March 31, 2008
Erie Nurse honored by VNA Foundation
for Commitment to Community Health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Beth Kleineman
(630) 315-2966
VNA FOUNDATION OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCES SEARCH FOR CHICAGOLAND’S 2008 “SUPER STAR” COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSES
VNA Foundation Recognizes 2007 Finalists Michele Shubitowski, RN, Lenora Pizello, RN, BNS, RS, and Jehan Marie Adamji, BSN, for their Ongoing Ongoing Commitment to Community Health Nursing
CHICAGO – March 31, 2008 – The term “super star” is defined as ace, champion, sensation, maven, virtuoso, even genius. The term can also be defined by the work of three exceptional nurses honored as $2,000 finalists in the 2007 VNA Foundation’s Super Star in Community Nursing Award. Dealing with such tough community health issues as teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, mental illness and homelessness is just part of the job description for “super stars” Jehan Marie Adamji, Lenora Pizello and Michelle Shubitowski. For the past seven years, the VNA Foundation has honored local nurses to recognize the service that public health/community health nurses provide, highlight the value of nursing in the community and —most importantly — help attract young people to the profession to create new “super stars” while decreasing the nursing shortage in our city and the nation.
This month, the VNA Foundation begins accepting Super Star nominees for its 2008 award. Nominated nurses should demonstrate excellence in direct nursing care, exceptional client advocacy, and/or innovation and creativity that improves the health of the people they serve. Nomination forms will be accepted through May 8, 2008 and can be found on the VNA Web site, www.vnafoundation.net. The winner will be announced in June 2008 and will receive a $25,000 cash prize. At that time, an undisclosed number of finalists will also be announced, with each receiving a smaller cash prize of up to $5,000.
In June 2007, Oak Park’s Sally Lemke was announced as the winner of the 2007 Super Star in Community Health Nursing Award and received a $25,000 cash prize for her work with expectant mothers at the Austin Health Center of Cook County on the city’s west side. The story received national attention when Lemke was then laid off from her position due to budget cuts impacting the Cook County Bureau of Health Services.
“This award is intended to showcase the unwavering commitment of community health nurses and the vital role they play in providing much-needed care to the medically underserved in local communities,” said Rob DiLeonardi, Executive Director, VNA Foundation of Chicago. “Like thousands of other community health nurses just like them, Jehan, Lenora and Michelle often work long hours for less pay than many other nursing specialties. It is important that we recognize public health nurses for their important contributions and dedication to their patients. We are very proud to honor these women — they truly are ”˜super stars’ in every sense of the word.”
Jehan Marie Adamji, BSN — Orr Adolescent Health Center
Jehan Marie Adamji is a young, charismatic nurse that can truly be described as an inspiration and mentor for her teen patients at the Orr Adolescent Health Center at Orr Campus of Community Schools. Since joining the center in March 2006, she has become a critical member of the school community, not only as a trusted provider of health services, but also as a contributor to the fabric of student life as the assistant girls basketball coach. As one of the two nurses employed at the school’s health center, Adamji serves more than 900 students and has created a safe environment for her teen patients to share their innermost health concerns. During a typical school week, Adamji faces a number of student health scenarios ranging from the common — colds, fevers, injuries — to the more private and serious scenarios such as physical and sexual abuse.
Recognizing the high risk for teen pregnancy and STDs in her school system, she established weekly sexual health programs and created a sexual awareness campaign inside the Orr campus. Through her efforts, dozens of students have registered with the Orr Health Center, resulting in a 200 percent increase of STD testing. In addition, she has worked alongside students to establish a student health club to develop peer health leaders and advocates. As the co-chair of the Public Education and Advocacy of the Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers, Adamji lends a hand in organizing the school health center advocacy day and recently brought a group of students to Springfield, IL to advocate on behalf of funding for such centers. In addition to her role at the Health Center and coaching duties, Adamji is also a member of the campus oversight committee, co-creator of the Campus Health and Medical Practices Society and a popular and willing mentor to students pursuing a career in nursing.
