In October 2021, Dawn Holt felt a lump in her right breast as she bent over to pick something up. Taking action immediately, she spent the next year battling breast cancer and has successfully completed her treatments. Now, she’s telling women to listen to their body.

By Charlotte Stefanski, cstefanski@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region

It was a Friday evening in October 2021, and Dawn Holt was catching up on some TV. She remembers dropping something on the floor, and when she bent over to pick it up, she felt something unusual.

When her breast rubbed against her arm, the then 39-year-old could feel a lump. It wasn’t rock hard, but it was distinctive.

Since it was a Friday, she had an entire weekend to mull over what the lump could be, but already, Holt had a plan to call IU Health University Hospital and schedule a mammogram as soon as possible.

“Literally, my life changed the moment that I reached down to pick up the remote control,” Holt said. “My intuition is very strong and I knew that it wasn’t nothing.”

A few days later, she was able to go in for her mammogram and ultrasound, and during the procedure, the radiologist let Holt know she had concerns about what she was seeing.

While the news was scary, it was also a little reassuring, Holt explained. She’s a planner, and hearing that her intuition was right and that she might have to do more tests let her think ahead.

“Even though so much of this journey has been so out of my control, that aspect of it was comforting,” she said.

Holt was scheduled for a biopsy, and once her results came back, it was confirmed—she was diagnosed with estrogen receptor positive right breast cancer.

Her year-long treatment plan would begin a few weeks later, with Holt making plans to fight her cancer at IU Health North, University and West hospitals.

Forming an aggressive treatment plan

Luckily, Holt had caught it early, and she had a few ways she could go about treatment. A friend of hers had attended the Indiana University School of Medicine, so already, she had an idea for who she wanted as her breast surgeon and oncologist.

Things moved quickly after her official diagnosis. Holt began meeting with her breast surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist during the last week of October 2021 and then had her first chemotherapy treatment on Nov. 8.

“My phone was just ringing off the hook. It was IU Health; where do I need to be, what’s happening?” Holt said. “I was very clear. I would go to any facility. This needed to be my priority.”

Holt opted to go with a more aggressive approach to treatment, with chemotherapy first at the IU Health Simon Cancer Center in downtown Indianapolis. It included eight weeks of one type of chemo regimen, followed by another 12-week medication.

“We are fortunate at IU Health to have a multidisciplinary tumor board at each of our breast treatment sites. Dawn’s case was reviewed in tumor board and given the features of the disease we felt the best intervention to initiate her treatment was chemotherapy,” said Dr. Sade Imeokparia, Holt’s breast surgeon. “Chemotherapy upfront can give an advantage in certain circumstances, and when this is recommended, it is not to be taken lightly. Any chemotherapy is daunting and the whole course can be very precarious.”

One of the reasons Holt decided to complete chemotherapy first at the IU Health Simon Cancer Center was because her medical oncologist, Dr. Kathy Miller, could tell if it was working. During breast exams, she could already tell the lump was shrinking.

“Chemo is very hard. It’s physically hard, but also mentally and emotionally draining,” Holt explained. “Having those appointments where she was like, ‘It’s definitely shrinking,’ helped me to continue on.”

Once chemotherapy came to an end, Holt then scheduled a right-sided mastectomy with Dr. Imeokparia at the IU Health Joe & Shelly Schwarz Cancer Center in Carmel this April.

Dr. Imeokparia met Holt after returning from maternity leave and remembers that while Holt could be quiet at times, she was always a warm and bright spirit when coming into Schwarz Cancer Center.

“In the first moments of meeting her, her infinitely huge heart came shining through. I can’t say enough about how it is remarkably invigorating for me as a person and clinician to get to know a patient as a person as well, beyond their diagnosis,” Dr. Imeokparia said. “I also had the pleasure of getting to meet her family. Dawn has a fantastic support system in her family and their love for her is abundantly clear.”

Since genetic testing came back negative and Holt had no family history of breast cancer, she decided to only do the right side and plans to get an implant later on.

“The left one hasn’t done anything wrong. I don’t want to punish it,” she joked.

Her surgery included placing a tissue expander for the breast reconstruction procedure, but Holt’s body ended up rejecting it in the form of a pseudomonas infection. After the expander was taken out, Holt needed time to heal and treat her infection.

