Vail Health 2015-2016

Make sure your heart can keep up with your passions.

Don’t let your heart health keep you away from life’s best moments. After working together for decades in Denver, Dr. Jerry Greenberg and Dr. Nelson Prager have joined the Cardiology Institute year-round. Along with the opening of the new Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Lab, we are making mountains of improvements. Schedule your appointment at one of our three clinic locations.

FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

Welcome to Vail Health Magazine

appy 50 th anniversary

Vail Valley Medical Center! We have come a long way since our early days as the Vail Clinic, tending to ski injuries in the basement of the Red Lion. It’s amazing what can be accomplished with the vision, hard work and generosity of a caring community like ours. Today, VVMC is the world’s most advanced mountain hospital, providing Olympic-quality sports medicine, evidence-based research, modern cancer care and extensive cardiology capabilities — all high-quality services with exceptional outcomes.

Many moments — big and small — comprise the history of a hospital. And because we began, and have remained, the region’s only independent, nonprofit medical center, it is people who we credit for making possible everything VVMC offers today.

In 1964, it was one of Vail’s original investors, John Murchison of Dallas, who sealed the fate of healthcare in the Valley, when Aspen orthopaedist Dr. Bob Oden convinced Murchison that Vail needed its own full-time medical clinic. Murchison and Vail founder Pete Seibert would place "help wanted" ads in medical journals to find Vail’s first full-time physician, Dr. Tom Steinberg. Gordon and Thelma Brittan would lead the initiative for an expanded medical facility to eventually be named Vail Valley Medical Center.

Years later, the ski and racquet sports pioneer, Howard Head, would impact the history of the hospital by making a generous donation to establish Howard Head Sports Medicine. And in 1990, when VVMC leaders teamed up with former Olympian Cindy Nelson and then Vail Associates owner George Gillett to bring Dr. Richard Steadman and Dr. Richard Hawkins to the area, Vail would begin its trajectory to becoming a center of orthopaedics and sports medicine.

The history of Shaw Regional Cancer Center, as told by Dr. Jack Eck on page 46, is yet another example of the vision and generosity of people who care about providing the best for our community and visitors.

As we look back at these pivotal moments, we realize the magnitude of our Master Facility Plan, which will bring the most significant changes to the hospital in its 50-year history. I invite you to learn more about our plans on page 48.

Fifty years ago, the founders of Vail had the vision to know it would never become a first-class resort without first-rate medical care. Today, VVMC prepares for the challenges of the next 50 years in healthcare. Once again, we will turn to the people who believe in the importance of high-quality healthcare in the Valley. They will be the next history makers in a grand story we proudly cultivate.

Sincerely,

doris kirchner , president & ceo vail valley medical center

Vail Valley Medical Center Board of Directors

primary purpose : operations

Art Kelton - Chair

Dick Cleveland

Reg Franciose, MD

Chris Jarnot

Doris Kirchner

Charlie L'Esperance - Trustee

Jeff Shroll

Susan Suggs

Wayne Wenzel, MD

Vail Health Services Board of Directors

primary purpose : strategy & fiduciary

Michael Shannon - Chair

Andy Arnold

Mel Bergstein

Sam Bronfman

Ron Davis

Johannes Faessler

Reg Franciose, MD

Peter Frechette

Art Kelton

Doris Kirchner

Marc Philippon, MD

Jay Precourt

Richard Steadman, MDTrustee

Sally Veitch

FEATURES

SPECIAL 50TH SECTION

30 VVMC’s Golden Anniversary

From one seasonal doctor to a staff of hundreds, VVMC has grown with the community.

32 Families of Vail

People come to ski but stay for the way of life, and part of that is the quality medical care that supports active lifestyles.

37 Docs with a History

From the very beginning, VVMC has had wonderful doctors with a loyal following. Grateful patients and friends share memories of local physicians.

40 VVMC & Me

From delivering babies to helping people survive and thrive, VVMC has been privileged and grateful to be a part of transformative moments in people's lives.

40 Vail Babies

A cross-section of some of the babies that have been born in Vail since 1965.

46 The Story Behind the Name

The Shaws donated $18.5 million to build Shaw Regional Cancer Center, but they were involved in healthcare long before.

48 The Master Plan

As the hospital celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Master Facility Plan will serve as the roadmap for enhancing healthcare in the Valley for years to come.

54

50 Head Start

Everybody knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it’s not always so easy to come up with something that is healthy, fulfilling and sustainable with today’s dietary demands. Discover some new options and break out of the cereal rut.

The Aging Brain

The brain experiences age-related changes much like the body does, which can be frightening and bewildering to people and their loved ones. Yet not all changes are irreversible, and not all signify dementia or Alzheimer’s. Find out how to increase the chances of mental acuity and awareness.

57 Mountains of Discovery

Local physicians and therapists are on the forefront of medical research. Recent studies include the effects of snowfall on ski and snowboard crashes, opportunity for reducing the use of antibiotics and predicting the potential risk of skier injury.

What brings patients to us is our impeccable reputation, Ivy League doctors, and top-of-the-line equipment – including a new Linear Accelerator and 3D Mammography. But it’s the rest of the care, courtesy of a dietician, exercise physiologists, nurse navigator and a complimentary 12-room cancer caring lodge in a stunning setting, that keeps everyone’s spirits lifted to their absolute peak.

DEPARTMENTS

editor

creative

marketing

Michael Holton

contributors

Jim Brown

Katie Coakley

Shauna Farnell

Phil Lindeman

Traci J. Macnamara

Karen Mason

Kimberly Nicoletti

Dominique Taylor

Preston Utley

vail

Nicholas Brown

Peggy Carey

Charles Crevling

Brian Foster

Dr. Barry Hammaker

Doris Kirchner

Laura Millard

S. Jason Moore

Luke O’Brien

Sheila Sherman

Rick Smith

vail

Susan Ludlow

Burgund printing

Best Bets

DOG FRIENDLY HIKE

Grouse Lake in Minturn is a great trail for any hiker and pup – not too steep, but not too flat. There is loads of water along the way in the stream to keep the dogs cool, and the unbelievably beautiful Grouse Lake at the end of the hike.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

The Avon Connector trail, up Saddle Ridge, down Lee's Way, and back on the Connector. You can either ride from Avon or Edwards. It's a nice, long, gradual climb followed by a super fast and flowy descent. It can be shuttled for the downhill alone, but I consider that cheating!

Drew Knerl, Adult Hospitalist

ZACH SMITH, HR SPECIALIST

DAY ON THE MOUNTAIN

Nothing beats hitting the Stone Creek Chutes (Beaver Creek) in late January/early February after a night of snowfall. The key is to go early when you can still see your breath and nothing but fresh powder.

Steven Crawford, Technical Services Manager

NEARBY ROCK CLIMBING SPOT

Klettergarden, outside of Red Cliff, has easy access, flat landings, and a good range of boulder problems from V0-V11. Detailed information can be found on mountainproject.com.

Roberto Morales, Environmental Health Specialist

VAIL VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER PHYSICIANS AND STAFF SHARE THEIR TOP PICKS FOR THE BEST...

TODD WARD, MANAGER AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST, HOWARD HEAD SPORTS MEDICINE

SUMMER DAY

First, it’s off for a trail run with my best buddy Hank, our yellow lab. We return home for a quick breakfast prior to heading out to meet friends for an early tee time at EagleVail Golf Course. The course is great, the staff is friendly and the views never get old. A quick lunch, a mountain-bike ride, and finish the day with a barbecue on the deck.

HIKE WITH SEA-LEVEL FRIENDS

Surrounded by aspen trees and mountain views of the north side of EagleVail, Paulie’s Plunge (aka Stone Creek Trail) is beautiful. Just within the first ¼ mile you feel like you are deep in the woods. Once you reach the fork in the trail, stay left and continue through a wooded area of amazing wildflowers in the summer or breathtaking foliage in the fall.

Christine Albertson, Events & Outreach Manager

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITY

East Vail snowshoeing on the golf course: stunning views of the mountains, little bridges to cross, big rocks to climb on, and usually a ton of snow. Also it is pretty flat, so the whole family can go.

KIM MITCHELL, MEDICAL LIBRARIAN

WELLNESS

Oldies, but Goodies

The fitness mavens from Howard Head Sports Medicine travel back to the ‘70s and ‘80s for new twists on old-school exercises.

BY PHIL LINDEMAN // PHOTOS DOMINIQUE TAYLOR

STEP AEROBICS

WITH STEPHANIE DREW

As a physical therapist and longtime fitness instructor, Stephanie Drew of Howard Head Sports Medicine’s Edwards clinic sees parallels between old-school step classes and modern programs like CrossFit and Zumba. Guided classes are a good starting point for newcomers, along with gym regulars who want to shake things up.

FIT TIPS

Work your legs. In a step class, most movements naturally hit your large leg muscles (quads, glutes, calves), but don’t treat step like day-to-day walking. Actively engage every leg muscle, every time, and keep a full range of motion — even when you’re tired.

Move your whole body. Step class might hone in on legs, but aerobics is made for a total-body workout. Focus on balance to engage your torso, and move your arms to elevate your heart rate.

Make class part of your weekly (or even daily) routine. Consistency is key to any fitness regimen. If you get bored with one class, simply move on to the next.

hen jane fonda tells you to go for the burn, listen. The physical therapy experts at Howard Head Sports Medicine often refer their patients to tried and true exercises not only to rehabilitate, but also strengthen. If it has worked over the years, it could work for you. And bonus—no leotards needed!

JUMPING JACKS

WITH STEPHANIE DREW

F itness doesn’t get more basic than jumping jacks. But like any simple exercise, jumping jacks can be a waste of time if you rush through form and technique. Once you have the basics, the sky’s the limit, with dozens of variations.

FIT TIPS

Push for a full range of motion. With every jump, touch your fingertips at the top and squeeze your thighs at the bottom.

Enjoy the cardio bump. Jumping jacks are a quick, simple way to elevate your heart rate. Try them between strength sets for a more challenging, calorie-burning circuit.

Shake things up. If you get bored with plain-old jumping jacks, turn to modern variations like burpees or other classics like lunges and jumping rope.

PIGEON POSE WITH LAURA OLDEROG

As yoga wins more and more converts, sports medicine experts have dug deeper into the athletic benefits of poses like pigeon. Laura Olderog, a physical therapist and certified hand therapist at the Vail clinic, says it’s perfect for outdoor junkies — skiers, boarders and the like — to boost core stability. A stronger core means you’re less likely to lose balance, which is the root cause of most knee injuries.

FIT TIPS

Feel the full-body stretch. For newcomers, pigeon pose can be surprisingly tough. It hits your hips, pelvis, lower back, deep glutes, hip flexors and core — just about everything from your shoulders down. Ease into the stretch and hold. Readjust if you feel pain.

Grab your foot — and pull towards the back of your head. The modified pigeon pose stretches deeper than the basic pose, but it requires much more flexibility through the back and quads. Work to it slowly.

BASIC PUSH-UPS

WITH DOUG EMERSON

Doug Emerson, a physical therapist and clinic director at Howard Head's Gypsum location, is a fan of the push-up. He makes it a total-body workout.

FIT TIPS

Stay taut from head to toe. Emerson describes the proper push-up as a “movement plank.” Your upper body does the bulk of the work, but always tighten your core, squeeze your glutes and straighten your spine. Start with three sets of five, then gradually increase the reps.

Push through your pinkies. No matter where your hands are positioned, Emerson says you’ll get the best upper-body workout if you focus on pushing the ground away from you through your pinkies, not your palms.

Get vocal. At the top of each pushup, let out a controlled breath or grunt. It’s often overlooked, but this little tactic maintains tempo and, if nothing else, reminds you to breathe. You can apply the same to weight lifting or any calisthenics.

TREE POSE WITH LAURA OLDEROG

Yoga is much older than Jane Fonda, yet modern versions of the ancient practice share much in common with retro-style aerobics and calisthenics. Yoga is also wildly versatile, with styles built around poses for strength, flexibility, balance and spiritual well-being. The tree pose is square one.

FIT TIPS

Find your breath. It’s the cornerstone of yoga, and conscious, consistent awareness sets the practice apart from other fitness regimens.

Practice the basic pose, then practice again. Tree pose seems simple on the surface, but it highlights all elements of yoga: breath, balance and core strength.

Modify the pose. For the advanced tree pose, stretch your arms wide and gaze at the ceiling — it will challenge your balance.

JOGGING

WITH PHILIP GALLOWAY

One thing I tell my patients is that running is a piece of the puzzle,” Philip Galloway of the Edwards Howard Head clinic says. “People think that when they get out of shape, they just need to start running, but you need to be in shape already to avoid injury.”

FIT TIPS

Start slow. And this doesn’t refer to miles per hour. Whether you prefer the trails or a treadmill, only change one factor (speed, distance, elevation gain) at a time.

Progress even slower. Galloway says 80 percent of runners will have an injury in the course of their running career. The general rule is to bump your mileage by no more than 10 percent each week.

Tap into the cross-training scene. As the leader of Vail Valley Running Club, Galloway has noticed more runners pick up cross-training pro grams, which mix road or track work with weight lifting and aerobics.

Embrace the seasons. If cross-train ing isn’t for you, take your run into the great outdoors. Snowshoeing adds a new level of intensity, and even trail running on dry land is a different kind of challenge.

Howard Head Sports Medicine howardhead.com | (970) 476-1225

See Medical Directory for locations.

Jogging for fitness was popularized in the U.S. by Bill Bowerman, an American track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Inc., after he was introduced to it in New Zealand in 1962.

Happy Feet

For those dealing with plantar fasciitis, treatment can provide fuller, more active lives.

BY KAREN MASON

ere in the mountains , we jam our feet into stiff ski boots, hammer them on hikes, and squeeze them into tiny climbing shoes. What are some common ailments of the active community and why is it so important to take care of our feet?

“Our feet form the base of our upright existence,” explains Dr. John Paul Elton, a Harvardtrained foot and ankle specialist with Vail-Summit Orthopaedics. “Whether we are walking, running or standing, it is our feet that support our bodies, help us balance and propel us forward in our activities.” The feet and ankles are the most complex part of our locomotion and

are, therefore, susceptible to many ailments, he adds. Because of this, we need to pay a bit more attention to caring for our feet and ankles.

Active individuals are at risk of developing problems with their feet. Dr. Elton says some problems develop over time with increased activity, such as plantar fasciitis, tendon problems or stress fractures. “We see these problems more with repetitive motion activities, such as running and hiking.” Other problems result from trauma, such as Achilles tendon ruptures, ligament tears or ankle fractures. “These injuries are more common with court or field sports like football, tennis and soccer, as well as with snow sports like skiing or snowboarding.”

ACHILIES TENDINOSIS

PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Preparing for the day’s activity, be it training, competition or standing all day at work should start with the right equipment — namely your footwear. Dr. Elton recommends making sure your gear fits appropriately. “If those running shoes have too many miles on them, then it’s time for some new ones. If they are right out of the box, they will typically need a ‘break-in’ period.”

Outdoor enthusiasts are often so eager to jump into the new season, that they go straight from skiing to biking without missing a beat. “If it’s the transition between seasons or you’re trying an entirely new activity, your body will need a ‘break-in’ period. Start those new activities slower and easier and build-up gradually to the level you want to get to. We are prone to ‘training errors’ when we jump right into the new sport and don’t allow our feet to get used to the new stresses that activity places on them.” In general, Dr. Elton says transition periods become more important as we age, as our tissues are more prone to reconditioning and degenerative injury.

plantar fasciitis : a new treatment option

Dr. Elton performs a minimally invasive procedure for healing plantar fasciitis.

Patients with plantar fasciitis tend to have symptoms referred to the plantar surface of the foot or the bottom of the heel. The classic symptom of plantar fasciitis is when the first few steps out of bed are painful. The pain can be dull and aching, or excruciating to the point of causing someone to hobble or consider crawling their way to the bathroom. “Symptoms typically ease up after the first few steps, but for someone who stands a lot or does a lot of activity, they can actually get worse. The pain tends to get better with rest.”

Patients who are at risk for plantar fasciitis often have a tight Achilles tendon or spend a lot of time on their feet. They are runners or folks who maybe have gotten a little overweight. The disease typically affects just one side, but it can occur in both feet.

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that attaches to the heel bone, and runs underneath the foot all the way out to the toes. There can be some associated inflammation, but the condition is primarily a degenerative condition of the plantar tissue that results from repetitive stress, injury or aging. Bone spurs often form at the attachment site of the plantar fascia to the heel, but are generally not considered to be the cause of the condition.

treatment options

The typical non-surgical treatment for plantar fasciitis is multi-faceted and tailored to the individual patient. The physical exam, patient history and x-rays will determine which regimen will be most effective. Non-surgical treatment may include some or all of the following: stretching and strengthening exercises, physical

therapy, supportive footwear, anti-inflammatories, orthotics, heel cups and a night splint to keep the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia stretched out throughout the night.

Dr. Elton says surgery is rarely needed for treating plantar fasciitis. About 90 percent of people will get better with non-operative options after about 6-10 months of treatment. “This can be particularly trying for active patients who don’t want to put their activities on hold for such a long time,” Elton says.

Second line treatments for someone who isn’t getting better after trying these initial treatments might be candidates for shock wave therapy or steroid injections. “Like most orthopaedic treatments, there’s not one treatment regimen that works for all people. We tailor the treatment plan for each patient.”

Like most orthopaedic treatments, there’s not one treatment regimen that works for all people."

But there are those extreme cases where surgery does become necessary. And when that happens, Dr. Elton says there are a couple different surgical options for treating plantar fasciitis. “The classic approach is to make an incision to expose the plantar fascia and remove the diseased part. At the same time, we are releasing the nerve that’s getting pinched.”

However, there is a new minimally invasive procedure for certain patients. “With the minimally invasive technique, we make a tiny incision just over the heel. An ultrasound device is used during the procedure to identify the exact location of the diseased tissue. Then, we insert a small device that simultaneously breaks-up and removes the diseased tissue. The procedure can be performed in about 15 minutes with local anesthetic.” Patients can walk on the foot immediately and most patients return to full activities within four to six weeks.

Dr. Elton points out that not all patients are candidates for minimally invasive treatment because some will have related nerve irritation, or severe Achilles tightness, that may require a separate procedure to correct.

The most important thing when treating plantar fasciitis is to not give up, says Dr. Elton. “Be patient, and remember that things will get better.”

Dr. John Paul Elton, Vail-Summit Orthopaedics vsortho.com | (970) 569-3240 | See Medical Directory for locations.

Taking Control

Controlling your cholesterol can change your life.

BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI

holesterol is often termed the silent killer because it doesn’t manifest itself through symptoms, or a person’s physical appearance. A 110-pound, 5-foot-4 woman could have a cholesterol count of 250, while an overweight woman’s cholesterol could fall well within the normal range.

Simply knowing your numbers isn't enough. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology have cholesterol guidelines that factor in race, age, gender and more. The equation calculates the risk of heart attack or stroke within the next 10 years. Knowing your risks could make the difference in how you approach your health and lifestyle.

what does cholesterol have to do with a heart attack

?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance which originates from two sources: the body’s natural process and foods.

Cholesterol isn’t bad in and of itself. In fact, it’s essential for survival; it is used to make up every cell membrane, in order to protect the inside of the cell.

The liver produces as much cholesterol as the body needs. The problem begins when there's too much cholesterol from a diet high in animal or full-fat dairy products. Cholesterol doesn't dissolve in blood — it builds up. Diets high in saturated and trans fat also cause the liver to produce more cholesterol than normal.

This extra cholesterol can form plaque in the arteries. Arteries help supply oxygenated blood from the heart to every part of the body. If the plaque breaks open, causing a clot that blocks the artery, blood can’t reach the heart or brain, resulting in a heart attack or stroke, respectively.

good cholesterol or bad cholesterol ?

Total cholesterol count doesn’t tell the entire story of risk, because there are two types of cholesterol: bad (LDL) cholesterol increases the risk of coronary disease because it contributes to plaque, while good cholesterol (HDL) provides a protective effect against coronary disease by removing LDL. Higher HDL levels reduce the risk for heart disease.

“You can think of LDL as toxic waste in your blood vessels, which builds up and causes blockages,” says Dr. Dennis Lipton, an internist at Vail Valley Medical Center. “The HDL is the garbage collector. It gets rid of the LDL and prevents it from doing damage, helping to keep your vessels clean. For people whose diet is laden with excess fat, cholesterol and sugar, the scale is badly tipped in favor of LDL. The damage goes on virtually unchecked.”

If HDL numbers are high, a total cholesterol count over 200 may not be as significant a warning sign as previously believed. However, if LDL is over 190, “that’s cause for treatment,” says Dr. Jerry Greenberg, a cardiologist at Vail Valley Medical Center, adding that a more ideal LDL level is 130.

According to the American Heart Association, about one-third of adults in the United States have elevated levels of LDL.

“People who have a total cholesterol of 150 or below and/or an LDL cholesterol of 70 or below almost never have heart attacks,” Lipton says.

how to lower your risk

“This may sound like a lot, but it is really about the size of one medium to large apple and a handful of baby carrots … the idea is that your stomach will get full of healthy food, and you will eat less unhealthy food, lose weight and become healthier.”

In the process, people’s taste buds, which crave sugar, fat and salt, adjust, Lipton says.

“It can take up to six weeks, or even more, for your taste buds to adjust, then you will start to enjoy the taste of vegetables much more than you even imagined,” he says. “The feeling of deprivation passes, and you will feel better than ever. It’s getting through that six weeks that’s the hard part.”

So how do people do it? Some people radically change their diets, cutting sugar, fats and salts and loading up on whole foods, “even though they might not enjoy it,” Lipton says. “For those who want to take it a little more slowly, I would say to start with making one meal a day a whole-foods, plant-based meal. I recommend eating this meal in a state of true hunger — in other words, make sure you are really hungry, and I can assure you that the food will taste better.”

He also suggests gradually changing diet by alternating days of eating wholefoods, plant-based meals with “eating more normally, and gradually phase in more of the healthy days and meals.”

The effect of high blood pressure on arteries is like blowing into a balloon, which will eventually pop because it’s only so elastic."

Simple changes in diet can drastically change people’s risk factors for coronary artery disease, partially by reducing cholesterol.

“Physicians like Dr. Dean Ornish proved almost 25 years ago that coronary heart disease can be stopped and even reversed with diet and lifestyle change,” Lipton says. “What is that change? It’s eating more of a wholefoods, plant-based diet — more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes (and) less processed grains, sugar, oils, meat, dairy and eggs. If you go all the way with this, you will see the biggest change. I’ve seen cholesterol levels drop almost 100 points, without medications.” (And, on the other hand, medication needs, especially for blood pressure or blood sugar, can change drastically when people change their diets, he says, so it’s important to consult a doctor when making major dietary changes.)

People can train their bodies, as well as their minds, to eat better. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of learning to eat to nurture your body, as opposed to filling it up. Lipton suggests eating half a pound of raw vegetables and half a pound raw fruit before dinner, and then gradually increasing it to 1 pound each.

Lifestyle changes, like increased exercise and nonsmoking, also reduce risk of heart attack and strokes. Smoking can cause tighter, smaller arteries, making it more difficult for blood to flow through; the effect of high blood pressure on arteries is like blowing into a balloon, which will eventually pop because it’s only so elastic.

Consuming simple sugars increases triglycerides, which are a form of fat that store excess sugar. When the body doesn’t use the energy, or calories, it consumes, it stores it as fat; it’s like overfilling a bucket. Eating less sugar and exercising can help keep triglyceride levels in check, Lipton says.

The best route for prevention includes dietary changes, as well as increasing exercise, reducing stress and treating risk factors like hypertension and diabetes.

However, when risk factors increase, statins are often the way to go. Greenberg says they are “enormously safe,” with the most common side effect being muscle aches. Seven statin drugs are available to lower the amount of cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream.

Overall, heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States, and stroke, the fourth.

So, the question becomes: What are you willing to do to make changes?

While cholesterol may be known as the silent killer, it’s certainly not an uncontrollable killer. Each decision regarding lifestyle and diet either decreases or increases the dangerous effect of excess cholesterol.

