October 24, 2023

Physician Award of Excellence: Edward McKenna, MD

Aspirus Health recently celebrated our second-quarter recipients of the Award of Excellence. The award is given quarterly to a physician and advanced practice clinician (APC) who demonstrate the Aspirus values in their clinical practice and interaction with patients, staff and communities.

Dr. Edward McKenna is an oncologist with Aspirus Cancer Care - Wausau. He also provides outreach at Aspirus Cancer Care - Rhinelander - James Beck Cancer Center. He was nominated by Mikaela Underwood, who shared numerous patient testimonials praising Dr. McKenna for his compassion, expertise and kindness, and provided examples of how Dr. McKenna goes out of his way to support his fellow Aspirus team members.  

Mikaela wrote: “He always meets patients where they’re at to come up with the best plan of care for their disease. He collaborates with other providers across disciplines to make sure we are getting our patients the most effective treatment... Not only does he do this for our patients here in Wausau, but he also commutes an hour away to Rhinelander multiple times a week to see patients who live in smaller communities in order to relieve the burden of travel for them... His excellence also reaches beyond his patients and to his co-workers. He is one of the most considerate, kind and joyful people I work with… He is always working hard and going above and beyond to make the environment at Aspirus as positive and enjoyable as possible for not only his patients, but also his co-workers.”

Congratulations to Dr. McKenna for his commitment to our patients and communities!

Marie Beranek, APNP, DNP, Aspirus Stevens Point Clinic - Illinois, received the APC Award of Excellence. 

Emma Creger

ARN Med/Surg RN

Samantha Gryszkiewicz

HYMC ED RN

Julie Williams

AERH Nursing Director

Melissa Plaza

ARN Nutritional Services

Samantha Smith

ARN Recovery RN

Alyssa La Bello

ARN Nursing Supervisor

Herman Munster, AKA Ron Jesse, visited patients and staff at Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital. Herman Munster is a fictional character from the 1960s sitcom The Munsters and this costume brought a ton of smiles to our patients and staff.

Ron works in our Nutrition & Food Services Departments in Woodruff and Rhinelander and is well known for his outstanding themed costumes throughout the year. He's going to be on PTO on Halloween, so he's planning on bringing joy to our patients and staff with additional costumes before the big holiday.

Great job, Ron!

Departments within the Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital and Clinic were given a pumpkin to decorate (no carving), and a friendly competition is taking place. 

Tomahawk has a lot of creative staff! Tomahawk employees and patients started voting for their favorite pumpkin on Monday. Voting ends Oct. 30.

The winner will be announced on Halloween and their department will receive a pizza party! We'll share the winning pumpkin next week.

EMT/Paramedics

Laboratory

Aspirus Tomahawk Clinic

Imaging

Emergency Room

Aspirus Head 2 Toe

Physical Therapy

EVS/Dietary

Administration

Facilities

ACU

Reception and

Patient Access

Rehabilitation

Living Our Mission & Vision

For the 2023-2024 influenza season, Aspirus Health’s goal is for as many employees and clinicians to be vaccinated against both the flu and COVID-19 as possible. Vaccination offers the best protection and increases your chances of preventing illness, minimizing symptoms and remaining available for our patients and each other.

Important Date

October 31, 2023 – Individuals must receive their flu vaccination or submit their declination form by 5 p.m. on this date. (The deadline for receiving the COVID-19 vaccination or submitting the declination form is now December 1.) Non-compliant employees will be removed from their work schedule until complete and may be subject to disciplinary action, up to, and including voluntary resignation.

Visit the Influenza & COVID-19 Safety Programs info on the Aspirus intranet to learn more.

The Volunteers of Howard Young Medical Center (VHYMC) continue to award scholarships to Lakeland-area college students enrolled in healthcare-related fields.

Last December, VHYMC awarded six $2,000 Dr. Henry Ashe Continuing Education Scholarships to Lakeland-area college students pursuing healthcare-related degrees.

Application forms for the 2023 Dr. Henry Ashe Continuing Education Scholarship are now available. Applicants must be graduates of the LUHS district and enrolled in a program leading to an associate, bachelor or graduate degree in a healthcare-related field. Students must have completed one semester of college.

Applications can be obtained by writing to the scholarship committee, HYMC Volunteer Center, P.O. Box 470, Woodruff, WI 54568-0407. An electronic application can be requested at [email protected]. Applications must be returned by mail and postmarked by November 1.

Over the last ten years, the Volunteers of Howard Young Medical Center have provided $189,000 in

scholarships to college students, LUHS-area graduating seniors, and non-traditional students enrolled at Nicolet College. The support by the community of our Gift Shop located in Howard Young Medical Center is greatly appreciated and helps make all of this possible.

Abigail Alft, PA, Aspirus Tomahawk Clinic, was interviewed by WJJQ Radio in Tomahawk on Oct. 10.

The interview focused on Breast Health Awareness Month and the importance of mammograms.

During the interview with 92.5 WJJQ Radio host Jeff, Abigail stated, "The purpose of the mammogram is to screen yearly in women and try and catch any breast changes early so that appropriate intervention can be taken at the right time."

You can listen to the interview here. Under "Morning Conversation," click on "Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Abby Alft- Mammograms.mp3."

Great job, Abigail!

Do you have an announcement you'd like to include in the North Division Newsletter?

Please send it to Aspirus North Division Regional Communications & Community Engagement Lead Matt Thompson at [email protected]. Please provide any items for this newsletter by end-of-day Friday for use the following week.