Once everything was clear, she began her radiation treatments at the IU Health West Cancer Center with her radiation oncologist, Dr. Paul Anthony.

She wrapped up treatment this September and will soon begin hormone therapy. Right now, her scans are clear and Holt is cancer free.

Through her year-long battle, faith has been a constant in Holt’s life and one of the reasons she was able to make it through, whether it be singing at church, going to a Bible study class or even doing administrative work.

Her support system was also crucial, including both her father and the Pink-4-Ever organization, which connected her to other breast cancer survivors during her journey. Holt was also transparent about her cancer on social media, documenting her journey along the way. She not only received support from friends and family that way, but from complete strangers as well.

“I thought maybe this will encourage somebody else,” she said. “This is a way for me to document things too, so that if people do ask me questions, I can look through my social media and find things.”

‘Listen to your body’

Currently, Holt has follow-up appointments scheduled with both her medical and radiation oncologist, and she’ll soon have another mammogram with her left breast during her annual survivorship appointment.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Holt advises women to pay attention to their bodies, no matter their age. With no family history of breast cancer, Holt wouldn’t have had her first mammogram until age 40, which would have been March of this year.

She knows her outcome could have been completely different if she hadn’t discovered the lump.

“Get your screenings, get your mammogram. It’s not comfortable, but it’s so important. We get so busy with life, and so many women are wives and mothers, and have a career and all these things that they’re juggling,” Holt said. “But I would just remind them that they can’t take care of anyone else if they’re not here and not well to do so. It’s so important to prioritize taking care of our own health.”

Like with any cancer, Dr. Anthony said that early detection is crucial. For breast cancer, that means scheduling a mammogram.

“The only way to do that is with a mammogram, which will result in a higher level of care, and less need for toxic treatment regimens,” he said. “If we find it really early, then you might not need chemotherapy; you usually just need surgery, maybe combined with radiation. That’s the big benefit.”

Dr. Anthony also noted that generally, the start age for an annual mammogram is 40 years old, but for women with a family history of breast cancer, the recommended age is 30 – 35. IU Health recommends women should meet with their primary care provider to discuss their level of risk for breast cancer and when it would be best for them to start getting mammograms. Each person is different and requires a personalized approach to their screening care.

“Women should be aware that breast cancer is indiscriminating. Screening mammograms are evidence-proven to help detect disease early, which can help improve outcomes significantly,” Dr. Imeokparia added. “Nevertheless, mammograms are not preventative. My best advice is to be proactive, and if you have dense breast tissue, strongly consider obtaining supplemental imaging beyond your yearly mammogram.”

Between IU Health University, North and West hospitals, Holt wants to thank her teams for their care.

“Every single person that I have encountered on this journey, whether it was the person scheduling appointments for me, whether it was the nurse that I called because I have a question, every doctor, every medical assistant that took my vitals at my appointments, the nurses who took care of me when I was hospitalized with my infection… Every single person has been so phenomenal, so kind, and compassionate, empathetic, and patient. I am overwhelmingly grateful to each and every one of them.”

It’s been a road filled with the unexpected and unpredicted. Now Kelsey Collard is in the hands of oncologists at IU Health Simon Cancer Center.

By IU Health Senior Journalist, TJ Banes, tfender@iuhealth.org

First there was the family history. Kelsey Collard, 32, is one of several family members who carry the BRCA1 mutation. Through genetic testing, Collard discovered she has the inherited gene that can increase her risk for breast cancer.

Second, there was the dense breast tissue, indicating the amount of fibrous and glandular breast tissue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report women with dense breast have a higher risk of getting breast cancer than patients with non-dense breasts.

The combination of risk factors kept Collard aware and diligent. She performed regular self exams. In 2020 she discovered a small cyst on her left side. Overtime, the cyst diminished but it kept Collard alert. In March, she felt a lump near her left pectoral.

A mammogram and biopsy confirmed that Collard had breast cancer. She spent the next few months in and out of hospitals – the result of a serious infection in the area of her port.

A year ago, a friend introduced Collard to the woman who would become her wife. It was that woman, Jessica Cazee, who began researching the best hospitals and oncologist to help Collard through her cancer diagnosis.

