Seventeen years have passed, yet the memories are still fresh.

When Damarys (Dee) and Jerry Wisler visited Abington Memorial Hospital last July, they brought with themtheir 17-year-old son. It was Michael’s return to the AndrewTesauro Special Care Nursery (SCN) where he had spent the firstsix weeks of his life.

As moving as that reunion was, the Wislers’ story resonateseven deeper.

Michael and his twin brother, Mathew, were born prematurely at Abington in August of 1996. Earlier, though – at 25 weeks – Dee learned that Mathew suffered from a Vein ofGalen aneurysm, a rare malformation at the base of his brain.

Mathew had no chance of surviving. However, if he were tofail too early before birth, his twin brother would fail as well. ForMichael to live, Mathew also had to survive as long as possible.

Dee was hospitalized at Abington, where she receivedaround-the-clock care until the boys were delivered just shy of 31 weeks. Mathew, as expected, survived for less than two hours – but he had stayed alive long enough to save the life of his brother.

Michael, only two pounds, 10 ounces at birth, remained inthe special care nursery for six more weeks until he finally camehome at a comparatively robust four pounds, one ounce.

Today Michael is a healthy high-school junior, a fact that wason poignant display when he returned with his parents in July tovisit Abington’s special care nursery.

“It was a very emotional visit,” says his father. “Michael wasable to spend time with some of the very same people – physicians and nurses – who took care of him when he was born. Even the nurse who cared for Mathew in his final hours was there, and remembered us, and spoke with us. It was a powerful visit.”

Special supportFollowing their visit, Jerry and Dee decided to make a major

gift in support of Abington’s special care nursery. “We were really quite amazed at the progress made in

keeping premature babies alive and healthy,” says Jerry. “To seewhat they’re able to do now, both through increased technologyand increased training, was very gratifying. We wanted to be apart of that.”

Jerry and Dee have established the Michael and MathewWisler Fund for Excellence in Neonatology to support medicaleducation opportunities and equipment.

What’s Inside

From the President ..........................1

Donor Profile

Dee and Jerry Wisler ........................1

Program Highlight

Andrew Tesauro Special Care Nursery ..........................................2

Awards & Achievements ................3

Innovators’ Circle ............................3

Events & Activities ......................4-5

Developments ......................................6

Grantmakers ........................................6

The Charitable Advantage ..........7

Women’s Board Update ....................7

Lansdale Hospital Update............7

vol. 2, issue 18 winter 2013/14

Continued on page 2

Supporting Special Care Nursery – Dee and Jerry Wisler

D O N O R P R O F I L E

Amilestone event like a centennial makes a person stop and appreciate what a unique organizationAbington Memorial Hospital is today.Next year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Abington’s opening day. Over the past century we

have grown into a regional referral center at the heart of the Abington Health network. Throughout every stage of our growth, we have been guided by an unwavering commitment to quality in all that we do. We have provided advanced care, promotedpatient safety and pioneered new treatments throughout 100 years of service.

At the core of our care is the quality of our people. Our physicians, nurses, technicians, managers, floor staff, volunteers and so many others all work together as an extraordinary team to reach our shared goal: to be your most trusted healthcare provider.

Our community is part of our team as well, and the charitable support we receive is an essential factor in our success. As a nonprofit charitable organization, weexist for one central reason: to heal, comfort and care for the people of our community.

Philanthropy shapes every aspect of what we do here – as true today as it was a hundred years ago.Now we look to the century ahead and the commitment to quality care we will provide for

generations to come. Our vision includes:� Delivering the advanced care that our community needs most;� Building an increasingly strong primary care and ambulatory network to promote wellness and manage chronic conditions; and

� Ensuring that we continue to promote a healing environment for our patients, one that includes outstanding facilities, a soothing physical environment and a rich array of patient-centered amenities.

Because of friends like you, not only are we providing our community with excellent care today, weare also investing in the programs, people and facilities that will shape how we provide care for you the future.

This is your hospital, and I thank you for helping us make it what it is today.With all the best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season,

Laurence M. MerlisPresident and CEO | Abington Health

December 1, 2013

From the President

“We want to help others do aswell as Michael. We feel veryblessed that Michael not onlysurvived, but has thrived. We attribute a lot of that

to Abington.”Jerry Wisler

Jerry, Dee and Michael Wisler

VOL. 2, ISSUE 18 WINTER 2013/14

Profiles of Giving is an

Abington Health Foundation

publication for our donors and

friends. For more information

call 215-481-4438.

2

D O N O R P R O F I L E

Continued from front page

Supporting Special Care Nursery – Dee and Jerry Wisler

“As new advances continue to be made,” says Jerry, “it made a lotof sense to us to provide an ongoing source of funding for educationand training.”

In addition, the Wislers have made a major gift to enable the SCN to purchase a Giraffe Omnibed Incubator, a technologically advanced microenvironment to help newborns thrive. Notes Jerry,“These incubators are a significant advance over where the technologywas just a few years ago, let alone where it was 17 years ago, whenMichael was in the NICU.”

Special historiesJerry and Dee both have backgrounds in the pharmaceutical

industry, and both worked at Merck, where they met in the 1980s.They married in 1989, and Dee left Merck to care for their daughter,Nicole, who was born in 1991. Today Nicole is an American University graduate teaching documentary film-making to students inIndia, and young Michael is a budding businessman who enjoys golf.

