Newsworthy

Dear Community Partners,

Here are today’s updates:

• Bariatric Surgery Quality Improvement Project Gains National Recognition
• Dr. Dana Awad Joins Endocrinology Team
• Highlighting Our APP’s Contributions to National Provider Education

Bariatric Surgery Quality Improvement Project Gains National Recognition

Dr. Partha Bhurtel, Medical Director of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery program at Stormont Vail Health, requested that Meloni Ells, RN, Quality Improvement Specialist, submit an abstract based on the team’s quality improvement project for the American College of Surgeons Quality and Safety conference in Denver in July.

It turned out to be one of more than 800 abstracts submitted for this year’s conference that highlighted quality improvement projects from all ACS programs. The Stormont Vail quality improvement abstract was on Early Post Operative Appointment: An effective strategy to decrease post bariatric emergency department visits.

The Stormont Vail abstract was selected among the top 20 abstracts out of the 800 submitted, and was named as best among the Bariatric surgery abstracts. It will now be added to the ACS repository as a case study, increasing the visibility of the Stormont Vail program.

Said Dr. Bhurtel, “Meloni did a great job presenting our work and had multiple people asking her about our quality improvement initiatives.”

Congratulations, Meloni, Dr. Bhurtel and the entire bariatric surgery team. This is a wonderful recognition of the high-quality care you provide to our patients and community.

Dr. Dana Awad Joins Endocrinology Team

Stormont Vail Health proudly welcomes Dr. Dana Awad, a board-certified physician specializing in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, to the Stormont Vail Endocrinology team. Dr. Awad provides care at the Cotton O’Neil Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, 3520 S.W. 6th Ave., Topeka.

For Dr. Awad, a native Jordanian who grew up in the United Arab Emirates, becoming a doctor is a lifelong dream.

“I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was young,” Dr. Awad said. “This profession has always inspired me. Endocrinology specifically interested me because I come from a family with different endocrine problems, especially diabetes. I wanted to specialize in something where I could help my loved ones and, of course, my community.”

Dr. Award earned her medical degree at the University of Sharjah in the U.A.E. Her connection to endocrinology fueled her passion and understanding of patients’ challenges. She continued her education in the U.S., completing her internal medicine residency at Creighton University and an Endocrinology Fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

“Endocrinology deals with chronic diseases, so most of my patients are patients for life. I try to educate patients about their condition and options so that they’re completely informed and can confidently make the right decision,” she said. Dr. Awad is accepting new patients at the Cotton O’Neil Diabetes and Endocrinology Center. Call (785) 354-9591 to schedule an appointment.

Highlighting Our APP’s Contributions to National Provider Education

Janelle Williamson, an Advanced Practice Provider with the Palliative Medicine and Support Care team, recently presented at the prestigious AANP (American Association of Nurse Practitioners) National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. In her session, she highlighted nurse practitioners’ critical role in administering primary palliative care across different stages of life.

Janelle’s session was a call to all nurse practitioners to strengthen their palliative care competencies and for healthcare organizations to facilitate their professional growth in this essential field.

With our population aging and medical treatments advancing, it’s increasingly important for nurse practitioners to possess fundamental palliative care skills, from evaluating and treating symptoms of chronic severe illnesses to facilitating meaningful discussions about care goals and planning for serious diseases. Janelle’s presentation underscores her commitment and our collective efforts to lead by example in healthcare education and provider engagement on a national scale.

We together,
Dr. Kenagy