She discovered Dr. Tarah Ballinger with IU Health Simon Cancer Center. Dr. Ballinger is known for her clinical interests including high-risk and survivor breast oncology. She also believes in empowering her patients to engage in decision-making and honest discussions about their treatment plan. Collard has since learned that she has Triple-negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), that accounts for about 10-15 percent of all breast cancers. The “triple negative” refers to the cancer cells not having estrogen or progesterone receptors. These types of cancer are most common in women under the age of 40, who are black, or who have a BRCA1 mutation. TNBC is considered an aggressive cancer.

“From the first time I met Dr. Ballinger I was relieved. She is probably the first doctor that I trusted after so many difficulties,” said Collard. She met Dr. Ballinger on August 5 and began chemotherapy later in the month. “Dr. Ballinger listens to our concerns. She makes you feel so comfortable and doesn’t make you feel like there are any dumb questions,” said Cazee.

Collard and Cazee married on August 6 – the anniversary of the day they met. They wanted to have a small ceremony before Collard began her chemotherapy. Friends gathered at the Social Cantina in Bloomington, close to their Bedford, Ind. home. They hope to have a bigger celebration once Collard completes her treatment. Together, with Cazee’s three children, they are now a family of five.

A native of Pekin, Ind. in Washington County, Collard joined the Army National Guard right out of high school. She spent a semester in college and then deployed to Afghanistan in 2012. After nine months, she returned to the States and lived in Louisville, Ky. She was again deployed in 2019 to Kuwait. Her tour was cut short when she tore her ACL. She continued her military career at Fort Campbell, located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

It was Collard’s team lead in Afghanistan who introduced her to Cazee, one of his long-time friends. Cazee also served the military – the Air Force National Guard.

“She’s my best friend. I’ve never been so connected to anyone,” said Collard. They both enjoy crafts, playing softball, and volleyball, and anything with the children – ages, 9, 5 and 4. They are also raising 13 chickens.

“She’s goofy and fun and I’ve seen how strong she is through all of this,” said Cazee. “She loves my kids like her own and I’ve seen her persevere through some tough times. She’s just amazing.”

You might say Kelli Peo Johnson is a bit of a brainiac. As the stroke program coordinator at Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital, she’s dedicated her career to caring for the brain, and she can rattle off plenty of facts about it.

Like this one: 1.9 million brain cells die every minute during a stroke. When it comes to saving those cells, every second counts—and that’s why care teams at IU Health Arnett Hospital work at lightning speed to administer the drug Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) to patients experiencing stroke-like symptoms.

tPA is given to patients through an IV in the arm, and it works by dissolving blood clots that block blood flow to the brain. When administered quickly after stroke onset (within three hours, as approved by the FDA), tPA helps to restore blood flow to brain regions affected by a stroke, limiting the risk of damage and functional impairment.

To recognize the caregivers who have responded quickly to administer this life-saving drug, Johnson manages the “Brain Pin Program” at IU Health Arnett, Frankfort and White Memorial hospitals.

“Part of stroke care,” Johnson says, “is that we want patients to get treatment as soon as they can. So if they give tPA in 45 minutes or less, team members get a bronze brain pin to display on their IU Health badge. If they give it in a half hour or less, they get a gold brain pin.”

There’s also a third award, a helicopter pin, which is given when a patient is transported to the IU Health Methodist Hospital stroke center in 90 minutes or less.

“The pins have become a literal badge of honor for those who work on the stroke floor,” said Johson.

In 2021, more than 120 team members received the awards. IU Health hospitals in the west-central region are on -track to pass that number in 2022, with 85 distributed as of this summer.

The pins are philanthropy-funded and made possible by IU Health Foundation donors who give to the Arnett Area of Greatest Need Fund.

You can make sure even more caregivers can join this elite and honored group by making a donation to the Area of Greatest Need Fund at IU Health Arnett here, or contacting IU Health Foundation Philanthropy Director Julie Paolillo, CFRE, at 765.429.7525.

Before every spinal surgery, IU Health neurosurgeon Gordon Mao, MD, gut checks the procedure with his right-hand man: The Mazor.

The Mazor is a spinal surgery robot that helps Dr. Mao perform the most complicated of surgeries—from correcting scoliosis to repairing broken spines—with the utmost precision and accuracy.

The robot, which just became operational in July 2022, provides support in two ways: image guidance and screw placement.

Image guidance is provided through the robot’s built-in, advanced software, which helps Dr. Mao and his team more easily find the exact location, down to a single millimeter, of where the spinal screw needs to be placed during surgery.