After some 20 years at Merck, Jerry left in 2003 to start his own pharmaceutical company, Aegerion, and grew it to become a public company. He left Aegerion in 2008 to form another pharmaceutical company, Omthera, which he sold this year to Astra Zeneca. The proceeds from that sale enabled the Wislers tomake their gift to Abington.

“Now that we are in a financial position,” says Jerry, “we want to help others do as well as Michael. We feel very blessed thatMichael not only survived, but has thrived. We attribute a lot of that to Abington.”

In addition to Abington Health, the Wislers support a range ofhealth-related causes with personal significance. These include the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Autism research and Shepherd’s Hope, an organization in the Orlando area that providesfree healthcare to those unable to afford it.

“We have much to be grateful for,” says Dee, “and our focus is togive back and help others.”

Their gift to Abington does exactly that.

Special impactWhen the Wislers visited Abington this summer, they learnedfirst-hand what a profound impact they might have through their philanthropy.

Joining them on their tour were Ara Moomjian, M.D., chief of the Neonatology Division and the physician who cared for both boyswhen they were at Abington; Gerard M. Cleary, D.O., medical director of the SCN; Marcia Quarles, R.N., SCN team coordinator;and Elizabeth Noll, R.N., SCN nurse manager (see “Program Highlight” below). Another dozen special care nurses were on handduring the visit, including Karen Whitehead, R.N., who shared withthe family her memories of caring for Mathew during his few hoursthose many years ago.

“For six weeks,” Jerry recalls, “Abington’s physicians and nursesmade the hospital feel like a home away from home for us. They gaveus hope about how things were progressing with Michael, and sharedour joy at every step forward. They kept us well educated, optimistic,and confident. All of the things we really needed, they provided on adaily basis.”

“Bringing Michael back to visit was amazing,” says Dee. “I don’tthink he fully realized how small these babies are. How frail. For himto see them, to be right there with them and know he was one of them– that made a huge difference.”

Adds Jerry, “We learned a lot about changes over the years intechniques and technology, and the constantly improving care you getthrough education and training. We’re pleased to be in a position tohelp with that, so that others can be provided the same quality of carethat Michael and Mathew received.”

Dee agrees. “We have been fortunate in our lives, and this is away for us to give back and to remember how Abington treated uswith such dignity. It is something I will never forget.”

Who receives care at the Andrew TesauroSpecial Care Nursery?

The Andrew Tesauro Special Care Nursery is a neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) that provides care for babies for a variety of reasons, such as requiring treatmentfor illness or because they are premature. We offer care for babies born as early as 23 weeks gestation, who sometimes weighonly a pound and a half. We are able to meettheir needs through many means of supportsuch as a breathing tube, ventilators, cardiacsupport, and nutritional support. One of themost important factors for premature babies is their temperature environment – that is why this gift from the Wisler family topurchase an incubator is so appreciated.

It must be very difficult for parents.The NICU environment can be quite

traumatic for parents and families. No oneever expects to have a premature or sick baby,so when a baby is admitted to us we strive tomake it as easy of a transition as possible forthe family. This is especially true if the baby isin the hospital longer than mom is – that is avery emotional thing for a family to gothrough. The entire medical and nursing teamsare acutely aware of this and are there to provide support, reassurance and establish relationships with the parents. They are encouraged to be a part of their baby’s plan ofcare and to express their feelings, questionsand concerns. The parents and family are apart of the team.

What is the size of the staff?We have about 75 nurses, eight

neonatologists, and four primary nurse practitioners. There is always at least onenurse practitioner and one neonatologist on site 24-hours a day. There is a multi-disciplinary support team that includes

dedicated respiratory therapists specificallytrained for the neonatal population, speechtherapists, occupational and physical therapists, radiologists, social workers, casemanagers, and other specialists. We also have other supports through our ClinicalNurse Leader, Clinical Resource Nurse, and Team Coordinator.

What do you find personally meaningfulabout the work?

One of the great parts of our job is supporting our parents through this time.Building the relationship with the parents andfamily, having them thank you and the teamfor our care – that’s what is so rewarding.One of our physicians, Dr. Cleary, describedall of our jobs so perfectly – we are givingfamilies the opportunity to grow their family.What a beautiful way to look at what we do!

Part of the Wislers’ gift will purchase a new Giraffe Omnibed. Can you describe thattechnology and its benefits?

Premature and ill babies have difficultymaintaining and regulating their temperatures.One of the most important factors related to asuccessful outcome is that we are able tomaintain a stable and neutral thermal environment. If a baby has to burn extra calories to keep themselves warm, they won’tgrow and gain weight appropriately, andmaintaining a normal temperature is a lot ofwork for a premature baby! So we can takecare of that for them by using specialized beds– one of which is the Giraffe Omnibed. Thisisolette allows us to provide an appropriate environment that is warm and humidified toprotect their skin. This isolette in particularalso allows us instant access to the baby (thetop of the isolette raises up) so that in theevent of an emergency, all of the necessarypersonnel can get to the baby to provide thenecessary care. The Wisler family’s gift of theGiraffe Omnibed will help us to provide thebest possible care to our patients.

