Crystal Hinson Miller, president of IU Health Foundation, is a national leader in healthcare philanthropy. Here, she shares her personal reflections.

Having worked in healthcare philanthropy since the late 1990s, I’ve heard and used the phrase “destination healthcare” for years. But it wasn’t until a few months after I came to Indiana that the phrase really hit home.

I moved here from Durham, N.C., to join IU Health in 2017, with my husband and kids joining me a few months later. After we had a little time to settle in, my in-laws drove up from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for a fall visit to our house, just about 10 minutes from IU Health North Hospital.

That location proved to be vital, as, shortly after they arrived, my father-in-law had an aortic dissection, an often-fatal tear in the wall of the aorta. We quickly got him to IU Health North, where it was decided that he needed to be treated at IU Health Methodist. I vividly recall hearing the helicopter flying over our house to take him to downtown Indianapolis, where he received care that was literally life-saving.

Remarkably, my father-in-law did not require the surgery that often is necessary for an aortic dissection because, here in Indiana, we have access to a leading academic medical center that pioneers and perfects the latest approaches to care. Instead, non-surgical interventions put him on the road to recovery, interventions he likely would not have access to in Fort Lauderdale, where there is not an academic medical center.

This kind of care, commonly referred to as destination healthcare, draws people to Indiana from across the nation.

It’s the kind of care that drew Chris Curry to Indiana. Diagnosed with seminoma testicular cancer in January of 2022, Chris underwent chemotherapy near his North Carolina home, but it didn’t have the impact his doctors had hoped for. So they referred him to IU Health and Dr. Larry Einhorn. After a little research and a conversation with Dr. Einhorn, Chris knew he had found his destination for care. And a destination for hope.

People come to Indiana from across the country and even around the globe specifically to get care at IU Health. But my point isn’t that we provide healthcare to the world; it’s that Hoosiers have access to such renowned healthcare every day.

For example, Ryan Hoke came to Indianapolis from Decker, Ind., just south of Vincennes, when it was decided that, after a decade of declining liver functions, he needed a liver transplant. Some people fly across the country to receive transplants at IU Health, but Ryan was able to travel just a couple of hours up the road. A year later, he wrote a letter to the IU Health team thanking them for making it possible for him to see his son graduate from preschool – an experience that, a year earlier, was in doubt.

Being a healthcare destination puts world-changing therapies and care within reach of people who live nearby. It makes innovative therapies available years before they are found in other places. It treats conditions and diseases that otherwise might be considered untreatable. It grants access to clinical practices that can’t be found elsewhere.

A key component of what makes Indiana a healthcare destination is IU Health’s team of elite medical academicians. These innovators drive new visions of care and also attract other healthcare pioneers who want to practice as well as shape top medical care.

The new IU Health academic health center in downtown Indianapolis will increase our state’s status as a healthcare destination by creating a place that brings together a massive, state-of-the-art hospital; the largest medical school in the United States; an array of cutting-edge centers of medical excellence; and more. As we create this magnet that draws people from around the world, we also make its benefits available to people who live around the corner, down the road and throughout the state.

Even as we celebrate the incredible IU Health professionals who make Indiana a healthcare destination, we also celebrate the people and organizations that support pioneering medicine with philanthropic gifts. It simply would not be possible for our team to create groundbreaking therapies, devise fresh approaches and set new standards for care if not for the vision and generosity of our donors.

Donors like you make it possible for us to deliver the care that drew Chris Curry from a distant state, that attracted Ryan Hoke from Southern Indiana, and, yes, that saved my father-in-law when he was far from home but exactly where he needed to be.

Thanks to people like you, IU Health is a healthcare destination for people near and far.

Written by Emma Avila, epackard1@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region

Meghan Sanders (left) and Alexes Strickland (right) are both nurses who started as patient care assistants on the exact same unit.

Meghan Sanders and Alexes Strickland are both nurses on the third floor Medical-Surgical unit at IU Health West. They both started as patient care assistants (PCAs) and have spent their careers at the hospital on the same unit where they started.

Meghan began as a PCA in May of 2019 and Alexes started in July of 2021. They both worked in that role as they completed nursing school, which gave them experience on the unit and helping patients before they graduated.

“I thought that it would aid in my learning while in school,” Alexes explained. “I also think all nurses should have some PCA experience before becoming a nurse. It helps you appreciate your techs in the future.”

Staying on the unit was an easy decision for both women. They appreciate the team atmosphere and management style.

“We all work so well together and really get to know each other on a personal level,” Meghan said. “We as a team develop friendships outside of work and we all lean on one another because we know we can and that it will be reciprocated.”

“I learned things as a PCA from both nurses and doctors that have shaped me into the nurse I am today,” Alexes added. “Also, the continued support while I was in school to become a nurse was comforting.”