Dr. Dennis Lipton, Internal Medicine | vvmc.com/internalmed (970) 477-3090 | See Medical Directory for locations. WHEN TO GET SCREENED

Men who have a family history of coronary or cardiac disease should be screened beginning at age 25, while women with such genetic predisposition should see their doctors at age 35. For people at a low risk, men should be screened at 35 and women at age 45.

“Coronary disease starts at an earlier age in men than women by about 10 years,” says Dr. Jerry Greenberg, adding that people at low risk for cardiac disease should continue to get screened every three to five years, while those at high risk should see their doctors more frequently.

Dr. Jerry Greenberg, a cardiologist at Vail Valley Medical Center.

Endocrinologist Dr. Rebecca Adochio.

The Sugar Spectrum

Local endocrinologist Dr. Rebecca Adochio outlines the best ways to steer clear of high blood sugar.

BY SHAUNA FARNELL

ealthy and active as most of us are in the Vail Valley, we rarely worry about the amount of sugar we’re consuming. Chug a Mountain Dew for a little pick-me-up? We figure we’ll burn it off after a few powder turns.

If we’re bonking or feeling exhausted, we often think it’s because we went hard on the mountain. Most of us don’t think it could have something to do with our overall blood sugar, and we certainly don’t consider diabetes, especially if we watch what we eat and exercise regularly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control’s 2014 national diabetes statistics, 9.3 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes — 29.1 million people — more than a quarter of whom are not yet diagnosed.

The thing is, even the thin, active and young can contract type 1 diabetes. If you are someone who regularly experiences a “sugar crash” after the rare splurge of soda or candy, it could be a sign that you’re prediabetic.

“Individuals with an increased risk of developing diabetes are more susceptible to the fall in blood glucose [sugar] after consuming a high glycemic index food,” says endocrinologist Dr. Rebecca Adochio, who recently joined the the Vail Valley Medical

Center staff. “Our bodies work hard to maintain normal blood glucose levels, but when challenged by a rapid increase in sugar into the blood stream, the result can be an increase in the blood glucose level, particularly in those with prediabetes. Eventually, as the body is able to bring the glucose level down, it can result in a ‘crash,’ causing a drop in energy or even hypoglycemic — low blood glucose — symptoms such as nausea, shakes, confusion and extreme fatigue.”

Sometimes people with diabetes start to lose weight, have regular bouts of fatigue and blurry vision, often feel thirsty and urinate frequently. Many times, however, a person can develop diabetes with no signs or symptoms at all.

“Unfortunately, early development of type 2 diabetes can go unnoticed for many years as our bodies can start to adapt to high glucose levels in the body. This is why diabetes is often referred to as ‘the silent killer,’” Adochio says, adding that if untreated, long-term effects of diabetes include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease and loss of limbs. If diabetes runs in your family, Dr. Adochio recommends regular blood screenings.

the new doc in town

Vail’s new endocrinologist completed her fellowship training in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the University of Colorado in Denver and spent the last five years in Oklahoma City serving as a clinical endocrinologist at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center. There, the population was far less active than that of Colorado, and she treated many cases of type 2 diabetes, most of which were brought on by obesity. For heavy people, a drastic change in diet and activity isn’t always realistic, but even shedding a few pounds can make a big difference.

“Weight control is essential in preventing type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Adochio says. “Even a 5-pound reduction in someone who is overweight can lead to significant metabolic benefits.”

A healthy diet is also key, but when it comes to sugar, sometimes we eat too much of it without even knowing. Sugar is hidden in unlikely places, even in foods we think are healthy.

sugar in disguise

“Common culprits for hidden or ‘added’ sugars include yogurt, bread, peanut butter, applesauce, marinades, sauces and cereals,” Dr. Adochio says.

While many of these foods are some of the first any nutritionist would recommend for examples of a healthy diet, some are definitely better than others, and it’s good to get into the habit of reading labels, paying particular attention to the amount of sugars in a product. You’ll find the numbers for the same type of food can be drastically different.

“If you are unable to find a product without added sugar there are still other options. For example, yogurt is a staple in our family, but I have to work hard to find a flavored yogurt that has a minimal amount of added sugar. An alternative is to buy plain yogurt and add your own fresh fruit or a small serving of fruit preserves in order to minimize the sugar content,” Dr. Adochio says. “We choose peanut butter that is natural or unsweetened, as well as unsweetened applesauce. Bread is a large source of carbohydrates already, so adding sweetener just increases the sugar load to our body. Buying bread that is high in fiber and protein, while low in added sugar can be a challenge, but there are good products available.”

When it comes to sugar, sometimes we eat too much of it without even knowing. Sugar is hidden in unlikely places, even in foods we think are healthy.”

If you’re a big diet drink fan, thinking that the zero calories and zero sugar in what you’re guzzling are doing you good, think again. Dr. Adochio says there are studies showing that drinking sweet beverages, even those comprised of artificial sweeteners, leads to eating more calories for the next meal. There are few benefits to drinking sweet beverages of any sort — even natural juice. Whole fruits and vegetables are much better choices.

when to see a specialist

It's

easy to eat sugar unintentionally, as it's often added to so-called "health foods."

Unlike type 2 diabetes, which can often be prevented, there are many endocrine-related conditions like type 1 diabetes, and thyroid, adrenal and pituitary gland disorders that can cause fatigue, weight gain, weight loss, depression and a host of other symptoms and serious health conditions. None of these has anything to do with diet or exercise, and the young, fit and active can fall victim, too.

“Most endocrine disorders can affect all populations regardless of lifestyle,” Adochio says, adding that such disorders can be controlled by medication, but must be carefully assessed, maintained and monitored.

If you've been diagnosed with a hormonal disorder by your primary care doctor, gynecologist or other doctor, you should consider seeing an endocrinologist for a second opinion and/or treatment.

“As a specialist, I think our greatest offering is our time — time to listen to the individual needs of our patients and time to focus on a disease process in order to optimize treatment plans and provide the necessary patient education,” says Adochio.

Dr. Rebecca Adochio, Endocrinology vvmc.com/endo | (970) 477-5160

See Medical Directory for locations.

Vitamins — Do You Need Them?

Is

nutrition in pill form too good to be true?

r . dennis lipton took a multi-vitamin most of his life. As a health conscious, longevityminded individual, he wanted to make sure he was getting enough nutrients to fuel his active lifestyle. “It seemed pretty logical,” says Lipton.

His perspective on vitamins changed when he learned of a study about smokers who were given beta-carotene supplements to see if they would reduce incidence of cancer. The idea for this study came from the observation that people who have high carotene levels have lower levels of cancer. The results of the study were shocking. It turns out smokers who took the beta-carotene actually had a higher incidence of cancer and overall death. Follow-up studies have indicated there is continued increased risk.

Dr. Lipton stopped taking his multivitamin but is asked regularly by his patients, should I take vitamin and mineral supplements?

His answer: “Our bodies are made to absorb nutrients in their natural state, from food, in just the right proportions and quantities.” For example, carrots contain not only beta-carotene, but also alpha, gamma, delta, zeta, etc., carotene, as well as a huge array of other phytonutrients like lycopene, lutein, polyacetylenes, terpenes, and polyphenols, just to name a few. These nutrients in food are meant to be consumed and absorbed together in a harmonious manner, controlled by your digestive system.

Dr. Dennis Lipton, a board-certified internist at Vail Valley Medical Center.

“This is analogous to a symphony orchestra, with all the instruments playing their part,” says Lipton. “Getting an abnormally high amount of one vitamin or mineral is like having too many trumpets playing too loudly. It throws everything off.”

Individual nutrient supplements adversely affect absorption and function of other nutrients in ways that we don’t fully understand. This can transform a normally benign or helpful substance into an apparent carcinogen, just like what happened in the beta-carotene study.

when vitamins are good

Vitamins can prove to be an asset to some people. Supplements are beneficial to people who cannot meet their nutrient needs. Patients with malnutrition, cancer, liver or kidney disease, and alcoholics need supplements to maintain good health. Individuals with these health conditions will almost always be under the care of a physician, receiving proper treatment and monitoring.

In other instances, Dr. Lipton may recommend vitamin D to people living in northern latitudes with low sun exposure during winter months. Vitamin B12 may be recommended for people who avoid animal products and those on long-term acid-reduction therapy

such as Omeprazole, Nexium and the like. Dr. Lipton is quick to point out that these are special cases.

For the general population, there are simply no documented health benefits of packaged vitamin and mineral supplements. There are, however, documented harms. The best insurance that you are getting enough nutrients to thrive is eating a variety of whole foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds every day, preferably with every meal.

what ’ s best for you ?

For a complete breakdown on nutrients, Dr. Lipton recommends referencing a food nutrient scoring system called ANDI. ANDI stands for Aggregate Nutrient Density Index, a scoring system that rates foods on a scale from 1 to 1,000 based on nutrient content. ANDI scores are calculated by evaluating an extensive range of micronutrients, including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidant capacities.

The best supplements are derived from ultra-high-nutrient foods, which Lipton encourages we consume in large amounts through our daily diets.

Dr. Dennis Lipton, Internal Medicine vvmc.com/internalmed | (970) 477-3090 See Medical Directory for locations.

Big city surgeons who call Vail home.

With some of the most respected Denver Health surgeons in Colorado on our team, Vail Valley Medical Center is fortunate to be the home of Mountain Surgical Associates (MSA). Known for their expertise in emergency and trauma care, they are also experts in:

b General surgery: abdominal, thoracic and endocrine

b Laparoscopic surgery: hernia repair, gall bladder, colon and reflux disease

b Cancer detection and prevention: colonoscopy and endoscopy

b Cancer surgery: breast, colon and rectal, endocrine, lung and melanoma

b Trauma/critical care: around-the-clock care for critically ill and injured patients

b Wound and Ostomy: treatment of acute and chronic wounds

The Freedom to Play

Unstructured play can be integral in the development of creativity and self-confidence.

BY TRACI J. MACNAMARA

he vail area provides plenty of prime playground space for kids and adults, alike. With a mountain environment that offers year-round opportunities for outdoor sports and a rich, creative culture that allows children the chance to take art classes, music lessons, and more, it’s not difficult to fill their schedules with nonstop activity. But chances are that if you’re feeling the pressure of being busy, your kids are feeling it, too.

There’s no disputing the fact that children need playtime, and lots of it. Play helps kids develop essential physical, cognitive, emotional and social skills, but there’s an important difference between structured and unstructured play. And what kids need more than a slew of scheduled activities is the freedom to play in an unbounded, unstructured way.

“Free play lets children learn through all of their senses, and it’s what allows them to develop their creativity and confidence,” says Julia Kozusko, LPC, a local parent coach and counselor.

“More and more, our society wants to shape children who are globally competitive, but unstructured play is an essential building block that can prepare them for bigger tasks in the future,” she says. Kozusko’s company

...And then the space monkey said, "I am seeking the galactic banana."

is Elevated Parenting, and she also facilitates the Incredible Years parenting program with the local non-profit Early Childhood Partners, where more than 300 parents have attended classes over the past nine years.

Unstructured play, often called free play or child-led play, requires unscheduled blocks of time during which children are free to explore their interests or pursue activities that involve imaginative and creative effort. Yes, both free playtime and structured playtime involve the key element of play, but structured play is often bounded by adult rules, schedules, and goals. In sports practices, for example, where rules provide the boundaries for play and where a competitive drive factors into the outcome, children often do not have as much freedom to explore their interests as they do in an unstructured setting. Likewise, classes or lessons — no matter how well-intentioned — still often follow an ordered framework instead of giving children’s imaginations free rein. Providing the space for children to free play can free parents up, too. Unstructured play doesn’t need to involve driving to multiple locations, and it doesn’t have to cost anything. Finally, even though the developmental benefits of unstructured play are immense, it’s also important to remember why we play in the first place. As Kozusko says, “The real power in play is that it’s fun.”

A FEW TIPS FOR FREE PLAY

IF YOU’RE REALIZING that your children have lots of opportunities for structured activity but little time left for unstructured play, then consider freeing up some of that scheduled time:

Let children choose from among open-ended toys that will challenge their creativity. Examples include Legos, blocks, art supplies, dolls, and other toys that spark imagination.

Rotate open-ended toys so that children are excited by ones they haven’t played with in a while.

Give kids time to play with their neighbors. Neighbors are not chosen friends, and they usually vary in age. Allowing your children time to navigate those relationships with kids they'll know for years, and providing them the freedom to ride bikes, sidewalk chalk and brew potions with neighbors is invaluable!

When children are playing together, monitor their social interactions and step in only as needed. Unstructured play encourages children to negotiate social issues such as sharing, and descriptive commenting can help reinforce behavior. Example: “I see that you’re sharing,” or “I noticed that your friend got sad when you took away his toy.”

Be a willing audience for children who are playing creatively; engage in make-believe or role-playing activities.

Keep technology use to a minimum. Computer games are more passive and less social than unstructured playtime with other children.

Arrange play dates with other children outdoors or in a neutral location. Fresh air and physical activity are great, and children can play without having any arguments over sharing personal toys.

When Minutes Matter

Cardiac patients reflect on critical moments that saved their lives.

ast year , Wally Posner held his 20-year-old daughter, Danielle, as she died in his arms during a snowboarding lesson at Beaver Creek. Fortunately, Ski Patrol recognized a fairly rare scenario: a 20-year-old going into cardiac arrest, and they revived her through CPR and defibrillation. Just before the incident, Danielle had seemed perfectly healthy, as the Illinois family enjoyed their ski vacation.

More often, older people, like Dave Bentley, experience cardiac emergencies. Bentley felt pain in

by

SHAUNA FARNELL

contributions by KIMBERLY

NICOLETTI

his chest three years ago, at the end of an energetic ski day. At first, the 65-year-old Cordillera resident attributed the pain to something he had eaten during lunch.

“It was a ski-with-the-guys day — strong, all-out.

We had a late lunch and were halfway down Bear Tree when all of a sudden I started to get a sharp, pressing pain high in my chest,” Bentley recalls.

“There was no throbbing, no tingling of the arm. I thought it was some sort of really bad indigestion.”

By the time Bentley reached the bottom of the mountain, his pain was so intense it was making

by interventional cardiology experts,

him sweat. His ski buddy recognized Bentley’s symptoms as a possible heart attack.

In both Posner’s and Bentley’s life-threatening emergencies, they were airlifted to Denver, where cardiologist Dr. Jerry Greenberg awaited.

“Dr. Greenberg was out to meet the helicopter and got me connected to the gurney. He literally jogged into the Cath Lab to get me going. It was that critical,” Bentley says.

Bentley was undergoing a type of heart artery blockage ominously dubbed by medical experts as “The Widow Maker.” Access to a Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Lab (Cath & EP Lab) was critical, and Dr. Greenberg’s expertise and quick response were life-saving. He inserted a stent to unblock the artery, and Bentley was able to walk away.

But, had circumstances been different — had Bentley been higher on the mountain, had the weather caused a delayed helicopter flight, had his friend not recognized the symptoms — Bentley’s story could have turned out differently. And had Ski Patrol not recognized Danielle’s symptoms, intervened to revive her, and help transport her to Denver, she wouldn’t be spending a semester abroad this year.

That's why Vail's new, state-of-the-art Cath & EP Lab, which opened in February 2015, is critical to saving lives. Vail Valley Medical Center has also brought Dr. Jerry Greenberg up to Vail full-time, as well as his long-time colleague, Dr. Nelson Prager, to lead the hospital's Cardiology Institute and Cath & EP Lab. Dr. Greenberg specializes in interventional cardiology, and Dr. Prager's specialty areas include electrophysiology, heart rhythm disturbances, and coronary artery disease.

Wally Posner, Danielle’s father, can’t shake the memory of that December day when his daughter ended up with a rupture in her left artery, due to a rare condition called Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection. He faced eight hours of confusion and fear on the way to Denver, traveling in strong winds from Vail by ambulance and then from Idaho Springs by car after Danielle was flown off by helicopter.

It’s definitely stressful to watch your daughter being loaded into a helicopter and whisked away.”

PRECIOUS TIME

Time from Primary Cardiac Incident (PCI)

Mortality (%)

“If the lab here was in operation at that time, she would have gone directly to VVMC for immediate diagnosis and treatment rather than being helicoptered to Denver,” Dr. Greenberg says. “It’s definitely stressful to watch your daughter being loaded into a helicopter and whisked away.”

Although it would have spared Wally Posner hours of anguish to have the Vail Cath & EP Lab in operation when his daughter went into cardiac arrest, he is thrilled that other lives will be saved as a result of the lab.

“The difference of having a facility that could have helped my daughter right in Vail would have been night and day,” Posner says. “What took eight hours would have been cut into two or three hours. Minimizing that five hours of all the questions — the why, what, how — would have been cut. What they’re doing with the Cath & EP Lab is fantastic … if the lab stops one person or family

from experiencing the worry and agony that we experienced, it’s great.”

Heart attacks on the mountain are not uncommon, and in winter, weather conditions have presented major obstacles in travel. Not every victim’s experience has ended as happily as Bentley and Posner’s, which is why VVMC decided to open its Cath & EP Lab and bring Denver experts to the mountains.

"We are pleased to offer our community and visitors the life-saving technology of a Cath Lab, as well as the expert team of our Cardiology Institute,” explains VVMC President and CEO Doris Kirchner. “Especially as Vail’s aging population requires greater healthcare support and expanded services, the hospital is responding to accommodate this need."

Vail’s new Cath & EP Lab provides immediate treatment for patients having heart attacks and other emergencies.

With the two full-time cardiologists, patients can stay in Vail for everything from pacemaker implants to angiograms, angioplasty, catheter ablation and stents. The Cath & EP Lab will continue to expand in order to be staffed 24-7, but until then, some procedures will still need to performed in Denver, such as cardiovascular surgery.

“When (most) folks come into Vail Valley Medical Center for treatment, they’re going to be cared for right here,” Dr. Greenberg says. “It’s not an automatic trip to Denver.”

Ultimately, this will lead to more happy endings to life-threatening incidents.

“I think I had about a three-hour survival window,” Bentley says. “Transit time to Denver is, in the best of circumstances, about an hour. Having a Cath & EP Lab in town would have greatly expanded my window of opportunity. Bringing this technology to Vail is an enormous life-saver."

Dr. Jerry Greenberg & Dr. Nelson Prager, Cardiology Institute | vvmc.com/cardiology | (970) 476-1110 See Medical Directory for locations.

THE STEADMAN CLINIC AND STEADMAN PHILIPPON RESEARCH INSTITUTE:

Joint Preservation, Not Joint Replacement

A different kind of orthopaedic care is open to the world, close to home for Vail Valley residents.

BY JIM BROWN

he numbers are staggering. Americans are having knee replacement surgery at a rate of more than 600,000 a year and hip replacement surgery 120,000 times annually. Both numbers are increasing, even though an August 2014 study in Arthritis & Rheumatology found that up to 30 percent of joint replacement surgery is inappropriate.

An innovator and mentor in the field of sports medicine, Dr. Richard Steadman created the microfracture procedure to treat knees; it has since been adapted to treat other joints, including the shoulder, hip and ankle.

a different approach

At The Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI), you don’t hear much about joint replacement. What you do hear, see, and read about is an emphasis on joint preservation.

It is a patient-first, outcomes-driven direction that sets both The Clinic and SPRI apart from others. The doctors and scientists there have more than 25 years of evidence to support their efforts to save joints and allow patients to return to their active lives.

“Dr. Steadman’s goal was to build a database of all the patient-derived outcomes — how the patients felt — along with all the surgical information,” says Karen Briggs, M.B.A., M.P.H., director of SPRI’s Center for Outcomes-Based Orthopaedic Research. “Twenty-five years later, it has allowed us to determine how patients fare based on their opinion and the physician’s opinion. We publish those outcomes and share that knowledge with the world.”

Briggs adds, “Our advantage is SPRI’s compilation of data and how it is used to advance outcomes-based orthopaedic practice.”

delaying replacement

In 2013, Dr. Steadman and his colleagues completed a long-term study showing that many patients were able to delay total knee replacement for up to 10 years, rather than rushing into replacement surgery. For this study, Dr. Steadman was given the Richard O’Connor Research Award by the Arthroscopy Association of North America.

WORKING TO PRESERVE JOINTS

MEET SOME OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED PHYSICIANS in the field of orthopaedics and sports medicine. They're on the cutting edge of joint preservation techniques.

Dr. Steadman // Paving the Way

Dr. Richard Steadman’s landmark validation of the microfracture procedure gave a tremendous impetus to the science of joint preservation. Now, microfracture is often a standard treatment, and the procedure is not limited to knees. National Football League Hall of Famer Bruce Smith is very specific about what joint preservation did for him: “It added at least five years to my career.” Dr. Steadman’s work also paved the way for a flood of successful joint preservation studies by the doctors at the Clinic and the researchers at SPRI.

Dr. Steadman’s goal was to build a database of all the patient-derived outcomes — how the patients felt — along with all the surgical information.”

local access , national and international impact

Whether you are a patient who lives in the Vail Valley, a visitor from a different part of the U.S., or a guest from another country, you become involved with something bigger and more meaningful than a routine visit to the doctor.

You are part of an initiative that is leading the medical community looking at ways to preserve joints. Your feedback will have an impact on the health of others with similar orthopaedic conditions.

The Steadman Clinic | thesteadmanclinic.com (970) 476-1100 | See Medical Directory for locations.

Dr. Philippon // Developing Hip Preservation Techniques

Dr. Marc Philippon, managing partner of The Steadman Clinic and co-chairman of SPRI, uses a joint-preserving arthroscopic technique he developed to cure a painful condition in the hip that was once extremely difficult to repair. One of Dr. Philippon’s patients, Dr. Dawn Ommen, is now a physician herself. “Dr. Philippon performed surgery on both of my hips, including one reconstructive procedure that was the world’s first. Since then, I’ve been able to return to a high level of participation as a triathlete, snow skier, water skier and weight lifter.”

Dr. Millett // Pioneering Shoulder Procedures

The Steadman Clinic’s shoulder specialist, Dr. Peter Millett, was the pioneer of a joint preservation technique called Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management (CAM). The procedure treats osteoarthritis of the shoulder and offers a combination of surgical procedures aimed at addressing all of the major causes of pain in the shoulder region.

Dr. Hackett // Expanding Joint Preservation Frontiers

Dr. Tom Hackett, an elbow, shoulder and knee specialist at the Clinic, says one of his goals as a surgeon is to expand the frontiers of joint preservation. “Our joint preservation techniques don’t work for everybody, but for many, you can buy them several years — sometimes even more — before they have to look at joint replacement.”

Dr. LaPrade // Improving Knee Injury Outcomes

Robert LaPrade, M.D., Ph.D., received the 2013 Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) Clinical Research Award, which is recognized as the equivalent of the “Orthopaedic Nobel Prize.” His study found multiple ways to improve treatment outcomes following injuries to the backside-andaway corner of the knee joint. These types of injuries are usually considered complex and can be devastating for exercise enthusiasts and athletes.

Dr. Clanton // Advancing Ankle Research

Dr. Thomas Clanton and his colleagues recently completed a series of studies on ankle sprains and instability, looking at normal ligaments and their strength and stiffness compared to various methods of repair, reconstruction and reinforcement.

What They Never Told You

First lesson of parenthood: expect the unexpected.

BY KATIE COAKLEY // CONTRIBUTIONS BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI

f movies , commercials and well-meaning relatives are to be believed, pregnancy, birth and raising a child goes like this: get pregnant (enjoy the glow with a tiny bit of swelling), give birth (enjoy the glow after a few minutes of pushing), raise the child (lose the glow and some sleep, but the little angel is totally worth it). ¶ But the truth is: There are cravings, there is chapping, and there are tears (not just the baby’s!), weird and disgusting phenomena and fears. There’s no way to know everything before — or during — parenthood, but there are hints you can pick up along the way.

you are what you eat — but don ’ t stress

“Your diet in pregnancy can affect your child’s health later in life,” says Dr. Janet Engle, MD FAAP, a pediatrician at Colorado Mountain Medical.

“Eliminating sugar and processed foods and eating nourishing, whole foods can affect your pregnancy and your child’s future health.”

And yet it’s unrealistic to think you will be able to curb your cravings. Don’t beat yourself up. Indulge occasionally, and keep the stress to a minimum.

it ’ s not you , it ’ s me

A common, but often not discussed, issue is postpartum depression and “baby blues.” With changes in hormones, sleep deprivation, a lack of mutual communication skills (other than wailing) and the constant attention babies demand, it’s no wonder you feel bad. So don’t fret if you feel like the bond between you and your newborn doesn’t meet Hollywood’s happy standards.

