Gala showcases our own "ER"

Click on the video to see Community General Hospital's homage to the opening credits of the popular NBC television show ER. The homage is the attention-getting start of a short video that was shown last evening at the annual gala of the Community General Foundation. (The video is also available at this YouTube link.)

The video highlights advanced technology at Community, which is acquired with the help of charitable contributions. The video shows more than technology -- it shows the way technology affects individual lives. Two recent patients at Community describe their experiences. It's quite poignant. My thanks to Andrea and Vinny for allowing us to hear their stories.

Shown in the video are the daVinci S Surgical System for robot-assisted surgery, the "RxD2" pharmacy robot, Community's PACS (Picture Archival Communications System), and the new digital mammography equipment at the Wellspring Breast Center.

Thanks to those attending yesterday's gala, the Foundation raised $300,000!

The evening was a success because of the hard work of many people. I'd like to thank master-of-ceremonies Scott Matukas, Chair, and the entire Board of the Community General Foundation. Thanks especially to Board members (and Gala Committee Co-Chairs) Jim Barger of Key Bank and Mark Re of Gallinger Realty USA. I am grateful to Dottie DeSimone, Auxiliary President, and to the Board and members of the Auxiliary to Community General Hospital -- they sponsored the silent auction at the gala. I'd also like to acknowledge the hard work of John Zacharek and his team in Community's External Affairs Division for their organization, their attention to detail, and their follow-through.

One more word about the ER-like opening sequence. All the "stars" identified in the sequence are real physicians, stars in their professional lives at Community General Hospital.

It will be fun

There are two things that distinguish the annual fund raiser to be held by the Community General Foundation next Friday, October 24, at the Hotel Syracuse. They are: it is a casual dress affair, and it is a darn good party.

That means you can wear jeans (the theme, after all, is “jeans and jewels”). It also means that any formalities will be short and sweet, allowing the evening to be enjoyed as a great party by all who attend.

There will be fine dining – the meals are catered by Pascale – and fine music, as provided by two Syracuse musical institutions: jazz vocalist Ronnie Leigh, along with R&B masters, the Blacklites. With talent like that, you know it will be fun! The photo shows the Blacklites at the 2007 gala - they will be back by popular demand.

The fun, of course, is for a very good cause. Proceeds from this year’s gala will help support Community General’s investment in state-of-the-art medical tools, such as the daVinci® System for robot-assisted surgeries, digital mammography at the Wellspring Breast Center, and the new pharmacy robot for virtually error-free medication dispensing.

The Foundation will take a moment to honor its three special guests:

▪ Steve Infanti will be honored for his years of service service to Community General Hospital. A member of the Hospital Board of Directors since 1999, Steve has served as its Chair since 2002. Before joining the hospital, he was a director of the Community General Foundation, where he also served as Chair.

▪ Being honored for service to community will be the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). ESF is the nation’s oldest (and largest) college dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technology and building a sustainable future. Under the leadership of Dr. Neil Murphy, ESF has been consistently ranked among the top American universities by US News & World Report.

▪ For medical excellence, the Foundation will honor Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS), a group of 21 orthopedic surgeons who are leaders bone and joint care in Central New York. With seven locations throughout the Syracuse area, SOS surgeons are known for responsive, high quality medical care. At Community General, the Orthopedic Department has 100% SOS members – because of their quality and leadership, Community's orthopedic services are ranked among the best in the state.

The gala is close to sold-out, but there are some tickets remaining. If you want to support a great cause (and enjoy a great party), contact the Community General Foundation at 492-5079.