What are some other distinctions of the nursery?

One of the things that is important aboutour NICU is that the neonatal staff can bepresent at the birth if we are needed. Thosefirst few minutes of life are so important; so having a NICU nurse, neonatologist ornurse practitioner, and a respiratory therapistpresent at the birth means that we can startproviding the care that the baby needs fromthe get-go. Any time a baby is transferred, especially if the baby is critically ill or extremely premature, it puts the baby at riskfor other complications. That’s why it is sowonderful that we have the resources that wehave – if a baby needs emergency surgery, it can be performed right at the bedside.

HighlightProgram

To support the Andrew Tesauro Special Care Nursery with a charitable gift, please contact Lucinda Johnson, director of stratgic giving at 215-481-4019 or ljohnson@amh.org.

Abington’s 34-bed Andrew

Tesauro Special Care Nursery

combines specialized care and

sophisticated technology to provide

for infants who require a higher

level of care. Named in honor of a

gift from Esther Tesauro in memory

of her son, the Special Care

Nursery has been awarded the

highest level of accreditation

(Level III) by the Pennsylvania

Department of Health.

Here, Elizabeth Noll, R.N., Nurse Manager of the Special Care

Nursery, talks about Abington’s

care for its most fragile patients

and discusses some of the

impact of the Wisler family’s

recent charitable gift

[see Donor Profile, page 1].

The Andrew Tesauro Special Care Nursery

“We have been fortunate in our lives, and this is a way for us to give back and to rememberhow Abington treated us withsuch dignity. It is something

I will never forget.”Dee Wisler

Eddie Chang, M.D., Denise Ellison,D.N.P., C.R.N.P., and Donna Martin,M.S.N., R.N., I.B.C.L.C., for Transcutaneous Bilirubinometry in Patients Who Have Received Phototherapy. This project studies a painless instantaneous bedside test, without blood sampling, for high-risk hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice) in newbornswho are being treated with phototherapy.

Joseph Crocetti, D.O., for Patient CarePortal for the Treatment of ObstructiveSleep Apnea. This computer-basedpatient/physician portal is designed to improve patient adherence with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.

Elizabeth Degnan Kryak, M.S.N., R.N. -B.C., and Betty Cummings, M.S.N., R.N.,for Feasibility Study: Group Yoga for Improvement in Persistent, Cancer-relatedFatigue in Patients Recovering fromBreast Cancer. This study will evaluate thesuccess of a yoga program in addressing the level of fatigue for patients who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation inthe treatment of breast cancer.

Jean M. Diodato, M.S.S., L.S.W.,A.C.H.P.-S/W, and Maria Burdsall, B.S.N.,R.N., C.O.S.-C., for Special Buddies forSpecial Needs. This project will organize,train and support a collaborative of volunteerstaff in the outpatient care of persons withautism spectrum disorders and intellectualand developmental delays.

Van Hellerslia, Pharm.D., Bruce D.Klugherz, M.D., and Jeffrey Fierstein,M.D., for “Coagu-Clips”– Patient Educational Videos to Promote Safe and Effective Use of Novel Oral Anticoagulants. This project will develop aseries of patient educational videos featuringAbington healthcare providers, which willbe distributed through Abington’s Internetwebsite to address key points for safe and effective use of the novel oral anticoagulants.

Larami MacKenzie, M.D., Qaisar A. Shah,M.D., Osman S. Kozak, M.D., HanaChoe, M.D., Inessa Parkansky, M.D.,Karin Jonczak, C.R.N.P., and PatriciaBussinger, M.B.A., B.S.N., R.N., for Pilot Trial of Intra-arterial Sodium Bicarbonate in Ischemic Stroke. This study will examine a common sodium bicarbonate catheter flush solution as an alternative in the neuro catheterization lab tominimize impact on kidneys, blood vesselsand brain tissue during stroke treatment.

Victoria Myers, M.D., and Emily Parent,D.O., PGY-4, for Intraoperative One-timeCatheterization in Short Gynecologic Procedures and its Potential Effect on Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Bacteriuria. This prospective study will look into the reduction of catheter-associated urinary tract infections in thepostoperative period.

Jennifer Nichols, D.O., and Jay Schinfeld,M.D., for A Novel Approach to ImprovedImplantation Rates for IVF Patients. This study of local interruption to the endometrium (removal of polyps or abnormally thickened lining of the uterus),antibiotic treatment and hormonal supplementation is designed to increasepregnancy rates in patients with multiplefailed in vitro fertilization cycles.

Qaisar A. Shah, M.D., Osman S. Kozak,M.D., Brad C. Klein, M.D., LaramiMacKenzie, M.D., Hana Choe, M.D., andKarin Jonczak, C.R.N.P., for HeadacheProtocol in Non-traumatic SubarachnoidHemorrhage. This headache protocol studyinvolves a simple combination of commonmedications given intravenously to relieveheadaches in patients following the ruptureof a brain aneurysm.