“I think people should know that it’s okay to not be absolutely head over heels in love with your baby in the first few weeks,” says Dr. Engle.

“It’s okay to need a break, it’s okay to take a break. It’s okay to be a bit sad that your whole life has changed.”

Fighting the feelings usually makes them worse; admitting and

working through them helps. If this is a struggle of yours, be sure to speak to your OB/GYN or even your child’s pediatrician about it. In some cases, there may be a physiological reason beyond the sheer exhaustion that is the root of the problem.

is this normal ?

There are a million things that can happen to you and your kids, some that you will never have heard of until you’re pacing in the middle of the night, searching the parenting books for some idea of what to do.

Are your ears popping constantly during pregnancy? It might happen while you’re talking, inhaling or yawning, and it might be throwing off your equilibrium and making you dizzy. Don’t worry — it’s a common symptom due to fluid retention during pregnancy. It’ll return to normal after baby’s born.

“They” might have never told you, but expect that first diaper to be a doozy! The black, tar-like sludge is called meconium and should pass within the first few days of baby’s life. If "all babies are beautiful," then why does yours have zits? It’s quite normal for babies, up to 2 months old, to break out in a pimply facial rash. Don’t reach for the Clearasil — just gently clean your baby’s face, and it will naturally clear up as the maternal hormones circulating in baby’s body clear out. Hairy baby? Some are born with a fine, downy hair all over their bodies called lanugo. You might wonder if your little one is part animal — but it goes away. Babies can also be born with an excess of fluid, which can collect in their faces and genitals, causing swelling. They’ll excrete the extra fluid during the first few days after birth, and sometimes lose as much as 10 percent of their birth weight.

Jimmy’s a biter? Johnny’s banging his head? Both are quite common, especially in boys. Frustration, anger and fear are sometimes harder to communicate than a good chomp in someone’s arm or a bonk of the head that gets a good, strong reaction out of mom. As language skills develop, so do coping skills and you can expect to see this behavior subside.

You knew your daughter would hit puberty, but you didn’t expect “the change” at age 8. Everyone matures at different rates, and some of her classmates might not hit puberty until they’re 13. Nothing will totally prepare parents for the tremendous changes young adolescents experi-

ence during puberty. Talking about it with your child, your spouse and possibly a counselor will help make the many transitions smoother. You love your tween son, but suddenly, he stinks. And it’s not just him; it’s everything he comes into contact with — his room, his socks, your car! It’s not his fault; as puberty kicks in, sweat glands become more active. The sweat itself isn’t what smells. Instead, odor is caused by bacteria that lives on the skin and in clothing and feeds on the sweat in those spots that produce it the most — armpits, groin area and feet. Help him (and yourself) by offering up regular showers, clean clothes, dry shoes, some deodorant or antiperspirants and fresh air.

back to reality

Who told you parenting would be easy? It’s not. So forgive yourself. Be the best parent you can be. Celebrate your victories — big and small. And take care of yourself. Parents constantly put themselves last: Go without sleep, make sacrifices, do whatever it takes. But if you never put yourself first, you will burn out. Every parent needs a time out, says Dr. Engle. It’s actually more effective than giving your kids a time out. Sometimes you need to walk away, take a breather, even take a vacation. And don’t underestimate your mate’s need for the same. Whether it’s a date night for the two of you, cutting corners and serving a frozen meal for dinner or sending your spouse off for an evening of fun sans children — taking a little time off doesn’t make you selfish or unworthy. It makes you normal.

It's easy for parents to put themselves aside and only focus on their children, pampering them with the best of everything. Though the motivation is selfless, the cycle of self denial can be exhausting. Remember, you're part of the family, too. Sometimes just talking through the challenges and oddities of parenting can do a world of good.

WHEN TO WORRY

LOTS OF EVERYDAY OCCURRENCES or ailments can trip the “worry wire.” Parents may fear their instinct to take children to the pediatrician will be questioned or the cost of care may not be worth it if nothing turns up, but it’s usually wise to trust your gut.

Fever is a common concern among parents, and in infants under 4 months, anything above 100.4 degrees is cause to visit your pediatrician or the Emergency Department (ED). In school-aged children, however, a fever should not worry parents unless it is extremely high (104 F or higher) or persistent. Fevers are often a sign of the body fighting infection.

Rashes can be alarming, but may not require medical attention. If the rash is red, turns white to the touch and turns red again, it’s typically a virus or allergic reaction at play. Benadryl treats allergic reactions quickly and effectively. Small red or purple, non-blanching dots, however, can be a sign of something more serious like meningitis or sepsis and should be seen by a doctor.

"My tummy hurts" is a common complaint among little ones. Worry when excessive vomiting and/or diarrhea lead to dehydration that causes the child to cease urinating. He/she may need IV fluids or a prescription medication to stop the vomiting or diarrhea.

Help for Chronic Pain

Howard Head therapists focus on mental and physical re-programming to bring chronic pain patients back to their

active lives.

BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI // CONTRIBUTIONS BY SHAUNA FARNELL

hronic pain hurts , not just physically, but also emotionally. But there is hope. Customized, specific interventions, as well as overall lifestyle approaches, can make an enormous difference in the quality of life of people with pain. Since chronic pain affects various aspects of a person’s life — physical, mental, emotional and social — therapists at Howard Head Sports Medicine

aim to reprogram both the physical and mental realms, which, in turn, affect the emotional and social.

chronic pain as fight - or - flight

A variety of causes can contribute to chronic pain, including old injuries, habitual patterns and even emotional trauma. But it tends to involve a shift in muscle groups and brain response,

which perpetuates pain. Pain then leads to doctor visits, and often, a measure of fear, which sends people into a fight-or-flight stress response.

“Those suffering from pain are in a constant mode of fight response,” says Howard Head Sports Medicine physical therapist, Brittney Huntimer, who has a doctorate in PT. “The brain doesn’t know the difference between a tense and relaxed muscle. (Through intervention), they learn to feel the difference, and eventually they can actually physically relax their muscles.”

interventions

Howard Head therapists individualize every treatment based on a patient’s needs, so there’s no one magic bullet. However, one of the main things therapists teach involves specific skills to manage pain.

Huntimer recently completed a fellowship in chronic pain management, and she explains how, with chronic pain, the input and output system of the pain response in the brain gets mixed up and generates a pain signal

when there shouldn’t be one. The goal: to help the brain “reorganize that information so more appropriate signals can be output from tissues to the brain,” she says.

Retraining may include joint mobilization, which, studies have shown, interrupts the pain pattern and helps the brain stop producing pain signals when it’s not necessary.

Huntimer illustrates how the brain goes into a fight-or-flight response after an injury through a scenario about stepping on a nail in the backyard: Let’s say the incident sends a man to the emergency room, he receives a tetanus shot, and his foot hurts for days. The pain centers of the brain decide that event was harmful. So, the next time he steps on a harmless pebble in the yard, the brain recalls the more serious injury with the nail, and “old information rushes into the brain (causing) anxiety, stress, huge pain and (a perception of) danger,” she says. “(But) if you look down and see it’s a pebble, the brain reorganizes the information and says, ‘I’m OK.’”

Huntimer teaches patients how to calm the fight-or-flight stress response with cognitive and behavioral interventions.

Another technique therapists may use is neuromuscular education, which retrains the brain to reconnect with specific muscle control. Many patients with lower back pain, for instance, adopt habitual positions or movements, which contribute to their pain. It’s not their fault: “The brain has shut down the use of the stability muscles, and it goes to the stress muscles,” she says, explaining that rather than employing deep abdominal and gluteal muscles, the brain substitutes other muscle groups, which weren’t intended to carry the load, so they become overworked and cause pain.

Placing dry needles into muscular trigger points can also help relax muscles and interrupt the pain signal.

But, as Huntimer points out, a technique like dry needling “isn’t going to be enough.” Patients must learn how they can actively reduce pain through changes in perception and lifestyle.

“We’re trying to teach the person to abolish pain themselves versus relying on us,” she says.

cognitive retraining

The first step in fighting chronic pain involves understanding the input/output process of pain, exemplified by the nail injury.

“There is a lot of fear and anxiety associated with the pain,” she says. “In some cases (patients) have been told they have a bulging disc or a degenerative spine. It becomes a life sentence

for them. They think they never have a way out, that they may never be normal.” But most of the time, that’s simply not the case.

“There’s great hope in pain management, but it’s the perspective (shift),” she says. “When people have so much constant pain, they stop moving and doing anything. When they do any kind of exercise, it’s a shock to the body, so they think they’re feeling all of this pain,” she says. “So we start with exercises that are not fearful, exercises they enjoy doing, breaking it down in a way that’s not threatening. We work toward small goals.”

Oftentimes, people have lived with pain for so long, it becomes a part of their identity. Sometimes, there isn’t even physical evidence of any injury or debilitation; the longer pain persists, the better the brain gets at producing pain signals — out of habit — even

Dry

The longer somebody has been in pain, the more the body becomes adept at generating pain signals when there is no actual tissue damage."

though the pain-producing stimulus may no longer exist, she says.

“The longer somebody has been in pain, the more the body becomes adept at generating pain signals when there is no actual tissue damage,” Huntimer explains.

As a result, much of the therapists’ work involves stress management, because, like so many other diseases, stress directly impacts chronic pain.

“When you get stressed out, you tense up more, which contributes to setting off pain signals in the brain,” she says.

The application of cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people recognize negative thought patterns and provides a method of intervention, gradually becomes one life-long approach.

Though this may sound difficult, it’s like anything else: It becomes a way of life. Huntimer says sometimes it’s as easy as taking five minutes a day to turn off all electronics and focus on breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation, in which a person tenses a muscle and relaxes it, to relearn how to relax muscle groups.

The key involves interrupting pain signals so the brain can reorganize its information and stop sending the body into a fight-or-flight response. Through strategic, progressive interventions and education, therapists work with patients to better manage their pain, and allow them to return to the activities they love.

Brittney Huntimer, Howard Head Sports Medicine | howardhead.com (970) 476-1225 | See Medical Directory for locations.

Rural Cancer Center, Big City Specialists

Shaw Regional Cancer Center partners with University of Colorado Cancer Center to offer the best in cancer care.

or nearly 10 years, Shaw Regional Cancer Center has partnered with physicians and staff at the University of Colorado Cancer Center to enhance access to big city specialists and make clinical trials available to patients in the high country.

It’s rare to find highly trained cancer specialists, advanced technology and comprehensive treatment plans in a rural setting like Vail, but Shaw Regional Cancer Center boasts all of the above in the peaceful, healing setting of the Rocky Mountains. And, with access to specialty physicians and clinical trials through the partnership with CU Cancer Center, Shaw patients are getting high-quality care that’s close to home.

Clinical trials are studies that allow patients access to new, more effective methods of treating cancer with chemotherapy, biotherapy or radiation. Many treatments used today are the result of past clinical trials. CU Cancer Center is the only comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute in the Rocky Mountain region, and as a result of the partnership, there are currently about 10 trials available at Shaw.

“While having a cancer center with Shaw’s capabilities in a rural, mountain setting like Vail is unique and a great benefit to our community and region, we don’t have the capability to offer clinical trials on our own,” explains Doris Kirchner, president and CEO of Vail Valley Medical Center, of which Shaw is an outpatient department.

Charlie Crevling, Vail Valley Medical Center’s senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer; Peggy Carey, vice president of Shaw Regional Cancer Center; Alexander Urquhart, MD; Patricia Hardenbergh, MD; Michael Glode, MD; and Mark Kochevar, MBA, associate director for administration and finance at CU Cancer Center.

“That’s why this relationship with CU is so remarkable. Our medical staff learns new ways to improve health and cancer treatment, and our patients are ensured to receive optimal care.”

In addition to clinical trials, Shaw physicians — and, in turn, their patients — benefit from weekly multidisciplinary video tumor boards to discuss interesting and unusual cases. This allows the high country physicians to virtually connect with other rural cancer care teams and specialists from CU. The goal of the tumor boards is to enhance collaboration and education.

“One of the goals of CU Cancer Center is to bring the latest in cancer care and clinical trials to people in remote areas of Colorado,” says Dan Theodorescu, MD, PhD, the director of the CU Cancer Center. “We need hospital partners like Shaw across the state to make this happen. Without their help, we would not be able to share our expertise on this scale.”

The cancer care teams visit one another on an ongoing basis to strengthen communication, relationships and collaboration. While Shaw’s specialists have trained at some of the most respected medical and cancer treatment centers in the country, including Duke, Johns Hopkins University, Brown University, UCLA and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the partnership has proven valuable.

Michael Glode, MD is the associate director of community engagement for CU Cancer Center and a medical oncology specialist for prostate and genitourinary (GU) cancers at Shaw Regional Cancer Center. “Through our interactions with the colleagues at our affiliate sites,” he explains, “we not only gain knowledge of the challenges and research opportunities we all face, in many cases we also have discovered new ways to approach education and research.”

With the combined expertise of Shaw’s nearly 30 cancer specialists and the support of the CU Cancer Center team, those who love the mountains are staying here for treatment, and through clinical trials, could even set new standards for big city cancer centers.

A surgeon who does beautiful work.

Having practiced in Santa Monica, California for over two decades, Dr. Jeffrey Resnick is a master at face, breast and body contouring. His artistic talents are available full-time right here in the Vail Valley, so you can take your looks to the next level and recover in this serene alpine setting. A very beautiful combination indeed.

(970) 569-7656 | VVMC.COM/PLASTICS | EDWARDS, COLORADO VAIL

50 YEARS

Vail’s founders contract a doctor for the winter months to tend to skiers in what is now the kitchen of the Red Lion restaurant.

Dr. Tom Steinberg becomes Vail’s first full-time doctor, and brings his own exam tables, a microscope and some other lab equipment with him for his new job.

From one seasonal doctor to a staff of hundreds, VVMC has grown with the community.

Dr. Steinberg's medical bag he toted for treating patients outside the clinic. 1965

Nineteen beds are added to the clinic with five full-time physicians, including Dr. Jack Eck.

1982

With 204 born, it’s a baby boom!

2001

Shaw Regional Cancer Center opens in Edwards.

Dr. Jerry Dooher was Vail's first radiologist.

1970

1980

Vail's clinic is named Vail Valley Medical Center, and 350 surgical operations are performed with 25 full-time physicians on staff.

2002

The Women & Children's Center doubles in size and scope and offers a Level II Nursery. The Ambulatory Surgery Center opens.

VVMC begins a Master Facility Plan to build Vail’s hospital of the future. 1980

2014

families

vail

The Valley’s natural beauty, sense of community and quality healthcare keep multiple generations rooted in Vail.

BY EMILY TAMBERINO PHOTOS BY PRESTON UTLEY

he Vail Valley has an inimitable pull for so many people. Many are drawn to the wild beauty, the never-ending backyard of National Forest terrain and a sense of adventure. But amenities such as outstanding medical care and small-town community values are just as important. For these multi-generational families, there’s no place in the world they’d rather live.

the cogswells

What brought John and Patti Cogswell to Vail in 1976 are the same things that have kept them here since — skiing, fishing, hunting and a simple and pure love of the mountains. “Nobody in the world has the quality of life we do,” explains John.

In their early days in the Valley, the Cogswells didn’t have their parents or relatives nearby. Patti describes, “Our friends were our family, and our doctors were our friends and our family. Everyone took care of each other.”

Once they had their children, Parke and Slade, the Cogswells made quite a few trips to the hospital over the years. Whether it was a broken collarbone, a car accident or stitches, Slade recalls, “You’d walk in and there would be Dr. Bevan, Dr. Petrie, someone you knew, and they’d say, ‘Cogswell’s here again! He’s all right, he can walk it off. He’s a hockey player!’”

Slade describes the hospital as warm, welcoming and homey. He calls his doctors mentors and heroes. His wife, Christina, who the family affectionately refers to as an “import,” has embraced Vail and the intimacy of a small town where you carry your doctor’s cell phone number.

The Cogswells — including the youngest generation, Nash — are guided by a holistic approach to health and wellness. John and Slade ski about 50 days/year, and Nash, who is only 2 ½ years old, already has two ski seasons under his belt. Slade will often call the Cogswell Gallery or Squash Blossom, both family-owned businesses in Vail Village, looking for

his mom only to find out she’s on the hill taking some turns.

Slade says, “I love how in this Valley, you hang your skis up and pull out your bike, get the boat out and go fishing, grab a friend and go hiking. You don’t have to try to be active.”

Slade traveled all over the world and worked in many different places before returning to Vail and starting his family here. Patti explains, “Your children leave, which is really healthy, and you can hardly get an email or phone call from them. Then, come to find out, they live two miles away from you!”

The Cogswells’ favorite family days include a great meal and some type of outdoor activity — skiing, snow-

shoeing, hiking. Patti says, “It’s very rewarding to realize that we all love the same things. There’s nowhere we’d rather be.”

the hanlons

When Bill and Sally Hanlon recall their early days in Vail, they remember a “spirit of enthusiasm.”

Bill explains, “Everybody was a believer. You could see the mountain, and if you skied it, you knew something big was going to happen. Everyone from the beginning realized we had the finest ski mountain in the world.”

The Hanlons skied every day. At night, they ran the New Gnu. Originally planned to be a supper club,

it became a standing-room-only, raucous, rock ‘n roll night club.

In 1968, Bill remembers many of the local women becoming pregnant. The women would go see Dr. Steinberg, and he would hand them a piece of paper with confirmation of the pregnancy, as well as a list of doctors in Glenwood Springs or Denver — Steinberg was clear that the small clinic in Vail was not equipped to handle deliveries!

Meg and Joe Hanlon were born in Denver, but grew up 200 yards from Bridge Street in Vail Village. The Hanlons’ friends couldn’t understand then why they chose to live “so far away.”

Bill recalls the hospital starting out in a very small building and

growing as demands increased. He explains, “As we needed things, people got involved in benefits to raise money, and the hospital was usually the recipient. There was a nucleus of people who knew how to get things done and didn’t ask for credits.”

Sally and Bill were two such people — they helped start the Vail Valley Medical Center Family Dinner Dance in 1985. Today, the Dinner Dance is the hospital’s biggest fundraiser and still the only black-tie event in the Valley for all ages and generations.

The Hanlons believe that healthy living is defined by their ability to enjoy their environment. Bill rides his bike every day. They have skiers who range in age from 3 to 79.

Meg says, “We’re lucky the community has been able to build a hospital that’s larger and more complex than the demographics suggest, and we don’t always realize what a benefit that is.”

Bill adds that the caliber of the hospital makes it possible to attract leaders in the medical field — that and the fact that, as he puts it, “There’s no place better than Vail, CO.”

the browns

In 1963, when Vi and Byron Brown moved from Denver to Vail with their two sons, Mike and Todd, and a daughter, Cindy, on the way, the town was comprised of one dirt (usually snow-covered) road. Byron had told

Vi, “There are 52 weekends in the year, and we’re spending 54 in the mountains. Why not move up?” Vi agreed.

“We always dreamt about the Wild West, and this was our chance to go experience it,” says Vi. They spent their early days driving around to the old mines, exploring the backcountry, and skiing, of course. All three children became ski racers.

Prior to the establishment of the Vail Clinic, now Vail Valley Medical Center, Byron recalls getting Doc Stanley out of the Gilman mines for any medical problems they encountered. When Dr. Steinberg arrived in Vail and the clinic was opened, the Browns “loved him from the start.” Vi adds, “We thought Dr. Steinberg

was a miracle man.” She recalls the Vail Clinic was only one room, so the “waiting area” was comprised of benches on packed-out snow just outside the door.

When the clinic moved to W. Meadow Drive, the building was shared by the school, which was previously outgrowing its quarters in the fire station. Cindy recalls the dreaded moment when the phone would ring in her 3rd grade classroom above the clinic, calling any students who didn’t have their current shots to walk downstairs and get their vaccination. “Everybody hated when that phone rang,” she says. Vi called it “one-stop shopping.” Vi was one of the women who

spearheaded the Rummage Sale to raise funds for the school/hospital. The rummage was stored on the second floor of the hospital in a vacant room next to the school, and the sale was hosted in what is now the hospital’s parking lot.

“It came down to the community to make things happen,” says Mike. “People who were not directly involved in building the hospital, didn’t have a chip in the game, still helped to make it happen. Knowing where we started and to see what we have now creates a sense of pride and a sense of relief." Vi adds, “Having a medical center gave us a feeling of community and that we were finally a full-fledged town.”

Docs with a History

From the very beginning, VVMC had wonderful doctors with a loyal following. Here are some memories shared by both patients and friends.

Dr. Eck

BY JIM HIMMES

Jack and I roomed together for a number of years in the early days of Vail, and from our time together I realized how dedicated Jack was to his patients. Many nights, I would hear the phone ring and Jack would roll out of bed at some ungodly hour to head to the clinic to tend to a patient. They were his life.

During that time, Jack and I realized our common love of the outdoors and spent a number of memorable trips backpacking, hiking and canoeing. On one particular canoe trip on the Yellowstone River north of Yellowstone National Park, I learned two very pleasant aspects of Jack’s life: He was excellent with a canoe and knew more birds than Audubon himself. We were paddling a giant 20’ canoe with Jack and I on each end, and my then-girlfriend (and now-wife), Elizabeth, perched in the middle. Not only did Jack expertly guide us through the rapids, but he also named every bird in sight while doing it. There are many birds on that stretch of the Yellowstone.

BY CYNTHIA MILLER

Four years ago at the age of 32, I developed congestive heart failure. I had been seeking treatment for some time without answers when my case landed in Dr. Gaul’s lap. The first time I met Dr. Gaul, he came in, pulled up a chair and sat down next to my hospital bed. He told me that I was under his care now and assured me that I would receive appropriate treatment from that day forward. Dr. Gaul has been true to his statement.

I shouldn’t have survived, but I did — and without the heart transplant or defibrillator that were thought necessary for my survival. Dr. Gaul has been there as my physician all along the way. He has always provided individualized medical treatment for me.

Somewhere along the way of our friendship, I learned that Jack could play the piano, which resulted in caroling parties every Christmas season — a tradition that lives on to this day. And ask Jack about my 30th birthday party at the Sandstone 70 condos. Jack had just returned from Vietnam and was in a “celebratory” mood, and we encouraged

Jack would roll out of bed at some ungodly hour to head to the clinic to tend to a patient."

each other about the healthy impacts of beer on your life.

I could relate many more stories about Jack, Tom Steinberg and Bill Bevan but as fellow patrolmen would say, “We’ll save them for an evening and a ‘few’ beers at Donovan’s Copper Bar.”

I never felt like just another patient on his schedule."

I have never felt like just another patient on his schedule for the day. I can’t imagine that he will ever retire, but if he does, I will insist that he must still see me as a patient.

There are no words or gesture grand enough to show him how thankful my family and I are for all he has done for me. Our community is lucky to have such a fantastic physician who prefers to think outside of the box. I asked my young son what words he would use to express appreciation to Dr. Gaul. His response was, “Dr. Gaul, you are a great doctor and did a great job. Thank you for saving my mom.” I don’t think I could say it any better myself. Thank you, Dr. Gaul!

when she “scooched in” a chunk of his tail came off.

True to his calm nature, Dr. Freedman said, “No problem, we can fix this. ” We then hoisted Sancho onto an exam table, anesthetized him, and Dr. Freedman stitched the piece of the tail back in place.

Sancho had a complete recovery, and went on to wag his glorious tail for many years.

Dr. Petrie

BY FRED C. WILLIAMS

There are those who make a difference in your life, and then there are a rare few who actually save your life! Dr. Kent Petrie is the latter.

Dr. Freedman

BY CHARMAYNE BERNHARDT

It was a different time working in Vail in the ‘70s. I was working with Dr. Phil Freedman in what was then Mountain Medical Associates at the Vail Clinic. It was not unusual for Dr. Freedman’s beautiful Golden Retriever and loyal sidekick, Sancho, to be under his desk at times.

