Advocate Children s Hospital Park Ridge Family Advisory Council (FACes) Meet our 2014-2016 Pediatric Family Advisory Council. This council is comprised of family members and health care providers with a common goal of patient- and family-centered care. The family members of patients come with first-hand knowledge of what it means to have a child in the hospital and partner with our multidisciplinary team of associates to help improve the patient and family experience. This council provides a wealth of knowledge to aid in the care of the pediatric patient and work toward the goal of consistent and exceptional patient care. Frank Belmonte, MD: I am a general pediatrician who cares for children in the outpatient clinic at Advocate Children s Hospital - Park Ridge. In addition to my clinical role, I have held a variety of leadership positions in the hospital over the past 11 years. These include serving as the medical director of our outpatient clinic, program director of the pediatric residency program and vice chair of the Department of Pediatrics. I am excited to be a part of the Family Advisory Council because I have always believed that parents are the experts in the care of their children and require an active role with the care team. I am married with two children and reside in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Irene Beltran: I was honored to be asked to be part of the Family Advisory Council for Advocate Children s Hospital. Advocate became my home away from home shortly after my son Aedan was born very prematurely and spent 10 months in the NICU. At the age of 2 he was diagnosed with cancer and battled for a year before he passed away in 2013. Advocate was there for us throughout our journey and it s a privilege to be able to give back as a mother and a Children s Outpatient Center employee to help other families who currently use the hospital s services. Terese Byrne: My child has spent extensive time in a variety of areas in the hospital and outpatient settings. Because of the excellent care he received, he is thriving today. I hope to use my experiences to help other families. Being part of the Family Advisory Council will allow me to share a parent s perspective in many areas and circumstances. It is a privilege to work as a team with other families along with Advocate Children s Hospital associates, clinicians and administration. I believe sharing our knowledge of both sides of the hospital experience will help families and their children. It is my hope that together we can help to provide the best care possible for the children and their families. Sara Cacal: I am the proud mother of three boys and a special education teacher. In 2010 our son was diagnosed with leukemia and as many parents with a child fighting a life-threatening illness often say, Our lives have never been the same. It still rings true. The existence of a Family Advisory Council is more than exciting, it is encouraging and hopeful. My role on such a committee allows me to give back to the hospital that not only saved my son s life but continues to do so for many other families each and every day. To be given an opportunity to reflect upon our overall care during 3.5 years of chemotherapy, various departmental visits and the extended years of follow-ups as an avenue to enhance an already exceptional institution is an absolute honor. I enjoy running, yoga, reading and discovering both the creative and therapeutic side of arts and crafts with children of all ages (you are never too old to get art-sy!). Karen Caylor: I have worked at Advocate Children s Hospital as a pediatric pharmacist for the last five years. I am excited to be a part of the Family Advisory Council. It is exciting to have parents and hospital staff work together to improve the ways we meet the needs of our current and future patients. Everybody brings a different perspective, and together I believe we can help many patients and their families. Tina Eisman: I have worked at Advocate Children s Hospital as a medical social worker for 22 years! Over the years I have been greatly moved and inspired by countless children and their families whom I ve had the privilege of knowing. It is energizing to be collaborating with such an amazing group of families and colleagues on the Family Advisory Council. I am confident that with our collective wisdom and experience, the FAC will make changes that will enhance services at Advocate Children s Hospital for years to come. I live in the northwest suburbs and I am the proud mother of a teenage daughter.