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Awards & Achievements

Melvyn P. Richter, M.D., a longstanding and multifaceted leader at AbingtonMemorial Hospital, received the prestigious Trustee Distinguished ServiceAward at a special Chairman’s Forum event on November 4 (see “Events &

Activities” on page 5).Dr. Richter came to Abington Memorial Hospital in 1987 to build a modern

Radiation Oncology Division. He more than succeeded. From the start, he attracted outstanding new physicians to Abington, and

strengthened connections among physicians within Abington as well. He also expanded Abington’s connections nationwide, by engaging the hospital in leading national clinical trials.

As Physician in Chief and Chairman of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Richter worked to reshape the field of radiation oncology. An outstanding and compassionate physician, he chaired his division and served as president of the Abington medical staff. He was also a devoted teacher, and over the years nurtured a whole new generation of physicians. A true pioneer, Dr. Richter co-authored several of the earliest and most important papers on breast-conserving therapies for breast cancer, work that became a model for today’s standard of cancer management.

In addition, Dr. Richter has been a highly effective philanthropic leader. Heserved as an Abington trustee, and has provided leadership charitable support toAbington for many decades.

Trustee Distinguished Service AwardThe Trustee Distinguished ServiceAward was presented as part of theAbington Health Chairman’s ForumLecture Series. The Chairman’s Forumis Abington Health’s giving society for philanthropic leaders who make an annual gift of $1,000 or more. For more information about the Chairman’s Forum and the lecture series, please contact Cathy Cawley, development officer at 215-481-2036 or ccawley@amh.org.

The Abington Health Innovators’ Circle program has awarded grants to 11 innovativehealthcare initiatives during its 2013 funding cycle. The Innovators’ Circle is a unique program at Abington Health that awards seed

grants to Abington Health physicians, nurses and other healthcare staff to support creative solutions to healthcare challenges and each year also honors an outstanding physician andnurse innovator.

Grants were awarded to the following recipients for their innovative projects:

Every dollar awarded as an Innovators’ Circle grant comes from philanthropic support. By making a charitable contribution to the program, you can have a real impact on

innovative approaches to healthcare. For more information, please contact Lori Ferro, annual giving officer at 215-481-2529 or lferro@amh.org, or visit the

“Ways of Giving” section of our website at www.AbingtonHealth.org.

Congratulations to the 2013 Award Recipients!

Innovators ’ Circle

Catherine Spahr, M.B.A., M.A., B.S.N.,R.N., and Qaisar A. Shah, M.D., forImagining the Possibilities: Development of an Early Mobility and Mobile Gym Program. This projectwill develop a nurse-led mobility protocolfor stroke patients in the critical care unit who cannot travel to the hospital therapy gym.

Kristin Van Heertum, M.D., andStephen Somkuti, M.D., Ph.D., for Lymphocyte Telomeric Assays as Predictors of Ovarian Reserve and Reproductive Aging. This investigation of several molecular markers of cell aging will determine if they may be capable of predicting a woman’s reproductive potential.

P L E A S E C O N T I N U E T O S U P P O RT I N N O VAT O R S ’ C I R C L E

AnnualMembership

F O R U M

Melvyn P. Richter, M.D. and Oscar Vance

Abington Memorial Hospital’s philanthropic leadership gathered on September 12 for a specialgarden party to celebrate the hospital’s first century ofservice to our community. The event was held at Guildford, a garden estate in Wyndmoor that is rich with

Abington history. Martha Snider, host for the event, graciously provided tours

of her home and gardens and shared stories of its historical connection to Abington Memorial Hospital.

The Abington-Guildford connection goes back to the early1900s, when Louise Elkins, daughter of George W. Elkins, Sr.,the founding donor of Abington Memorial Hospital, visited the

English countryside and befriended a fellow American woman she met there.Louise introduced her new friend, Allethaire Ludlow, to her father who,smitten, married Allethaire in 1917. After Mr. Elkins died, Allethaire beganplanning the Guildford property, basingher design on a country estate she had discovered near Guildford in England.

Guildford, one of the finest estates in Pennsylvania, proved to be a most fitting andbeautiful setting for Abington’s Garden Party. The event offered an opportunity for guests to hear from Larry Merlis, president and CEO ofAbington Health, about his vision for Abington Memorial Hospital as it enters its second century.

Events& Activities

Parent’s Executive Committee learns about advances in pediatric surgery

At a luncheon meeting on September 24, members of the AbingtonMemorial Hospital Parent’s ExecutiveCommittee (PEC) were treated to a special talk by Ala Stanford Frey, M.D.,Abington’s director of pediatric surgical services.

Dr. Frey is also an attending surgeon at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, widely known for her

dedication to improving healthcare outcomes in youth and addressing healthcare disparities and access to care.

The PEC is an informal advisorycommittee for parents who have delivered their child or children at Abington Memorial Hospital. It providesmembers the opportunity to share insights from a parent’s perspective onthe design of effective programs and

services, and to assist in fundraising efforts to improve pediatric programsand services.

For more information about the Parent’s Executive Committee, please contact Tammy Hoffman, donor relations officerat 215-481-2304 or thoffman@amh.org.

Business Council learns latest home health and marketing newsMembers of the Lansdale Hospital

Business Council met on October 10 to receive an update from senior hospital leadership on current initiatives.