One day, the door burst open and Dr. Freedman’s wife came in sobbing and holding a small plastic bag with questionable contents. Sancho was behind her, wagging his tail and decorating the walls with specks of blood. Sancho had inadvertently gotten his tail caught under her chair, and

On March 23, 1984, while skiing in the back bowls, my bindings pre-ejected, causing me to flip and land directly on the back of my neck. After transport to Vail Medical Center, I met Dr. Petrie. Given the nature of my fall and the resulting stiffness in my neck, Kent was convinced I had something much more serious than stiffness. Over the course of the next hour or so, he had me wheeled into/out of x-ray at least half a dozen times. Finally, he got the angle he wanted to confirm his suspicion of a broken neck — specifically a C-2 fracture. A subsequent cat scan actually revealed three breaks at C-2 — and fragments only 5mm from my spinal cord.

If Dr. Petrie had not been so diligent and persistent, I am quite certain an untreated C-2 fracture in three places could have rendered me a quadriplegic (at best) or worse — death from a respiratory system shut-down. Every time I look across at the Gore Range, I count my blessings. My father always called me “lucky,” and indeed I was quite lucky Dr. Petrie was on duty March 23, 1984.

Dr. Steinberg

BY JIM SPELL

I came to the Valley in 1976. As a volunteer firefighter, I helped with the gondola accident around the same time. Vail Medical Center was a small clinic then, and doctors like Tom Steinberg were stretched to the limit by the tragedy. Dr. Gaul was my first EMT instructor back when he was a paramedic. Dr. Bevan and Dr. Feeney were our family physicians for years. Dr. Petrie assisted with my son's birth when it went south during delivery, and we all had to pitch in. His exact quote to me was, "Can you be an EMT now?" I said yes and took care of my son while the doctors worked on my wife. But that is not my story... While not yet a paid member of the fire department (that happened in 1978), I made a living any way I could. One way was as a drummer for the many after ski party bands. After skiing one

day, I realized I had a large cyst on the top of my hand. Unable to play drums because of the pain, I went to Dr. Steinberg in the "emergency room.” He took one look at the top of my hand and sat me down at the table where he instructed me to place my hands on the table. I assumed he was comparing my functional right hand with my horribly painful left hand. He then took a large medical book from the shelf and I assumed he had to look up what the growth was and how to manage the problem. He called out to “someone” beyond the door. While I was distracted looking for the recipient of his outburst, he suddenly and without warning slammed the book down on my hand. Writhing in pain, I immediately withdrew my hands from the table and to my amazement, realized the growth had somehow disappeared. Such was my introduction into the subtleties of the "ganglion cyst.” I played drums that night and Tom and I became close friends over the years. Lots of good memories of the early days of "doctoring.”

Dr. Yarberry

BY DEB TRAVERS

He suddenly slammed the book down on my hand."

Dr. Steve Yarberry delivered all three of our boys — Tommy, Danny and Joey. When we arrived at VVMC for the delivery of our first child, we were as nervous as any first-time parents. Tommy was born on June 10, 1993, at 5:37 p.m. We had not found out if we were having a boy or a girl, and when the baby was born Steve announced, "It's an hombre, it's an hombre!" Having no idea what he was saying — I don't speak Spanish — I started praying. Through tears I asked, "What is wrong with my baby, what does hombre mean?" Steve laughed and carried Tommy over to me, calmly explaining, "Hombre means boy, Deb. You have a healthy baby boy!" Since then we have always appreciated that "Yarberry humor" and looked forward to each and every visit with Dr. Steve over these many years. We actually think the boys developed their sense of humor in part from our very funny and witty Dr. Steve. Our family considers him to be part of the pack.

Me VVMC&

Aksel Lund Svindal

AND THE SKI RACE CRASH

the downhill champ returns . If you know alpine skiing, you know the name Aksel Lund Svindal. The Norwegian phenom is one of the world’s most dangerous men between the gates. He’s also been through countless crashes and injuries in a decade-long career. It’s a hazard of the job: You fall down, you get back up, you train harder for the next race.

But a 2007 crash on Beaver Creek’s Birds of Prey downhill course was easily one of the most harrowing. Just ask Svindal.

“I crashed hard and passed out,” he remembers. “I wasn't sure exactly what was wrong, but I remember seeing a lot of blood. When we got to the emergency room in Vail and I

saw the look on the doctor’s faces — or maybe how fast they acted — that's when I realized it was bad.”

Svindal’s fateful training run is still difficult to watch. After launching off a mid-course jump, he begins slowly and uncontrollably tilting backwards. He lands on his back, hard, and ejects both skis before tumbling uncontrollably into a safety fence. The crash shattered several bones in his face and left a deep, 6-inch-long gash from his groin to abdomen.

Svindal remembers little from the first day or two after the crash, but Vail Valley Medical Center staff left a lasting impression. He thinks back fondly on two ICU nurses, Mary and Elize. When he returned to the hospital in 2013 for a Norwegian documentary on his career, they were two of the first people he visited before saying “hi” to doctors and ER staff.

“You're so helpless and they're very caring and nice to you,” says Svindal, who returned in 2009 to win the downhill and Super G at Birds of Prey. “I have been to a few hospitals but, luckily, not too many, and never for as long as in the Vail Valley. It's a great hospital, and I was lucky that I got injured in Beaver Creek.  They have great doctors and enough great nurses that you never feel alone — more like they're really looking after you.”

– BY PHIL LINDEMAN

CARL EATON BORN 1965

After the ski resort opened in 1962, Carl Eaton was the first baby born in Vail. The son of Vail co-founder Earl Eaton, Carl was the fourth generation of Eatons born in the Valley. Today, Carl lives in Eagle and works as a lift maintenance manager for Beaver Creek. His mother recounts the story of Carl’s unexpected birth in Vail.

The chairlift at Mid-Vail broke down, and Earl had to replace it overnight. He called to check on me, but on the last page of the book I was reading, I went into hard labor. The telephone at The Lodge at Vail was the hook-up to Mid-Vail. I called that number and it rang and rang. The desk clerk asked if something was wrong. I said, ” Yes, I’m having my baby. Please call Dr. Garrett at the Red Lion office and find out if he can help me.” He called me back and said he was sending the hotel station wagon to come and get me. Dr. Garrett tried to get his nurses to come in and help — they thought he was kidding. The station wagon guy was on the Ski Patrol and Dr. Garrett asked if he wanted to watch. Oh boy!

FROM DELIVERING BABIES TO HELPING PEOPLE SURVIVE AND THRIVE, VVMC HAS BEEN PRIVILEGED AND GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENTS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

• 50YE A RS OF •

Moffet

and

Dr.

Donald Corenman, a spine and neck surgeon at The Steadman Clinic.

ALLISON JUNE O’NEILL

BORN 1987

JOHN ROBERT O’NEILL

BORN 1990

HEATHER MCCOY

BORN 1986

Greg Moffet

Heather is currently employed at Colorado Mountain Medical as a medical receptionist. She is also a ski and snowboard instructor with Vail Resorts. Her interests include hiking, backpacking, skiing, snowboarding and cooking.

AND THE DOWD PILLAR

there ’ s a wood pillar in Dowd Junction with Greg Moffet’s name on it. He and the pillar became agonizingly familiar late in July 2011, when the longtime local barreled into it on his road bike and shattered portions of his spine, leaving a painful (albeit invisible) set of initials on the popular route.

So how does Moffet greet his old friend these days?

“I reserve the right to flip that damn thing off when I ride by it,” Moffet laughs. Here’s how he and the pillar first met: During the last leg of a 50-mile solo ride, Moffet cruised onto the fast, winding trail at Dowd. And then he stopped. Or rather, the bike stopped and threw him headlong down the trail.

Moffet was conscious enough to call an ambulance and, despite intense pain, he was still awake when doctors gave their diagnoses: His C1 vertebra was shattered. The injury required rare surgery and an intimidating “halo” head brace to hold his vertebrae in place. The contraption was screwed directly into his skull — he still has scars around his scalp to prove it — and for 12 straight weeks, it was his companion everywhere he went: the sponge bath, the bed, the Vail Town Council race for election.

Moffet admits the early weeks of his recovery are lost in a medicated haze, but he vividly remembers the halo. He also remembers a Vail Valley Medical Center ICU nurse who took the time to sponge bathe him after the accident, when he “must’ve smelled like a goat,” Moffet says. After all, avid cyclists aren’t the freshest roses after a 50-mile ride and ensuing crash.

That fateful day in July wasn’t Moffet’s first encounter with VVMC. (He jokes that the Moffet family has “a frequent flier discount” there.) After 12 exhausting months of surgery and rehab, he grew an affinity for the doctors, nurses and physical therapists who worked with him on a near-weekly basis. That same hospital crew led him back into the saddle for the Vail Gran Fondo in August 2012 — nearly a year to the day after his accident. Since then, he’s won a chair on the Vail Town Council, completed the grueling Triple Bypass Race in 2013 and has hardly slowed down…well, figuratively speaking.

“It almost feels like nothing ever happened,” Moffet says. “I still bike, I still ski, I still do everything I used to do. I’m just a bit stiffer in the neck than I used to be, and I definitely come through Dowd more slowly these days.” – PL

Trista Sutter

AND HELLP SYNDROME

trista sutter has graced the glossy pages of People, OK! and Us Weekly, but when she was pregnant with her first child in 2007, she got a different brand of star treatment at the neonatal ICU at Vail Valley Medical Center.

In 2007, Sutter — a St. Louis native known to reality TV gurus as runnerup on season one of ABC’s “The Bachelor” and star of the original “The Bachelorette” — was eagerly anticipating the birth of her first son, Max. She met her husband on “The Bachelorette,” and shortly after leaving the national spotlight, Trista joined Ryan in Vail. The Valley is noticeably different from her previous homes in Miami and Los Angeles, but after nearly a decade, she began to wholly love the area and trust its community hospital.

Sutter became intimately familiar with VVMC and its exceptional medical staff through her delivery of Max. After being admitted at 36 weeks with concerning blood work, she was diagnosed with Preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, a rare and extremely dangerous liver condition. The only way to prevent her from seizures, coma or death was to deliver Max via emergency C-section.

For five days, Trista received the care she needed to recover and was ecstatic to finally be able to dedicate her time to her new baby. Otherwise healthy but with underdeveloped lungs from prematurity, Max was the perfect candidate for VVMC’s NICU/Level II Nursery unit. Trista and Ryan felt so well cared for that when their daughter was born in 2009 they thought only of VVMC.

Sutter’s frightening experience with Max factors heavily into her book, "Happily Ever After: The Life-Changing Power of a Grateful Heart.” It’s an extension of the frank and graceful dialogue she has with fellow mothers, parents, friends — just about anyone.

MICHELLE BERAN

BORN 1985

Michelle works at VVMC in insurance verification. Her interests include photography, scrapbooking and spending time with her husband, Chad, and two daughters, Avery and Payton, who is also a Vail baby.

PAYTON BERAN

BORN 2011

“It’s a very small town we live in,” Sutter says, “but knowing we have such a world-class facility with doctors that are so well-educated and experienced, I just feel like there’s never a question in my mind. If we need care, I will take my family there.”

“As people know, I’m kind of an open book,” Sutter says. “I love sharing stories, and talking about Max is a great way of letting people know they aren’t alone. Honestly, the fact they took such good care of me and my baby boy — and I’m alive and well to talk about it — that’s incredible.” – PL

MATT DILLON

BORN 1988

Matt grew up in the Vail Valley, graduated from Battle Mountain High School and currently attends CU Boulder. Matt competed on a national level in freestyle/mogul skiing with Ski and Snowboard Club Vail and still enjoys skiing at every opportunity. When not skiing, he enjoys hiking and fly fishing and almost anything outdoors.

50YE A

Vail Babies

VALENTINA VIRION

BORN 1995

Valentina is a first-year student of neuroscience at Saint Andrews University in Scotland.

LUKE GRAY

BORN 1983

PASCOE “COE” JAMES ROBERTS

BORN 1987

JAMIE LEE ROBERTS

BORN 1990

After graduating from Fort Lewis College in 2010, Coe returned to the Valley and is a member of the Beaver Creek Ski Patrol. In the summer, he works for Just Us Gardeners landscaping. He was married in September, 2014.

Jamie graduated from Colorado State University in 2012. She is currently living in the Valley and has a website design business in addition to working part time for local architect Beth Levine and building websites.

JESSICA ANN CHRISTENSEN

BORN 1988

TWINS MATTHEW ALLEN CHRISTENSEN & KELSEY SUE CHRISTENSEN

BORN 1993

Luke has been a member of Vail Ski Patrol for four years. His interests include skiing, river rafting, rock climbing, horseback riding, flyfishing and exploring.

Jessica now lives in Arvada with her husband, Chris, her stepdaughter, Autumn, and her newborn daughter, Olive. She manages several retail stores.

Matthew is attending University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. Kelsey is living in Glendale and attending CU-Denver.

LUCAS ADAM EDWARD CROSS

BORN 1982

PATRICIA AMY CROSS DENNIGER

BORN 1985

Lucas is a teacher and wrestling coach at Eagle Valley High School. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Sara, and his three children: Colby, Karolina and Caleb. Luke also has a passion for hunting.

Tricia is a youth treatment counselor at Denver Children’s Home. Her interests include hiking, biking, Cross Fit and church.

Charla Blizzard

AND “THE SHAW”

survivors call it “ the shaw .” Shortly after Charla Blizzard was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in early 2011, the Eagle Ranch resident went to Shaw Regional Cancer Center in Edwards for a sit-down with four local doctors. There was a slight disagreement over her diagnoses — fairly common with advanced-stage cancer — but when the conversation ended, everyone agreed she needed treatment, and she needed it immediately.

Yet Charla’s decision on where and when didn’t come as easily. Blizzard’s family in Texas wanted her to return home for treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center, a world-renowned facility in Houston. But she and her husband had just moved to the Vail area with three children, all less than 8 years old, and with them in mind, she decided to begin her battle close to home.

meeting with Shaw doctors. “It was all very personal and that made a huge difference.”

From there, Blizzard’s battle with cancer began in earnest. After undergoing a double mastectomy at Vail Valley Medical Center, she dove directly into full treatment: three weeks of chemo, followed by 25 consecutive days of radiation.

“I really had no experience with cancer before this, so it was really overwhelming,” Blizzard says. “It’s almost surreal how friendly and nice everyone at Shaw is. The situation, which is a terrible situation, becomes more manageable. I just feel like the Valley is really a great place to be, a great place to find good people.”

In February 2015, Blizzard celebrated her fourth year being cancer-free. But The Shaw still holds a special place in her heart. She still meets almost weekly for “Fit for Survival,” a fitness program that offers everything from zumba to yoga programs at Jack’s Place, the cancer center’s lodge for patients and caregivers undergoing treatment at Shaw. Blizzard lost nearly 15 pounds during the treatment — “15 pounds I didn’t have to lose,” she says, and Shaw has helped her find a new normal.

CHRISTOPHER SCHMIDT

BORN 1990

ALEXANDER “A.J.” SCHMIDT

BORN 1992

Christopher graduated from Vail Christian High School in 2009, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality from Northern Arizona University. He works at a local hotel as the front desk supervisor.

A.J. graduated BMHS in 2010 and is majoring in Parks and Recreation at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

“It was a really good experience because all of them said, ‘This is your choice, this is your decision,’” Blizzard remembers about her first

“The main thing The Shaw did was help me with my life afterwards,” Blizzard says. ”I was so scared after it happened that I didn’t want to eat anything, put anything in my body. Everything they do is so your life feels normal again, so you’re not a sick person anymore.” – PL

GABRIELLA S. GUZIK

BORN 1995

CLAIRE E. GUZIK

BORN 1997

The sisters have been cattle owners, pig raisers, rodeo queens, dancers and skiers.

TANESHIA ESPARSEN LOZANO

BORN 1980

Taneshia graduated from BMHS in 1998 and currently works as Dr. Kate Skaggs’ full-time assistant. She also has her own local cupcake bakery: Dolci. She "got hitched" at the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, and has been married for 16 years. She and her husband have three boys who were all born in Vail in 1999, 2000 and 2008. She also sits on the board for Red Ribbon Project of Eagle County, which has her teaching the importance of safe sex and birth control in various local schools.

ALEC CAMPBELL

BORN

Thanks to EMT Charlene Kirby, right, Barb Schierkolk recovered from a hunting accident.

The Hunter

AND THE EMT

for nearly 30 years , Barb Schierkolk of Eagle knew the EMT who saved her life as simply “that redhead from McCoy.”

While names have a way of slipping through mental cracks after three decades, Schierkolk’s situation is far from forgettable. In November 1982, she was a young mother of two from Arvada, a north Denver suburb, enjoying a rare afternoon of hunting with her husband and friends near Yarmony Mountain.

Then came the unexpected. A young hunter — just 15 years old on his first trip — accidentally shot Schierkolk some four miles from the nearest paved road. The bullet ripped through her right thigh, destroying her femoral artery and cutting her femur nearly in half. Her husband fashioned a makeshift tourniquet with his belt and waited for someone — anyone — to hear his calls for help on CB radio. Luckily, that redhead from McCoy was listening. At the time, Charlene Kirby was the only EMT responder in western Eagle County. The 32-year-old was also a self-described “ranch wife,” familiar with the rougher side of alpine living, but Schierkolk's injury was easily one of the worst. She brought her father, a career cowboy and lifelong local, on the hour-long ride to rendezvous with the hunting group.

“He said, ‘I saw a side of you I’ve never seen,’” says Kirby, remembering the conversa-

tion the two had during the long, somber ride back from Vail Valley Medical Center. At the time, VVMC was a rural hospital on the rise, and the trauma unit was only in its infancy. Once Kirby and the ambulance arrived, the ER doctors and nurses stabilized and prepped Schierkolk for a helicopter ride to St. Anthony Hospital in Denver. When she was released eight months later, she owed her leg — and life — to Kirby.

In 1992, Schierkolk’s family moved from Arvada to Eagle County. When she and her husband decided to finally visit Yarmony, she walked on her own with only a knee brace for support.

“God gave me a sense of humor,” Schierkolk says. “If I didn’t have that, looking back on the entire thing would just be tragic.”

Kirby is just as grounded. In 2012, she and Schierkolk finally reunited. The hunter brought a family photo — complete with her two children and two grandchildren — to give to that redhead from McCoy, and the two embraced.

“She lived with me in my psyche and still does,” says Kirby, now manager of urgent care services for VVMC. “She gave me an invaluable gift by coming back to see me. You never know how you’ll touch someone’s life, but for her to take the effort to find me, it was an incredible gift.” – PL

The Story Behind The Name

The Shaws donated $18.5 million to build Shaw Regional Cancer Center, but they were involved in healthcare long before.

BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI // PHOTO DOMINIQUE TAYLOR

bout 20 years ago , Harold Shaw told his doctor and good friend, Dr. Jack Eck, that he was thinking of pulling away from Vail, a second home he and his family had been deeply involved with since the late 1960s. The elevation had become an issue in his older years. But Vail had been so instrumental in the Shaws’ lives — after all, he was one of the original investors in the Ski Resort Lodge — they wanted to help the community, even more than they already had.

In 1982, the Shaws’ son, Hal Jr., died in a car accident on Vail Pass. In honor of his son, Harold donated

funds to build a new wing onto the hospital, which became the Patient Care Unit, named for Hal, Jr. Shaw also became a board member in the 1980s.

In his elder years, Shaw continued to fly in on a monthly basis for hospital board meetings from his home in Dayton, Ohio, where he had, years prior, worked his way up to serving as the vice president of Monarch Marking Systems Company, before he started investing in Vail real estate in the late ’60s.

“My father had his priorities, and it was primarily the Vail Valley and the hospital, and then the cancer center,” says his daughter, Sally Veitch. “I think my brother’s death put hospitals in the forefront.”

a few months of conversation

Dr. Eck still loves telling the story of how the $18.5 million gift to fund Shaw Regional Cancer Center came about.

When Shaw told Eck he was “interested in doing something more” for Vail and asked Eck’s opinion, the doctor told him about the rising number of cancer patients he was seeing in the Valley. As an internal medicine physician, Eck began working with an oncologist who came to Vail from Denver, first once a month, then once a week as the need continued to grow.

“Dr. Eck treated many local citizens that did not want, or could not leave home, for cancer care,” says Peggy Carey, vice president of Shaw.

Shaw asked Eck how much it would cost to treat cancer in the Valley. When Shaw returned the following month, Eck had an answer: about $7 million. And Shaw said OK.

However, the $7 million did not cover patients who needed radiation; they still would have needed to travel to Denver. So, the following month, when Shaw returned, he asked how much a full-service cancer center would cost. Eck researched it and came up with an accurate number the following month.

“About $18.5 million,” Eck answered, saying he actually stuttered because he could “barely get it out.” He had never asked for such a large sum.

“Let me talk to Mary Lou,” Shaw replied, referring to his wife.

“The next month, he came back and said, ‘We’ll do it,’” Eck said. "I just about fell over."

the shaw legacy

Shaw Regional Cancer Center opened in 2001, about one year after Shaw passed away. However, Shaw had walked the site many times, and his wife, an earlystage breast cancer survivor herself, attended the ribbon cutting. Since its opening, the cancer center has grown to include Jack’s Place, named after Eck, which provides lodging for patients and their caregivers while receiving treatment at Shaw. The idea for Jack’s Place stemmed from a doctor who found a patient from Routt County sleeping in his pickup truck between cancer treatments. Though Jack’s is named after Eck, he remains humble about his involvement in launching Shaw Regional Cancer Center.

“I just happened to be at the right place at the right time, when a patient named Harold Shaw asked me how he could help,” Eck says.

Like Jack's Place, the cancer center was designed to provide whole person care. Comfortable waiting and treatment areas, cascading waterfalls, beautiful gardens and vistas of the Sawatch Mountain Range provide a comforting and healing environment. While the center remains cutting edge, as evidenced by technology like the state-of-the-art Image Guided Linear Accelerator for radiation treatment and 3D Mammography, it also places a premium on providing complementary care, including support services, fitness and nutrition counseling, massage, physical therapy and educational and enriching classes and experiences.

“It’s really become the rallying point around here,” Eck says. “There’s very good evidence that people taken care of in pleasant environments have much better outcomes.”

Patients benefit from a team of caregiving professionals, including a pathologist, radiologist, genetic counselor and plastic surgeon, as necessary. Each patient receives a personalized “whole care plan, which is much more efficient” than treatment in larger urban areas, which usually involves separate appointments with each specialist, Eck says.

The next month, he came back and said, ‘We’ll do it.’ I just about fell over.”

– DR. JACK ECK

“Having the Shaw Cancer Center in Edwards means that mountain residents can receive treatment for cancer from the Shaw team of experts in this beautiful setting, close to home,” Carey says. “It also means people who have second homes here or don’t want to have treatment in a large urban area have a choice.”

Community support and donations made Jack’s Place possible, but the Shaws also continue to support the cancer center. Veitch commutes from Colorado Springs to serve on the board of directors “and supports both the hospital and the cancer center with her wisdom and contributes generously financially,” Carey says. A foundation, set up by Shaw, also helps offset the costs of Jack's Place and the cancer center.

“They’ve done such a fabulous job with it,” Veitch says. “If, God forbid, I have to go through that, I’m coming up there; they have a great staff — very caring people that work there … and the setting: It’s a lovely place.”

The Valley is fortunate Shaw listened, first to his good friends from Dayton, Ohio, who introduced him to Vail, and again to Dr. Eck, who identified the need for comprehensive cancer treatment in the Valley. Shaw began touching lives when he invested in Ski Resort Lodge, but the family continues to be instrumental in saving lives through Shaw Regional Cancer Center.

The Master Plan

After 50 years, it's time to build Vail's hospital of the future.

f you ’ ve ever been to the Red Lion in Vail, you’ve visited the original Vail Clinic. Back then, the leather boots strapped to heavy wooden skis provided plenty of cuts and breaks to fearless skiers during the winter months. There were no beds or operating rooms in the clinic, so patients in bad condition were loaded into an old Chevy station wagon and driven to Denver. “Patch ‘em and dispatch ‘em,” as Vail’s first full-time physician Dr. Tom Steinberg used to say.

Early Vail founders like Pete Seibert and John Murchison knew that a first-class resort was going to need first-rate medical care. After reviewing 135 applicants from around the country, they offered Dr. Steinberg $18,000 to move from New Jersey to Vail in 1965. And things haven’t slowed down since.