With such similar journeys, Meghan and Alexes have one more thing in common–they love taking care of patients.

“My favorite part of my job is when I’m having a bad day and my patients still look at me and tell me that I have done something for them to make them feel better. It’s the little things,” Alexes said.

“I take pride in treating my patients like I would want my family to be treated and treating my coworkers as teammates, so knowing that I made someone’s day a little better or a little easier is my favorite part of the job,” Meghan added.

If you like being a part of team that takes care of others and one another, IU Health or Riley Children’s Health could be the path for you. For a full list of open roles, visit iuhealth.org/careers. 

In a demonstration of brotherly love and decades of mutual professional respect, Joel Sagalowsky, DDS has made a major gift to Indiana University Health Foundation to honor his late brother Howard S. Sagalowsky, MD.

“Howard and I wanted our family name to be remembered,” said Joel.

The name will be remembered in a big way: Joel made a generous contribution to create the Dr. Howard S. Sagalowsky Department of Anesthesiology Program Fund, to support the anesthesiology residency program, learning opportunities, continuing education, specialized equipment and patient quality and safety at IU Health Methodist and University hospitals in downtown Indianapolis (and the new hospital, slated to be completed in 2027). The gift will be matched by IU Health Foundation.

During his 40-year tenure at IU Health Methodist Hospital, Howard championed the work of anesthesiology and inspired countless anesthesiologists and other clinicians while ensuring excellent patient care.

“The Department of Anesthesia training program at IU Health Methodist and University hospitals is one of the top in the U.S.,” said Ryan Nagy, MD, president of the hospitals and himself an anesthesiologist. “Joel’s forward-thinking gift will ensure that it remains a national leader.”

Through its unique partnership with the IU School of Medicine, IU Health has a strong reputation for producing excellent clinicians who go on to contribute to anesthesiology in many ways, including academics, research and private practice. Residents have an unusual diversity of clinical experiences, rotating through IU Health University Hospital, IU Health Methodist Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, Eskenazi Hospital and the Roudebush VA Medical Center. These experiences prepare residents to provide safe and competent anesthesia care to virtually any patient.

“In 1961, I was 11 years old and became more interested in Indiana University because Howard was there,” said Joel. He followed his brother to Bloomington, eventually graduating from the IU School of Dentistry and practicing for 40 years. The brothers were very close and frequently traveled together. They were avid collectors of art and antiques, including many items purchased on their travels.

The two brothers also shared a commitment to philanthropy, Howard by endowing a professorship at the IU Department of Biology, which in part inspired Joel’s gift to honor Howard. “This is a local version of what Howard did in Bloomington,” Joel said. “When our family needed medical attention, we went to Methodist Hospital. It has a special meaning for us.”

If you are considering ways to honor the legacy of a loved one, contact the IU Health Foundation at 317.962.1777 or foundationinfo@iuhealth.org.

A $1.17 million grant secured by IU Health Foundation will bring dementia services to more people living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners in south central Indiana, an area that has greater populations of older adults than the state average.

The grant, from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), supports expansion of the Rural Dementia Network of South Central Indiana (RDN) into Jackson and Martin counties and enhances RDN’s current services in Lawrence and Orange counties.

“As the population continues to age, it’s important that we show compassion to people with dementia and strengthen the assistance available to their caregivers,” said Cassandra Tice, Grants Director at IU Health Foundation. “We are grateful to HRSA for supporting RDN and the growing numbers of people who can benefit from its services.”

The new funding will:

• Support a new co-director of RDN

• Engage new community partners to join RDN
• Add a “Brain Health” initiative in all four counties that educates participants on the signs of cognitive decline and how to maintain the five pillars of brain health
• Establish a monthly “Memory Clinic” where newly diagnosed PLWD and their caregivers will meet with an educator about their diagnosis to discuss next steps and resources
• Facilitate classes and an annual conference to educate community members and local businesses on how to support PLWD and their care partners and create more dementia-friendly environments
• Develop collaborative strategies with public and private partners to sustain RDN and its services beyond the grant period.

In support of the “Dementia Friendly Communities” model, a nationally recognized approach, the funding will also expand current RDN services:

• Community education to promote awareness of brain health and combat stigmas regarding cognitive decline
• Specialized training for hospital, long-term care, and other healthcare staff in “Dementia Friendly” care practices
• Training certified nursing assistants and home health aides through the Dementia Friendly Care Partner Development Program

• Coalition-building, including leading local “Dementia Friendly Community” efforts
• Care partner support groups, transportation support, and respite assistance.

To support the healthcare priorities important to your part of Indiana, contact IU Health Foundation’s regional philanthropy directors.