Denise France: I am a mother of four and a grandmother of two. All four of my kids were born at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. With my daughters both having challenges and health problems, we were very relieved being established at Advocate Children s Hospital. I am glad to be able to give back and help other families who are dealing with some of the same challenges our family has faced, and I look forward to working with a great group of parents and staff. I believe things happen for a reason. Sometimes we don t understand why, but something good comes from almost anything. Karen Lebo: I have been a nurse in the NICU at Advocate Children s Hospital, Park Ridge for over 30 years. During that time, I have met many wonderful families and have had some amazing experiences. I also facilitate the NICU Family Advisory Council. My own six children were born at this hospital while I worked here, and four of them were NICU patients. We have experienced many services in the different areas of the Children s Hospital over the years. Having experienced so much as a nurse and a parent within the Children s Hospital, I feel privileged to be a member of this group to help make quality improvements in our services. I am excited that I can be part of the team which will access and develop these new ideas and changes for our families and patients. I have loved my work in the NICU for all these years and this hospital has helped me and my family many times. I am so glad that I have a chance to give back and participate as a member of the Family Advisory Council. Cindy Mammoser: I am the mother of twins a son, Christian, who is 11 years old and a daughter, Kira, who passed away in 2013. The care that we received during the many times we spent in the hospital was above and beyond anything we could have ever expected. Even in Kira s final six months, which were spent in the hospital, the staff was amazing in their love and support for not just Kira, but for our entire family. I hope to ensure that every family that comes to Advocate Children s Hospital has a great experience, no matter what the situation. Being part of the Family Advisory Council is a great way for me to honor my daughter and all the joy she brought to us, as well as many people in the hospital. Being in the hospital can be scary and overwhelming, but I believe there are ways for families to help each other and support people in times of need. I have been married to my husband, Chuck, for 14 years. I spent seven years as a police officer before deciding to stay at home with our twins. I am a die-hard Cubs fan as well as a big Blackhawks fan. We enjoy traveling, going to museums and exploring Chicago. Erin Martorano: It s been five years since our family spent time at Advocate Children s Hospital. Our daughter was diagnosed with Stage IV Wilms tumor kidney cancer. We re appreciating every moment of being five years CANCER FREE! Advocate Children s Hospital treated her medically, but cared for our entire family in so many different ways. I think about the hospital often both the medical and non-medical employees. Many job descriptions created our hospital experience. Patients are your focus. Families are your expertise. Your connection between medicine and compassion is making a difference in people s lives. Contributing to the Family Advisory Council is my way of saying thank you to Advocate Children s Hospital for bringing calm to a year s worth of stormy chapters in our family s history. Joe Martorano: My wife, Erin, and I are the parents of three girls Mary (11), Sara (10) and Anna (7). We live on the northwest side of Chicago. In 2008 our daughter Sara was diagnosed with stage IV nephroblastoma and was treated at Advocate Children s Hospital. I m very excited for the opportunity to be part of the Family Advisory Council for several reasons. I feel this council can provide direct and crucial feedback to hospital administrators and staff, which can result in a better experience for families and patients. Having an open dialog is a very important tool not only for criticism but also for praise. I feel being a reasonable and relevant voice for patients and families can and will help the hospital continue to provide excellent care and services. 2
Melodie Merrick: I have had the opportunity to be with Advocate since the beginning of my health care career 10 years ago. I began here as a patient care associate (PCA) during my undergrad nursing education at Northern Illinois University, then moved on to become a staff nurse in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), where I developed my passion and drive for working with children with more critical, life threatening illnesses. I then went on to graduate school at the University of Illinois at Chicago to become a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). I am now fulfilling that passion by serving as the PNP for the pediatric palliative and supportive care team. I truly enjoy being part of the Family Advisory Council as it brings our families voices to the hospital s forefront to improve the everyday functioning and processes for our patients and their caregivers. Outside of working I love to run and take my English bulldog, Zeppelin, swimming with my husband. Denise Morrissey: I am a certified child life specialist (CCLS) and have been working at Advocate Children s Hospital for the past 14 years. As a CCLS I have worked on the pediatric units, adolescent units, intensive care units and pediatric emergency room. I enjoy working with all ages in any area of the children s hospital. My current unit is the tower, focusing on pediatric patients. I represent the child life team on several committees always advocate for the children. I am honored to