Partners Fall 2025

Partners

NEWS FROM LMH HEALTH FOUNDATION

Knowing symptoms is key to surviving a heart attack

Donna Oleson has always been a woman on the go. As a former Eudora city clerk, rhythmic aerobics instructor, administrative assistant and education paraprofessional — it was no wonder that Oleson may be a little tired due to her busy lifestyle. Although she seemed tired all the time, she wasn’t experiencing any other symptoms.

That all changed on a Saturday afternoon in September 2022.

“I’d been cleaning the living room, and I remember thinking I was tired, and I should sit down,” she said. “I dozed off, and when I woke, I knew something wasn’t quite right.”

In 2020, the leading cause of death in Douglas County was heart disease. From this data, the mortality rate within the county translates to a death due to cardiovascular disease roughly every two days. Medical professionals recommend knowing both the risk factors for heart disease and the common symptoms of a heart attack.

“If our heart is unhappy and isn’t getting enough oxygenated blood, it’s trying to communicate that to us,” said Elizabeth Guastello, MD, a cardiologist with the LMH Health Heart Center.

”If you feel like you’ve got an elephant sitting on your chest, pain radiating down your arm or jaw pain, it’s vital that you get checked out immediately,” she said. “Call 911 and get to the emergency room. Time is heart muscle.”

Oleson has long been active with the American Heart Association and Go Red for Women, so when she began to vomit and felt intense heart pain, she knew something was wrong. She began to bang on the wall to get her granddaughter’s attention and told her she thought she was having a heart attack. They called 911 and when the paramedics arrived, they told Oleson she was right.

“They loaded me in the ambulance and put nitroglycerin under my tongue,” she said. “I remember telling them that it hurt so badly, but that’s it until I got to the hospital and found out I’d flat-lined, and they had to perform CPR.”

Oleson’s decision to call paramedics — instead of having her granddaughter drive to the hospital — saved her life. Not only had she flat-lined in the ambulance, Oleson had a total blockage of one artery and another was 90% occluded.

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2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gail Vick president

Cindy Yulich vice president

Joan Golden secretary

Teresa Kempf treasurer

Mark Gonzales past president

Daryl Craft

Becki Dick

Marilyn Dobski

Lindy Eakin

Rosy Elmore

Cindy Fritzel

Laura Hedges

Barb Heeb

Jason Hoover

Matt Hoy

Joe Hurla

Dr. Walter Ingram

Sheryle D’Amico ex officio , lmh health interim president & ceo

Pat Miller ex officio , lmh health board of trustees

Sandy Praeger

Karin Rexroad ex officio , lmh health volunteers

Dr. Mike Thompson

Jeff Weinberg

PARTNERS

316 Maine Street • Lawrence KS 66044 (785) 505-5005

LMH Health Foundation team: Haley Carlin, Erica Hill, Amy Northrop, Earl Reineman, Rebecca Smith, Becky Swearingen © 2025 LMH Health Foundation

Dear partners,

Earlier this year, the Foundation announced plans to embark on our most ambitious initiative yet — a $10 million campaign to support expansion of the LMH Health Heart Center.

We have thousands of success stories of patients who have received life-saving heart care here — including Donna Oleson, who you can read more about this edition. Every second matters when it comes to cardiac treatment, and by investing in increased access, new services and improved capacity for emergency interventions, we can deliver exceptional care, close to home.

In early September, many of our community partners and donors joined in to support the campaign effort. Early estimates are that the annual Penny Jones Open golf tournament raised more than $90,000 for the initiative, all while sponsors and golfers alike enjoyed a great day on the course. We’ve included a few photos in this newsletter, and a link to see additional pictures from the day.

LMH Health hosted its annual community health fair in September, providing access to comprehensive lab testing, free health screenings, health education and wellness resources to community members. Thanks to a sponsorship from Bishop Business, the Foundation was able to ensure lab testing was available to all, regardless of ability to pay.

LMH Health has always been committed to providing high-quality, affordable care for the people of Douglas County and the surrounding communities. More than 100 years ago, LMH Health was founded on the commitment to provide access for all and that “no person shall be excluded on account of race, or physical, social or financial condition.” This stipulation by philanthropist Elizabeth Watkins, who gave the funds to support the creation of Lawrence Memorial Hospital in 1921, prevails to this day.

We are one of the lowest-cost hospitals in the region and hold a 5-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — a designation shared by only 10 percent of the hospitals in the nation. Moreover, LMH Health provides more than $40 million in charitable care and financial assistance to more than 20,000 patients in need each year.