“Think of it like a GPS system,” Dr. Mao said. “It guides us inside the body to exactly where we need to go.”

Once it finds the right spot, the team uses the robot to actually insert the screw into the spine.

“Historically, the actual placement of the screws during surgery has been the most challenging part of the procedure,” Dr. Mao said. “But with The Mazor, the chance for error is greatly reduced.”

The end result is that patients benefit from minimally invasive surgery that is safer and less risky than it would be without these technological advances.

“We are the only ones in Indiana who offer this service,” Dr. Mao said. “We are really putting IU Health on the map with The Mazor.”

Although donor dollars did not support the purchase of the robot, Dr. Mao said philanthropy that supports education and training opportunities for him and his team is needed to help the program stay on the cutting edge.

Currently, Dr. Mao is one of only three surgeons in the IU Health system who are trained to use The Mazor.

David Stockwell, MD, who oversees Dr. Mao’s team, agreed. “Funding continuing education opportunities for our surgeons will help us make all the difference for our patients,” he said. ”We will be stronger and more well-equipped to handle even the rarest of cases.”

To support advancements in neurology and neurosurgery across IU Health, please contact IU Health Foundation Development Officer Jeffrey Roth, MA, CFRE.

You might say that Liz Zauber, MD, was destined to become a doctor. As a child of two parents in the medical field, she was immersed in the world of healthcare at a very young age. But there was an even more personal reason why Dr. Zauber pursued a career in medicine.

“My grandpa had Parkinson’s disease,” she said. “So that was always on my radar.”

Fast forward to today, and Dr. Zauber is helping patients just like her grandfather who struggle with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders. She is the chief of movement disorder at Indiana University Health Physicians—Neuroscience, as well as the director of the Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence at the IU School of Medicine—the only such center in Indiana.

Her passion for understanding the complex intricacies of how the brain operates led her to patient care—but it was her passion for the patients themselves that led her to philanthropy. As the co-founder of the nonprofit Rock Steady Boxing, a gym and fitness program designed to help Parkinson’s patients lead more independent lives, Dr. Zauber understands the role giving plays in healthcare.

“It’s been really interesting,” she said, “to see the evolution of something that started from essentially nothing and then made an impact worldwide. It’s amazing.”

This introduction to the power of philanthropy has also led Dr. Zauber to begin training as a clinician champion for IU Health Foundation. Her hope is that she can work with her extended team to identify grateful patients and make them aware of the ways philanthropy supports the care they and other patients receive. Dr. Zauber also works alongside the Foundation as an advocate for philanthropy-funded art therapy services that are part of a holistic approach to Parkinson’s treatment.

On the clinical side, Dr. Zauber is an expert in deep brain stimulation—a surgical procedure where electrodes are implanted in certain areas of the brain to help regulate abnormal movements, such as tremors and rhythmic shaking. Post-surgery, most patients with movement disorders experience a significant reduction in physical symptoms and enjoy a higher quality of life.

“I can’t even begin to describe what a joyous feeling it is to know that you’ve changed a person’s life for the better,” Dr. Zauber reflected.

That generous spirit also has Dr. Zauber thinking about what philanthropy can do for her patients in the future.

“Hoosiers don’t like to toot their own horn,” she said. “But the reality is that we are doing really amazing things here in Indiana at IU Health. Our work in Parkinson’s has put us on the map—but through philanthropy, we can grow and expand our programming, and continue to make IU Health a place that’s known for excellent care for all patients experiencing any type of movement disorder.”

To support neuroscience care at IU Health and work being done by neurologists like Dr. Zauber, please contact IU Health Foundation Development Officer Jeffrey Roth, MA, CFRE.

As the new nurse navigator for IU Health West’s Breast Surgical Oncology Department, Chelsie Haltom is helping patients navigate their care plan.

By Emma Avila, marketing associate, epackard1@iuhealth.org

Chelsie Haltom’s face lights up when she talks about helping her patients. She has been the clinical nurse navigator for IU Health West’s Breast Surgical Oncology Department for three months now, and she hit the ground running.

“All my days consist of patient interactions one way or another, whether that be in person in the clinic or via phone,” she explained. “In clinic, I am usually completing surgical teaching with patients and their family members. This helps them know what to expect preoperatively and postoperatively and allows time to answer any questions or concerns they may have. The more hands-on aspects of my role consist of helping the surgeon and physician assistant with any clinic procedures, removing drains postoperatively, and I am responsible for drawing labs for genetic testing. I also assist with phone triage for patients that call in with questions or concerns.”

