System News: June 2023
Atrium Medical Center
Two experienced leaders have joined Atrium Medical Center’s executive team. Scott Kanagy, DO, has been named chief medical officer and vice president of operations. In this role, Dr. Kanagy will also have chief medical officer responsibility for Miami Valley Hospital South. Dr. Kanagy previously served as the chief medical officer at Upper Valley Medical Center, driving quality improvement, community outreach, and operational excellence since 2017. Tonya Casey has joined Atrium’s executive team as director of finance and operations. Tonya most recently served as the finance director of Miami Valley Hospital’s campuses.
Atrium President Kevin Harlan and Kim Hensley, chief operating officer/chief nursing officer, welcomed state Rep. Adam Mathews for a hospital tour. Representative Mathews is serving his first term representing the 56th Ohio House District, which includes Lebanon, South Lebanon, and Mason; also, he sits on the Families and Aging committee. Rep. Mathews toured Atrium’s Senior Emergency Department and Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation Unit to learn about these unique services in the south market.
Premier Health offered free screenings for Stroke Awareness Month and Skin Cancer Awareness Month. In Middletown, the Premier Community Health Mobile Clinic conducted health screenings and one-on-one health conversations with stroke management team members. Todd Hicks, MD, of Premier Plastic Surgeons, hosted skin cancer screenings at Countryside YMCA in Lebanon.
Atrium recently sponsored several events in the south market, including West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance Everest Awards; Downtown Middletown Inc. Women, Wine and Chocolate Walk; Hospice Care of Middletown Mother’s Day 5K; and a wellness fair at Central Connections in Middletown. Atrium also promoted hospital maternity services at Mama’s Market, an event hosted by Butler County General Health District and Help Me Grow.
The 29th Annual James A. Combs Golf Tournament was a great success thanks to the collaboration between Atrium Medical Center Foundation and Kiwanis Club of Middletown. The golf tournament supports children’s health care needs at Atrium and provides scholarships and eyeglasses to those in need in Middletown.
In other community relations news: Atrium President Kevin Harlan attended the 2023 Think Tank on Equity & Inclusion, a private meeting with other Cincinnati health system leaders. The group aims to work collaboratively to develop and implement strategies to advance health equity by addressing social determinants of health. Additionally, Atrium’s Level III Trauma Program helped Warren County law enforcement launch the Click It or Ticket campaign promoting seatbelt use ahead of the busy summer travel season.
Miami Valley Hospital
Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton hosted its 50th Anniversary Celebration on May 6 at the North Campus. This celebration included community partners and donors and highlighted how the Foundation has played a pivotal role in the community over the past five decades. In addition, the event focused on upcoming fundraising projects that the foundation will support in the years to come.
Premier Health and Miami Valley Hospital Foundation recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for the new Dr. Mukul S. Chandra Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation Center. This state-of-the-art facility at Miami Valley Hospital South honors the legacy of beloved educator, community health advocate, and cardiologist Mukul S. Chandra, MD.
Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton received a $10,000 grant from the Ohio State Fraternal Order of Eagles to purchase a SciFit Rex Total Body Recumbent Elliptical and upper body exerciser for the Miami Valley Hospital North cardiac rehab center. The elliptical provides patients with access to safe, full-body cardiovascular and strength training exercises meeting the needs of various patients. The upper-body exerciser especially benefits patients with lower-body injuries and mobility issues. This gift will be presented to the foundation in June at the Ohio State Fraternal Order of Eagles conference in Columbus.
Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton Board of Trustees recently approved the purchase of a Trident HD Specimen Radiography System, also known as a Faxitron, for the Miami Valley Hospital North surgical suite. The new equipment will allow for an immediate evaluation of breast cancer margins during an operation, removing more tissue if indicated, lessening the chance of a patient returning for another surgical procedure. Additionally, the new device will cut down on surgical time.
Upper Valley Medical Center
UVMC received a Miami Valley Career Center (MVCC) Appreciation Award during the school’s convocation ceremony on May 25 at Hobart Arena. The award recognized the hospital for providing hands-on opportunities for students through various educational experiences and employment. Specifically, UVMC hires MVCC students for patient care tech positions and cardiopulmonary services. UVMC also serves as an employer partner on the school’s business advisory committee, participates in their job fairs, serves as judges for their local Skills USA events, and provides guest speakers for various classes.
For Stroke Awareness Month, UVMC offered free screenings for the community on May 24. Premier Community Health wellness nurses performed the screenings, and Ashley Heitbrink, stroke program manager, provided consultations for participants.
A Community Blood Center Blood Drive was held at UVMC on May 5. The event was open to the community and the UVMC family. In other community engagement, UVMC was a tent sponsor for the Annual Tipp City Relay for Life 5K and Field Days events held the week of May 23 at the Tippecanoe High School track and field.
Premier Physician Network
Premier Physician Network welcomed four new physicians at its May 17 new physician and APP orientation! Please say hello to (L-R): Harry Kittaka, MD, Jamestown Family Medicine; Michelle Durrant, MD, Magnolia Women’s Health; Mridula Reddy, MD, Premier Blood and Cancer Center; and Satheesh Kathula, MD, Premier Blood and Cancer Center.
Back to the June 2023 issue of Premier Pulse