We could not do this without you. Thank you for strengthening your nonprofit, community hospital; thank you for supporting high-quality, local care for all; and, most of all, thank you for partnering with us to ensure that there are healthier tomorrows for generations to come.

In gratitude,

Rebecca Smith

Executive Director, LMH Health Foundation Vice President, Strategy & Communications, LMH Health

Surviving a heart attack

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“Donna had what you might know as a widow maker,” Guastello said. “The proximal left anterior descending artery supplies blood to the front of the heart. In the past — before coronary intervention — someone would usually die, which is how it got the name.”

Oleson was immediately taken to the heart cath lab at LMH Health, where an interventional cardiologist placed a stent in one artery, followed by a second one three days later.

“September 10, 2025 marked three years since my heart attack,” said Oleson. “I completed outpatient therapy and cardiac rehab, and am doing fine. I’m so lucky to have survived and to have received the outstanding care that I did at LMH Health. They took great care of me. I also tell my story and remind everyone not to hesitate if you have any signs of a heart attack. Time is precious and important.”

How you can help

An additional coronary intervention procedure room — or heart cath lab — is vital for timely, life-saving care.

“In cardiac emergencies — such as heart attacks — every minute counts,” said Rich McKain, senior director of ancillary and support services. “If all procedure rooms are in use, patients may face delays or even require transfer to another facility, which can significantly increase risk.”

The LMH Health Foundation has launched a $10 million campaign — its most ambitious effort yet — to create a new LMH Health Heart Center. The renovation will expand the number of cath lab procedure rooms and will allow us to:

• Reduce wait times for urgent and scheduled procedures

• Improve capacity to handle multiple emergencies simultaneously

• Increase access to new services like electrophysiology and expanded vascular care

• Keep patients close to home, avoiding stressful and potentially dangerous transfers

“Every second matters when it comes to heart care. Saving more lives — closer to home — is the foundation of the LMH Health Heart Center expansion initiative,” said McKain.

To share a meaningful gift toward this work, visit lmh.org/donate or contact Earl Reineman, major & planned gifts manager, at 785-505-3317, or earl.reineman@lmh.org. Your gift will make a difference.

RISK FACTORS FOR HEART DISEASE

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Smoking

• Family history of heart disease

• Type 2 diabetes

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK

• Chest pain or discomfort

• Feeling weak, lightheaded or faint

• Pain in the jaw, neck or back

• Pain or discomfort in one of both arms or shoulders

• Shortness of breath

KNOW YOUR SCORE

Another tool available to help determine your heart health is a coronary calcium score. Guastello said that during this simple imaging procedure, patients undergo a CT scan that looks for calcium in the arteries.

“If you score a zero on the test, there isn’t any plaque present, and that can provide you with peace of mind,” she explained. “Scores of 1 or greater indicate that you’ve got coronary artery disease, and then we can begin treating you appropriately.”

Coronary calcium scores are done on a regular basis at both the LMH Health Main Campus and West Campus. While a referral isn’t required, Guastello recommends asking your primary care provider to order the test so they can receive the results.

The test costs about $60 and isn’t usually covered by insurance. If cost is a factor, learn how to receive a voucher to cover the cost of this service. Contact LMH Health Patient Accounts at 785-505-5775 for more information. Generous donors to LMH Health Foundation provide funds to support this valuable service.

Clockwise from top: Erica Hill, at center, with 2025 academy graduates Jonah Frye, Allison Allison, Gabe Campbell, Aaminah Ahmed, Phoebe Cain, Jacob Wang, Karen Cruz Santos and Rian Gonzalez; Summer Leadership Academy students visit Haskell Indian Nations University; Cindy Yulich addresses the 2025 academy graduates

2025 Summer Leadership Academy recap

LMH Health celebrated its seventh graduating class of its Summer Leadership Academy this July at a ceremony sponsored in part by Emprise Bank.

In collaboration with the City of Lawrence, eight area high school students participated in the paid mentorship program that introduced them to careers in healthcare and city government.

“The Leadership Academy cultivates a dynamic environment where students are equipped to grow intellectually, personally and professionally. Through engaging experiences and meaningful participation, the program inspires curiosity, fosters leadership and encourages students to explore their potential with purpose and confidence,” said Erica Hill, director of strategic initiatives and integration at LMH Health, and director of finance at the LMH Health Foundation.

At the ceremony, students showcased their capstone projects — thoughtfully researched presentations on pressing healthcare issues affecting youth and the broader community. Topics ranged from health disparities and barriers to higher education, to the evolving impact of artificial intelligence. Family, friends and mentors looked on with pride as students shared their insights and solutions.

“Emprise Bank was proud to support this fabulous program,” said Cindy Yulich, the bank’s market president. “This outstanding opportunity cultivates future leaders whose voices more fully represent the diversity of our communities.”