Brook Myers knows firsthand how helpful it is to have someone like Haltom to answer questions.

While self-examining at home, Myers discovered a lump in her breast. Last month, she went in for a mammogram that ultimately led to a breast cancer diagnosis.

She was back in the hospital two weeks ago for a lumpectomy, a surgery to remove cancer from the breast. Haltom was there to help guide Myers before and after the procedure.

“She asked how I was feeling and if I needed anything or had any questions. That really resonated with me,” Myers said. “Having someone like Chelsie, who is able to bridge that gap between patient and doctor is so helpful.”

“I feel like the patients know they can call for any question and if I do not know the answer, I can help navigate them to the person who does have the answer,” Haltom added.

Since Haltom is focused specifically on breast surgical oncology, she works closely with nurse navigators in other departments to make sure her patients are taken care of throughout their entire journey.

“Typically, when patients are diagnosed with breast cancer, their first stop is a consult with the breast surgical oncology team to meet the surgeon. From there the patient will typically meet with both the Medical Oncology team and the Radiation Oncology team. So right out of the gate, these patients are faced with several appointments to juggle and it is a lot for them to keep track of. The Radiation Oncology team has nurse navigator, Sarah Dryer, and the Medical Oncology team also has a nurse coordinator, Jenn Miller. All three of us work closely together throughout the patient’s journey to make sure the patient gets everything they need, and in a seamless fashion,” she said.

Myers is experiencing that shift now. She recently found out that her best treatment option is chemotherapy.

“Chelsie followed up and told me I will be working with the other team now, but she told me if I ever have any questions, she will be there.”

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, both Haltom and Myers want to help other women who may not know they have cancer.

“Trust your instincts. Know what is normal for you. If something doesn’t feel normal, when in doubt, have it checked,” Myers stressed.

“Early detection is key,” Haltom added. “Do your self-breast exams and get your mammograms at the recommended times. Try not to be afraid or embarrassed to talk to your providers about any issues you are having.”

<p><em><strong>He needed a kidney, and he wasn’t alone. He was one of three people in need of a transplant. Here’s how this circle formed and included a father of two.</strong></em><br></p>
<p><em>By IU Health Senior Journalist, TJ Banes, </em><a href=”mailto:tfender1@iuhealth.org”><em>tfender1@iuhealth.org</em></a></p>
<p>There were several family members considering donation. In the end, it was an unknown living donor who gave Gage Foltz a new kidney. That kidney was the result of a paired donation. </p>
<p>A living kidney donor isn’t necessarily related to the recipient. Compatibility is based on blood type and tissue typing. Age and size are also taken into consideration. If a healthy donor is incompatible with the intended recipient, the donor may opt to become part of a “swap” or “paired donation.” </p>
<p>That’s how Foltz received his new kidney on March 25, 2021. But the story didn’t end there. </p>
<figure><img src=”{asset:2938291:url||https://cdn.iuhealth.org/news-hub/kidney9web2.jpg}” data-image=”2938291″ style=”opacity: 1;”></figure>
<p>It was his sister-in-law, Cari Manny, who became a living donor. She also became part of a kidney chain. Her kidney went to another recipient. Foltz, in turn, received a kidney from another donor. In all, there were three donors and three recipients in the chain. </p>
<p>But the three living donors didn’t only impact the lives of three recipients. In the case of Foltz, the kidney transplant had a ripple effect. Foltz has been married to his high school sweetheart, Manny’s sister, Sarah, for six years. At the time of the transplant, they had one son, Levi, now 11. </p>
<p>In 2017, Foltz was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, also known as “Berger’s disease.” The kidney disease occurs when an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA) builds up in the kidneys. Over time, the buildup leads to inflammation and can hamper the kidney’s ability to filter waste from the blood. In some cases, the disease can run in a family. </p>
<p>Foltz was on dialysis for three years. As family members began testing as a donor match, his brother was also diagnosed with IgA nephropathy. That’s when Manny began testing and the family learned about paired donation. </p>
<p>Both Manny and Foltz live in Fort Wayne. Initially, Foltz received care closer to home. He received his pre- and post-transplant care at IU Health University Hospital. Manny was also in the care of IU Health. </p>
<p>“When I made the decision to be a living donor, I didn’t really receive any pushback from my family. I said I wanted to donate and I had their support. We’re all so close. My sister is a year and 12 days older than me and I knew it was a necessity for Gage to have better health – as a brother, a husband, and a father,” said Manny, who returned to work two weeks after surgery. </p>
<p>Then something else happened in the family. </p>
<p>“I think the best part of our story is that after five years of my sister struggling with getting pregnant with their second child, they were able to get pregnant shortly after my brother-in-law received his new kidney,” said Manny. Gage and Sarah Foltz welcomed their second son, Elliott on July 7, 2022. </p>
<figure><img src=”{asset:2938290:url||https://cdn.iuhealth.org/news-hub/kidney9web1.jpg}” data-image=”2938290″ style=”opacity: 1;”></figure>
<p>“We were ecstatic. It was like the story of my kidney transplant continued,” said Gage. He added that doctors thought the new kidney helped relieve some of the stress his body was facing pre-transplant and may have aided in the pregnancy. </p>
<p>His diagnosis and dialysis interrupted his career and Foltz now is a stay-at-home dad. He also spends time on house projects. </p>
<p>“I’m so grateful. It’s nice to go places with my family. Before my transplant, when we went on vacation I had to take my dialysis machine and even then I was stuck in the hotel,” said Foltz. Family trips to Disney, outings to the zoo, and spending time outdoors have become a new way of life for Foltz and his family.</p>