Lenora Pizzello, RN, BSN, MS — Sanctuary Place
With more than two decades of nursing experience, Lenora Pizzello has long felt a deep rooted commitment in helping adults, children and their families with mental health issues. Since 1976, Pizzello has been a fixture at Rush University Medical Center as a nurse, clinical instructor, patient advocate and community reformer. In her most recent role, Pizzello lends support and encouragement to women and children who reside at Sanctuary Place, a permanent housing community for women — and their children — who were previously homeless and have a history of substance abuse or mental illness. At Sanctuary Place she developed the PALS-CLUB (Playing and Learning at Sanctuary), an after school program emphasizing healthy living through food choices, exercise and development of good study habits. Pizzello involves nursing students at the PALS-CLUB, while striving to increase their awareness and understanding of the medically underserved populations and the challenges of accessing care, as well as providing student involvement in individual and group interventions.
A clinical instructor for undergraduate students at Chicago’s Rush University College of Nursing in the Department of Community and Mental Health, Pizzello focuses on teaching nursing students the importance of helping the medically underserved. She has instituted a crisis intervention therapy model, providing residents with education on mental health issues, intervention and community resources. In addition, she was instrumental in developing a treatment program for residents that are resistant to receiving psychiatric services as a result of negative experiences.
Michele Shubitowski, RN — Erie Teen and Family Health Center
Not one for fanfare or fussy accolades, Michele Shubitowski has spent the past 18 years providing much-needed medical care to more than 2,500 adolescents ages 10-21 at the Erie Teen Health Center on the city’s west side, a facility that addresses the special health, cultural and social needs of adolescents. Considered a “super star” by many long before being nominated for the VNA award, Shubitowski, in addition to her nursing duties, served for the past seven years as Director of Center Operations, maintaining a close knit staff and a special rapport with the community. At the Teen Center, she widely shares her knowledge of adolescent health issues and has made significant headway to communicate the vital benefits of birth control and STD-testing and treatment among her young patients. Shubitowski’s knowledge of pediatric and adolescent medicine is unparalleled and serves as a resource for nurse practitioners and other colleagues in the Erie community. Known for her gentle nature and kindness, Shubitowski’s compassion and care never stops for her patients and she consistently goes above and beyond to care for her “kids.” She is a strong activist for the health needs of her patients’ rights to medical care and services, including the Title X grant management program, which gives family planning services to those who would not otherwise have access. Shubitowski’s efforts are always evolving. She recently implemented the Centering Pregnancy program at Erie, through which adolescents received prenatal care through group visits. At thecenter, teens are able to form a community and receive support from peers, in addition to the prenatal care from the health professionals. She is continually seeking creative ways to improve services with limited resources for a challenging population, and her commitment to serving others does not stop at the Erie Health Center. On her own time, she serves as a member of the Data Evaluation Committee of the Family Planning Advisory council for the State of Illinois, gives aid to those in need at her church and participates in various Breast Cancer Awareness activities.
“As community health nurses, all three of these women have the unique ability to communicate with people of all ages and all walks of life, implementing services and programming that provide quality healthcare to the community. Their advocacy and respect toward patients has encouraged others in their field to extend a hand and lend services to those who most need it,” says DiLeonardi. “Their commitment and compassion is worth sharing and showcases the important work public health nurses do every day.”
The Need for Awareness
The nation’s public health care crisis is constantly under debate with an estimated 43.6 million people in the United States, or 14.8 percent of the population, without health insurance. Public health nurses in Chicago, unselfishly care for the thousands of medically underserved here in our very own communities and play a vital role in serving the needs of the un- and underinsured population despite the often challenging and difficult situations. In its seventh year, the 2008 VNA Foundation of Chicago’s “Super Star” award will recognize one winner and several finalists in the hope of highlighting their many contributions while simultaneously shining a light on the need for more nurses in Chicago to choose community health nursing as a career.
About the VNA Foundation
From 1890 to 1995, The Visiting Nurse Association of Chicago employed its own nurses and other health professionals to provide health care to the underprivileged. Since 1996, The VNA Foundation has operated exclusively as a grant making foundation, giving financial support to nonprofit organizations offering home- and community-based care to the medically underserved. In fiscal year 2007, the VNA Foundation distributed 59 grants totaling $2,083,469 in support of its mission to increase home and community-based health services for Chicago’s medically underserved. Recipients of the grants include a variety of agencies providing health care and health services to the homeless, the working poor and the disenfranchised. For more information on the VNA Foundation, please visit www.vnafoundation.net.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
“CVS Caremark Community Grants are an effective way for us to contribute to the success of communities where we do business,” said Jennifer Veilleux, Director of CVS Caremark Corporation. “We are proud to support the work that Erie Family Health Center does in the community.”