It’s rare that an organization tries to implement strategies to decrease their business. But since the St Anthony Hospital system is focused on HEALTH as a primary priority, the steps they have taken are designed to actually decrease hospital visits.
From the Level 1 Trauma Center to the Comprehensive Stroke Center, Heart and Vascular Care and legendary Emergency Department and Flight for Life, St Anthony programs provide exemplary and state of the art care. And the novel concept of community health centers to pre-diagnose and address potential health problems presents a state of the art approach to managing health care.
Over 900 guests gathered at the Hyatt Regency Denver Saturday night to celebrate and support the St Anthony Health Foundation. President and CEO Jeff Brickman described the vision of health care returning to the dynamic that he experienced as a kid, traveling around with his physician Grandfather in his Buick Electra and making people well, one household at a time.
Group Chief Development Officer Shelley Thompson thanked everyone for their support, past and future, and Reggie Rivers brought his usual joviality to the paddle raiser and Heads or Tails game (with the inevitable Broncos jokes intertwined).
Guests also heard from physician co-chairs Dr. Paula Dennen and Dr. Michael Brunko through video highlights, and honorary chairs Becky and Chuck Morris also expressed their deep support for St Anthony’s, whose Flight For Life program saved Becky’s life after a critical accident many years ago.
Chuck Morris then introduced the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, celebrating their 50th anniversary and still going strong. He has represented them since back in the Tulagi days in Boulder in the ’70s.
The entire program was an illustration of the pride and caring that goes into the St Anthony Hospital group. Since the Sisters of Saint Francis arrived in Denver in 1893 and opened St. Anthony Hospital, they continue to serve our community and be one of the best places to go in times of sickness and injury. 122 years later, they help everyone in Colorado strive for vibrant health from the day they are born.
Arvada Mayor Marc Williams and Luanne Williams, ED of Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation
Chuck Morris, left, John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gary and Susan Dixon
Jeff Hanna of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, left, with Ann and Jeff Breslaw, Chuck Morris and Jeff Brickman
Linda Goodwin, left, Jeff Hanna, Chief Development Officer Shelley Thompson and Larry Goodwin
James Terrell and Marcia Hughes
Mark and Paula Claussen
St Anthony Hospital President and CEO Jeff Brickman, left, with Jimmie Fadden of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Honorary Chairs Becky and Chuck Morris
Dirt Band manager Steve Schweidel, left, Bob Carpenter of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Brent Moerer
Ray and Suellyn Mutt
Corina and Chris Lindley
Annamarie Johnson (Foundation board) and Rod Johnson
James and Karen Stephenson
Jamie and Adam Clarke of sponsor Comfort Dental
From Comfort Dental: Teniel Seifert, left, Jessi Waring, Sara Sydrant
Todd Lancaster, left, Kendall Colman, Jeff Brickman, Molly Hughes
Becky Morris, left, Jeff Hanna, Ann Brown (Hospital board chair)
Jeff Brickman, left, with Patrick Green (committee)
Steph and Kevin Jenkins, left, with Paul and Sandy Staley
Luz Salgado and Mark Terranova
Amat and Jessica Agarwala
Zev Ancel, left, physician Co-Chair Dr. Paula Dennen and Jeff Brickman
Jeff Brickman, left, with physician Co-Chair Dr. Michael Brunko
Jeff Brickman, left, with physician Co-Chairs Dr. Paula Dennen and Dr. Michael Brunko
Judy and Dr. Mike Brunko, medical director, Flight For Life Colorado
Committee members Elaine Brickman, left, Annamarie Johnson, Michael DeWinter, Stacy Ohlsson, Kate Curtis (Foundation board chair)
Angie Cox and Rick Krout
Vicki and Dan Fox, left, Dr. Winston Tripp II (Foundation board) and Kenna Tripp, Derek and Andrea Morgan
Keith and Becky Combs, left, with Dirt Band member John McEuen
Matraca Berg, left, her husband Jeff Hanna and Becky Morris
Kathy Mayer (director of Flight For Life Colorado) and Ben Letterhos
Director of Stewardship Meg Nicolet, left, Kathy Mayer, director of Flight For Life Colorado, and Jenni Lanier, Centura event planner
Ted and Jan Harms, left, Shelley Thompson, Phil Canterbury
Keith Mullett, left, Stephanie Carpenter, Mark and Linda Thompson
Karen and Jay McConnell
Phil and Jen Roman, left, with Kym and Shawn Morrissey (she was on the planning committee)
Jim Curtis, left, Pat Marquez, Kate Curtis, Ron Marquez
Wes and Mary Grace Stermole, left, with Jolynn and Gary Snyder
Steve Oliver and Eileen Lukanic
Terri and Al Fisher
Russ Johnson, left, Carole Peet, Al Kemp
Dr. Michele Haney, left, Anne and Steve Burkholder, Julie and Stu Seltz, Jim and Kate Curtis
Emcee Reggie Rivers and his wife Stephanie with Randy Ohlson
Tom and Joni Fortson, left, with Jon and Bonnie McCracken
Austin Cleveland, CEO of Vibra Hospital (sponsor), left, with Greg and Linda Tautz and Scott and Annette Ridl
Stacy Ohlsson, left, with Scott Richardson and Cynthia Treadwell
Denise and Mike West, left, with Steve and Kim Miller
Mike and Joy Ptasnik
Silent auction items were unique and plentiful
Rachel and Michael Anger
Jim and Sarah Holder, left, Walter and Christie Isenberg, Nicole Isenberg, Darci Clark, Molly Hughes
Gorgeous centerpieces by Perfect Petal
Reggie Rivers makes some announcements
Rev Henri K Tshibambe delivered the invocation
Jeff Bridges welcomes everyone
Jeff Bridges talks about the hospital’s mission
Shelley Thompson on stage
Shelley Thompson thanks everyone for their support
Reggie Rivers jokes that he has everyone’s bid numbers on his cellphone
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was the special guest entertainment
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band played old favorites
Jeff Hanna and John McEuen jam on stage
The NItty Gritty Dirt Band is celebrating their 50th anniversary.