At the October meeting Council members heard from Elissa Della Monica,M.S.N., R.N., executive director of Abington Health Home Care and Hospice,who spoke about the acquisition of the NorthPenn Visiting Nurse Association and its

increased benefit to the Lansdale community.The meeting also featured a presentation fromDenise Pitts, director of marketing and publicaffairs, who spoke about the hospital’s currentadvertising campaign. The Business Council,chaired by Phil Hunt, brings together business leaders from the Lansdale region to helpguide the hospital and strengthen its bondwith the business community. Members receive regular insider updates, special

presentations, behind-the-scene tours of newfacilities and technologies plus informationabout the hospital and its services that members can take back to their communities.

For more information about the LansdaleHospital Business Council please contactLori Ferro, annual giving officer at 215-481-2529 or lferro@amh.org.

4

Mel Richter, M.D., Linda Richter and Robert Josloff, M.D.

Bob and Anne Riethmiller, Bob Watson, M.D. and Mary Ann Watson, Pam and Jay Bown,Patrick Mutchler and Ann Thompson

Susan High, Bucky Clark, Sandy Muller and Edie Dixon

Garden Party honors Abington history

Planned Giving Advisory Committee and AMH Business Council gain insights into surgical simulation

Kenric Murayama, M.D., chair ofthe Department of Surgery, spoke aboutsurgical simulation technology on October 22 at a joint breakfast meetingof the Abington Health Planned GivingAdvisory Committee and the AbingtonMemorial Hospital Business Council.

Dr. Murayama addressed the valueof surgical simulation as an effective andefficient way to train surgeons for rapidadvances in surgical procedures andtechnologies. With surgical simulation,he explained, experienced surgeons and

surgeons-in-training can repeatedlypractice new techniques and extend theirsurgical skills through artificial-realitysimulations without involving a patient.

The Abington Health Planned Giving Advisory Committee brings together legal and wealth advisors whoare dedicated to furthering planned giving as a vehicle for charitable supportof the hospital’s work. The BusinessCouncil is composed of communitybusiness leaders who serve as ambassadors to the hospital and work

to increase awareness and supportamong area businesses.

For more information about the PlannedGiving Advisory Committee please contact Lucinda Johnson, director ofstrategic giving, at 215-481-4019 orljohnson@amh.org, and for more information about the Business Council,please contact Tammy Hoffman, donorrelations officer at 215-481-2304 orthoffman@amh.org.

Christopher Gadsden, Judi and Bruce Goodman,Bruce Entwisle and Lynn Gadsden

Women’s Board

Update

Chairman’s Forum Lecture details latest treatments for headache

This fall’s Abington Health Foundation Chairman’s Forum Lecture, held on November 4, focused on the advancedservices of the Comprehensive Headache Center at Abington’sNeurosciences Institute.

Brad C. Klein, M.D., medical director of the Headache Center, was the featured speaker at the event, whichincluded a cocktail reception amid numerous interactive technology exhibitshighlighting some of the latest advancesin the neurosciences.

Dr. Klein is a Board-certified neurologist with additional certification in

Headache Medicine and Electromyography. He is also a founding member and past president of the Pennsylvania Neurological Society. His lecture addressed many of the challenges in treating headaches, one of the most common ofneurological problems, and detailed the comprehensive

services of Abington’s Headache Center. Located at AbingtonHealth Center – Warminster, the Headache Center is a regionalleader in personalized care for patients suffering from severeheadaches and migraines.

Among the hands-on technology exhibits featured duringthe evening were interactive presentations by Abington physicians and nurses representing various centers and programs of the Neurosciences Institute. These included theBalance Center, Concussion Program, Diamond Stroke Center,Headache Center, Movement Disorders Center, MS Center and Sleep Disorders Center.

In addition, the evening’s program featured presentation of the 2013 Trustee Distinguished Service Award to pioneeringphysician and educator Melvyn P. Richter, M.D. (see “Awards& Achievements” on page 3).

To support the Neuroscience Institute with a charitable gift, please contact Amy Buick, director of major gifts at 215-481-2792 or abuick@amh.org.

Lecture Series

F O R U M

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Centennial Celebration for the Women’s Board!

Just as it did 100 years ago with itsfounding support for Abington Memorial Hospital, the Women’s

Board continues to support Abington tomake a significant difference in the lives ofAbington’s patients and their families.

Plans are now underway to develop anew Centennial Auxiliary, named in honor of the Women’s Board’s 100 years of service to Abington Memorial Hospital.

The Centennial Auxiliary will be centered inthe Blue Bell area, and is presently recruitingleadership for this newest group of womendevoted to philanthropy and communityservice on behalf of Abington Health.This centennial year for the Women’s Boardhas been notable on other fronts as well:

� The Women’s Board was named the 2013 Outstanding Volunteer Group of the Year by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Current Women’s Board President, Pam Bown, accepted the award on behalf of the Women’s Board at a special National Philanthropy Day Luncheon.

� The Auxiliaries of the Women’s Board recently awarded its coveted “Auxilian of the Year” honor to Linda Kates, longtime member of Meadowbrook Springlyn Auxiliary (see photo, left).

� Throughout the year, the Women’s Board has supported a wide array of projects and programs at Abington Health. Among the recipients of its generosity were the Creekwood Center’s Children’s Case Management Department, which received support to help enhance children’s social skills, and the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), which works to enhance hospital stays for elders and reduce patient delirium.