Healthcare providers work day in and day out with one goal: care for others. And while awards aren’t an expectation, it is nice to know your efforts are noticed.

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, members of the Indiana Department of Health visited IU Health Bedford Hospital to present them with the State Office of Rural Health Critical Access Hospital Community Impact Award for 2022.

“This team has shown so much heart and compassion over the past few years,” says IU Health Bedford Hospital Chief Operating Officer Larry Bailey. “Their efforts to continually provide excellent care while reaching for ways to help as many people in this community as possible is admirable and has saved many lives through the pandemic.”

“Truly, this is one of the busiest critical access hospitals around,” says Cindy Herrington DNP, FNP, RN, NE-BC, OCN, IU Health South Central Region Chief Nursing Officer. “Seeing our team take care of this community makes me so proud.”

The award is well-deserved for this rural team whose valiant efforts to care for patients during the pandemic saved many lives. And it all started with something no care team likes to see: a surge.

During one of the COVID-19 surges, the Bedford team couldn’t transfer patients to higher levels of care in Indiana or the surrounding states because there weren’t any beds available. So, they decided they would need to bring care to the patients.

The Bedford group worked with IU Health Bloomington team members in real-time to learn how to prone patients who would typically travel to another facility for specialized care. And it was a group effort with ICU team members, respiratory, pharmacy, and more, giving a hand to ensure their Bedford colleagues had the knowledge and skills they needed to care for their patients during this difficult time.

Amanda Alcorn, RN, BSN, IU Health Bedford Hospital Quality Improvement Manager, nominated the team for the award due to the fantastic efforts she saw.

“We were able to keep those patients here that we normally would have sent to other facilities for a higher acuity of care,” says Alcorn. “I’m just so proud to be part of this team.”

“We are so honored to receive this award and so proud of IU Health Bedford Hospital as one of the busiest, highest acuity and comprehensive critical access hospitals in the state and nation,” says Alan Biggs, FACHE, MBA, IU Health South Central Region Chief Operating Officer. “This team is an excellent example of the care that is possible and needed in our smaller and more rural communities.”

After being a nurse in her home country of Nigeria for several years, Eunice Bolanle Ogundele became one of ten international nurses welcomed into the IU Health Indianapolis Suburban Region this summer.

By Charlotte Stefanski, marketing associate, cstefanski@iuhealth.org

Since she was a little girl, Eunice Bolanle Ogundele knew she wanted to be a nurse.

Growing up in Nigeria, Ogundele recalls being sick often as a child, but going to s hospital wasn’t always a traditional practice. Even at a young age, she knew healthcare could be better and more accessible, both for herself and her community.

“That made me say, ‘I want to be a nurse,’” she said.

In 2004, she enrolled in nursing school, and since then, she’s remained in the field. Ogundele graduated with her Bachelor in Nursing from the Obafemi Awolowo University in 2007 and began work as a registered nurse shortly after.