be a part of the Family Advisory Council. I am looking forward to partnering with parents I have grown to know, and to make a difference for future patients and their families. My personal goal is to always provide the most comforting environment possible and the best health care experience. My husband and I are raising three daughters and enjoy spending time with friends and family. After playing volleyball for many years, I currently coach my daughters 6th grade volleyball team. I continue to play volleyball recreationally. Ella Riordan-Pacheco: I am the mother of four (ages 20, 17, 15 and 7). My 7-year-old was diagnosed with severe asthma at 10 months old and moderate-to-severe Crohn s disease at age 4. We spend a lot of time at Advocate Children s Hospital, where I am hoping to make a difference with patient care and the overall experience. As the mother of a really ill child, I feel my insight would help others who visit and spend time in the hospital. I love to bake and enjoy creating different desserts for me family. I have spent the last one and a half years trying to face my fears and do things that make me uncomfortable. Maureen Quaid, MD: I am a pediatric critical care physician and the medical director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Advocate Children s Hospital - Park Ridge. I have been associated with Advocate Children s Hospital for more than 25 years. I am excited to be part of the Family Advisory Council because I believe the families of our patients bring a very unique perspective to the discussion of optimal patient care, which we are always striving to provide. I believe through the FAC, we will be able to make some significant contributions to the way we provide care to the children we serve. In turn, this will have a positive impact on the families and also the surrounding community and referring hospitals which rely on Advocate Children s Hospital. Natalie Rudolph: I have worked at Advocate Children s Hospital for 15 years as the advanced practice nurse for pediatric cardiac surgery; however, I have worked with the same surgeon for 25 years. I live with my husband in Elmhurst, and that is where we raised our kids. I enjoy traveling, reading and spending time with my family. I love my job, and feel very blessed to be able to say that. Many people can t say that about the place that they spend so much of their time, but I can. One of the best parts of coming to work is taking care of the children and families that I meet every day. I am in awe of what these families deal with on a day-to-day basis. I am excited to be part of the Family Advisory Council because I can continue to work with these families, help them through some of their toughest times and hopefully make a small difference in their experience at Advocate Children s Hospital. Our families are the greatest voices for their children and I want to help them make a difference. Eric Sattler: I am a father of two wonderful boys, and have a lovely wife of 21 years. I was born in Chicago, and grew up in Downers Grove. I attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where I majored in engineering. The Family Advisory Council allows me to share some of my experiences, both positive and negative, with members of the medical community and also the parents of patients. I love to read, bike and go fishing. We also love the wonderful museums and zoos in Chicago. 3
Monique Sattler: For the last 29 years, my days have been filled helping clients with their insurance needs. My nights are spent with three energetic boys two teenagers and one awesome husband. Our oldest son, Jack, has autism and our family has been actively involved in organizations that work with special-needs children. On August 12, 2013, Jack was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He was at Advocate Children s Hospital for seven weeks, struggling for his life. The staff was welcoming to our suggestions on how to care for Jack. He continues to do well and trips to the doctor s office and the hospital are no longer scary. Being on the Family Advisory Council allows us to share insights on how the patient a child views medical care. We are grateful to be part of the FAC team. Iwona Sieniawski: I am a pediatric nurse and have been working at Advocate Children s Hospital for the past 15 years. I have always worked on the pediatric and adolescent units and most often I am the charge nurse. I enjoy working with all ages and find adolescents are the age group I specialize in. Through the years I represented pediatric nursing on several committees advocating for the patients and their families. I am thrilled to be part of the Family Advisory Council and representing nursing. As a strong advocate for patients and their families, I go above and beyond to provide the best care possible while meeting individual needs. My husband and I are raising an 8-year-old daughter and spend our free time traveling whenever possible. We also have one dog, Lucky, who we adore. Kathryn Smart: I have been privileged to spend nearly half of my 30-year nursing career at Advocate Children s Hospital - Park Ridge. As the coordinator of the Children s Health Resource Center, I provide families with information to make informed choices about their health and empower them to be active partners with the pediatric healthcare team. Whether I am sitting on the floor teaching a child through medical play, facilitating a sibling support group, or researching a complex diagnosis for a parent, I thrive on providing family-centered care. It is an honor to serve as the Advocate co-chair of the Family Advisory Council - Park Ridge. To see family and Advocate advisors working side by side on projects to expand and improve our services is truly