“It was real frontier medicine, shall we say,” says Dr. Steinberg. “We had to make quick decisions and live with them, and fortunately we saved most of the people.”

Fifty years later, Vail Valley Medical Center has grown into the world’s most advanced mountain hospital, providing Olympic-quality sports medicine, leading evidence-based research, modern cancer care and extensive cardiology capabilities. With the same grit that built North America’s most well-known mountain community, the new “locals” successfully built an independent, nonprofit medical center to serve friends and neighbors, along with visitors, celebrities and athletes from around the world.

To understand the growth of the hospital, just look at the tourism and local population increase. Vail’s number of guests boomed from less than 100,000 lift tickets sold in the first year of the ski company (1962-63) to an estimated 3,000,000 annual skier visits between Vail and Beaver Creek in recent years. To match, the population in Eagle County has jumped from a few thousand to over 52,000 residents.

The hospital moved off of Bridge Street to a new home on West Meadow Drive in those first years. To keep up with the dramatic growth, multiple expansions and wings were added. Like many hospitals that grow alongside their community, these types of facilities eventually need to be modernized.

The hospital has maximized its space and squeezed every bit of efficiency out of its Vail campus. Some buildings are nearing 50 years of

The new facility includes a state-of-theart Emergency Department and upgraded Patient Care and Intensive Care Units, as well as an updated look that complements Vail's architectural renaissance.

*This rendering was proposed to the Town of Vail at the time Vail Health Magazine went to print and may change post publication.

BENEFITS OF VAIL’S FUTURE HOSPITAL

THE PROPOSED MASTER Facility Plan will enhance healthcare in the Valley and improve the quality of life for the community.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT:

A new state-of-the-art Emergency Department.

age, and new services that have been added over the years have been placed where room could be found. A $2 billion renaissance in Vail and Lionshead Village, along with new or updated hospitals in neighboring mountain communities, has set new standards.

As Vail Valley Medical Center celebrates its 50th anniversary, the hospital and its many supporters will once again come together to build Vail’s hospital of the future. To meet the needs of the community, VVMC is embarking on a multimillion dollar expansion and renovation that will make Vail a center of medical excellence and improve the healthcare available to the community and its guests.

“This is a significant undertaking,” explains VVMC President and CEO Doris Kirchner, who has overseen the planning process, which began in 2013. “Through thoughtful evaluation and collaboration, we've developed a Master Facility Plan that will serve as our road map for enhancing healthcare in the Valley.”

The state-of-the-art medical campus will directly contribute to improvements in patient care, safety and privacy, and operational efficiencies. Patient access and parking will be dramatically improved by moving the hospital’s main entrance to South Frontage Road, increasing parking (including covered parking) and making emergency care more convenient. All hospital services will remain available during the expansion and renovation.

To meet the needs of the community, VVMC is embarking on a multi-million dollar expansion and renovation."

Hospital leaders have collaborated with their medical staff and employees, planning and architecture experts and aviation consultants to determine the scope of the new campus. In addition, they have worked closely with the public, neighbors and Town of Vail staff to discuss the feasibility and goals of the plan with one common vision: How to best serve the community.

As the area’s only independent, nonprofit hospital, Vail Valley Medical Center’s profits stay local and are reinvested in the community through new services, board-certified physicians, state-of-the-art equipment, improved access, community outreach, charity care and healthcare jobs (with over 850 employees, VVMC is the county’s second-largest employer).

Professional and amateur athletes from around the world make Vail their destination for orthopaedics and sports medicine. And with a host of medical services not typically offered in a small rural hospital —a childbirth center, cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization & Electrophysiology Lab, endocrinology, internal medicine, plastic surgery, and cancer diagnostics and treatment — Vail Valley Medical Center continues to make it possible for locals and second homeowners to live and age in the Valley.

PCU & ICU: An upgraded Patient Care Unit and Intensive Care Unit, providing improved privacy and dignity for patients.

HELIPAD: A relocated helipad on the medical center campus with direct access to the hospital, eliminating time-consuming transfers of critical patients and newborns.

ROOM: Appropriate medical space for physician groups.

PARKING: Increased parking capacity, including covered parking.

MAIN ENTRANCE: A new main entrance off of South Frontage Road, thereby removing 100 percent of patient, visitor, emergency and staff traffic from West Meadow Drive.

LOADING ZONE: A new concealed loading zone with an on-site manager to further minimize public impact.

FRESH LOOK: Enhanced appearance to complement the architectural renaissance in the villages and neighborhood.

To learn more about the Master Facility Plan, visit vvmc.com/build. To get involved, contact the Vail Valley Medical Center Foundation at (970) 569-7766.

Head Start

BEST BREAKFAST FOODS TO FUEL YOUR BODY

BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI

he best way to start the day is with something healthy,” says internist Dr. Dennis Lipton. We know this intuitively, but when it comes to choosing from traditional breakfasts, which range from eggs and bacon to blueberry muffins and cereal, it’s tricky to nail down the best start. But with a little knowledge, it’s fairly simple — and can even be quite delicious! The overall goal is to obtain most of your calorie intake through unprocessed vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes, Lipton says. “If you focus on consuming only the most nutrient-dense foods, the calories, protein, carbs and fats will take care of themselves.” Get a head start on your day with better breakfast habits. 

Healthy Breakfast Recipes

KEEP LIGHTIT

Apple Surprise

Cut 1 apple in half, and remove the core (plus a bit of the extra flesh around the core). Drop 1 tablespoon of nut butter between the holes, and sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of granola or raisins and top with a bit of cinnamon. Eat right away or wrap up the whole apple in plastic wrap or foil to go.

MAKE IT FAST

Cereal

To Go

1/4 cup nuts

1⁄₃ cup dried fruit

1/2 cup dry low-sugar, high-fiber cereal

Put everything in a baggie together.

Power Boosters

1 tablespoon chia or hemp seeds, ground flax or cocoa nibs

1 tablespoon nut butter

1/4 avocado

Add any of these to a smoothie, or hot or cold cereal.

TO BOOST YOUR METABOLISM

“Eat breakfast within an hour to 90 minutes of waking,” says VVMC dietitian, Katie Mazzia.

Avocado on Toast

Top 2 slices of wholegrain bread with smashed avocado and a sprinkling of salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.

Protein Bonus: Add a cooked egg and make a sandwich for a well-rounded breakfast that will keep you full for hours.

EXTRA OOMPH

. BREAKFAST OF.

. CHAMPIONS: CHOOSE .

. YOUR OWN ADVENTURE .

For sustained energy levels, lasting up to five hours

Eat protein and fiber. A hardy skier or mountain climber breakfast may include a hard-boiled egg plus oatmeal, made with milk or a milk alternative. For a protein boost, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of nuts or hemp seeds and then top with dried or fresh fruit and 1 tablespoon of ground flax. Another option: 1 egg and 2 egg whites scrambled with 1/2 cup vegetables, 2 tablespoons of cheese and seasonings, paired with 2 pieces of whole grain toast or wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla.

If your morning doesn’t include a workout and provides flexibility

Eat a small breakfast first, such as a serving of high-fiber, low-sugar cereal with almond milk and then have a healthy snack, like Greek yogurt (which contains more protein than other yogurt) with 1/2 cup of fruit and 1 tablespoon ground flax, nuts or chia or hemp seeds (for fiber).

If you’re dashing off to work

Opt for avocado on toast or a fruit and veggie smoothie.

Though protein fuels the body longer than carbs do, excessively high protein breakfasts are not necessarily better.

“Americans are not protein deficient,” Mazzia says, adding it’s generally better for people to choose whole proteins,

which contain the proper proportion of essential amino acids, as opposed to processed foods with added protein or protein powders.

If you’re used to bacon and eggs

Try 1 egg plus 2 egg whites and 1 slice of “natural bacon,” which doesn’t contain nitrates; or 2 oz. of leftover grilled chicken or lean meat quickly sautéed with spinach or 1/2 cup of a veggie mix, like sweet potato, kale, etc.; or a natural chicken maple breakfast patty in a whole wheat English muffin.

When shopping for cereals, breads and tortillas

Start the day with a selection of fresh fruit.

Choose products with at least 3 grams of fiber and avoid those with ingredients like food dyes, artificial sugars, polydextrose, and more than 10 grams of sugar. Cereal brands like Kix, Kashi, Bear Naked Fit, Kind Healthy Grains Granola, Cascadian Farms, Barbara's Puffins, Grapenuts, Cheerios and Shredded Wheat fit the bill.

If you want something quick

1 cup frozen fruit blended with 1 cup milk or alternative milk; 1⁄₃ cup quick oats or 1⁄₃ cup almond meal.

To get your caffeine (and natural sugar) fix

Green tea provides antioxidants, and 4 to 6 oz. of 100 percent fruit juice, herbal or black tea, and even a moderate amount of black coffee are all fine, Mazzia says. Caffeine suppresses the appetite, so if you drink coffee before breakfast, remember to eat soon afterward. Try to limit caffeine intake to 300 mg a day, knowing that a 16 oz. Starbucks contains about 330 mg and a double shot of espresso adds up to roughly 350 mg. Energy drinks like Red Bull or Monster result in “false energy” and contain herbs with caffeine, which may be a bad combination, especially if you take prescription medication, she says.

To have on hand

Bake some healthy, high-fiber muffins on the weekend and freeze them. (If you juice, you can even add the highnutrient pulp to the muffins.) Then, pop one into the microwave on weekdays. Or make your own trail mix with 1⁄₃ cup dried fruit (avoid pineapple because it’s high in sugar, and banana chips because they are usually fried and therefore high in fat), 1/2 cup whole grain cereal, some dark chocolate chips (>70 percent cocoa) and about 2 tablespoons of nuts.

Healthy Breakfast Recipes

HEALTHY & HEARTY

Basic Fruit Smoothie

(Serves two)

1 cup or more of 100 percent fruit or vegetable blend juice, milk or dairy alternative

11/2 cups plain regular or Greek yogurt or yogurt alternative

1 to 2 cups frozen or fresh fruit or 1 cup fruit and 1 cup fresh spinach or other greens

1. Place in blender and blend until smooth.

Chocolate Banana Breakfast Quinoa

(Serves two)

1/2 cup raw quinoa (remember to rinse first)

11/4 cup of milk or milk alternative

1/2 cup water

Dash of sea salt

1 banana, 1/2 mashed, 1/2 cut into slices

2 teaspoons honey

2 teaspoons cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon

vanilla extract

1 tablespoon chia seeds or fresh mint for garnish, optional

1. Bring 1/2 cup of rinsed quinoa, 1/2 cup water, 1 cup milk and a dash of sea salt to a boil in a small pot.

2. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the liquid has been absorbed (about 10 minutes).

3. Remove quinoa from stove and transfer to a bowl.

4. Mix in the mashed banana, cocoa powder, vanilla and honey. Stir until evenly combined. FOR FRUIT LOVERS

Handful of walnuts

For busy families — options kids will love

“Convenience or packaged products don’t (necessarily) mean unhealthy,” Mazzia says. “Look for simple ingredients, and when possible, avoid food additives and preservatives.”

Make a peanut butter and jelly shake, with 1 cup milk, 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 cup frozen or fresh strawberries and 1 tablespoon peanut butter. Warm a whole wheat or corn tortilla filled with leftovers.

Add 1 tablespoon peanut or almond butter to oatmeal for a protein boost (sprinkle with cinnamon or cocoa powder).

Make an oat shake by blending 1⁄₃ cup oatmeal with 1 cup milk or milk alternative, 1/2 banana or other fruit and a bit of honey or maple syrup. Thin with milk as needed and serve with a straw. Note: Do not serve honey to children under 1 year of age.

Cut-up fruit, served with toothpicks and a fruit dip made of Greek yogurt and 100 percent fruit jam, can be a fun way to entice kids to eat fruit and get a burst of protein.

Pair a store-bought nutrition bar with a piece of fruit; just look for bars like Luna and Clif, with 200-250 calories, 8-10 grams of protein and 3-5 grams of fiber.

New dietary guidelines

When it comes to the great egg debate, it turns out eggs, particularly organic or vegetarian fed, are okay again, in moderation. Studies suggest that one egg a day does not result in higher blood cholesterol or increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in healthy people.

If you focus on consuming only the most nutrient-dense foods, the calories, protein, carbs and fats will take care of themselves.”

Then there’s the milk debate. Mazzia says organic, pasteurized milk provides a balanced mix of carbohydrates, protein, calcium and Vitamin D. Milk alternatives like almond, coconut and rice milk don't contain much protein, but soy does. Lipton recommends non-dairy milks—the less processed and unsweetened (avoid additives like carrageenan), the better. Mazzia reminds parents with children between 12 months and 2 years that they need whole milk because the extra fat supports their developing brains.

Model Behavior

“Create healthy eating behaviors in your kids by modeling them yourself,” Lipton says. “We always have some sliced fruit

VIRTUOUS DECADENCE

5. Pour the remaining 1/4 cup of milk or milk alternative over quinoa, garnish with banana slices, walnuts, chia seeds or other and enjoy.

Gluten-Free Banana

Pancakes

(serves two to three)

1 mashed, super ripe banana

2 eggs, or 1 egg and 2 egg whites, or 6 egg whites

2 tablespoons ground flax or 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Dash of vanilla

Add a teaspoon of your favorite spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.) or a few chopped nuts. Top with plain yogurt and berries if desired.

1. Mash banana with a fork. Beat eggs and combine with mashed banana. Add in any optional ingredients, or use a blender to combine all ingredients and process until smooth.

2. Heat griddle over low heat, spray with a non-stick spray or coat with a little olive oil, then pour batter onto griddle in small circles the size of a silver dollar (any larger and they will be difficult to flip). Flip after edges start to cook and allow the pancakes to cook through.

Overnight Oats

The night before, combine 1/2 cup milk or milk alternative, ¹⁄₃ cup rolled oats, 1/2 a banana (mashed), 1/4 cup chopped nuts, and a sprinkle of cinnamon in a sealed container. By morning, you’ll have delicious overnight oats to heat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or serve cold.

ready in the mornings, with the requirement that it gets eaten before anything else. Then provide a few healthy cereal options. On mornings that we have more time, we make pancakes or waffles (with whole grain flours and nondairy milk and no added oil or sugar) or oatmeal.”

Remember, though breakfast is the most important meal of the day, a huge, protein-packed one won’t provide energy for an entire day, says Rhonda Galer, clinical nutrition manager at Vail Valley Medical Center. But with a bit of planning, it can make an enormous difference in the quality of your morning.

VVMC Food & Nutrition | vvmc.com/ nutrition | (970) 479-5058

AGING BRAIN The

THE BRAIN EXPERIENCES AGE-RELATED CHANGES MUCH LIKE THE BODY DOES, BUT THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO INCREASE THE CHANCES OF MENTAL ACUITY AND AWARENESS.

BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI

TWO-THIRDS OF PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 50 FEAR GETTING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE,

according to a study presented by local neurologist Dr. Marc Treihaft. And with good reason. Statistics show the lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s after age 65 is one out of six women, and one out of 11 men. Though Alzheimer’s makes up 75 percent of the dementias, it is just one of many; others include dementia induced by head trauma, alcohol, vascular disease, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, ALS and more. The questions become: What is the difference between dementia and normal changes in memory as the brain ages, and what can people do to help prevent, or mitigate, dementia?

IS IT DEMENTIA?

ementia acts as an umbrella for a number of neurocognitive disorders. Its hallmarks include the loss of ability to think clearly, and the loss of memory, reasoning and decision-making—all of which affect daily functioning. Dementia begins with minor cognitive problems, often in the form of slight work and social mistakes.

“(People) may go to the basement and forget why they’re there, or pay bills twice,” Treihaft says. “These are normal phenomena to some extent, but if it’s a consistent pattern that one picks up, that changes the game.”

As the brain ages, it’s normal to become mildly forgetful.

“Just because we forget things, it’s not necessarily pathological,” says local psychologist Henry Goetze, PhD. “Some things have no real importance; they are incidental things. As we get older, we start to pay attention to things we can’t remember. Don’t worry so much about that, because there are normal brain changes that occur as we get older. Not all forgetfulness is Alzheimer’s.”

While forgetfulness, or mild cognitive impairment, is common, statistics show 70 percent of patients will progress to dementia, though the percentage is lessening with medical advances in treatment and patients’ proactive, healthy lifestyle changes, Treihaft says.

The time to be concerned is when cognitive impairment results in an impairment of functioning, or “not being able to do what you once were able to,” Goetze says. Those who have a family history of dementia have a higher risk of suffering from it themselves, and should be tested.

“As we get older, we start to pay attention to things we can’t remember. Don't worry too much about that... Not all forgetfulness is Alzheimer's. ”

Alzheimer’s is characterized by pathological changes in the brain, namely amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.

“These are tangles of proteins that are confusing us,” Treihaft says.

Such pathology doesn’t occur to such a damaging degree in the normal aging brain.

“Our brain mass reaches its peak in our 20s and starts to slide off after that,” Goetze says, adding that normal changes are subtle and progress slowly, so they are apparent only occasionally—most often when people are trying to learn something, or remember something, new.

Normal changes include difficulty recalling words, challenges in learning new tasks or learning old tasks in new ways, and slower response time. On the other hand, enduring abilities include semantic and procedural knowledge, motor memory, abstract reasoning, judgment, problemsolving and long-term memory.

A number of factors can masquerade as dementia, including: sleep deprivation, responses to anesthesia or chemotherapy, depression, severe anxiety, chronic pain, vitamin B-12 deficiency, head injuries, some types of seizures, migraines, medications (from antianxiety to sleep aids, narcotics and antihistamines) and emotional trauma.

“When we are under enormous stress, our cognitive sharpness decreases,” Goetze says.

It’s important for people to see a doctor when they experience cognitive impairment because 20 percent of dementias are reversible. Causes include metabolic issues, such as low vitamin B-12, hypothyroid or alcohol consumption; infection, such as syphilis, Lyme’s Disease and HIV; structural problems, such as brain tumor or stroke; inflammation, such as vasculitis; and mental illness. For cognitive issues due to depression, “you treat the depression, and it’s gone,” he says.

Twenty percent of dementias are caused by vascular disease, such as strokes, which can often be treated when identified early.

Dementia reaches a mild or moderate level when shortterm memory problems become consistent. People may forget conversations or movies they just watched, repeat questions, become lost easily and need assistance with personal hygiene.

Patients with late, or severe, stages of dementia usually need full assistance and eventually have difficulty sleeping and eating.

PREVENTING DEMENTIA

ifestyle can go a long way in preventing dementia.

“General good health—healthy body weight—and proper diet are important,” Goetze says. “The enemy of memory is vascular disease, so avoid diets high in fat and cholesterol that block arteries and veins and inhibit blood flow and oxygen to the brain.”

Treating hypertension and diabetes sooner, rather than later, can make a difference between dementia and normal aging. Chronic sleep disturbances can also negatively affect memory. Goetze suggests refraining from alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, especially when young.

“Alcohol is a neuro-toxin. It kills brain cells,” he says. “The more alcohol we drink, the more brain cells we kill off and the higher chances of memory impairment.

“Young men and woman should refrain from both alcohol and marijuana abuse. Both of these substances negatively effect the developing brain and interfere with memory.”

New research also shows that closed head injuries and repetitive concussions can cause dementia. Closed-head injuries are a type of traumatic brain injury in which the skull and dura mater remain intact. Auto accidents, sports accidents and falls contribute to most closed-head injuries.

“Sports such as soccer, football and boxing have been implicated in longer-term memory and motor problems,” he says. “Protect your head.”

And, as it turns out, helmets may not protect brains well enough, so it’s up to sports participants to play it safe.

“Helmets don’t do enough because of the head bouncing in and out of the head plate,” Treihaft says.

Interacting socially and practicing cognitive skills keeps the brain active, though the jury’s still out as to whether they actually help prevent dementia. Still, Treihaft says “it

might protect you a little bit from the decline,” and Goetze and local psychologist Geoge McNeill, PsyD both support the “use it or lose it” theory.

“Stay mentally active,” Goetze says. “Learn new things. Make new neural connections. Stimulate your mind with new learning.

“Maintain social contacts. Social interaction helps to keep one’s memory sharp.”

DEALING WITH DEMENTIA

lzheimer’s is currently incurable, and medications like Donepezil, Memantine and Rivastigmine have minimal effects, Treihaft says. But, there’s hope. Treihaft says we’re sitting on the cusp of a medication breakthrough; he expects effective medications to emerge within a couple of years.

For now, cognitive therapy and medication, including antidepressants, are the best options. In addition, caregivers must attend to their own mental health.

“Most of my time in the office is spent with the caregiver—that’s who’s suffering,” Treihaft says.

Dementia, and specifically, Alzheimer’s, has been called “the long goodbye.”

“When we are under enormous stress, oursharpnesscognitive decreases.”

“It is a very painful and protracted process, which is as painful for loved ones as it is for the patient,” Goetze says.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers support on a local and national level and gives specific recommendations for early-, middle- and late-stage care. These tips can help loved ones understand the disease process, which can reduce frustration.

“Caregivers need to make sure to protect and care for themselves,” Goetze says. “All caregivers need opportunities to ‘recharge’ their batteries with respite care and selfnurturance.”

For both caregivers and people who are simply experiencing the effects of the aging brain (or those with early stages of dementia), McNeill recommends a practice called A New Process Goal.

With it, he teaches people to notice reactions to events, like not being able to recall a word quickly, and simply observe it, rather than hooking in emotionally and becoming upset. His approach is one of acceptance, of “openly embracing one’s experiences, both good and bad, without attempting to change them … (and) acting in service of who you want to be, not in the service of getting your reaction to go away.”

This type of emotional flexibility allows for change to occur without pulling a person into a negative reactionary behavior; instead, a person remains clear about what he or she values, and chooses to act upon those things.

Whether an individual’s aging brain subtly changes within the normal realm of cognitive functioning, or begins to deteriorate quicker through dementia, McNeill’s approach can soften the blow, so to speak.

“We don’t have a choice about our aging brain,” he says, “but we do have a choice about what we do with it.”

From ski and snowboard risks to the overmedication of adults and children, local physicians and therapists are making some brow-raising discoveries right here in Vail.

BY SHAUNA FARNELL

ason moore , PhD, PA knows that not everything we abide by in the world of medicine is irrefutable fact. Actually, disputing common practices and finding better ways to provide treatment is a passionate side project for some local doctors and therapists whose discoveries are making a significant impact locally, regionally and nationally, too.

“If you want someone to change their perspectives, especially in the medical field, you have to provide evidence-based research,” Moore says. “Medical myth busting is the challenge.”

Moore, an epidemiologist, practices trauma and critical care medicine at Vail Valley Medical Center. He began observing patterns among his patients who had sustained ski and snowboard injuries.

“We noticed that over time, on days when the snowfall was deep, it was more extremity-type injuries— hands, wrists, ankles, et cetera. In the spring, when there was less snow, it was head, chest and abdominal injuries. As I looked into it further, I saw that nobody had studied that component of injuries,” Moore says.

Moore took it upon himself to conduct a study, analyzing a total of over 600 trauma patients who had sustained injuries on regional mountains while skiing and snowboarding, paying special attention to injuries resulting from collisions and also the amount (or lack) of snowfall. While his conclusions were not surprising, they were powerful because they involved real, provable data.

“The injury severity is worse when there’s little snowfall,” Moore says. “If there’s less than two inches of snowfall, the risk of an injury being severe or critical is almost three times higher.”

Moore’s research also shows that the odds of an injury being critical, such as involving major trauma to the head or chest, are greater when there is an inch or less of new snow. Skiers and snowboarders who have taken a tumble in powder know it’s much less painful than a fall on hard-packed snow, but Moore emphasizes that the moral of his findings is when there is more snow, it slows things down on the mountain.

“What we attribute the injuries to is increased speed when there’s less snow. It’s not so much the padding of the powder, but it’s that you go slower when there’s more snow out there. The lesson is, control your speed. Speed kills,” he says.

