HEROES. The people you see on this wall are

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1 The people you see on this wall are HEROES For over 25 years, many of the employees at Kaiser Permanente s Santa Rosa Medical Center have quietly done the work of heroes. Today that spirit lives on in our physicians, nurses, and staff who go the extra mile every day to serve our members and fulfill our mission of A Healthy Community. Some of our Everyday Heroes save lives. Others have simply provided kindness and generosity when it was needed most. If you ask our heroes about their efforts, they often say it just feels like the right thing to do. If you speak with those who benefit from their work, they say it makes all the difference in the world. We proudly acknowledge a few of these Everyday Heroes for their selfless dedication to helping both our members and our communities thrive. Robert Schultz, MD Physician-in-Chief Judy Coffey, RN Sr. VP/Area Manager, Marin-Sonoma Guy Chicoine Medical Group Administrator Susan Janvrin, RN Chief Operating Officer

2 Omay Water-Schmeder Omay Water-Schmeder turned a personal loss into a life-long campaign to help seniors. Her mother and aunt suffered serious falls and never fully recovered. Eventually, they succumbed to their injuries, something For her, life s a matter of balance Omay believes could have been avoided with appropriate physical therapy, exercise, and coping skills. Determined to help others avoid the fate of her mother and aunt, Omay dedicated herself to learning everything she could about preventing falls among seniors. Leaving a successful career as a computer analyst, Omay became a physical therapist, specializing with seniors. Today, Omay is a Master Trainer for a community-based fall prevention program called A Matter of Balance, which helps people over 60 become more active and manage their concerns about falling. Kaiser Permanente donates Omay s time to train volunteers and lead classes in 22 Sonoma County locations. Omay s work makes a profound difference in the lives of her patients. In Sonoma County, falling is the leading cause of non-fatal hospitalizations for people over 55. Falling can also cause severe psychological and social consequences for older patients. For Omay, every hour volunteered is a loving tribute to the memory of her beloved mother and aunt.

3 Core Leads Team What could be better than big smiles, and lots of fun, all while helping kids to stay healthy? That s exactly what motivates the Core Leads Team of volunteers at Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa. Neighbors In Health: A Day of Free Health care (NIH) is a yearly, one-day event that provides free, high-quality health care for children and teens who otherwise might never see a doctor. Planning for each year s event takes months of hard work. The Team coordinates with over 100 community health organizations and clinicians who provide back-to-school and sports physicals, pediatric exams, immunizations, vision and hearing screenings, dental exams, and many other services and activities. Just ask Victor, one of over 500 children who came away from last year s event with more than his first pair of eyeglasses and a physical. He also rode away with a new bike, and a helmet; while his mother carried away an application for low-cost medical and dental insurance. Today, the healthy 6-year-old receives regular check-ups because of the health care insurance he received with the help of NIH. Serving the community one child at a time The goal of the event is to serve one child at a time. Being able to make that happen is what keeps us going, says Colleen Hensic, a spokesperson for the Team.

4 Walter Mills, MD Helen Hammer, MD When the Family Medicine Residency at Sutter Hospital faced closure two years ago, Kaiser Permanente jumped into action to rescue the highly regarded program. It turned to two of its finest doctors to lead the effort Helen Hammer, MD and Walt Mills, MD. Like generations before them, Drs. Hammer and Mills Grounded in science, guided by empathy and compassion trained to become primary care physicians: doctors who know their patients best and coordinate their care through all the stages of life. The opportunity to revive the first-rate program in Santa Rosa was embraced with full heart and focus. Less than ten percent of internal medicine residents stay in primary care, says Dr. Hammer. Family Medicine is truly the only residency left where you can guarantee that graduates mostly do primary care. Dr. Hammer chaired the consortium of health groups that ensure the ongoing stability of the residency. As director and associate director, she and Dr. Mills oversee the training and education of 36 residents (physiciansin-training) and one fellow. Operating a program at this level is a major undertaking, but the fruits are wonderful, says Dr. Mills. Helen Hammer and Walt Mills provided the passion and expertise that was critical for saving the Residency, says Bob Schultz, MD, Physician in Chief. With their help, the program is becoming one of the best in the country.

5 Sarah Luders, RN Sarah Luders knows what it s like to be a pregnant teen. But Sarah was lucky. She had a supportive family who stood by her through her pregnancy and helped her work her way through nursing school. Sarah knows that many teens aren t so fortunate. Life s lemonade made sweeter by volunteering That s why Sarah has been a volunteer at the Pregnancy Counseling Center of Sonoma County for the past nine years. A registered medical-surgical nurse, Sarah helps to manage every aspect of the program everything from coordinating volunteers, the medical staff and physicians and cares for the young women seeking help. Thanks to Sarah, young mothers receive free pregnancy testing, prenatal care through their second trimester, and counseling to help meet their physical and emotional needs. The Center serves over 3,000 young women each year connecting them with safe and affordable health care. The difference Sarah makes is nothing compared to the way she feels. One woman came back to visit me with her baby. She had returned to school and said she couldn t have done it without me, says Sarah. Those moments make it all worthwhile.

6 Teresa Denniston Teresa Denniston grew up in a family of volunteers. Strongly influenced by her uncle, a Leads by example with a warm heart and open arms well-known leader in Jesuit education, Teresa has always followed his example of doing the right thing. That philosophy is a driving force in her work and life. A Project Coordinator at the National Facility Services in Santa Rosa, Teresa has become an expert at juggling the three passions of her life work, family, and community. As a volunteer, Teresa has donated her services tirelessly and raised money on behalf of a diverse group of Santa Rosa community organizations everything from the Hurricane Katrina rebuilding project in Biloxi, Mississippi, the Task Force for the Homeless and the American Heart Association, to Meals on Wheels and The Redwood Empire Food Bank. She also helped raise over $10,000 for Kathy s Camp for Kids, a non-profit organization that helps the children of cancer patients. For me, volunteering is like indulging in a slice of double-chocolate cake; I get such a satisfied feeling from it, even after I ve finished the last crumb.