inspiring. Together, I believe we can make Advocate Children s Hospital the best place for patients and families to heal. My grandmother, also an RN, was my inspiration to become a nurse. When I was a child, she allowed me to accompany her on home visits to families in need and she taught me to practice giving shots to oranges. Even at a very young age, I had the opportunity to experience family-centered care and medical play! Carol Stephans: I have worked at Advocate Children s Hospital as a pediatric chaplain for the past 27 years. For a good part of that time I also worked as the obstetrics chaplain. I feel blessed to work for this organization whose philosophy states, We understand people have physical, emotional and spiritual needs and their relations to God, themselves, their families and society are vital to health and healing. During the first two years of my career at Advocate, I gathered a group of bereaved parents, and together with other staff we dreamed of a handful of programs. Some of them, including a parent support group, came to fruition. I ll always remember when these bereaved parents gifted our medical education program by coming back to courageously share their stories and experiences. I am most proud of having founded The Good Mourning Program for grieving children and their families, and coordinating it during its infancy. In the first five years we served 300 children; 25 years later and now a program of Rainbow Hospice, the program has supported more than 3,000 grieving children and adolescents. I am excited to be a part of the Family Advisory Council to collaborate on projects with parents. I know from experience that only meaningful and life-changing things can come out of such collaboration. Staci Studnitzer: I am thrilled to be a part of the Family Advisory Council at Advocate Children s Hospital - Park Ridge. I ve also been fortunate to serve on the Pediatrics Council of Advisers at the hospital. I ve had wonderful experiences at the hospital in the past, both as a patient and as a parent of a patient, and it s really important to me to be able to give back to the hospital by helping others, especially children and their families. I am particularly interested in the support we can give parents through family connections or parent-to-parent programs, and hope that through the FAC we can work toward helping parents during challenging times. On a more personal note, I am a high school social studies teacher and live with my family in the northern suburbs. 4
Daisy Tan: I am a pediatric physical therapist with 13 years of experience. I have worked at Advocate Children s Hospital - Park Ridge for the past two years. It is an honor to work for an organization committed to quality of care and best practice. I work in the pediatric therapy department providing services for inpatients and outpatients. I am excited to collaborate with the special and unique members of the Family Advisory Council. I am interested in making a positive impact to improve family-centered care. Jackie Tonyan: I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Troy, for 11 years. We have two beautiful children, Eve (7) and Daniel (3). I work part time as a private tutor. I enjoy volunteering at my children s school, being involved in our church and spending time with our family and friends. Our son became very sick at just 3 weeks old, and went on to have six surgeries during his first year of life. As our lives were flipped upside down, we chose Advocate Children s Hospital to care for our baby and ultimately our entire family. The hospital and its amazing staff helped and saved us countless times and in countless ways. I consider it a privilege and a blessing to give back to Advocate Children s Hospital to share our experience, our story, and to help the next family down the line. Nobody ever plans or is prepared to take their child to the hospital. If there is something that I can do to make it a better experience for them, I am thankful for the opportunity to do so! My background is in child development. I have a true passion for children and doing whatever it takes to ensure their best care, whether it be at home, school, day care or a hospital setting. I pour my life into making sure children feel valued, respected and loved. Kim Vuckovich: Proud mom to Olivia, who has VACTERL association. From her eleven weeks in the NICU at Advocate Children s Hospital - Park Ridge, more than 30 surgeries, and 10 pediatric specialists, to her soccer, swimming, yoga and ballet lessons, Olivia keeps us running all the time! I find serving as a member of the Family Advisory Council a privilege. One of the first things I did when I found out about Olivia s medical issues was reaching out to other parents. It has been the parents and families before me that made my family s road trip less rocky. If I can help make one child and their family s journey smoother, I consider the time I spend volunteering for FAC a success. I am a nurse, so I like that I can see both sides for perspective in the FAC. Most importantly, being Olivia s mom makes me a better nurse, since I know what it is like to have strong partnerships with my child s healthcare team. Victor Vuckovich: I am a proud daddy to Olivia, the bravest person in the world who has VACTERL association. I serve on the Family Advisory Council alongside my wife, who is my partner in crime. The three of us, plus a couple of dogs and a few fish, make an awesome family. I am grateful for the care that my daughter has received and want to ensure that other patients and families have the very best experience here. I am an operating engineer and live in the far north suburbs. I am passing on my love of Jeeps and radio-controlled cars to my daughter. 5 03/15 MC 0706