One of the leading researchers at VVMC, Moore has published multiple studies over the years. Recently, he evaluated data with seven regional hospitals in a study that concluded that doctors generally prescribe antibiotics that are both too strong for the diagnosed infection and for too long a duration of time for their patients. He authored a related study, specifically addressing the use of antibiotics in pediatric patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI). Among the most common infections requiring hospitalization, these infections exert a substantial burden on the healthcare system with approximately three million pediatric healthcare visits per year. Hospitalizations for ABSSI among children has more than doubled over the last 15 years, triggering an increasing cost of

Jason Moore, PhD, is delving into a study on how marijuana use affects injury rates among skiers and snowboarders.

care and need for invasive procedures. "Despite the increasing frequency of hospitalizations for ABSSI among children, there was limited data regarding antibiotic prescription for these kids," says Moore. Recent studies specific to adults demonstrated frequent use of antibiotics for a prolonged period presented opportunity to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. "We sought to evaluate whether similar opportunities exist in pediatric patients, and found that there is, in fact, opportunity to reduce the use of antibiotics, thus reducing healthcare costs, as well as concerns of parents." Thanks to these studies, hospitals and clinics can now re-educate their providers to avoid over-prescribing.

Next, Moore is delving into a study on how marijuana use affects injury rates among skiers and snowboarders. "It's remarkable to see research coming from a small, rural hospital like Vail Valley Medical Center, but it's extremely rewarding to contribute to the body of medical knowledge and be a part of evolving trends in healthcare," says Moore.

MOVEMENT EVALUATION

As a physical therapist at the foot of a ski mountain, Howard Head Sports Medicine’s Thomas Olson has had ample opportunity to help athletes recover from injuries. But what about predicting them before they occur? Turns out there’s a way to determine the potential risk of injury for traditional sports such as volleyball, football and basketball. It centers around the Functional Movement Screen (FMS)™ and the YBalanceTest™, which are a series of exercises such as squats, lunges, reaches, oneleg balance and flexibility used to evaluate an athlete’s basic movements. If the athlete scores 14 or below on the FMS™— a result showing either low scores in one or more of the exercises or that the athlete has displayed an asymmetry in his or her movements — it has been shown that the athlete is three and a half times more likely to sustain a serious, long-term injury (torn knee ligament, broken bone, etc.) when competing or training in his or her sport.

“The idea is that if you conduct

a screening like this, you can potentially identify those individuals who are at greater risk for injury and then intervene,” Olson says.

“Maybe its strength and flexibility that needs to be improved. Maybe it’s motor control. In areas of concern indicated by the tests, you can work with the athlete and use the test again to see if these measures have improved the athlete’s performance and decreased the risk of injury.”

The tests have never been used to predict the risk of injury among competitive skiers and snowboarders, and Olson decided to look into it. He began analyzing FMS™ test results and injury rates among a group of 136 Ski and Snowboard Club Vail athletes in August 2010. Set to be completed in August 2015, Olson has been able to determine that although the test has proven both valuable and telling in predicting risk of injury in traditional sports athletes, it’s not as helpful in predicting injuries among competitive skiers and snowboarders. Low scores on the movement test don’t mean the skiers and snowboarders have a higher risk of injury, which is good news for them. On the other hand, the risk of injury is, unfortunately, increased by factors outside of their control.

“Certainly these tests can still be used to assess physical readiness to perform, but they may not be that gold standard for predicting risk of injury that they are for other sports,” Olson says, pointing out that the risk of injury in skiing and snowboarding may be largely based on environmental factors, such as those indicated in Moore’s research.

Physical therapist Thomas Olson is studying a way to determine the chances of injury for individual skiers and snowboarders.

“ It's extremely rewarding to contribute to the body of medical knowledge and be a part of evolving trends in healthcare.”

“Snow conditions are just one of the variables you encounter [related to risk of injury] that aren’t as important in sports like football or volleyball,” Olson says. “Plus, you’ve got terrain, tuning of equipment … how injuries vary from one hill to the next. When you start thinking about all of that, it’s understandable that there is a lot more to consider.”

“While we are not a research or university hospital, we have special opportunities to learn from our unique mountain setting and contribute our findings to the world,” says Moore.

So, the next time you decide to go all-out, speed skier style when the snow report says no new accumulation, consider the evidence-based research. Vail Valley Medical Center’s physicians and therapists are not only here to provide informed, state-of-the-art care, but they are working hard to save you a trip to the hospital and pharmacy as well.

BUSINESS B�

Each year, Vail Valley Medical Center honors its top employees in several Peaks of Excellence categories. Nominated by peers or supervisors, winners are reviewed and selected by a special committee and celebrated at an annual reception. Additionally, honors are bestowed upon the top volunteers and the Physician of the Year for their excellence in service and care.

FINANCE PEAK AWARD

Roberto Morales, Facilities

PEOPLE PEAK AWARD

Charmayne Bernhardt, VVMC Foundation

SERVICE PEAK AWARD

Wilber Mendez, Edwards Pharmacy

GROWTH PEAK AWARD

Ben Boese, IT

QUALITY PEAK AWARD

Erin Mundo, Inpatient Pharmacy

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Anna Policastri

PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Paul Abbott, MD, Vail-Summit Orthopaedics

SAFETY PEAK AWARD

Miles Henson, Emergency Department

Nancy Berg

VVMC 2014 DONORS

VVMC PLATINUM MEDALLION SOCIETY

$100,000 AND ABOVE

Aon Foundation

Emily Gunn and Sheila Gunn McCormack

Susu and George Johnson, Jr.

Mary Sue and Mike Shannon

Sally Veitch

Agatha and Luitpold Von Finck

VVMC GOLD MEDALLION SOCIETY

$50,000 - $99,999

Sonnenalp of Vail Foundation

VVMC Volunteer Corps

VVMC SILVER MEDALLION SOCIETY

$25,000 - $49,999

Anonymous

Bertini and Melvyn Bergstein

Kathy and Erik Borgen

Kelly and Sam Bronfman

Peggy Fossett

Pat and Peter Frechette

Elise and Victor Micati

Molly and Jay Precourt

The Willard T.C. Johnson Foundation, Inc.

Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group

GORDON AND THELMA

BRITTAN SOCIETY

FOUNDER'S LEVEL

$15,000 - $24,999

Judy and John Angelo

Jean and Paul Corcoran, DDS

Ann and Doc Cornwell

Amy and Steven Coyer

Lucy and Ron Davis

Doris and John Kirchner

Sheila Gunn McCormack

Sara and Eric Resnick

Ann Smead and Michael Byram

Susan and Steve Suggs

Vail Valley Surgery Center, LLC

Barbara and Richard Wenninger

PRESIDENT'S LEVEL

$5,000 - $14,999

Alpine Bank

Anonymous

Apollo MD

Herbert and Sharon Bank

Penny Bank

John Becher

Eleanor and Gus Bramante, IV

Kent Brittan

Dorothy Browning Cerner Corporation

Kay and Thomas Clanton, MD

Thomas Claugus

Caryn Clayman

Colorado Mountain Medical, P.C.

Angela and Peter Dal Pezzo

Denver Health and Hospital Foundation

Diversified Radiology of Colorado

Suzy and Jim Donohue

Irene and Jared Drescher

Duane Morris LLP

Eagle Valley Community Fund

Kathleen and Jack Eck, MD

El Pomar Foundation

Encore Electric

Martha Head and John Feagin, MD

First Bank of Eagle County

Joan Francis

Greer and Jack Gardner

Catherine Garland

GE Johnson Construction Company

Donna Giordano

The Golden Bear

Jeffrey Goldsmith

Sheika and Pepi Gramshammer

Rainy and Fred Green

Gayle Grider McDonald

Kim and Thomas Hackett, MD

Harold W. and Mary Louise Shaw Foundation

Healthcare Outsourcing Network, LLC

Rossie and John Hutcheson

June and Peter Kalkus

Elaine and Arthur Kelton, Jr.

Key Private Bank

Tara and Bob Levine

Deb and Dan Luginbuhl

Cynthia McAdam

Alison and Tim McAdam

Brenda and Joe McHugh

Liz and Luc Meyer

Sarah and Peter Millett, MD

Anne and James Millett

Nichols Interactive

Linda Pancratz

Senenne and Marc Philippon, MD

Lou and Gib Reese

Ann and Richard Rothkopf

Elise and Paul Schmidt

Elaine and Steven Schwartzreich

Shaw Outreach Team

Sheila Sullivan and Harvey Simpson

Steadman Philippon

Research Institute / The Steadman Clinic

Carol and Hans Storr

Sue Talucci

Town of Gypsum

Town of Vail

US Bank

Vail Resorts, Inc.

Vail Summit Emergency Physicians

Vail-Summit Orthopaedics

Katie and Bill Weaver

Alice and Andy Weydt

Sterling Williams

BENEFACTOR’S LEVEL

$1,000 - $4,999

Barbara Allen

Sara and John Almond

Alpine Party Rentals

Mary Ellen Anderson

Todger Anderson

Astra Zeneca

Patricia and Chris Aubel

Richard Badenhausen

David Barbour

Barbara and Jack Benson

Barbara and Barry Beracha

Alix and Hans Berglund

Laura and Len Berlik

Martha and Bill Bevan, Jr, MD

Sue and Sidney Blandford, III

Patti and Edward Blender

Pamela Bock, MD and Brooks Bock, MD

Kara and Farley Bolwell

Thomas Brink

Noelle Brock

Stacy and Mike Brown

Virginia Browning

Susan and Graham Burton

Jeri and Charles Campisi

Andrew Canter

Peggy Carey

Christie and Steve Carver

James Cave

Taylor Cave

Centennial Bank

Patsy and Pedro Cerisola

Sara and Michael Charles

Christy Sports

Kathy Langenwalter and Dick Cleveland

Colorado Hospital Association

Colorado Mountain

Medical, PC

Judie and Richard Conn

Michelle Connell

Laura Cook

Julia Dal Pezzo

Jacqueline and John Deveric

Gail and Carl Dietz

Dorothy Distelhorst, DDS

Fred Distelhorst, DDS

Donelan Family Wines

Jane and Matt Donovan

The Dusty Boot

Eagle County Board of Commissioners

Eagle River Professional Firefighters Association

Jane and Reed Eberly

Linda and Robert Egan

Roger Egli

Barbara Krichbaum and R. Kent Erickson

Sima and Thomas Evans, MD

Cookie and Jim Flaum

Stephanie and Lawrence Flinn

Barry Florescue

Craig Foley

Sally and Crosby Foster

Susan and Harry Frampton

Sue and Reg Franciose, MD

Laura and William Frick

Helen and Robert Fritch

Grace and Stephen Gamble

Diane Gates

Genentech

Kitty George

GGE Foundation

Tracy M. Gillette

Georgia and Donald Gogel

Lyn Goldstein

Jean Graham and Phillip Smith

Becka and Stuart Green

Allison and Michael Greene

Jeanne and Jim Gustafson

Valerie and Robert Gwyn

Bethany and Jonathan Haerter, DDS

Leah Handelsman

Stephanie and John Hanson

Patricia Hardenbergh, MD and Gordon Hardenbergh, MD

Grace Harrigan

Haselden Construction

Head/Tyrolia Winter Sports, USA

Heery Design, Inc.

Deborah Wittman and Rik Heid

Jeanne and William Hellegas

Patricia and Lawrence Herrington

Lorraine and H.G. Higbie, Jr.

Pam and Steve Holton

Nancy and Charlie Hovey

Verna and Tom Howard

Dan and Debbie Hughes

Amy Hunter

IBM International Foundation

Jackson Building Company

Julie and Brice Jackson

Shelly and Chris Jarnot

Bruce Jarvis

Cheryl and Bill Jensen

Kathryn and Calvin Johnson

Alexia and Jerry Jurschak

Erin Keane

Anne-Marie and John Keane

Cynthia and Peter Kellogg

Iva and Jim King

Kitchen Collage

Nancy and Richard Knowlton

Judy and Alan Kosloff

Nancy and Eric Kurzweil

Teri and Joe Lebeau

John Lictenegger

Ann and William Loper

Nancy and Richard Lubin

Luigi's Pasta House

Vanessa and Johnny Lyons

Monique Manganelli, MD

Margaret and Peter Mason

Cyndy and Brice May

Maya Restaurant

Melanie and Tim McMichael

Paul McNamara

Peg and Ag Meek

Carolyn and Eugene Mercy, Jr.

Judy and Robert Meuleman

John Middleton

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company

Carol Moore Mink and John Mink

Ellen Mitchell

Allison and Russell Molina

Lisa Monaco

Belinda and Eric Monson

Amy and Sasha Moritz

Jeanne and Dale Mosier

Mountain Surgical Associates

Vicki and Trygve Myhren

Nexgen Hyperbaric, LLC

Joyce and Jim Nielsen

Northern Trust

Nathan Pauls

Pediatrix/MEDNAX Services, Inc.

Peer Assistance Services

Perch Vail

Teressa and Anthony Perry

Jullie and Gary Peterson

Lisa Dillon and Jay Peterson

Darci and Hap Pool

Ann and Ralph Poucher

Rad Technology Medical Systems

The Raether 1985 Charitable Trust

Rakich Family Charitable Foundation

Sharon Randolph

Gretchen and Robert Ravenscroft

Amy and James Regan

John Roberts

Margaret Rosenquist

Barbara and Howard Rothenberg

Tyra and Peter Rudrud

Thea Jean and Fred Rumford

Suzanne and Bernard Scharf

Patricia and Dale Seal

Sandra and Kenneth Seward

Susanna Johnson and Timothy Shannon

Renee Peterson and Roger Shapiro

Carol Sharer

Chrissy and John Shipp

Slifer Smith & Frampton

Real Estate

Pamela and Richard Smith

Margie and Larry Snow

Michelle and Matt Spidell

Starbucks Edwards

Anne and Josef Staufer

Summit Ford, Inc.

Trista and Ryan Sutter

Tom Swarsen

Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar Tang

Kimberly Taylor

Nancy and Jon Tellor

Jere Thompson

Elaine and Richard Tinberg

John Tlapek

Laura and Keith Tucker

Linda and Stewart Turley

Jean Urquhart, MD and Alec Urquhart, MD

Vail Cascade Resort and Spa

Vail Radio Partners

Vail Valley Concours, LLC

Steve Vath

Elizabeth Vincent

Shane Vorster

Jackie Hurlbutt and Norman Waite, Jr.

Jim Wear

Patti and Ron Weinstein

Carol and Patrick Welsh

Betsy and George Wiegers

Alinda and Jim Wikert

Heidi Witherell, MD

SUPPORTERS

Robert Abrams

Charles Adam

Holly Adams

Janet Adler

Jennifer Adu

Marilyn and Roger Affa

Sandra and Larry Agneberg

Nadine Ainbinder

Pamela and Basim Ajlouny

Kristine Albanese

Nancy Albanese

Cynthia Alberts

Anne and Charles Albertson

Christine and Jack Albertson

Pamela and Richard Alexander

Jill and John Alfond

Erin Allen

Jocelyn and Mark Allen

Karin Allen

Lisa Allison

Margaret Allon

Dave Alonzo

Alpine Glass & Mirror Inc.

Alpine Vending and Video, Inc.

Rama and Narayana Ambati, MD

Maria Ammaturo

Katrina Ammer

Ines Amuchastegui

David Andersen

Mark Anderson

Marybeth Anderson

Daniel Andrews

Dee and Warren Androus

Mark Anesti

Bonnie Angus

Molly and Michael Ansfield

Jackie Anthony Antlers at Vail

Aaron Apodaca

Joel Appel

Lisa Appel

James Applegate

Adelaida Arakaki

Michael Arat

Harrison Archer

Darlene and Norman Areno

Giancarlo Arizzi

John Armiger

James Armistead

Mary Pat Armistead

Courtney and Kevin Armitage

Mary Lou and Robert Armour

Jean Armstrong

Sally Arndt Norris

Tim Arnold

Margaret and Charles Arnoult

Melissa Arp

Virginia and Ronald Askew

Glenn and Sarah Ast

M. Charlotte Atencio

Carolee and Russell Atha, Jr.

Melanie Atkinson

Jeffrey Au

Marilyn Augur

Lanell Avery

Avon Bakery & Deli

Susan Axtell

Cyndi Azima

Judd Babcock

Bachelor Gulch Club

Tess and Thomas Backhus

Patricia and Arnold Bagwell

Beth Bailey

Kay Bailey

Patricia and John Bailey

Patricia Bain

Jennifer and Tim Baker

Susan and Robert Baker, Jr.

Dierdre and Ronnie Baker

Michelle and Patrick Baldasare

Mary Baldo

Bruce Baldwin

Annette Balera

Ball Real Estate, Inc.

William Balzano

Jennifer Banda Ludden

Nina and Robert Bandoni

Diane and Eric Bankert

Leopoldo Baptista

Alla Barash

Pamela and Robert Barker

David Barnes

Jared Barnes

Anne Barnett

Holly and Brent Barnum

Julie Barone

Henry Barr

Hilary Barrett

Nancy Barry

Marcella and Robert Barry

Karl Barth

Carolyn Bartholdson

Janine Bartok

Patti Jo and Robin Bates

Linda and Andrew Battaglia

Jeffrey Bauer

Thomas Bauer

Cynthia Bauerle

Collin Baugh

Nancy Baumer

Judith McBride and Bruce Baumgartner

Laura Baxley

Sandra Bayer

Maria and Guillermo Bayon

Francesca and Edward Beach

Sue Beasley

Marcia Beat

John Beaupre

Colleen Beauregard

Beaver Creek Chophouse

Beaver Creek Resort

Company

Claire Beck

Jayne and Paul Becker

Deb Beckman

Helen and Bruce Beckwith

Clark Bedford

Gail Bedingfield

Albert Beedie, Jr.

Margo and Roger Behler

Barbara and Peter Behrendt

Wendy Beiswenger

Anita and Robert Belden

Lynn Bell

Sharon Bell

Gay Bellrichard

Patricia Benedict

Rhonda Benitez

Jean Bennett

Jeffrey Bennett

Joyce and Mark Benson

Tracey and David Bentley

Carrie Benway

Kathryn Benysh

David Berg

Nancy Berg

Amanda and Brook Berga

Colleen and Kevin Berga

Roger Berkowitz

Berkshire Hathaway

Michael Berland

Frank Bernal

Ann and Hank Bernbaum

Charmayne and Charles Bernhardt

Lois and Stan Bernstein

Berry Creek Middle School

Jennifer Bettenhausen, MD and Timothy Bettenhausen

Michael Bettis

Beveridge Real Estate Inc.

Greg Beye

Robert Biesemeyer

Joyce and Gerald Biggs

James Bigos

Christian Bigsby

Paul Bigsby

Terry Billingsley

Rachel Billow

Kurt Bingham

Anthony Binsfeld

Roz Birkelo

Daisy Bissett

Dorrie Bitzer

Maxine and Jerry Bizer

Mary and Joe Blair

Mike Blakslee

Gary Blamire

MJ Blanchette

Patrick Blanchfield

Cooper Blankenship

Margaret Blazek

Skip Bliss

Charla and John Blizzard

Laura and Richard Block

Jennifer and Brian Bloess

Jason Blom

Benjamin Blount

Jamie Blume

Juli Blunt

Danette Bodine

Thomas Boehland

Deborah and David Boillot

Alison and Salvatore Bommarito

Avanelle and Charles Bond

Melanie Boock

FACES

PINKTOBERFEST

The Dusty Boot hosted Pinktoberfest to raise breast cancer awareness and funds for Shaw Regional Cancer Center.

Marian Boyd

Diane Boyer

Janet Bozza

Lindsi and Paul Bradbury

Karen Braden-Butz

Jill Bradshaw

Kathryn Brady

Colleen and Steve Brady

Debbie and William Brady

Brady, Martz & Associates, PC

Dan Brajtbord, MD

Lisa Brandmeyer

Melissa and Peter Brandrup, DO

Claudine Brandt

Catherine and Timothy Brandt

Katie Branscomb

Martha Brassel

BeaAnn and Jack Braun

Rita and Joerg Braun

Patti and Ronald Brave

Lynda Brecke

Gayle Brehm

Edwin Brekke

Chris Bremer

Kathleen and John Brendza

Alison Brent

Kathy and David Brewer

Ruth and Harold Brewster

Priscilla Brewster

Brian Hauff Memorial Garden

Tania Bricel

Don Bricker

Heidi Bridgeman

Gretchen Brigden

Eric Brocklebank

Chris Brody

Chestina and David Brollier

George Bromall

Jessica Bromall Sparkman

Burt Bronk

Theresa Bronold

Karen Bronow

Suzanne and Richard Bross

David Brown

Shelly and Kevin Brown

Lilia and Nico Brown

Lori and Robert Brown

Margie and Robert Brown

Sidney Brown

Geil and Armistead Browning

Margaret Wilcox Browning

Rachele and Thomas Browning

Lois Bruce

Edwina and Louis Bruder

Lars Brunk

Stephen Brunmeier

Brush Creek Elementary School

Robin and Ronald Buchanan

Margaret Buchannan

Ruth and Barry Bucher

Sue Buchman

Merrill and John Buettner

Katherine and Roy Bukstein

Jean Bullard

Avonne and James Bullock

Jonathan Bunyak

Shan and Caleb Burchenal

Jill and Alan Burchill

Mary and Nick Calise

Bridget Cameron

Nancy and Jack Camilleri

Katie and David Campbell

Doug Campbell

Lynne Campbell

Becki and Steve Campbell

Theresa Campbell

Charlyn Canada

Paula Canepa

Sue Cannon

Tanja Canter

Barbara and Paul Cantrell

Kendall Carbone

Jason Carey

Sue Carey

John Carlson

Ann Carroll

Debra and Dennis Carroll

Elizabeth Carroll

Sharon Carroll

Lisa and Bill Carter

Mary and David Carter

Denise Carter

Ed Carter

Cascade Village Theatre

Casey St. John Interiors

Coley Cassidy

David Caulkins

Kristi Cavanagh

John Cawood

Cayman Kiss Hair Company

Wayne Centrone

Marianne Ceriani

Maren and Christopher Cerimele

Joanne Cermak

Joann and Louis Cernak

Cerner Corporation

Johanna and E.C. Chadwick

Jose Chairez

Chamonix Crew

Carolyn and Gary Chandler

Ira Chang, MD

Jannie Chang

William Chapin, III

Charles P. Stanley Cigar Company

Jayne and Stan Charles

Cynthia and John Chase

Karen Chase

Sally Chase

Randee Cherner

Sandra and Robin Cherp

Kay Chester

Shirley and John Chilton

Janis Chittick

Bruce Christenson

Linda and Beric Christiansen

Juan Jose Chuburu

Carol Church

Robyn and Richard Chwatt

Barry Clairmont

Victoria and Terrell Clampitt

Gary Clapp

Dana Clark

Susan Clark

Cheryl Clayton

Ann and Roy Cleghorn

Bonnie and Braden Clements

Brooke Clements

Penny Clough

CMT Painting

Alice Boone

Kevin Borgert

Martha Boswell

Helene Bosworth

Kean Boucher

John Boudreau

Thomas Bowers

Michelle Bowman

Vicky and Garry Boxer, MD

Nancy Boyce

top to bottom: PJ Berg and her daughter, Darby. Dosimetrist Marisa Sheehan, exercise physiologist Sarah Giovagnoli and vice-president of Shaw Regional Cancer Center Peggy Carey. Chad Strickland and Dave Berg participate in a contest to see who could hold a stein of water the longest.

Frederick Burgum

Ella Burnett

Janie and Bill Burns

Edith Busam

Mary and Robert Bush

Gretchen and Leonard Busse

Barbara Butler

Butler Health and Beauty

Myra and Marvin Butts

Spencer Butts

Christopher Cain

Heidi Cofelice

Priscilla Coffin

Patti and John Cogswell

Lynn and Bill Cohagan

Andrea Cohen

Holly Cole and Thomas Archy

Linda Cole

Patricia and Michael Cole

Carolyn Coleman

Marla and George Coleman

Collier Home Care

Greg Ham

Maria and Barry Hammaker, MD

Elizabeth Hammer

Lisa and David Hammond

Eddie Hamrick

Kathryn Hanley

Margaret Hanlon

Blake Hannafan

Bill Hansen

Cindy Hansen

Dustin Hansen

Julie and Kirk Hansen

Lisa Hansen

Christopher Hanson

Harborglow, Inc.

