievement Award from the Indiana Public Health Foundation, Inc.

The award, presented annually, is for business and industry in the field of Preventive Medicine and Public Health. The St. Thomas More Clinic was recognized along with other recipients of the Indiana’s Premier Health Awards at a ceremony last month at the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis.

“We are very proud and excited to be the recipient of this prestigious award and to accept the award on behalf of all of our clinic board members and volunteers,” said Shelley Voelz, who is clinic co-director with her husband, Ted.

In addition to the husband and wife team, the clinic is overseen by a 10-member board of directors, chaired by Father Mark Gottemoeller, pastor of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Mooresville.

“We are so fortunate to have a very active and dedicated group of individuals to serve on our board of directors,” said Ted Voelz.

“The heart of the ministry of St. Thomas More Clinic is our volunteers: physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social worker, counselor and other clinical and clerical staff,” said Shelley Voelz, director of patient safety at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers. “Many of the volunteers have been committed to this ministry since the clinic opened in 2005. We are very blessed to have such a dedicated and compassionate group of volunteers.

“We also would like to acknowledge the Kendrick Foundation for their support of the clinic through the receipt of grant monies over the years,” she added. “The clinic was just awarded a grant in the amount of $80,000 for 2009-2010. Without grant money from the Kendrick Foundation, we would not be able to exist.”

St. Francis and its Mooresville hospital have been significant partners of the clinic.
“Without the partnership with St. Francis our patients would not be able to obtain the lab services, radiology services and other treatments they need,” Voelz said. “This community project is part of St. Francis’ ongoing commitment to address the underserved medical needs of Morgan County residents.”

The clinic also receives support from local churches, philanthropic organizations, private donations and donations directed to the clinic through the Combined Federal Campaign and United Way.

The clinic opened in June 2005, originally at St. Thomas More Catholic Church and is now located at 410 N. Monroe St., Suite 16, in Mooresville. The clinic offers free, non-denominational, non-emergency medical care to uninsured or underinsured Morgan County residents. It is open the first and third Saturdays of each month from 9 a.m. to noon.

Details about the Hulman Health Achievement Awards can be found athttp://www.iphf.us.

Surgeon establishes new practice at St. Francis Vascular Associates

INDIANAPOLIS – Robert W. Zickler, M.D., a member of St. Francis Medical Group, has joined St. Francis Vascular Associates.

Board-certified in vascular and general surgery, he most recently was affiliated with Surgical Associates of Fredericksburg, Va., and was a staff surgeon at Mary Washington Hospital. He has held staff positions at hospitals in New York and New Jersey and academic appointments at Pennsylvania State University-College of Medicine and the Department of Veterans Affairs-New Jersey.

Zickler’s clinical interests include repair and aortic stent grafting, carotid artery surgery, treatment of lower extremity venous disease, minimally invasive vein surgery, limb salvage surgery and endovascular interventions.

He received his medical degree at Hahnemann University-School of Medicine in Philadelphia and earlier earned a doctorate of medical dentistry at Farleigh Dickinson University-College of Dental Medicine.

Zickler completed residencies at Seton Hall University/Jersey City Medical Center and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School. He held fellowships in endovascular and interventional radiology and vascular surgery at Pennsylvania State University.

Widely published in professional journals, Zickler is a member of the Medical Society of Virginia and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

St. Francis Vascular Associates includes both patient offices and a vascular lab, where select diagnostic vascular procedures are performed. All vascular surgeries take place at the St. Francis Heart Center, located adjacent to the practice office building.

For more information about St. Francis Vascular Associates go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/SFMG/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=46.

New director of patient access appointed at St. Francis

INDIANAPOLIS – Sharla D. Rhodes, has been appointed director of patient access at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers.

In her new position, Rhodes is responsible for admitting, patient registration, emergency department registration, financial clearance and central scheduling.

In her nine-year career at St. Francis, she has served in director roles of special projects, nursing resources and emergency services, and manager of respiratory therapy. Prior to those assignments, she was chief operating officer of Select Specialty Hospital.

A graduate of Indiana University, Rhodes is a registered respiratory therapist.
St. Francis operates 539 beds at its hospitals in Indianapolis, Beech Grove and Mooresville. In 2008, the hospitals had more than 24,000 inpatient admissions, served 954,000 outpatient visitors and treated 87,000 at its emergency rooms.

Brock Nolan, Iraq War MD, establishes practice with St. Francis Psychiatric Associates

INDIANAPOLIS – Brock P. Nolan, M.D., a member of St. Francis Medical Group, has joined St. Francis Psychiatric Associates.

Nolan most recently served as medical director of behavioral health services, a Luke Air Force Base, Phoenix, Ariz., where he was a staff psychiatrist/executive officer, flight surgeon, and was responsible for supervising physicians and mental health specialists.

A commissioned Air Force officer, Nolan was detachment commander at Forward Operating Base Kalsu in Iraq in 2008. He commanded a unit in support of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and 101st Airborne Division. During that tour of duty, he supervised treatment for soldiers experiencing a range of combat-related psychiatric conditions.

A graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine, he was chief resident at Wright State University in Ohio, where he was awarded a fellowship by faculty and resident because of his leadership through residency training. Nolan is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

St. Francis Psychiatric Associates is now located at 610 E. Southport Rd, Suite 200, Indianapolis. To schedule an appointment call 317- 781-4588. The 24-hour crisis line phone number is 317-782-6495.

Operation Bright Christmas shines light on needy youngsters

BEECH GROVE, Ind. – The effects of the economy are never more glaring than during the holidays – and that’s why St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is getting an early start by partnering with LifeBridge Community to help needy families.

Operation Bright Christmas serves families during the holidays, benefiting an estimated children living in poverty in Beech Grove and Indianapolis’ south side. St. Francis has joined with LifeBridge and is now accepting donations until Dec. 17 to help these families.

Donations being accepted: new toys, new or gently used infant clothing and items, wrapping paper, gift bags, tags, ribbon, batteries, DVDs or CDs (“G” or “PG” rating only), video and board games (“G” rating only), twin size bedding, gift cards in small denominations, faith-based items, and sports toys (balls, bats, gloves, etc.).

Donors are asked not to provide clothing, or toys that are of violent and occult nature. Toys that are broken or missing pieces also will not be accepted.

Donations are being accepted 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Spiritual Care offices at St. Francis Hospital-Beech Grove, 1600 Albany St.; St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.; and St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road.

Last year, more than 400 youngsters received gifts through Operation Bright Christmas, thanks to the many donors, volunteers and participating organizations. St. Francis filled a large truck with toy donations.

“We believe the need will be even greater this year as many are reeling from the effects the recession and the spike in unemployment,” said Julia Dearing, who is helping coordinate St. Francis’ participation in the gift-giving program.

LifeBridge Community is a faith-based ministry that seeks to instill hope in the lives of children, young adults and families through nurturing relationships and supportive services. More information about the organization is at www.lifebridge-community.org.