Ogundele first worked in a clinical practice at a private hospital, and from there, she moved on to a larger hospital for a few years and received her emergency room training certificate.

“Through my nursing career, I’ve been working in more clinical settings, having daily interactions with patients—a majority of them in the emergency room, which is more of a trauma center,” she explained.

After being a nurse in her home country for about 14 years, Ogundele knew she wanted something more.

“The idea of coming to the United States came through social media,” Ogundele said. “I noticed there were more advanced technologies used in the United States, compared to what we have back in my home country.”

The qualities of a nurse, things like compassion and empathy, are universal, she said. But she wanted to take those attributes somewhere new; somewhere that allowed her to improve her clinical skills and develop her career further.

In 2019, Ogundele began researching and completing immigration protocols and requirements. Once she passed those, she began looking for international nursing programs that would help her get started in the U.S.

Eventually, she came across a company called Westways Staffing Services, a nurse-owned, highly experienced nursing registry, specializing in both per diem and travel nursing throughout the United States. 

This August, Ogundele became one of five international nurses to join the team at IU Health North Hospital.

An opportunity to help the nursing shortage

Ogundele isn’t the first international nurse to be welcomed to IU Health. The IU Health Indianapolis Suburban Region (ISR)—which includes North, Saxony, Tipton and West hospitals—is partnering with Westways.

The agency is working with the ISR to hire about 80 international nurses, primarily from African countries, the Philippines and India.  

Carrie Wing, chief nursing officer of IU Health North, said that while the nurses are contracted for a two-year period, the goal is to hire them permanently.  

“It’s an amazing opportunity for us to diversify ourselves. I think that it creates camaraderie,” Wing said. “The learning opportunity for us, and for them, is exciting to me. We know that we have a problem to solve, and we can solve it together.”

The process will take about nine to 12 months, with a handful of nurses coming in at a time with the majority going to North and West. 

Typically, the nurses have a few years of experience, mostly in med-surg type care. They are also all fluent in English. 

Prior to coming to IU Health, the international nurses attend a two-week orientation in Texas, where they are trained on the U.S. equivalents to the equipment they used in their native countries. When they arrive in the ISR, they will onboard just like any other new team member. 

“We orient them under the premise of a new graduate, even those that are not new grads,” Wing explained. “We bring them in that way so that we really capture any potential knowledge gaps.”

Wing noted that these nurses were already looking for jobs outside of their home countries. In addition to providing extra training and support, Westways assists them in finding housing and bringing their families to the U.S. In the future, the ISR may look to hire spouses in different roles as families arrive. 

The first group of nurses arrived this August, with five going to North and five to West. Now, there are 13 nurses between IU Health North and West hospitals, with three more arriving this month.

“Our teams are exhausted and there hasn’t really been an end in sight. We feel like this is an opportunity for us to get to that place. It’s not going to fix the entire [staffing] problem, but it will give some relief to the teams working well above normal hours,” Wing added. “That, to me, is a positive when it comes to work-life balance and self-care, things that we have really lost with the pandemic.”

A future with IU Health

Since arriving with her husband and two children in August, Ogundele has been working in North’s 5C unit, the post-operation surgical unit.

But before she came to IU Health, Ogundele spent time in Texas receiving training. There, she met other nurses from all over the world, including Brazil, Jordan and Uganda.

“It was different and diverse, for sure,” she said. “I consider some of them my friends and I communicate with some of them still.”

When it came to choosing where she wanted to work, there were several other options across the country, whether it be other hospitals, correctional facilities and more.

With education and research being Ogundele’s main goal, she knew she wanted to work in a hospital setting, and she was also looking for a hospital system with a solid reputation in quality of care. That’s when she came across IU Health.

“IU Health’s mission is to be one of the best healthcare systems, not only in Indiana, but in the nation at large. They also have excellence in education, research and quality of care services to the patient,” Ogundele said. “I think almost all these goals and this vision work with what I had in mind.”

Now that she’s settled in, Ogundele has seen many differences in healthcare between the United States and Nigeria. As she already knew, most of those differences were in technology available to providers.

For example, here, the IV pumps used are generally automated. But in Nigeria, nurses only have gravity IV pumps available.

As an international nurse herself, Ogundele knows there are plenty of positives to this type of experience. The United States, including Indianapolis, is extremely diverse, which means IU Health North’s patients come from unique backgrounds as well.

