On Saturday, February 3, 2024, some members of the Irene Dunne Guild attended the 11th Annual Women's Heart Symposium held at Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica.

The event, organized by the Saint John's Health Center, the Pacific Heart Institute, and the Women's Heart Center, provided useful information about women's heart disease, risk prevention, and a healthy lifestyle. It also encouraged people to get regular checkups with their healthcare provider and be proactive in addressing high blood pressure and other concerns.

The video reply of the 11th Annual Women's Heart Symposium is available here.

​For more information, please visit the following websites:
https://www.haveaheartsaveaheart.org/library
https://www.pacificheart.com/ 
Photos: IDG President Kathy Yawitz and Guild members Kate Prudente, Stephanie Weston, Lorena Craven.

On November 16th, the Irene Dunne Guild members held their Annual Luncheon at the California Yacht Club and elected the new officers for 2024.

The Guild members have been dedicated to supporting Saint John's Health Center since its establishment in 1987. They have consistently raised funds to support various programs, equipment, and special projects.

The newly elected officers bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the guild, ensuring its continued success. Their passion for philanthropy and service is an inspiration for others to get involved in the Guild and make a difference.

We extend a warm welcome to the new officers!

Officers of the IDG Board of Directors fo 2024:
- Kathy Yawitz, President
- Lucy Fisher, Vice President
- Janie Coolidge, Treasurer
- Mary White, Recording Secretary
- Katie Harding, Corresponding Secretary

In 2023, through the generous donations to the Annual Patron Drive, the Irene Dunne Guild funded the following programs and equipment:
 
Massages for Caregivers: Saint John's Health Center ($33,600): Surveys show that burnout is common for hospital staff members. The IDG program provides massages to caregivers on a monthly basis, with the goal to addresses burnout among hospital staff.
 
Acute Care: Diagnostic Radiology Department ($10,000): Every year, 500 patients leave Saint John's with a PICC line, to be used for home intravenous infusions, and they need to know how to keep the line dry when taking a shower. Patient kits will provide a brochure with care instructions, shower covers, Curos caps and fabric arm sleeves.

Brain Health Boosters for Healthy Aging, Virtual Fit-Brain: Pacific Neuroscience Institute ($10,000): "Brain Health Boosters” is a 90min presentation. It includes cognitive training exercises for healthy aging of the brain. The presentation is intended for senior centers and other similar organizations such as the Wallis Annenberg GenSpace. "Virtual Fit-Brain" is gaming software designed to improve cognitive functioning. IDG will provide $5,000 in funding to each.

RQI Station for ASC Port "Body in a Box": Clinical Education Department ($3,424): The RQI Station device assists in real time feedback and adaptive learning. For $2,500, students are provided feedback through a laptop. Body in a Box is a low cost ($924) compact training model for the teaching of IVAD.

Bladder Scanners (2) OR and PACU: Prepoerative Services ($22,474): Scanners are an integral part of medical practice. They reduce the need for urinary catheters in preventing post-urinary retention.
 
AccuVein: Preoperative Services ($6,505): "AccuVein" assists nurses to find veins in patients with difficult veins who need IV's placed or blood drawn. Decreases the number of sticks for the patient.
 
Accuvein AV500: Oncology & Caritas Suites ($6,505): This device digitally displays a visual map of the vasculature on the surface of the skin in real time, allowing clinicians to verify vein patency and avoid valves or bifurcations.

On September 14th, the Irene Dunne Guild hosted its annual "Treats for Caregivers" event at Saint John's Health Center. The event is organized to show gratitude and appreciation to all the employees at Saint John’s Health Center and thank them for delivering compassionate care to patients. The photos of the successful event, taken by photographer Glenn Marciano, are published below.

This year's event was co-chaired by Diane Morgan, Cathy Singh, and Pam Kogan. Thank you!

In the past, the Guild would distribute healthy snacks and treats to various hospital departments on a monthly basis. Guild members would work together to purchase large bags of apples, small cheeses, sweets, and other treats, which they would then bring to designated staff lounges at Saint John's. Since 2014, the Guild has also sponsored hospital-wide Ice Cream Socials for all the caregivers at the Health Center.

Photo Credit: Glenn Marzano.

On Sunday, September 17th, the Irene Dunne Guild community gathered at the California Yacht Club for the Fiesta 2023 event. The Fiesta event, held annually in August or September, is a highly anticipated social gathering for IDG members and their partners. This fun-filled event features a delightful dinner and is a joyous celebration of the genuine camaraderie and friendships that define the Irene Dunne Guild community.
​Thank you to Kathy Yawitz and Debi Bishton, Fiesta co-chairs, and their committee for organizing such a beautiful event this year!

​In 2022, through the generous donations to the Annual Patron Drive, the Irene Dunne Guild funded the following equipments and programs, providing a total of $ 118,536.25 in gifts!

Massages for Caregivers: Addresses burnout among hospital staff, providing 10 minutes massages to caregivers monthly.
 
Flowater Refill - Cancer Center: Provides accessible clean water to caregivers and patients and reduce the environmental footprint encouraging water bottles’ refills.
 
Locker Room Refresh - ICU & PCCU: Redo of the Nurses' locker room with new furniture.
 
Electric Gurneys - PreOP and GI departments: Electric gurneys to transport patients.
 
Cardiac I Stat Machine – Kenny and Carol Minerd Heart Institute: The machine provides lab results for patients (like blood panels and respiratory status).
 
Biocon Bladder Scanner - Cancer Center: The machine provides 3D images to determine if catheterization is needed, lowering the rate of cauterizations and thereby the associated urinary infections.
 
Portable Battery Headlight - Heart and Vascular Institute: It is a highly sought-after equipment that allows nurses and surgeons to see more accurately.
 
Wireless Fetal Monitoring System - Women’s Health & Wellness Institute: The device allows women in labor to walk around the floor instead of being tied to a fetal monitor; the movement benefits the labor experience.
 
Irene Dunne Guild Nursing Scholarships: The scholarships help Saint John’s nurses with Associate degrees complete their BSN requirements; they were provided by the Irene Dunne Guild and matching gifts from the hospital. The current five awardees have been selected from the Intensive Care, Neonatal Intensive Care and Preoperative units.

Please consider a tax-deductible gift to our Patron Drive so we can give even greater support Saint John's.  

​​SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 and plan to attend!

Power of Pink Luncheon honoring our fellow Guild member, Mary Flaherty, Trustee, and former Chair of Saint John’s Health Center Foundation, with the Ruth Well Spirit of Hope Award. Mary, one of the original founders of the Irene Dunne Guild, has been supporting Saint John's for YEARS in countless ways.  Congratulations, Mary!   

For more information, contact [email protected]. or Tess Csiszar at (310) 829-8168.