Dr. David Wensel, TRU Medical Director, Accepts AAHPM Award

Dr. David Wensel, TRU's medical director, attended the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine's (AAHPM) annual assembly this past week to accept one of three Presidential Citations on behalf of the Hospice Medical Director Certification Board (HMDCB), of which he is the current president.

Established in 2012 as an independent, nonprofit certifying body, HMDCB addresses the crucial need for certifying hospice medical directors across the United States, in Puerto Rico, and in Canada. The board's mission is to ensure a minimum level of knowledge and competency among hospice providers, thereby enhancing standards of care for patients and their families.

The other two recipients of the AAHPM Presidential Citation were the Carter Family, for raising public awareness by being open about the decision to access hospice care for both President Carter and the late Mrs. Carter, and the International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) for their outstanding contributions to advancing global hospice and palliative care initiatives.

See Dr. Wensel's acceptance speech on AAHPM's YouTube Channel.

Read about the work of the HMDCB on TRU's blog.



March 30th is National Doctor's Day

Tomorrow, March 30th, is National Doctor's Day, and we extend our deepest gratitude for our doctors at TRU and TRU PACE. Your dedication to providing exceptional care to our community and your tireless efforts inspire us all. Thank you for your service and for being the heartbeat of TRU Community Care.

Share Your Appreciation for our TRU Volunteers

National Volunteer Week is April 21 - 27 and we want to collect sentiments from TRU staff members about their appreciation for our volunteers.

TRU Staff who work with our volunteers in any way, please answer one question or all three of the questions posed here! We will share your words of thanks at the Volunteer Appreciation Celebration on April 25.

As we close out Women's History Month, let's take a moment to reflect upon the contributions made by five notable female medical professionals who have shaped the current landscape of healthcare and improved countless lives. These five are just a relatively recent sampling of the myriad contributions that women have made to the medical field throughout history:

Dr. Patricia Bath (1942–2019)

Dr. Patricia Bath was a pioneering ophthalmologist and inventor known for inventing the Laserphaco Probe, a device used in cataract surgery. She was the first African American woman to complete a residency in ophthalmology and the first African American woman to receive a medical patent.

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha (born 1976)

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha is a pediatrician and public health advocate known for her role in uncovering the Flint water crisis in Michigan. Her research and advocacy brought national attention to the lead contamination issue, leading to interventions to improve public health in Flint and beyond.

Dr. Frances Arnold (born 1956)

Dr. Frances Arnold is a chemical engineer and Nobel laureate known for her pioneering work in the field of directed evolution of enzymes. Her research has applications in medicine, including the development of enzymes for pharmaceutical production and biocatalysis in drug synthesis.

Dr. Katalin Karikó (born 1955)

Dr. Katalin Karikó is a biochemist whose research laid the groundwork for the development of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Her work on mRNA technology has also shown promise in other areas, such as cancer immunotherapy and treatment for genetic disorders.

Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier (born 1968)

Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier is a microbiologist and biochemist who co-discovered the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. This groundbreaking discovery has revolutionized genetic research and holds immense potential for applications in healthcare, including gene therapy and personalized medicine.

Bonuses Incentive Extended Through April for Employee CNA Referrals

In an initiative to hire needed Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), TRU increased the employee referral bonus for CNA hires from $500 to $750 throughout the month of March and has now extended the increased bonus through April.

If you are acquainted with any suitable candidates, kindly submit a referral bonus request form to the Human Resources department before your referral's scheduled interview. Additionally, ensure that they mention your name when completing their employment application.

More about the Employee Referral Program here.



TRU Thrift Shop April Sales Calendar

Current Job Openings

TRU Staff: Earn Money for Employee Referrals!

Current Job Openings at TRU

We know that good people, like you, know good people.

Let us reward you! More information here.

Be sure to submit your referral bonus request form prior to your referral's scheduled interview and ensure they write your name when completing their employment application.

Current employees can apply by emailing HR@trucare.org.

Do not apply through Indeed, as it is for external applicants only.



Save the Date

Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Event

Friday, March 29, 2024, 9 am - 2 pm

Ceremony and reception at 1 pm

March 29th is National Vietnam War Veterans Day and the day before Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day is observed in Colorado. TRU Community Care and the Carbon Valley Community Center would like to honor all Veterans on this day, especially Vietnam Veterans. RSVP information will be shared in the next edition of TRU Team News. The day will include donuts and coffee at 9 am. Healing Warriors pop-up from 9 am. – 12:30 pm. Veteran to Veteran Café from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, and a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans commemoration and dessert reception from 1 – 2:30 pm.

Carbon Valley Community Center

151 Grant Street

Firestone, CO 80520

Pre-register at trucare.org/welcomehome.

My Life, My Death, My Choices

Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 5:30 - 7:30 pm (National Healthcare Decisions Day)

Update: This event is now FULL! Contact BeckiParr@trucare.org to be placed on a waiting list if you are still interested.

Welcomes and Congratulations

We're excited to welcome the following employees and travelers to our TRU family:



• Alyssa Shelby – Life Enrichment Coordinator
• Carrie Romero – Hospice Telehealth RN
• Maria Hernandez – Hospice CNA
• Esmeralda Favela – Hospice CNA

This reflects new staff members and travelers who started between this edition and the last edition of TRU Team News

And our congratulations to:

• Brenda Diaz – promoted to North Team Traveling CNA
• Sophia Medrano – promoted to Eligibility Specialist
• Tyler Hamilton – promoted to Palliative Care Supervisor

Fond Farewell

Sending best wishes to the following people who recently left the organization:

• Karen Robinson
• Amanda Sanderson

Congratulations to the following volunteers celebrating anniversaries with TRU in April. We appreciate all that you do for TRU!

16 Years - Mary Althauser

16 Years - Cassi Bailey

16 Years - Dan Baldwin

16 Years - Donna Barela

16 Years - Connie Clancy

16 Years - Evie Cohen

16 Years - Marilyn Diesch

16 Years - Tom Faure

16 Years - Valerie Friesen

16 Years - Sally Goedert

16 Years - Robert Halcomb

16 Years - Rolene Hinsberger

13 Years - Susan MacDonald

12 Years - Natalia Kushner

11 Years - Jean Dempsey

9 Years - Nancy Uvalle

8 Years - Jane Anderson

7 Years - Mike Reagan

7 Years - Patrick Turner

6 Years - Jaqueline Glover

6 Years - Cheryl Micheli

5 Years - Annie Garretson

5 Years - Toby Wong

4 Years - Bruce Blankenship

4 Years - Kathryn Dansky

3 Years - Katerina Getchell

3 Years - Amy McCormick

3 Years - Antony Pearson

3 Years - Elizabeth Wyss

2 Years - Lee Ann Henbest

2 Years - Olivia Wright

1 Year - Marnie Ceazan

1 Year - Vanessa Handa

1 Year - Melody (Gene) Kelly

1 Year - Mars Smith