Lilly and Arthur Hardin

Gordon G. Harker

Leslie and Donald Harkins

Tim Harlan

Kelly Harlow

Yra Harris

Jill and John Harrison

Linda Harrison

Daneen Harsha

Jane and Richard Hart

Stephanie Hart

Krista Hartman

Melissa Hartridge

Ivan Hass

Mary Hasselbring

Randy Hatch

Mary Hathorn

Judith and James Haupt

Jonathan Hauser

Debbie and Wayne Hauter

Amanda Hawkins

Mary Ellen and Gates Hawn

Happy Hawn

Shannon and Mark Hayman

Nancy and Kraig Haynes

Kristi Hazen and Justin Hazen

Michael D. Healy

Dennis Heaney

Deborah and Dennis Heaton

James Heaton

Jon Heaton

Julie Heaydon

Marsha Hebert

Sharon Hecker

Albert Heekin, III

Kathleen Heftka

Craig Held

Katherine Campbell and Duane Helleloid

Patrice Henning

Kathy Chandler-Henry and George Henry

Paul Hensel

Sally and Wil Hergenrader

Rebecca Hernreich

David Herron

Sally and Hans Hesse

Margie Mayne and Roger Hesseltine

Kathleen Mundy and Fred Hessler

Susan Hewitt

Margo and Paul Hields

High Altitude Spa

Jackie Hijmans

Christy Hill

Kathleen Hill

Jody Hine

Mary Hinojosa

Polly and David Hinshaw

Julie Hinton

Anne Hintz

Stanley Hirsch

Norma and Charles Hirsh

Lita Hitchcock

Vikki and Stewart Hobbs

Christie and Karl Hochtl

Sherry Hofecker

Elizabeth Hoffman

Jane Hoffman

Mary Hoffman

Joanna and Gordon Hoffstein

Lindsay and Ben Hogan, PA-C

Ann Hogg

Mary Ellen Hogle

A. Bart Holaday

Elizabeth Holland

Frances Holland

Catherine and Graham Hollis

Amy Holm

Summer Holm

Cheryl Holman

Kevin Holman

Bob Holmes

Melissa and Jason Holton

Kelly and Michael Holton

Noel Honkamp

Hollie and Richard Hood

Bryan Hooker

Ken Hooker

Laureen Hopkins

Kristin and Kyle Hoppes

Sam and Jim Horan

Kristen and Fraser Horn

Jacqueline and William Hornbeck

Michelle Horton

Patrick Horvath

Matthew Horween

Louise and Phil Hoversten

Howard and Roberta Goss

Charitable Foundation

Beth and Richard Howard

Frederick Howe

Peter Howe

Joan and Robert Howe

Franklin Hoyos

Linda and Jay Hoyt

Mary Hoza

Ani Hristova Pavlova

Marie Hubbard

Denise and Dale Huff

Todd Huff

Kirk and Jay Huffard

Barbie and Mark Huggenvik

Heather and Jim Hughes

Kip Hughes

Stanton Humphries

Anne Hunter

Janet Hunter

Patricia Hunter

Terry Hunter

Todd Hurley

Don Hutchings

Heather and Trygve Hutto, MD

Cliff Hyatt

Vina and Thomas Hyde

Dwight Hymans

Paul Hymers

Jay and Chris Hynes

Susan Ilsley

Gary Ingoldsby

Wendy Ingraham

Inn & Suites at Riverwalk

Dieter Inzenhofer

Al Irelan

Lisa Irelan

Joy A. Irwin

Kaye and Vernon Isaacs

Julie Iskenderian

Rosalie Hill Isom

Sandra and Joseph Jacaruso

Benjamin Jackman

Jan and Donald Jackson

Hilda Jacobowitz

Betty and Herbert Jacobs

Jake Jacobson

FACES

HIKE, WINE & DINE

Myra and Allen Jacobson

Victoria and Steven Jacobson

Carol Jaffe

Victoria and Kenneth Jaffie

Lawrence James

Ann Marie Jangro

Rivers and Paul Jardis

Catherine and Robert Jarnot

Wink Jenkins

Bobbi Jennings

Patricia and Nicholas Jent

The Jere D. Creed Family Foundation Inc.

Sharon McKay-Jewett and Clay Jewett

Jewish Community Board of Akron, Inc.

Elizabeth Jocelyn

Ann Mond Johnson

Bruce Johnson

Geri and Chuck Johnson

Karin and Dean Johnson

Dennis Johnson

Susan and Donald Johnson, Jr.

Elizabeth Johnson

Hattie Johnson

Barbara and James Johnson

Jeffrey Johnson

Kinney Johnson

Lynn and Lars Johnson

Mary Margaret Johnson

Nannette Johnson

Nick Johnson

Cathy and Richard Johnson

Susanne and Ted Johnson

Victoria Johnson

Dana Johnston

Mary Ann Johnston

Susan and Daniel Jones

Drew Jones

Jim Jones

Joan Jones

Liz Jones

Nanette Jones

Gretchen and John Jordan, II

Julie and Tim Jordan

Brett Jorski

Natalie Joseph

Natalie Martin, MD and Terrell Joseph, MD

JP Morgan Chase Bank

Juniper Restaurant

Karen and Michael Juntunen

Michael Kachmer

Gerald Kalb

Catherine and Peter Kane

Anna Kanski

Kathryn Kantes

Gay and George Kapplinger

Lynne Karimi

Mary and Terry Karkela

Kerma and John Karoly

Andrew Karow

Lauren Karpiel

Cathy and Brice Karsh

Summer and Thomas Kassmel

Mary Sue and Steve Katz

Kevin Kauffman

Pam Kaufmann

Jacqueline and Robert Kavanagh

L. William Kay II

Lainie Edinburg and Joel Kaye

David Kazarian

Fran Keegan

Charis Keeler

Diane Keely

Richard Keibler

John Kelleher

Keller Williams Mountain

Properties

Linda and Patrick Kelly

Carol Kemp

Joanne Kemp

Rebecca Kennedy

Karen and Robert Kern

David Kerr

Joanna Kerwin

Tanya Kessenich

Gary Kessler

John Kieley

Tom Kimball

Kimberly's Fine Jewelry, LLC

Janice and Dale Kimes

Daphne King

Carol Kingery

Mallie Kingston

Julie Kinne

Tracy Kinsella

Sue Ann Spahr and Richard Kinsler

Sandi and Skip Kinsley

Bruce Kintz

Randall Kipp

Christine Kiracofe

Lindsey and Travis Kirby

Brenda Kirwood

William Kitchens

Bonnie and Lawrence Kivel

Stacey Kivowitz

Bill Kizer

Pamela Klaus

James Kleckner

Susan Kleid

Scott Klein

Ann Devine and Stephen Klein

Janet and Thomas Kleinhardt

Deena Kleinman

Art Kleinstein

Lee Klingenstein

Emily and Mike Kloser

George Kluempke

Karen and Buck Klugh

Joe Kluk

Amy Klunzinger

Carolyn Klunzinger

Theresa and Gary Klunzinger

Rosanne and Jim Klunzinger

Dana and Andrew Knerl, MD

Charles Knight

Mary and Glenn Knippenberg

William Knox, IV

Bob Koch

Diana Koelliker

Mike Koenig

Elizabeth Kogan

Cheryl Kohn, DO and Andrew Edwards

Renee Kohrs

Valerie and Peter Kompaniez

Bridget and Dave Kornder

Patricia Kovalan

Diane Kovalik

Carerie Kozak

Jeffrey Koznick

Susan and Brian Kraft

Cornelia and Donald Kraft

Robert Kramer

Gregory Kraus

Sandra Kraus

Ryn Kreidl

Louis Kreig

Gloria Kreizel

Paul Krispinsky, DDS

Kris and Michael Krohn

William Kruger

Lloyd Krulewitz

Julie Kucera

Kristi Keil

Marquis Kuhn

Debbie and Jeff Jacobson

Mary Ann Keil

Gale and David Kunkel

Elizabeth and Albert Perrino

Petals & Pours

Nancy and Duwayne Peterson

Mary and Jerry Peterson

Alden and Henry Pflager, III

Allyson Pharr

Barnet Phillips

Jinnah Phillips, MD

Carol and Michael Phillips

Robert Pickelner

Kent Piesbergen

Jackie Pietrzyk

Deanna Pinder

Shelley and John Pinkham

Pinon Real Estate Group

Ebby and Ernest Pinson, Jr.

Cindy and Addison Piper

Britt Pippin

Judy Pippin

Kay and Thomas Pitcher

Diane Pitt

Lindsay Pittman and David Bromal

Douglas Place

MiMi and Keith Pockross

Dianne and Emanuel Podgorny, MD

Jackie Poehlman

Paul Poehlman

Grace Poganski

Anna Policastri

Joan Polin

Michael Polk

Tim Pomaville

Victoria Pond

George Pope

Gayle and Terry Pope

Monica and Daniel Porter

Brook and David Portman

Herchel Portman

Michael Portnoy

Portofino Jewelry

Abby and Jose Portuondo

Hattit and Robert Potts, Jr, MD

Brenda and Gregory Poulter, MD

Wayne Pourciau

Marthe Anne Powell

Happy and J.P. Power

Jackie and James Power

Frances and Richard Power

Mary and Dick Pownall

Mary and Ron Pressman

Carolyn Preston

Amber Prince

Robin Pringle

Lori Priore

Sarah Pritchard

Bean Prowse

Nedra Pudberry

Rosemary Pulick

Sara and Richard Pylman

Jeanne Kane and Michael Quagliano

George Quesada

Patrick Quigley

Hilda and Aniceto Quinones

Barry Radell, DDS

Bob Rademacher

Carolyn and Hollis Rademacher

Patricia Ragsdale Wright

Ms. Johanna Rahal

Margaret Ann Rahe

Matt Raino

Diana Rambo

Guillermo Ramis

Peter Ramme

Douglas Ramsthel

Bill Ranard

Mary and Chris Randall

David Ransom

Rebecca Ransom

David Raphael

Mary Pat Rapp

Susan Rapson

William Rapson

Sara and Bill Ratliff

Scott Raub, DO

Zlatko Rauker

Heather and Michael Rawlings

Joyce Reece

Anne Reed

Don Reed

James Reed

Chris Reeder

Mary Reese

Carol and Stan Rehn

Megan Reichenberg

Jane Reichert

Terri Reichert

Lyn and Richard Reis

Tiffany and Matthew Reis

Milton Reitman, MD

Beverlee Renninger

Helen and Jeffrey B. Resnick, DDS

Michele and Jeffrey Resnick, MD

Ann Rethlake

Leobardo Reyes

Ashley Reynolds

Francis and Karl Reynolds

Jennifer and Bernard Riberdy, MD

Susan and Peter Riccardella

Melanie Rice

Lisa Rich

Jennifer Riches

Marcia Richey

Cyndi Richman

Rebecca Richmond

Marlene and George Riemer

Christina Riepe

Ira Riklis

Betty and Charles Riley

Charles Riley, Jr.

Rimini Gelato

Maureen and Gerald Riordan

Ann H. Rittenbaum

Sharon and Vern Ritzman, MD

DeeAnn Rivera

David Rizer

Rhena Rizzo

RMC Distributing Company

Sybil and Tom Roach

Andrea Robbins

Samaara Robbins

Anne Roberts

Ann and John Roberts

Luann Roberts

Mason Roberts

Sandra Roberts

Virginia Roberts

Judy and Ken Robins

Charlotte Robson, DVM

Rose Rock

Janet Rockwell

Kathryn and Jim Rockwell

Thomas Rodeno

William Rodkey, DVM

Edwin Rodriguez

Lisa Roeder

Timothy Roels

Bruce Rogers

Isha Rogers

Margaret and Richard Rogers

Kathy Roper

Sally and Byron Rose

Rayma and Kent Rose

Greg Rosen

Steven Rosen

Donna and Peter Rosenberg

Alan Rosenblum

FACES SUPPORT FOR SHAW

The community embraces its local cancer center.

top to bottom: Wheels & Wings raised $25,000 for Jack’s Place at Shaw Regional Cancer Center. Students from Gypsum Elementary School raised funds for Shaw by running a 5K through the Girls on the Run program. Eagle River Fire Protection District hosted Pints for Prostate at Crazy Mountain Brewery, raising awareness for prostate cancer and funds for Shaw. Nearly 50 people participated in this year's Cycle-athon with some participants riding for a full eight hours to raise funds for Jack's Place.

Leah Rosine

Catherine and Ford Ross

Elizabeth and Paul Rossetti

Amy Roth, PhD

Sallie Dean and Larry Roush

Patricia Rowe

Linda Roy

Ed Rubenstein, CHFC

Kristen Rubis

Lori Ruderman

Randy Ruhlman

Mike Ruiz

Patricia Ruiz-Roe

Bridget and Bill Russell

Georgina and Thomas Russo

Robert Rutherford

Kerry and David Ruttum, MD

Garry Ryan

Gary Ryan

Kathryn Ryan

Cindy and Tony Ryerson

Jan and Frederick Sackbauer, III

Lucille and Ian Sacks

Stacy Sadler

Natalie and Edward Safee

Karen Safran

Neil Saldin

Ronald Sale

Andree and Ronald Saliman

Peter Sallerson

Robert Salovitch

Gail Flesher and David Salvin

Roberta Salzman

Jim Sampson

Susan Sampson

David Samson

Herman Sanders

Patricia and Leonard Sandoval

Andrea Sansone

Bruno Sarthou

Mark Sattler

Tosia and Bill Sauter

Joan Nesenkar Saylor and George Saylor

James Scales

Jerry Scales

William Scales

Lisa and Ken Schanzer

Mark Scheel

Jeff Schell

Diana and Matt Scherr

Robert Schilling

Lana and Marvin Schillling

Kristin Schiminger

Jeanie Schlafly

David Schlendorf

Lynne and Buzz Schleper

A.K. Schleusner

Walter Schmid

Cecilia and Fritz Schmidt

Kordula Schmidt

Susie and Brad Schneider

Susan and Eric Schneider

Nancy Schneider

Cindy Schons-Foley

Herbert Schorpp

Carole Schragen

Cheryl and Barry Schrager

Jill and Scott Schreiner

Cindy Schuessler

Joanna Schulman

Kathryn Griffith Schultz

Gina Schwartz

Jim Schwartz

Kroger Schwartz

Daphne Petri and Paul Schwartz

Gail Schwinger

Karen and Brent Scott

Deirdre Sebastian

Elizabeth Smith and William Seed

Robert Seeds

Carole Segal

Melanie Seger

Anna Seroka

Nancy and Richard Severance

Douglas Sewell

Sue Sewell

Shaun and Bradley Seymour

Mike Seymour

Judy and Robert Shackouls

Brian Shaeffer

Pamela and George Shaeffer

Lauren Shaeffer

Kerry Shannon

Meredith and Jay Shapiro

Maureen and Les Shapiro

Chaye Shapot

Kim and Kevin Sharkey

Barbara and John Shaul

Ben Shaw

Ellen Shaw

Justin Shaw

Karen Shaw

Pauline Shaw

Peter Shaw

Tom Shaw

Jennifer Shearson

Marisa and William Sheehan, Jr.

Shelly's Hair Care

Janina Sheppard

Patricia and William Sheppard

Sally Sheridan

Ann and Stephen Sherman

Becky and Scott Sherwood

Jill and Bill Shimp

June Shirai

Karen Shoener

Elizabeth and Jeff Shroll

Carolyn and Gerald Shurb

Art Sibley

Gretchen M. Sibley

Selly Sieber

Kimberly Siebert

Marcia Siegel

Dale Sigal

Sign Design & Graphics, LLC

Catherine and Peter Silbernagel

Mary Clare Silva

Dave Silver

Josh Silver

Robert Sim

Bernard Simon

Stacey Simon

Steve Simonett

David Sirois

Skea Ski Ltd.

Kerry and Jim Skidmore

John Slack, MD

Eva and Timothy Slattery

Keegan Slattery

David Slay

Beth and Rod Slifer

Suzanne Sloan

Anne and Michael Slottow

SLP Patients

Ted Smathers

Adam Smith

Emily Smith

Nancy Smith

Jeff Smith

Kelley Smith

Nancy Smith

Devon Decrausaz and Rick Smith

Sandra and Steven Smith

Laura Smolen

Luke Sebby

Russ Sedmak

Mark Sniezek

Kate and Pete Snowden

Frances and Robert Mills

Peggy Nicholls

Ashley and Jackson

Parriott

Alden and Henr y

Pflager, III

Ann H. Rittenbaum

Kerry and Jim Skidmore

Melissa K. Stack

John Stevenson

Vail Valley Academy Of Dance

Carol and Patrick Welsh

Judith H. Woods

Zsolt and Mary Rumy

Charitable Foundation

Morgan Douglas

Susan and Thomas Lundeen, MD

Bob Foley

Edward Hafer

Kenneth Ford

Marci and Patrick McCalley

Pamela J. Frazier

Nancy and Harry Guest

Nancy Hughes

Eva and Timothy Slattery

Ron Jensen

Suz y and Jim Donohue

Fran Leach

Linda and John Gilles

Sandy Lewarton

James Reed West Michigan

Jazz Society

William MacFaden

Whitney Gober

George Mascarenas

Town of Vail

Mark Pancratz

Patti Jo and Robin Bates

Laura and Richard Block

Brady, Martz & Associates, P.C.

Margaret Wilcox

Browning

Jill and Alan Burchill

Frederick Burgum

Cres Compton

Sherry and Timothy Coutts

Cynthia Dahl-Neitzke

Emilie Egan and Steve Evancho

Fargo-Moorhead

Area Foundation

Cindy and Mark Fliginger

Colleen Gray

Becka and Stuart Green

Helen and Charles Grommesh

Mary and Mark Grove

Meg Grove

Shannon and Mark Hayman

Katherine Campbell and Duane Helleloid

A. Bar t Holaday

Debbie and Jeff Jacobson

Karen and Michael

Juntunen

Mary and Terry Karkela

Susan and Brian Kraft

Madeira on Marco

Island Condo

Gary Marsden

Ann and Robert McConn, Jr.

Jennifer and Jay Neppel

Tim O'Keefe

Barbara and Allen Olson

Cynthia and Gregory Page

Linda Pancratz

Gayle and Terry Pope

Lyn and Richard Reis

Marcia Richey

Gina Schwartz

Shaun and Bradley

Seymour

Catherine and Peter Silbernagel

Kate and Pete Snowden

South Dakota Trust Company

Cathleen Turgeon

Kimberlee and Stephen Tyre

Thomas Wold

Tom Randolph

Patricia Morse

Sharon Randolph

Marjorie Roberts

Roberts Family Foundation

Nancy Secor

Ann and Doc Cornwell

Frank Smith

Dee and Warren Androus

Nate Goldberg

Cathy and Richard Johnson

Sandi and Skip Kinsley

Cornelia and Donald Kraft

Leslie and Jack Manes

Diane and Eric Neste

Diane and Roy Parrott

VHC Joint Venture

William Vogt

Bonnie Swarsen

Deerfield High School

Class of 1964

Christine and Bob Gould

Ethan James Taylor

Kimberly Taylor

Madelyn Thomas

Hollie and Richard Hood

Barbara A. Williams

Patricia Craig

Jerry Williams

SHAW OUTREACH

TEAM DONORS

Barbara Allen

Alpine Bank

Anonymous

Jackie Anthony

Courtney and Kevin

Armitage

Patricia and Chris Aubel

Susan Axtell

Dierdre and Ronnie Baker

Nina and Robert Bandoni

Sue Beasley

Beaver Creek Chophouse

Beaver Creek Resort Company

Claire Beck

Barbara and Peter Behrendt

Barbara and Jack Benson

Nancy Berg

Diane Boyer

Lindsi and Paul Bradbury

BeaAnn and Jack Braun

Noelle Brock

Theresa Bronold

Dorothy Browning

Ann Smead and Michael Byram

Peggy Carey

Centennial Bank

Cheryl Clayton

Kathy Langenwalter and Dick Cleveland

Lynn and Bill Cohagan

Ann Collins

As always, even from the beginning, we loved our hospital and wanted to support it. Our contributions came with gratitude for all they had done for us. Now it is important for all of us to step up and continue our support in any way we can. No matter if a person gives $10 or $10 million, it is a gift that brings us together."

– MARTHA HEAD

Elizabeth Cooney

Brenda Coonrod

Kari Corbin

Angela and Peter Dal Pezzo

Alice Davis

Kathryn Davis

Lynn and Bill Davis

Deb Deverell

Jacqueline and John Deveric

Abigail Dixon

Suzy and Jim Donohue

Joanne Dye

Kathleen and Jack Eck, MD

Andrea Eddy

Dean and Deb Edwards

Encore Electric

Martha Head and John Feagin, MD

Cookie and Jim Flaum

Craig Foley

Susan and Harry Frampton

Sue and Reg Franciose, MD

Joan Francis

Sarah Franke

Dawn and Stephen Friedman

Friends of Jack's Place

Patricia and David Fritz

Greer and Jack Gardner

Erin and Chris Gersbach

Tracy Gillette

Donna Giordano

Tara Glasebrook

Lyn Goldstein

Grouse Mountain Grill

Jeanne and Jim Gustafson

Margaret Hanlon

Grace Harrigan

Debbie and Wayne Hauter

Joyce and Jim Nielsen

Terri and Mike Noell

Osprey

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa

Lisa Pelchat

Lisa Dillon and Jay Peterson

Brook and Dave Portman

Ann and Ralph Poucher

Michele and Jeffrey Resnick, MD

Rimini Gelato

Anne Roberts

Amy Roth, PhD

Barbara and Howard Rothenberg

Ann and Dick Rothkopf

Gail Flesher and David Salvin

Tosia and Bill Sauter

Mary Sue and Michael Shannon

Kim and Kevin Sharkey

Shaw Outreach Team

Marisa and William Sheehan, Jr.

Jill and Bill Shimp

Sign Design & Graphics, LLC

Kerry and Jim Skidmore

Nancy Smith

Splendido

Marla Steele

Ted Steers

Kimberly and Eric Strauch, PA-C

Susan and Steve Suggs

Sheila Sullivan

Sugar Bar

The Dusty Boot

Laura and Keith Tucker

Jean Urquhart, MD and Alec Urquhart, MD

Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group

Vail Daily/Summit Daily

Vail Honeywagon Ltd.

Julie Heaydon

Kaye and Vernon Isaacs

Victoria and Steven Jacobson

Cheryl and Bill Jensen

Lynn and Lars Johnson

Alexia and Jerry Jurschak

Gay and George Kapplinger

Cathy and Brice Karsh

Anne-Marie and John Keane

Elaine and Arthur Kelton, Jr.

Doris and John Kirchner

Karen and Buck Klugh

Kris and Michael Krohn

Wendi and Brian Kushner

KZYR-FM 97.7

Cindy Lefebvre

Tara and Bob Levine

Fletcher MacNeill

Merrill Mann

Morgan Marcuccilli

Margaret Mason

Alison and Tim McAdam

Brenda and Joe McHugh

Heather and JP McInerny

Nancy McKeever

Peg and Ag Meek

Metropolitan

Liz and Luc Meyer

Lisa and Bill Middlebrook

Andrea and Robert Miller

Ann Mintz

Allison and Russell Molina

Susan and Joseph Morrill

Jeanne and Dale Mosier

Nexgen Hyperbaric LLC

Peggy Nicholls

Rhonda Niederhauser

Victoria and Terrell Clampitt

Nancy and Andrew Cruce

Deirdre and Michael Dolphin

Peggy and Gary Edwards

Emilie Egan and Steve Evancho

Linda and Robert Egan

Beverly and Mike Ellis

Joyce and Stephen Evans

Ross Fox

Grace and Stephen Gamble

Jean Graham and Phillip Smith

Sally and Wil Hergenrader

Margie and Lawrence Kyte, Jr.

Evelyn and Edward Lang, Jr.

Alex Lilley, Jr.