A contemporary artist with historic Abington roots

The Women’s Board has helped toensure an uplifting environmentthroughout the hospital by

acquiring and mounting the photographicimages of living seascapes and landscapesof Feo Pitcairn. In addition to being an accomplished award-winning photographer, Mr. Pitcairn has a storiedconnection to Abington Memorial Hospital, the Women’s Board and the June Fete Village Fair.

Feo is the son of Theodore Pitcairn,who donated June Fete Farm to Abingtonas a permanent site for the annual fair. Not only did Feo and his bride, Kirstin, get married directly adjacent to the fairgrounds in 1959, the couple scheduledtheir wedding for June 6 – during JuneFete itself! The considerate June Fete organizers turned off their loudspeakersduring the ceremony, and later, membersof the wedding party joined the June Fetefestivities to dance under the big tent.

June Santos, Dean Alves, Linda Kates, Gene Spatocco, Leslie Bell, Phyllis Alves, Russ Alves and Roxanne Spatocco

Feo Pitcairn

June Fete, 1966

Dr. Peter Klugherz, Diane and Harry Becker

David Miller, Dr. Emanuel Tress, Michael Siegel and Oscar Vance

Suzanne Mann and Barbara McKinney

Catherine Spahr, R.N., Lisa and Steven Asplundh

Marie Kampf and Walter Kinzinger

Harry and Elva Beisswenger and Bob Riethmiller

Pat Adamow and Mary Adamow

The Chairman’s Forum is AbingtonHealth Foundation’s prestigious giving society for philanthropic leaders who make an annual gift of$1,000 or more in support of the workof Abington Health. In appreciationfor their essential support, AbingtonHealth Foundation extends to Chairman’s Forum members several donor benefits, including special invitations to insider eventssuch as the Chairman’s Forum Lecture Series. For more informationabout the Chairman’s Forum, please contact Cathy Cawley, development officer at 215-481-2036or ccawley@amh.org.

Annual Fund supports a century of service

Abington Health’s fall Annual Fund appeal honored AbingtonMemorial Hospital’s century of serving the community.

From a community hospital set in a rural town, Abington hasgrown greatly in size, sophistication and quality of care over the past100 years. Now it is the heart of Abington Health, which also includes Lansdale Hospital, Abington Health Centers on theSchilling, Warminster and Blue Bell campuses plus several other care entities.

Abington has changed a lot over the years, but what hasn’tchanged is the hospital’s close relationship with the communities we serve. As a nonprofit, charitable organization, Abington relies oncharitable gifts from our community for every aspect of our care.Abington’s Annual Fund is a prime opportunity for individuals to invest in their own health by making a charitable donation to helpmeet crucial health needs.

Gifts to the Annual Fund can be targeted to a specific program ofyour choice or directed to wherever the need is greatest. Pleasemake your 2013 gift before the end of the year by going towww.AbingtonHealth.org and clicking on “Ways of Giving.

Top donors help foster a healing environment

Members of the President’s Council and the Chairman’s Forum, Abington Health’s leadership annual giving societies, responded generously to this fall’s appeal, which focused on enhancing Abington’s healing environment.

Much has changed in healthcare over the past 100 years, butone thing that has remained constant is Abington’s commitment toproviding advanced care in a healing environment. Today the term,“healing environment,” means even more than offering outstandingphysicians, nurses and facilities. It refers to a hospital that actuallyenhances healing by providing an experience that reduces stress andfosters wellness in every detail.

Through their leadership support, President’s Council andChairman’s Forum members are bolstering Abington’s wide-rangingefforts to enhance the healing quality of all aspects of its physicalenvironment, including buildings, facilities and landscaping. They are also helping Abington embrace new models of healthcaredelivery that offer improved patient access, and strengthen a widearray of integrative medicine programs designed to care for thewhole person, not just treat disease. These projects and programs are carefully designed to champion compassionate, trustworthy careand support a healthier community.

Support is still needed for this important, ongoing effort. For moreinformation about the benefits of membership in the Chairman’sForum and President’s Council, please contact Cathy Cawley,development officer at 215-481-2036 or ccawley@amh.org.

6

The Foundation for Surgical Fellowships has honored Abington’sBariatric Fellowship Program with a$50,000 grant to support the continuedavailability of postgraduate surgical trainingopportunities of the highest quality.

Abington Memorial Hospital, a regional leader in bariatric surgery to address obesity, is one of the few institutions nationwide to establish a fellowship program in bariatric surgery.Abington’s Institute for Metabolic andBariatric Surgery, a designated Center ofExcellence, was recently honored with fullaccreditation for its bariatric fellowship program by The Fellowship Council, a national council to foster the developmentof fellowships. The goal of Abington’s fellowship is to produce a complete bariatricsurgeon, able to provide total diagnostic,non-operative, operative and postoperativetreatment of morbid obesity and its related diseases.

The Foundation for Surgical Fellowships exists to fund high-quality fellowships in various areas of surgerythrough a blind-review process based on criteria of excellence.

Bariatric Fellowship Program receives grant from Foundation for Surgical FellowshipsEllis A. Gimbel Trust and the Patriarch

Family Foundation supported Abington Memorial Hospital enhance its “PediatricFriendly ETC” initiative at the PennockEmergency Trauma Center.