Work is underway to expand IU Health’s footprint in Fishers. Emergency department Nurse Emily Thomas explains the impact to her team and patients.

By Justin Haberstroh, communications intern for IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region

Registered Nurse Emily Thomas joined the IU Health Saxony team a year ago after graduating from IUPUI’s accelerated nursing program.

“Once I got here my preceptor was great and eased me in,” Thomas said. “There was a learning curve in becoming the nurse that patients see now, but it was not difficult.”

Now full-time in the Emergency department, Thomas says the teamwork aspect of her job is the best part. She never feels like she is out on her own and she always has a support structure behind her to help.

“I love the teamwork aspect of working in the Emergency department, and I love the camaraderie we have with each other,” Thomas said. “I always feel like the team has my back.”

With the expansion of the IU Health Saxony campus and services, Thomas and her team are working around renovations in the Emergency department while ensuring there’s no impact on patient care.

Thomas’ leader, Natalie Zipper, manager of clinical operations for the hospital’s emergency department, emphasized that patients and visitors can still expect around the clock care when they need it most.

“Even though we are under construction, we are still able to see patients 24/7,” Zipper said. “We have worked closely with the design and construction team to ensure that we will never lose rooms during any phase of the construction.”

Patients and visitors who are familiar with the hospital may notice that existing pathways for patient and family travel from the Emergency department to patient restrooms, main registration, and the cafeteria will be impacted. Rest assured, the Emergency department continues to have two dedicated restrooms in the department for patient and visitor use, and escorts are available for those needing guidance to and from the cafeteria, pharmacy and other parts of the hospital. The Emergency department team also has extra snacks and drinks available for patients and visitors.

“Our team is dedicated to continuing to provide high quality, individualized care during the construction,” Zipper continued. “Our goal as a team is for our patients to have the same experience during the construction that they have come to expect from us prior to the construction.”

Once renovations are complete, the department will gain four patient rooms and 12 pediatric patient rooms.

Thomas is looking forward to the new space and the ability to care for more patients who need urgent care.

“I think the renovations will improve our flow as a team,” Thomas said. “Because we are growing so fast, these changes will allow us to work even better and care for more patients.”

The $300 million investment from IU Health will include a significant expansion of the IU Health Saxony Hospital campus and high-quality services. It will also add offsite, outpatient access to primary care and specialists to more holistically meet the needs of one of Indiana’s fastest-growing communities.

In recognition of this growth, this community investment will include a re-naming of the hospital campus to IU Health Fishers, to be phased in throughout the duration of the project.

Tonya Mitchell is a registered nurse and shift coordinator in IU Health West’s Ambulatory Procedure and Post-Anesthesia Care units. Before her mother passed away, Mitchell promised that she would go back to school and get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. With the support of her work team, she was able to fulfill that promise.

Shelby Cline started her career at IU Health West as a patient care assistant on the third floor medical-surgical unit. Now, she is the manager of clinical operations for the same unit where she started.

“It led to a lot of opportunities and open doors working within the IU Health System,” she said.

At Indiana University Health and Riley Children’s Health, you can grow your career while making a positive difference in patient’s lives. For a full list of open roles, visit iuhealth.org/careers. 