LSI Corporation

Deb and Dan Luginbuhl

Judy and Richard Marks

Elise and Victor Micati

Kathleen and Peter Mitchell

Lannois Neely

Linda and Kirk Nelson

Diane and David Pennock

Suzanne and Don Perozzi

Suzanne Sloan

Sue Talucci

Geraldine and James Taylor

Lucinda and Daniel Tredwell

Rosemary (Rosie) and Robert Tutag

Vail Pet Partners

GRANTS RECEIVED

Jennifer Wilson and George Vanderhoof

Tina and Stephen Vardaman

Janet Varveris

Lori and Chuck Wachendorfer

Ashley Allen and Edward Warner

Gail Weinnig, TTE

Michael Weinshall

Marvin Wells

Wells Fargo Private Bank

Jane West

Shelly Wilcox

Joyce and Kenneth Wilson

Jean Hadley, MD and Laurence Wolfe

Patti and Jim Wright

SHAW OUTREACH TEAM TRIBUTE GIFTS

IN HONOR OF

Jack and Greer Gardner

Suz y and Jim Donohue

Lisa Middlebrook

Charis Keeler

IN MEMORY OF

David Mitchell

Jocelyn and Mark Allen

Barbara and Barry Beracha

Maxine and Jerry Bizer

Nancy Boyce

Patti and Ronald Brave

Colorado Foundation for Public Health and Environment

Holy Cross Energy

Holy Cross Energy Round-

Up Foundation

Local Independent

Charities of America

Northeastern University

Peer Assistance Services

RETAC

State of Colorado - CDOT

The Summit Foundation

The Edward and M. Patricia Blender Charitable Fund

United Way of Eagle River Valley

Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group

STEINBERG HERITAGE

SOCIETY

These donors have made a provision for VVMC for its affiliates in their estate plan.

If you would like to be added to this list, please contact Dr. Jack Eck at 970-596-7766 or eck@vvmc.com.

Cary and Edward Carlson

Kathy Langenwalter and Dick Cleveland

Kathleen and Jack Eck, MD

Elaine and Arthur Kelton, Jr.

Linda Pancratz

Suzanne and Bernard Scharf

Linda and Craig Wescoatt

VVMC out in the

COMMUNITY

ail Valley Medical Center is home to over 350 physicians. Services are offered in Eagle and Summit Counties, including urgent care facilities in Gypsum and Avon, as well as specialty clinics for cardiology and endocrinology, internal medicine, cancer diagnosis and treatment, physical therapy and plastic surgery. The main campus in the heart of Vail is a Level III Trauma Center, Level II Nursery, 58-bed hospital and home to some of the world’s most celebrated surgeons. 

Shaw Regional Cancer Center is a boutique cancer center serving residents of Colorado and around the country.

AESTHETIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

Vail Institute for Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery www.vvmc.com/plastics

320 Beard Creek Road, 2nd Floor, Edwards, CO 81632 (970) 569-7656

Dr. Jeffrey Resnick is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience. Applying the latest innovations in plastic surgery, Dr. Resnick specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face, breast and body contouring.

BREAST HEALTH

Sonnenalp Breast Center, Shaw Breast Center & Cancer Clinic See Cancer Diagnostics & Care

CANCER DIAGNOSTICS & CARE

Shaw Regional Cancer Center

www.shawcancercenter.com

322 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632 (970) 569-7429

Shaw Regional Cancer Center provides high-quality, compassionate cancer care that’s close to home. Patients are drawn to Shaw by our

impeccable reputation, Ivy League doctors and top-of-the line equipment – including a new Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) Linear Accelerator and 3D Mammography. But it’s the rest of the care – courtesy of a dietician, exercise physiologists, geneticist, nurse navigator and a complimentary 12room cancer caring lodge in a stunning setting – that empowers cancer patients to become cancer survivors.

Sonnenalp Breast Center—Edwards www.vvmc.com/breasthealth

322 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632 (970) 569-7690

Established in 2002, the Sonnenalp Breast Center provides the most sophisticated technology available for breast imaging and diagnosis of breast cancer in the Rocky Mountains, including 3D Mammography. The Breast Center features a relaxing, spa-inspired interior in a private setting. The knowledgeable and compassionate radiologists, patient navigator and mammography technologists provide the best care and expertise to guide patients in pursuit of breast health.

Jack’s Place www.vvmc.com/jacksplace

332 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632 (970) 569-7644

Patients traveling to Shaw Regional Cancer Center for treatment are invited to stay with their caregiver at Jack’s Place, a cancer caring lodge. Overlooking the spectacular Lake Creek Valley and peaks of the Sawatch Mountain Range, Jack’s Place features 12 luxurious private rooms, an inviting common living area, gourmet kitchen, library, yoga and massage rooms. With a pay-what-you-can philosophy, guests are invited to take respite at Jack’s for

the day or overnight, for as long as they need. Jack’s place was built and funded by the Shaw Outreach Team.

Shaw Breast Center & Cancer Clinic – Frisco www.shawcancercenter.com

323 West Main Street, Suite 101 | Frisco, CO 80443 | (970) 668-6400

Shaw Breast Center and Cancer Clinic in Frisco offers the latest in breast screening, including 3D Mammography in a convenient Main Street location. The clinic also offers infusion treatments and provides the greatest knowledge and compassion for patients.

Shaw Regional Cancer Center, Sonnenalp Breast Center, Shaw Breast Center & Cancer Clinic and Jack’s Place are outpatient departments of Vail Valley Medical Center.

EAR, NOSE & THROAT

Colorado Mountain Medical See Primary Care

ENDOCRINOLOGY

Endocrinology Clinic www.vvmc.com/endo

322 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632 (970) 477-5160

323 West Main Street, Suite 101 | Frisco, CO (970) 668-6404

Vail Valley Medical Center's board-certified endocrinologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of adult diseases related to the hormones of the endocrine system, including diabetes, thyroid disorders, metabolic and weight disorders, menopause and hormone therapy, osteoporosis, adrenal gland disorders and pituitary disease.

EYE CARE

Eye Center of the Rockies www.eyecenterrockies.com

232 Broadway Street | Eagle, CO 81631 | (970) 928-0105

Eye Center of the Rockies provides eye care and ophthalmology, including medical and surgical care for cataracts, glaucoma, retina and LASIK. Dr. Matthew Ehrlich is the only ophthalmologist who practices full-time in Eagle County and sees patients (including children) for routine eye exams, eyeglass prescriptions and contact lens fittings.

Not owned or operated by Vail Valley Medical Center.

EMERGENCY & URGENT CARE SERVICES

IF

Vail Valley Medical Center Emergency Department www.vvmc.com/emergency

181 W. Meadow Drive Vail, CO 81657 (970) 479-7225

Open Mon – Sun, 24 hrs

Vail Valley Medical Center

Emergency Department (ED) is a 24-hour facility staffed by board-certified emergency physicians. A Level III Trauma Center, emergency trauma care is provided to infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults and geriatrics.

Beaver Creek Medical Center

1280 Village Road | Avon, CO 81620 (970) 949-0800

Open Mon – Sun, 8 AM – 5:30 PM During ski season only Beaver Creek Medical Center is located in Beaver Creek Village. The clinic offers emergency care services with a 12-bed treatment area, two of which are critical care. X-ray, lab services, occupational health services, wound care, orthopaedic and respiratory care are available. No appointment is needed. Open during ski season only.

Avon Urgent Care

230 Chapel Place | Avon, CO 81658 (970) 949-6100

Open Mon - Sun, 8 AM – 8 PM

Gypsum Urgent Care

410 McGregor Drive Gypsum, CO 81637 (970) 777-2800

Open Mon - Sun, 11 AM - 8 PM

Avon and Gypsum Urgent Cares are both equipped to manage most emergency medical situations, including wound, orthopaedic and respiratory care. They also feature critical care trained nurses, on-site x-ray and lab services such as urinalysis, quick strep, influenza, pregnancy, occult blood and glucose testing. Appointments are not necessary.

TREATING:

Abrasions, bruises, scrapes and lacerations

Cough, cold, fever and flu symptoms

Respiratory or urinary tract infections

Ear, eye, nose and skin infections

M inor burns

M inor fractures

Sprains and strains

I ntestinal illness, including dehydration

GENERAL SURGERY & WOUND CARE

Mountain Surgcal Associates

www.vvmc.com/surgeons (970) 479-5036

181 W. Meadow Drive Vail, CO 81657

322 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632

337 Sylvan Lake Road Eagle, CO 81631

With some of the most respected surgeons in Colorado, Vail Valley Medical Center is home to Mountain Surgical Associates (MSA). Known for their expertise in emergency and trauma care,

MSA’s surgeons are experts in:

• General surgery: abdominal, thoracic and endocrine Cancer detection and prevention: colonoscopy and endoscopy

• Laparoscopic surgery: hernia repair, gall bladder, colon and reflux disease

• Trauma/critical care: aroundthe-clock diagnostic and therapeutic care for critically ill and injured patients

Wound & Ostomy Clinic

www.vvmc.com/woundcare (970) 479-5036

181 W. Meadow Drive Vail, CO 81657

322 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632

337 Sylvan Lake Road Eagle, CO 81631

Using advanced wound care treatments designed to accelerate the healing process and maximize patient comfort, the care team specializes in diabetic, venous stasis, arterial and pressure ulcers, as well as burns and trauma and surgical wounds. Physician referral is required.

Vail Valley Surgery Centers

www.vvmc.com/surgery (970) 476-8872

181 W. Meadow Drive Vail, CO 8165

320 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632

Vail Valley Surgery Centers are world-class, multi-specialty outpatient surgical centers, offering the finest state-of-theart technology, treatment and physician expertise.

Partially owned but not operated by Vail Valley Medical Center.

For orthopaedic surgery, see orthopaedics.

HEART & LUNG

Cardiology Institute

www.vvmc.com/cardiology (970) 476-1110

108 S. Frontage Road W. #206 Vail, CO 81657

337 Sylvan Lake Road Eagle, CO 81631

323 West Main Street, Suite 101 | Frisco, CO

Led by board-certified cardiologists, the Cardiology Institute offers adult cardiology services, including pacemaker implants and the management of coronary heart disease, hypertension, lipid disorders, arrhythmia, vulvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies and congestive heart failure.

Cardiac Diagnostics

The Cardiology Institute provides a full range of cardiac diagnostic testing, including nuclear stress testing and stress echocardiograms.

In addition, echocardiography, EKGs, CT angiograms and heart rhythm monitoring services are available.

Cardiac

Catheterization and Electrophysiology Lab

Vail Valley Medical Center's brand new Cardiac Cath & EP Lab allows cardiologists to visualize the arteries and chambers of the heart, treat abnormalities and diagnose and treat arrhythmias.

Anticoagulation Clinic

Vail Valley Medical Center’s Anticoagulation Clinic provides convenient care for patients taking warfarin (Coumadin®), heparin and low molecular weight heparin. The staff provides assessments, reviews and adjusts medications, checks for possible drug interactions, provides patient education and guides the management of blood thinners for invasive procedures. Call for appointment availability.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac Rehabilitation delivers care to individuals who have experienced a significant heart event or are involved in maintenance and prevention of further disease. Patients are closely monitored as they follow the guidance of trained professionals to improve strength and endurance.

Cardiopulmonary Services

www.vvmc.com/respiratory

181 W. Meadow Drive | Vail, CO 81657 | (970) 479-7218

Cardiopulmonary medicine deals with the heart and lungs, specializing in respiratory care, cardiology, electroencephalography (EER) and sleep services. Cardiopulmonary Services provides diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to routine and critical care clients. Dr. Samuel Brescia from Rocky Mountain Pediatric Cardiology offers a pediatric cardiology clinic, assisting patients with suspected or known heart disease from newborn to age 18. The clinic provides cardiac

stress testing, echo testing and cardiac monitoring, as well as a pediatric cardiology clinic and a sleep disorder center.

Internal Medicine

www.vvmc.com/internalmed (970) 477-3090

108 South Frontage Road West, Suite 306 Vail, CO 81657

320 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632

323 West Main Street, Suite 101 | Frisco, CO

Vail Valley Medical Center’s boardcertified internists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases in adults of all ages. They help patients achieve optimal health, as well as manage complex or life-threatening chronic illnesses. Women's health is also a focus. No referral is necessary, and all Medicare patients and most people with health insurance can receive an Annual Wellness Visit with 100 percent of the initial costs covered and no out-of-pocket expense to the patient.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL & VACCINES

Traveler’s Clinic

www.vvmc.com/travel

230 Chapel Place, Unit D 101 | Avon, CO 81620 (970) 569-7715

The Traveler’s Clinic is a fullservice provider of immunizations, travel medication prescriptions, medical advice and documentation for world travelers. Immunizations offered include Hepatitis A & B, Influenza, Yellow Fever, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Rabies, Meningococcal Disease, Tetanus/Diphtheria, Japanese Encephalitis, Polio, Typhoid Fever and Pneumococcal Disease.

LABORATORY & BLOOD WORK

Laboratory www.vvmc.com/lab

181 W. Meadow Drive | Vail, CO 81657 | (970) 479-7280

VVMC’s Mobile Simulation Lab travels the Central Rockies using Human Simulators to teach and practice current treatment methods through handson training in a risk-free environment.

Vail Valley Medical Center’s laboratory is accredited by the College of American Pathologists and offers comprehensive testing. The laboratory’s team of experts is available for consultations, questions and educational seminars.

MEDICAL LIBRARY & PATIENT RESOURCE CENTER

Kimberly’s Corner

181 West Meadow Drive Vail, CO 81657

Located in the atrium of Vail Valley Medical Center, Kimberly’s Corner is a patient resource center, as well as a place for patients, guests and employees to relax. The resource center features a peaceful décor and provides computers and select books and journals.

Medical Library at Shaw Regional Cancer Center www.vvmc.com/library

322 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632 (970) 569-7607

Free to the public, the Medical Library loans books, journals, magazines, audio books, videos and children’s materials. The wide-ranging, up-todate healthcare collection is open to patients and the community. The library is home to the region’s only certified medical librarian and offers many personalized services, including reference, interlibrary loan and document delivery, material loans, databases and over 320 electronic journals.

OBSTETRICS/ GYNECOLOGY (OB/GYN)

Colorado Mountain Medical www.cmmhealth.com

181 West Meadow Drive, Suite 800 | Vail, CO 81657 (970) 476-5695

322 Beard Creek Road, Suite 200 | Edwards, CO 81632 | (970) 926-6340

377 Sylvan Lake Road, Suite 210 | Eagle, CO 81631 | (970) 328-1650

With locations in Vail, Edwards and Eagle, Colorado Mountain Medical is home to all five Eagle County OB/GYNs, specializing in women’s health, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, urinary incontinence, infertility and in-office procedures, including Essure.

Not owned or operated by Vail Valley Medical Center.

Women and Children’s Center www.vvmc.com/childbirth

181 West Meadow Drive | Vail, CO 81657 | (970) 479-7181

Vail Valley Medical Center’s Women and Children’s Center is a labor and delivery unit and Level II Nursery, equipped to handle most babies born after 32 weeks or full-term babies with health concerns. Home to pediatric specialists and neonatal nurse practitioners, the center also offers lactation counseling and childbirth classes, including natural birth seminars, breastfeeding, “I Love My Sibling,” and more.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND WORKERS COMPENSATION

Occupational Health Clinic

www.vvmc.com/occmed

181 West Meadow Drive | Vail, CO 81657 | (970) 479-5085

230 Chapel Place, Unit D 101 Avon, CO 81620 (970) 569-7715

Occupational medicine offers services specialized to the needs of employees and employers. Common services include physical exams, drug screening, injury prevention programs and vaccination programs, as well as custom programs built for organizations.

ORTHOPAEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE

Howard Head Sports Medicine See Physical Therapy

The Steadman Clinic www.thesteadmanclinic.com

181 West Meadow Drive, Suites 400 & 200 | Vail, CO 81657 | (970) 476-1100

322 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632 (970) 476-1100

360 Peak One Drive, Suite 340 | Frisco, CO 80443 (970) 668-6760

The Steadman Clinic is a worldrenowned orthopaedic clinic with facilities in Vail, Edwards and Frisco. Specializing in knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, hand, spine, foot and ankle injuries, The Steadman Clinic’s experience and research have led to significant advances in orthopaedics and sports medicine.

Not owned or operated by Vail Valley Medical Center

Steadman Philippon Research Institute www.sprivail.org

181 West Meadow Drive | Vail, CO 81657 | (970) 479-9797

Founded in 1988 by orthopaedic surgeon Dr. J. Richard Steadman, the Steadman Philippon Research Institute is an independent, nonprofit organization, known throughout the world for research into the causes, prevention and treatment of orthopaedic disorders.

Not owned or operated by Vail Valley Medical Center.

Vail-Summit Orthopaedics www.vsortho.com

108 S. Frontage Road West (US Bank Building), Suite 300 | Vail, CO 81657 | (970) 476-7220

1140 Edwards Village II, B-105 | Edwards, CO 81632 | (970) 569-3240

Peak One Drive, Suite 180 Frisco, CO 80443 (970) 668-3633

Specializing in knee, shoulder, elbow, hand, spine, foot and ankle injuries, Vail-Summit Orthopaedics (VSO) was founded in 1979 and has been an active part of the community since. VSO’s physicians are fellowshiptrained and take an integrated approach to injury repair and healthy recovery by creating customized treatment plans.

Not owned or operated by Vail Valley Medical Center.

PHARMACY

Eagle Valley Pharmacy (Vail Village)

181 W. Meadow Drive | Vail, CO 81657 | (970) 479-7253

The only pharmacy located in Vail Village, the Eagle Valley Pharmacy is located inside Vail Valley Medical Center. The pharmacy retails overthe-counter medications, has a wide assortment of braces and accepts prescription transfers from other pharmacies, telephone prescriptions and multiple insurance plans (insurance card needed). They also offer adult vaccines, including flu, TdaP (whooping cough), shingles and pneumonia, all administered by vaccine-certified pharmacists.

Edwards Pharmacy www.vvmc.com/pharmacy

322 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632 (970) 569-7676

Located at the Edwards Medical Campus, the fullservice pharmacy specializes in hormone replacement therapy, drug compounding, medicine flavoring and is an official provider of Burt’s Bees. A wide array of insurances is accepted and over-thecounter medications and prescription delivery are available. The pharmacy also offers adult vaccines, including flu, TdaP (whooping cough), shingles and pneumonia, all administered by vaccinecertified pharmacists.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Howard Head Sports Medicine www.howardhead.com

Avon: The Westin, 126 Riverfront Lane | Avon, CO 81620 | (970) 845-9600

Beaver Creek: 1280 Village Road | Avon, CO 81620 | (970) 949-5522

Eagle: 377 Sylvan Lake Road | Eagle, CO 81631 (970) 328-6715

Edwards: 322 Beard Creek Road | Edwards, CO 81632 | (970) 569-7777

Frisco: 360 Peak One Drive Suite 370 | Frisco, CO 80443 (970) 668-3169

Gypsum: 52 Lundgren Boulevard | Gypsum, CO 81637 | (970) 777-2700

Silverthorne: 265 Tanglewood Lane | Silverthorne, CO 80498 (970) 262-0179

Vail (West Clinic): 181 West Meadow Drive | Vail, CO 81657 | (970) 476-1225

Vail (East Clinic): 108 South Frontage Road West | Vail, CO 81657 | (970) 479-7291

Howard Head Sports Medicine (HHSM) helps athletes rebuild their body and spirit. Work-

ing closely with the world's top orthopaedic doctors and researchers, our progressive sports medicine protocols are reshaping physical therapy worldwide. HHSM offers rehabilitative, preventive and nonsurgical therapies.

Services: Aquatic Therapy, Dry Needling, Hand Therapy, Lymphedema Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, Pilates, Sports Rehabilitation, Total Joint Therapy, Vestibular Rehabilitation and Men’s & Women’s Health.

PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE

Colorado Mountain Medical www.cmmhealth.com

181 West Meadow Drive, Suite 800 | Vail, CO 81657 (970) 476-7600

322 Beard Creek Road, Suite 200 | Edwards, CO 81632 | (970) 926-6340

377 Sylvan Lake Road, Suite 210 | Eagle, CO 81631 (970) 328-1650

Edwards Pharmacy specailizes in compounding, creating custom medications for taste, dosage and form.

Colorado Mountain Medical is a team of primary care physicians and specialists, including Ear, Nose and Throat, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Family Medicine and Gastroenterology. Their providers offer total family care, emphasizing wellness, as well as well as treatment of illness.

Not owned or operated by Vail Valley Medical Center.

Mountain Family Health Center: Edwards www.mountainfamily.org

320 Beard Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632 (970) 945-2840

Mountain Family Health Center provides high-quality, integrated primary, behavioral and dental healthcare with special consideration for the medically underserved, regardless of ability to pay.

Not owned or operated by Vail Valley Medical Center.

SLEEP DISORDERS

See Cardiopulmonary Services under Heart & Lung

UROLOGY

Colorado Mountain Medical www.cmmhealth.com (970) 926-6340

Rocky Mountain Urology (970) 928-0808

These board-certified urologists have decades of experience in adult and pediatric urology. In addition to general urology care, the urologists diagnose and treat many conditions of the urinary tract, including enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia), kidney stones, prostate cancer, low testosterone, incontinence (including nonsurgical options), bladder cancer and more. They also perform many office and surgical procedures, including vasectomies.

Not owned or operated by Vail Valley Medical Center.

Owned and operated by Vail Valley Medical Center.

Colorado Mountain Medical

Edwards Pharmacy

Endocrinology

Howard Head (PT)

Internal Medicine

Mountain Family Health Center: Edwards

Mountain Surgical Associates

Shaw Regional Cancer Center

Sonnenalp Breast Center

The Steadman Clinic

Vail Institute for Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery

Vail Valley Surgery Center — Edwards

EDWARDS MEDICAL CAMPUS

Occupational Health

The Traveler’s Clinic

MEDICAL CAMPUS

Cardiology Institute

Cardiopulmonary Services

Colorado Mountain Medical Eagle Valley Pharmacy

Emergency Department

Howard Head (PT)

Internal Medicine

Mountain Surgical Associates

The Steadman Clinic

Steadman Philippon Research Institute

Vail-Summit Orthopaedics

Vail Valley Surgery Center

Women & Children’s Center

Wound Care Clinic

Shaw Breast Center & Cancer Clinic

Cardiology Institute

Endocrinology

Internal Medicine

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

& Community Outreach

Fiscal Year 2014 | AT A GLANCE

Net Patient Service Revenue 220,896,593 Provision for Bad Debt (14,851,026) Other Operating Revenue 14,691,208

Net Asset Release from Restrictions 372,500 Total Revenue: 221,109,275 EXPENSES

Salaries, wages and benefits

MILESTONES

VVMC was named one of the top “150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare” by Becker’s Healthcare for providing an excellent work environment and outstanding employee benefits.

The new state-of-the-art Frisco Specialty Clinic opened in 2014 and includes the only breast center in Summit County to offer 3D Mammography. In addition, the clinic offers medical oncology, cardiology, internal medicine, and endocrinology services.

Named the best healthcare event in Colorado, Pink Vail 2014 had more than 1,600 participants, 3,855 donors, and 260 volunteers. All helped raise over $466,000 for patient care and survivorship programs, exceeding the 2014 fundraising goal by more than $100,000.

VVMC embarked on a Master Facility Plan that will directly contribute to improvements in patient care, safety and privacy, and operational efficiencies (see page 48).

VVMC built a state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Lab, providing life-saving care in the Valley (see page 20).

Shaw Regional Cancer Center saw a 96.9 percent five-year survival rate for Stage I breast cancer patients, nearly 5 percent greater than the national average.

The Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute was designated a National Medical Center by the United States Olympic Committee, one of two medical centers to earn the title in the country.

Number of Physicians on Medical Staff

Number of ED & Urgent Care Visits

Number of Babies Delivered

Number of Surgeries Performed 6,965

The Sun Safety program visited 22 schools where they educated 1,200 preschool to first-grade students about skin cancer prevention.

VVMC's ThinkFirst program educated over 12,000 people about brain and spinal cord injuries and gave out 788 bike helmets and 366 ski helmets.

You deserve the same treatment as the world’s top athletes. Trust Howard Head Sports Medicine to help rebuild your body and spirit. Working with the planet’s top orthopaedic doctors and researchers, our progressive sports medicine protocols are reshaping physical therapy.

From modest beginnings 50 years ago, Vail Valley Medical Center has grown into the world’s most advanced mountain hospital, providing Olympic-quality sports medicine, leading evidence-based research, modern cancer care and extensive cardiology services. Thanks to the vision and determination of compassionate community members, Vail is home to an independent, nonprofit medical center that provides high-quality care to locals in our region and visitors from around the world.