Already, she’s come across patients from Nigeria, and her background makes it easier to form a connection.

“IU Health’s values are to promote purpose, excellence, compassion and team,” Ogundele noted. “People with different ideas, different cultures, will bring in their ideas in a way that will promote the goal and the vision of IU Health.”

As she continues her career with IU Health, Ogundele hopes to one day earn her master’s degree and contribute to the advancement of healthcare. She thanks her teammates and leaders for welcoming her so warmly to her department.

“Every member in these units has made my stay wonderful,” she said. “I want to continue providing more of my care, to serve these patients.”

October is “Liver Disease Awareness Month” and one nurse shares intimate details about her journey to new health and becoming a mom.

By IU Health Senior Journalist, TJ Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org

There is a freedom that Emmy Nix describes that is only known by those who walk in her shoes.

“It sounds like a simple thing but it’s a big deal – to function like other people – to not have to drink a cup of coffee and think about, ‘where is the nearest bathroom?’” said Nix, who turns 32 next month. After years of health concerns and uncertainty, Nix now works as a wound ostomy nurse at IU Health Hospital North. It’s a role that she has lived and can personally relate to those in her care.

From the age of nine, Nix suffered colon problems. It wasn’t until years later that the problems were connected to ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease. At the age of 19 she was diagnosed with Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a progressive liver and gallbladder disease. Overtime, PSC can lead to liver failure. In December 2015, Nix was in the care of IU Health Dr. Bruce Robb. She underwent a colectomy, a procedure to remove her colon and a portion of the large intestine and began workups for a liver transplant. In June 2016, she received a new liver in the care of IU Health Dr. Richard Mangus and Dr. Chandrashekhar Kubal.

In the same year, she was enrolled in nursing school but withdrew due to health issues.

“I was at IUPUI and I was so sick and needed to know where all the bathrooms were. I started at Marian University but had to leave to go to the bathroom during my nursing entrance exam. If I knew then, what I know now, and if I’d had my ostomy in place, I would have finished nursing school a lot sooner,” said Nix.

The American Cancer Society describes an ostomy (or stoma) as a “surgical opening” made in the skin that allows waste to pass through the body into a prosthetic bag “pouch.” Her road to nursing was not as planned, but Nix said it has led her to where she is now.

A graduate of Greenfield Central High School, Nix went on to earn her degree from Chamberlain University College of Nursing in December 2019.

“I first worked bedside with surgical patients but from the time I walked across that stage to get my nursing degree, my heart was with ostomy/GI patients,” said Nix. She is working on her wound and ostomy licensure and in August began working with IU Health wound ostomy patients.

“I’m a huge advocate and have lots of patients keep in touch with me. I’m an open book and tell patients they can ask me anything,” said Nix. She’s a big proponent of helping alleviate the stigma that comes with ostomies.

Here are three common questions she receives from patients:

Q: Can I swim with an ostomy?
A: Yes. You may want to wear a t-shirt (or for women) a one-piece bathing suit because the ostomy pouch floats.

Q: Can I be sexually active with an ostomy?
A: Yes. The best time to change the pouch is in the morning. She has named her new stomach “Henry” and she says she has never known him to act up during intimacy.

Q: What about the smell?
A: It’s based on the type of food you eat. I tell patients ‘everyone’s poop stinks.’ You can take sprays or use lubricating odor eliminators in your pouch. Another tip is you can slow down the stool output by eating a banana of marshmallow.

Nix encourages patients to have a good support system as they adjust to changes.

For her, that was her husband, Jason. She met him in August of 2014 and he was with her throughout her health journey. “Jason was a blessing in disguise because his grandfather and uncle had ostomy pouches. When I met him I was getting sick and he literally loved me at my worst and through it all. He told me I needed to get an ostomy pouch and I thought he was crazy,” said Nix.

They married in 2017. Three years later, on January 17, 2020, Nix took her nursing boards. The same month, they learned they were going to be parents. Their son, Elijah, was born on January 10, 2020.

They were in the process of adoption and on a Tuesday their profile was chosen and three days later, their son was born.

“We met him at 5:30 on a Friday. He wasn’t even 24 hours old. We have pictures of us in the hospital bed. We are so grateful for adoption,” said Nix. “In seven days I became a nurse and a mom and it was the best thing that happened to me.”