<p><em><strong>He’s worked with clients in behavioral health programs and homeless shelters. Now Luis Nieves is applying some of those coping skills to his own diagnosis of leukemia.</strong></em><br></p>
<p><em>By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Writer, </em><a href=”mailto:tfender1@iuhealth.org”>tfender1@iuhealth.org</a></p>
<p>There’s a sign that hung inside the hospital room of Luis Nieves at IU Health Simon Cancer Center. It reads: “I’m feeling my best when company is here.” </p>
<p>As company entered his room, Nieves moved from his hospital bed to his wheelchair. He adjusted his posture and put on a big smile. He was a host in his room. He welcomed others. </p>
<p>And yet, this is a 24-year-old man diagnosed with leukemia in August of 2022. He has spent the majority of his life since in the hospital, undergoing chemotherapy, surgery to amputate both of his legs, and a life-saving stem cell transplant. </p>
<p>Still he smiles. He talks openly about his life before and after his diagnosis and especially about his future. A 2021 graduate of Purdue University, Nieves pursued a career in behavior science and plans to go back to college to study clinical psychology. He hopes to apply his personal and professional experiences working with children in low income areas of the state. </p>
<p>“I want to be a resource for others,” said Nieves. He’s also looking forward to marrying the love of his life, Erika Ross, someone he has known since preschool. He proposed to her in November – three months after his diagnosis. The stage was set in Carmel’s Coxhall Gardens with luminaries cut out in letters to spell, “Will you Marry Me?” That was only part of the surprise. Nieves walked toward his love with the assistance of a cane. </p>
<p>His diagnosis was discovered after he had problems healing from the removal of his wisdom teeth. He then started losing dexterity, driving was difficult and he began slurring his words. </p>
<p>“I went to the hospital and thought I might be anemic and I’d be on my way home, but the first thing I heard was ‘abnormal cells,’” said Nieves. He was at another hospital and the next word he heard was, “Leukemia.”</p>
<p>“When I finally processed it, I realized I am very sick,” said Nieves. In the weeks that followed, he started induction treatments, developed an infection, was on a feeding tube, and at one point thought he was going to die. </p>
<p>Then swelling began in his knees – first his left then his right. Antibiotics couldn’t knock the infection. Flushing couldn’t knock the infection. </p>
<p>“Doctors did all they could to remove tissue damage – five surgeries in all. They gave me just enough time from the previous surgery before starting the next,” said Nieves. He was transferred to IU Health in February where treatments continued to fight the infection, believed to have been caused by chemotherapy. He went three times a week to IU Health’s Methodist Hospital Wound Care Center. </p>
<p>In the care of IU Health’s <a href=”https://iuhealth.org/find-providers/provider/jennifer-e-schwartz-md-9180″>Dr. Jennifer Schwartz</a>, who specializes in hematology, Nieves said he appreciated the team approach in making a decision that would forever change his life. </p>
<p>“We were on a big group zoom call and it came down to whether I wanted a better quality of life or quantity of life. I could live longer or better. The infection was stopping me from going forward with a stem cell transplant. I was between a rock and hard place. If I chose to amputate my legs, I could get a stem cell transplant and hope to conquer leukemia. By this point is was good riddance to my legs. I am way more mobile now that I was with my legs. They weren’t strong and they weren’t functioning,” said Nieves. </p>
<p>On March 31 he underwent an hours long surgery. </p>
<p>“I had already decided I wanted to live to get married, to see my niece grow up and I didn’t want anymore pain,” he said. </p>
<p>On June 8, he received a stem cell transplant from the woman he calls his, “champion of a sister,” Edu Nieves. He wrote: “It has been a long and difficult road and the journey is not over yet, but this is a huge victory to even be able to get to this point.”</p>
<p>Edu Nieves was the first person tested as a donor and was a perfect match. “She’s always taken care of us so it was fitting that she’d donate to save my life,” said Nieves.</p>
<p>Raised in Delphi, Ind. Nieves is the middle of five children. His parents were born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States before he was born. In high school, Nieves wrestled in the 145-pound weight class, was a linebacker on the football team and participated in several philanthropic projects including drug prevention, a blood drive, and Students Against Drunk Driving. </p>
<p>When he graduated, he had his sights set on a career in physics but switched to psychology. </p>
<p>On a recent afternoon, he took part in a guided meditation session with yoga therapist, Katarina Svabcikova. Yoga therapy is part of the CompleteLife Program of the Cancer Resource Center at IU Health Simon Cancer Center. Other therapies – including art, massage, and music – are offered as a way of attending to the mind, body, and spirit of patients.</p>
<p>“ I do attribute a lot of my ability to manage stress to my background. I learn how to identify stressors and try to eliminate and manage them and come up with coping skills. My family, and my fiancé are very supportive and I’m also very introspective,” said Nieves.</p>
<p>Part of his career has taken him into outreach positions where he has worked with people in community centers and homeless shelters. He’s also worked as a case manager at a behavioral health clinic. </p>
<p>Since his diagnosis he is not working. His Purdue University fraternity brothers have set up a <a href=”https://www.gofundme.com/f/luis-nieves-cancer-treatment-expenses” target=”_blank”>GoFundMe account</a>.</p>
<p>“I’ve always said I’m a person with a lot of experience in life,” said Nieves. “I’ve been through different walks of life – both living in the US, in a rural town, Hispanic household and seeing the poverty my parents grew up in. And now through chemo and amputation, I’ve been able to connect with a lot of people with similar experiences. I can sympathize with people with different disabilities and hope to use that experience to help others.”</p>

Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” in his Poor Richard’s Almanack. But bedtime and the alarm clock aren’t the only things affecting your sleep quality.

“Good quality of sleep is important, both for how you feel throughout the day and your long-term health,” says Spencer Jasper, MD, IU Health Sleep Medicine. “We’re happy to care for all patients and meet your needs.”

Snoring, restless leg, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, insomnia, and sleep paralysis are just some of the issues that can disturb your rest. And untreated sleep disorders can affect your health today and years from now.

Dr. Jasper’s team is here to help from diagnosis to treatment with home sleep studies, home sleep tests, assistance with CPAPs, BIPAP help, and more.

Watch the video above to learn about this team’s dedication to helping patients get the rest they need.