Donors to LMH Health Foundation have proudly supported programming and scholarships to the Academy since its inception in 2019.

LMH Health is all about your health

LMH Health provided education, health screenings and opportunities to connect with healthcare professionals to learn more about health conditions and concerns at our annual Health Fair on September 6. Community members visited the morning event on the hospital’s main campus.

“Our goal is to raise awareness of health risks, help community members learn healthy habits and assist everyone in accessing healthcare resources in the community,” said Allison Koonce, LMH Health community outreach and engagement supervisor.

Bishop Business, a community partner to LMH Health and LMH Health Foundation, provided funding to help support lab testing at this year’s health fair.

“We are really honored to be partnering with LMH Health on such an important event for the community,” said Sally Monahan, account representative for Bishop Business. “Making important screenings and lab tests more accessible gives everyone the opportunity to be healthier and improve their quality of life.”

To learn more about upcoming wellness programming or events, visit us at lmh.org/wellness/events.

Scenes from this year’s Health Fair at the LMH Health Main Campus (clockwise from top): Jodi Morgan, PT, and Miracle Warren, OT, of LMH Health Therapy Services; Aaron Pope of LMH Health Pharmacy; and Allison Koonce, at right, talking with a guest

Why do I support LMH Health Foundation?

Why do I give? So that the quality of medical care available to our service area (and beyond) continues to be available for the next generation.

I’ve been a Lawrence resident since the early 1990s and employed at LMH Health since 1999. Our community — myself and my family included — is so fortunate to have the quality of medical services available to us.  The medical staff, supported by nurses, ancillary professionals and support staff, are simply the best.

—Sheryle D’Amico, Interim President & CEO

Penny Jones Open supports cardiac care at LMH Health

The 2025 Penny Jones Open golf tournament was held in September, uniting golfers, community partners and volunteers in a common goal — improving access to outstanding heart care right here in our community.

Early estimations indicate the event raised more than $90,000 of support toward the LMH Health Heart Center’s expansion and renovation initiative, which will include the addition of a second heart cath lab, a larger and more modernized physician clinic, and increased access to new services such as electrophysiology and vascular care.

“Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Douglas County. It can affect anyone, and it does not discriminate,” said Dr. Christina Salazar, cardiologist with the LMH Health Heart Center. “A new and expanded Heart Center means improved access to life-changing and life-saving care, right here — close to home.”

The annual golf tournament receives outstanding support from a variety of community partners. Our presenting sponsor, Commerce Bank, hosted a tent where they shared financial tips and resources.

“It was another fantastic day celebrating LMH Health Foundation, and having some fun along the way,” said Rob Gillespie, president of Commerce Bank–Lawrence. “Giving back to the communities we serve is a central part of who we are. Commerce Bank — like LMH Health — is focused on improving the lives of people where we live and work.”

More photos from the event are available at lmh.org/foundation/events/penny-jones-golf-tournament/.

Creating a legacy through your will or estate plan

Recently, a community member shared why they chose to include the LMH Health Foundation in their will:

“I knew this was one way I could help change a life, or even save a life, well beyond my own life.”

It certainly doesn’t get more moving than that. But, honestly, this is not a unique sentiment. Most all of us want to have a positive impact on the lives of others and on our community. And one of the easiest ways to do that is by remembering your non-profit, safety-net community hospital in your will or estate plan.

Have you already done this? If so, please let us know so we can properly thank you, and so we can ensure that your wishes for your gift are completely fulfilled.

If you haven’t yet done this, would you like to have a safe, relaxed, and confidential conversation about the variety of ways that you can create a legacy and make a lasting impact?

Here’s our promise: We’ll never pressure you in any way. We’ll simply share ideas on how you can impact the lives of others — in the way that’s most meaningful to you.

For more information, please contact Earl Reineman, major & planned gifts manager, at 785-505-3317 or earl.reineman@lmh.org.

Did you know? LMH Health Foundation, in conjunction with the University of Kansas School of Law, created a Medical-Legal Partnership that provides free legal services to help LMH Health patients with low incomes address issues affecting their health. We responded to more than 300 issues in 2024.

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316 Maine Street Lawrence, KS 66044

Registration is open now for the 2026 Hearts of Gold Gala on May 2, 2026, at the KU Conference Center inside the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

We are honored to have the University of Kansas men’s head basketball coach, Bill Self, join us for the evening to support the LMH Health Heart Center expansion initiative.

Reserve your table now for this highly sought-after event by contacting Amy Northrop, annual giving manager, at amy.northrop@lmh.org or 785-505-3314.