Michael Brunko MD, Chief Medical Officer, Flight For Life Colorado, and Paula Dennen MD, Managing Partner and Intensivist, Critical Care, Pulmonary and Sleep Associates
Committee Members:
Elaine Brickman, Judy Brunko, Michael Brunko MD, Sharon Burnette, Kathleen Curtis, Paula Dennen MD, Michael DeWinter, Joanne Field, Patrick Green, Vicki Harding, Annamarie Johnson, Jenni Lanier, Becky Morris, Chuck Morris, Kym Morrissey, Meg Nicolet, David Nuhfer MD, Stacy Ohlsson, Ben Seymour, Shelley Thompson
President/CEO:
St Anthony Hospital: Jeff Brickman
Staff:
Group Chief Development Officer: Shelley Thompson; Director of Stewardship: Meg Nicolet; Director of Development: Carrie Bach; Development Support Supervisor: Brendan White; Statewide Event Planner: Jenni Lanier; Devleopment Officers: Betsy Boudreau, Kelly Hall; Development Support: Melissa Bauman, Roxanne Solano, Lauri Vogt
Invocation:
Rev Henri K Tshibambe
Speaker:
Jeff Brickman and Shelley Thompson
Libations:
Canvas Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon
Entertainment:
Nitty Gritty Dird Band; InTune String Ensemble during reception; DJ RIPM
Sponsors:
Silver: Critical Care, Pulmonary & Sleep Associates, GE Johnson Construction, Shames Construction; Bronze: Cardel Homes, Western Nephrology, Vibra Hospital, Anesthesia Consultants PC/Team Health, Surgical Specialists of Colorado, Sage Hospitality, Colorado Center for Bone Research, APEX Emergency Group PC; Video production sponsor: PostModern Company
Menu:
Winter harvest mix with roasted squash, pomegranate, shaved fennel and cider vinaigrette; Not Your Father's Root Beer braised short ribs with crispy skinned regal chicken breast; rosemary mushroom mac and cheese; brussel sprouts; alternative: vegetarian lasagna; mocha pot du creme with seasonal berries/roasted pecan cheesecake with cranberry orange stew for dessert
Attendance:
Nearly 900
Attire:
Black tie
Ticket Prices:
$250 individual tickets; sponsorships from $5,000 to $100,000
Event Committee:
Elaine Brickman, Judy Brunko, Michael Brunko MD, Sharon Burnette, Kathleen Curtis, Paula Dennen MD, Michael DeWinter, Joanne Field, Patrick Green, Vicki Harding, Annamarie Johnson, Jenni Lanier, Becky Morris, Chuck Morris, Kym Morrissey, Meg Nicolet, David Nuhfer MD, Stacy Ohlsson, Ben Seymour, Shelley Thompson
Board of Directors:
Foundation: Kathleen Curtis, Chair; Meg Nicolet, Justin Cooper, Gerald Winston Trip II MD, Stacy Ohlsson, Annamarie Johnson; Ex Officio: Jeff Brickman; St Anthony Hospital Board: Ann Brown, chair; Nilsa Mahon, vice chair; Marcia Hughes, secretary; Cindy Stevenson, Chris Cone, Peter Vellman MD, Joanne Field, Bennett Bertoli, Kathleen Curtis, Joe Heit MD, Morre Dean, Jeff Brickman