The project is designed to enhance theexperience of the more than 20,000 children– from infants to adolescents – who receivecare each year at the Pennock ETC. The initiative will expand the pediatric expertiseof clinical ETC staff through an extensive

education program. It will also refurbisheight emergency trauma rooms to providethe best possible environment for the ETC’syoungest patients. Environmental upgradesinclude kid-friendly furnishings, arts andcrafts carts for family engagement, plus newplay and entertainment technology to helpchildren manage their pain and reduce stresswhile in the ETC.

Independence Blue Cross

Foundation supports Children’s Clinic

Wells Fargo provides support for Dental Clinic

Abington Memorial Hospital was selected by regional Cadillac dealerships toreceive five Starlight Tablets for use by pediatric patients and their families. The special iPads are provided by the StarlightChildren’s Foundation and come preloadedwith award-winning programs designed to help educate kids about diagnoses andprepare them for medical procedures. The tablets can also be used by young patients to play educational games as part of distraction therapy, as well as to connect

with friends, watch videos, complete homework and access other health and educational resources.

The tablets will be used by familieswith a child receiving emergency care, intensive care, radiology, pediatric care andother hospital services. The donation is partof regional efforts by Cadillac dealerships tosupport the Starlight Children’s Foundationand its mission to improve the life and healthof children and families at hospitals locallyand around the world.

Regional Cadillac dealers fund Starlight tablets

Developments

The Independence Blue CrossFoundation has awarded a Blue SafetyNet grant to Abington Health Children’sClinic. Located at the Lansdale Campus,the Clinic is staffed by pediatric nursepractitioners and a full-time social

worker. The Clinic offers the same services as a pediatrician’s office

to children whose families are on Medical Assistance or the Children’sHealth Insurance Program, or who do not have health insurance or

outpatient coverage.

Wells Fargo has made a community investment grant to support the Dental Clinic,a service of Abington Memorial Hospital foruninsured and underinsured patients. Thegrant will help fund dental materials and upgrade dental imaging equipment. Abington’s Dental Clinic is a full-serviceclinic that has met the oral health needs ofuninsured and disabled members of the community for more than 30 years. Wells Fargo’s charitable giving programis dedicated to making grants to local organizations working to strengthen the communities in which it operates.

Ahtoi Gibbons, speech pathologist with Jesse Simon

Abington Memorial Hospital’s first ambulance, 1914

Visit ourCentennial Website!

For a detailed timeline of Abington’s first century and

highlights of anniversary events and plans, please visit our

Centennial Website at

www.amh.org/100

Gimbel Trust and Patriarch Family Foundation support “Pediatric Friendly ETC” initiative

The Rewards of Planned Giving

7

T h e C h a r i t a b l e A d v a n t a g e The Rewards of Planned Giving

End of Year Giving

As the year comes to an end, you may be searching for a tax-advantaged way to support Abington Health Foundation.Make the most of your gift by establishing a charitable gift

annuity with Abington, a gift that gives back to you!A charitable gift annuity is a life-income gift that can provide

you with tax savings while increasing income to you and/or other individuals. It enables you to make a gift for the future of AbingtonHealth and receive lifetime annuity payments for yourself and/orother beneficiaries.

Making a gift and receiving lifetime annuity payments may beespecially attractive if you own securities that have appreciated but

pay low dividends. You could sell and reinvest for more income, but you would need to pay capital gains taxes if you do. By makinga charitable gift of the securities and retaining a lifetime annuity, you will receive payments based on the full current value of the securities – with no immediate capital gains taxes to pay when thegift is made.

Your gift can also be arranged to provide future benefits to you or to others through a deferred gift annuity. Deferred gift annuities can help supplement your retirement income or help provide support for a loved one.

Below is a current chart of the rates that Abington Health Foundation uses for a single life charitable annuity:

The Elkins Legacy Society, named forGeorge W. and Stella McIntyre Elkins,honors those special donors who have included Abington in their estate planswith a bequest, annuity or other form ofplanned gift. Benefits of membership inthe Society include invitations to an annual luncheon, periodic insider updates and a range of donor recognitionopportunities. Please let us know if youhave already included Abington HealthFoundation in your estate plans. We would love to thank you!

the

s o c i e t yElkinsLegacy

Above is a sample illustration for a charitable gift annuity based on a gift of $10,000 from a 75 year old*.

BENEFITS� Immediate – Income tax deduction of $4,577.� Annual –Annual payments of $580 for life of annuitant, age 75, $437 tax-free for the first 12.4 years

� Future –AHF will receive remaining principal when annuity ends. � May reduce estate taxes and costs.

5.8% CHARITABLE

GIFT ANNUITYDONOR AHF

*Based on the October 2013 IRS discount rate

lansdale hospital update

Since Lansdale Hospital became part of Abington Health five years ago, it haspursued a robust program of strengthening every aspect of its care.

The results have been dramatic.Patient satisfaction scores are now consistently greater than 90 percent. This year,

the hospital was ranked number one in the region for its quick response to patientneeds, and number two in the region for its Emergency Room’s shortest wait times.

“Lansdale Hospital has made numerous improvements in recent years,” says Gary Candia, Ph.D., chief executive officer. “We have attained a new level of distinction.”

For example, the hospital has been designated a Primary Stroke Center by theJoint Commission, and it received the Joint Commission’s designation for hip andknee replacements. It received the 2013 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ fromHealthgrades®, and it was the second acute care hospital in Pennsylvania to achievePathway to Excellence® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Over the past five years the hospital has bolstered its medical staff, adding topspecialists in areas that include emergency medicine, neurosurgery, orthopaedics,spine surgery, radiology, pathology and others. It has also upgraded technologythroughout the hospital, created new suites for neurology and gastrointestinal care,renovated its facilities inside and out and opened a new Pain Center.

Five years of rising excellence

Front row, left to right: Jill Kyle, vice president, institutional advancement;Eva Feinberg, gifts coordinator; Cathy Cawley, development officer

Middle row, left to right: Lucinda Johnson, director of strategic giving; Debbie Maha, planned giving associate; Lori Ferro, annual giving officer;

Amy Buick, director of major gifts

Back row, left to right: Lisa Bidey, individual gifts assistant; Jenny Kleintop, advancement services officer; Tammy Hoffman, donor relations officer;

and Monica Simon, grants officer.

60.................................................. 4.4

65.................................................. 4.7

70.................................................. 5.1

75.................................................. 5.8

80.................................................. 6.8

85.................................................. 7.8

90+ .............................................. 9.0

Rates recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities effective 7/1/2013.

AGE RATE

We would be pleased to help set up any gift that advances yourpersonal planning goals. For more information on funding acharitable gift annuity please contact Lucinda Johnson, directorof strategic giving at 215-481-4019 or ljohnson@amh.org.

Meet the Office of Philanthropy

Annual Fund appeal generatesimportant support

The Lansdale Hospital community respondedgenerously to this fall’s Annual Fund appeal.

Unrestricted contributions to the Annual Fundare among Lansdale Hospital’s most importantsources of support. They enable the hospital to direct charitable support to the areas of most pressing need for our community, such as thoseidentified in the accompanying article.

Annual Fund gifts are a direct and flexible wayfor the community to invest in its own health andwell-being. Because Lansdale Hospital is a nonprofit charitable organization, it relies on charitable gifts for every service it provides. The hospital’s past five years of expanding excellence are a moving reflection of our community’s support.

For more information about supporting Lansdale Hospital, please contact Lori Ferro, annual giving officer in the Office of Philanthropy at 215-481-2529 or lferro@amh.org, or visit www.abingtonhealth.org and click on “Ways of Giving”.

$10,000 CASH

INCOME TAX DEDUCTION – $4,577ANNUAL PAYMENTS – $580

1200 Old York Road • Abington, PA 19001 215-481-GIFT www.AbingtonHealth.org

Office of Philanthropy StaffJill Kyle, C.F.R.E., Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Amy Buick, Director of Major Gifts

Cathy Cawley,Development Officer

Lori Ferro,Annual Giving Officer

Tammy Hoffman,Donor Relations Officer

Lucinda Johnson, Director of Strategic Giving

Monica Simon, R.N., M.S.N., G.P.C., Grants Officer

Robert M. Infarinato

Chair, Board of Trustees

Bruce Entwisle

Chair, Foundation Board of Trustees

Pam Bown

President, The Women’s Board

Kevin M. Zakrzewski, M.D.

President, Medical Staff

John J. Kelly, M.D., F.A.C.P.

Chief of Staff

Laurence M. Merlis

President and C.E.O.

LEAVE A LEGACY®

Create your own legacy.A bequest, large or small, is a meaningful way to provide

future support to Abington Health.

Non-Profit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDPhiladelphia, PA Permit No. 5

MAKE A SECURE GIFT ONLINE TODAYby visiting www.AbingtonHealth.org and click on Ways of Giving.

For more information please contact the Abington Health Foundation Office of Philanthropy at 215-481-GIFT (4438).

Abington Health relies on charitable support to provide quality healthcare, and one of the most important forms of support is a direct year-end gift.

WAYS OF GIVINGWe can help you find a year-end giving solution that best meets your needs, including a:

�cash gift – check or credit card�gift of stock�charitable gift annuity�distribution from your IRA

BENEFITS OF GIVINGThe greatest benefit of all is the knowledge that you are supporting excellent healthcare in your community. Annual recognition opportunities include:

�Prestigious giving clubs with member benefits�The Elkins Legacy Society for planned gifts�Recognition on our Wall of Honor�Recognition in Profiles of Givingand our Annual Report

Donating long-term appreciated stock offers you a two-fold tax saving. First, you avoid paying any capital gains tax on the increase in value of yourstock. In addition, you receive a tax deduction forthe full fair market value of the stock on the date of the gift.

For example, if you purchased stock many years ago for $1,000, and it is now worth $10,000, an outright gift of that stock to Abington HealthFoundation would result in a charitable deductionof $10,000. In addition, you permanently avoid paying capital gains tax on the $9,000 of appreciation.

MAKE YOUR YEAR-END GIFT TODAYSupport the vital services of Abington Health with a gift before December 31

Don’t miss your opportunity for a 2013 tax deduction – make your charitable donation to Abington Health Foundation before December 31.

Giving stock offers tax advantages