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

Siblings Brittany Fields and Dr. Kyle Mackey, MD, share their journey working together on the Maternity team at IU Health West, where their close bond enhances their approach in providing care for patients.

At IU Health West, many team members say the hospital feels like a family. For Brittany Fields and Dr. Kyle Mackey, MD, that sentiment is quite literally true.

Fields, who works in nursing professional development for the hospital’s Maternity services, began working at IU Health West in 2012. Her younger brother and OB/GYN, Dr. Mackey, joined the Maternity team as well last year.

“I think we had always kind of joked about it,” Mackey says. “When the time came, I knew my wife and I wanted to get back to this area. Then, looking at things, what was important to me in a practice and hospital, this seemed to check all the boxes. Of course, having Brittany here was a big plus.”

Though the siblings work on the same unit, their journeys have been different.

Fields started as a unit secretary. She was offered a position in Obstetrics, which she thought would be a fun experience. She is now a registered nurse and helps other nurses learn different skills.

“This is my passion,” she says. “It’s been one of the best decisions I ever made.”

For Dr. Mackey, his sister did not influence his choice to become an OB/GYN. In fact, he was originally interested in Orthopedics. It all came down to his experience in medical school.

“I had absolutely zero interest in OB/GYN going into my first and second years of medical school,” he says with a laugh. “That was up until by OB rotation in my third year. I had a great experience with the attending I was working with. I loved it. I loved that it was busy. I loved that it was surgical. I loved that, for the majority, you are there for the best moments of someone’s life.”

Once Dr. Mackey made the decision to come to IU Health West, he had his sister to help him ease into the new role.

“Once he was getting ready to start, he came in, I gave him a tour and we went over his preference cards for procedures,” she says. “I was very proud to show him the unit and everything.”

Now, working on the same unit, Fields and Dr. Mackey see each almost every day.

“Sometimes I may just walk by her office to see if she’s there,” Dr. Mackey says.

“We eat lunch at least once a week together, which is really fun,” Fields adds.

The two have always been close with each other as well as their middle sibling, another sister. Dr. Mackey believes his relationships with his sisters, mother and grandmother have informed how he cares for patients.

“I think that just being around and being so close with the women of my life, every time I see a patient, I think of what I would do for my wife, my mother, my sister, my grandmother,” he says.

Fields sees those influences in how Dr. Mackey interacts with the team as well.

“He is very good at communicating and talking, especially with nurses,” she says. “He’s very shoulder to shoulder with us. It’s never, ‘I’m a doctor. You’re a nurse.’ There’s a lot of really good collaboration.”

Felds has occasionally assisted on procedures with Dr. Mackey. He finds it comforting to have his big sister in the room.

“I know that if she’s in my room, it will be fine. There’s definitely a sense of ease,” he says.

For Fields, she experiences pride when she sees a member of her family help patients grow their families.

“It’s just so nice to see him up here. I’m super proud of him. He’s worked so hard,” she says. “It’s nice to see him in this role and thriving. I’m just a proud big sister.”

Domica Jackson was working in the Lilly cafeteria when her first stroke symptoms started. “I just got real light headed… and one of my coworkers said I tried to say something to her, but I was just mumbling,” said Domica. That coworker ran for help and within minutes Lilly’s dedicated staff doctor and EMS crew were rushing Domica to IU Health Methodist Hospital, a comprehensive stroke center.

Victor Okendu is a nurse on one of IU Health University Hospital’s fast-paced surgical units. “The team and my manager… they’re the reason why I keep coming back every single day. Having a good support team and people… who have your back and knowing they can depend on you… that’s the biggest thing for me.”

Cervical cancer impacts many individuals and families across the world.

It’s the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and the fourth highest in cancer-related deaths. The United States sees about 11,500 new diagnoses and 4,000 deaths of cervical cancer annually.

The good news is that screening and prevention efforts can positively affect these numbers.

In honor of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, check out the quick facts below and share the information with your loved ones. After all, education can be a powerful catalyst of change.

• Ways to help prevent cervical cancer:
  • Start routine HPV vaccination at ages 11 to 12, through age 26.
    • Preventing HPV may reduce your risk of cervical cancer. Talk to your doctor about recommended dosing schedules.
  • Start routine Pap tests at age 21 and repeat every three to five years.
  • Practice safe sex to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
  • Don’t smoke.

• Risk factors for cervical cancer:
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes almost all cases of cervical cancer.
  • A history of smoking.
  • Three or more full-term pregnancies.
  • Use of oral contraceptives.
  • A high number of sexual partners.
  • Sexually active at an early age.
  • History of sexually transmitted infection.
  • Some autoimmune diseases.
  • A weakened immune system.
  • Exposure to miscarriage prevention medication.

• Get screened for cervical cancer through routine Pap tests:
  • Twenty-one to 29-year-olds should have a Pap test every three years.
  • Thirty to 65-year-olds should have a Pap test every three years, an HPV test every five years or an HPV/Pap co-test every five years.
  • If you’re older than 65 years, please speak with your healthcare provider to decide what is best for you.
  • Your healthcare provider may recommend alternative screenings based on your risk factors. Sharing your complete health history with them can help determine the best schedule for these screenings.

• Common symptoms of cervical cancer:
  • Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause.
  • Menstrual bleeding is heavier and lasts longer than usual.
  • Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor.
  • Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse.

• Cervical cancer diagnoses:
  • A biopsy of the cervix
  • Transvaginal ultrasound
  • May need a CT scan or PET scan, if indicated

• Treatment options for cervical cancer can depend on the cancer stage:
  • Cone biopsy
  • Surgery to remove the cervix and sometimes the uterus
  • External beam radiation therapy
  • Brachytherapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Clinical Trials

• Tips for healthcare appointments when you have cervical cancer:
  • Make a list of questions before the appointment and bring them with you.
  • Take someone with you to take notes so you don’t forget what the provider says.
  • Be open with your provider about any changes or concerns you have.

January may be Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, but this health concern affects people year-round. Share the information above and help make a change.

Resources:

• NCCN Guidelines for Patients Cervical Cancer, 2024
• Mayo Clinic Cervical Cancer website
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Maggie Girard meets patients where they are and works within their creative arena.

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

There’s an examination table, a blood pressure cuff, and a clock inside Maggie Girard’s “office” at IU Health Methodist Hospital. Her role is unlike other practitioners at IU Health’s LifeCare facility. Her attention is on a sink – to wash out paint brushes – and a countertop – to spread out art supplies.

For the past several years, Girard has provided art therapy to clients at LifeCare, the largest provider of HIV treatment and medical prevention services in the state. Located in the Methodist Medical tower, LifeCare provides services in a centrally located facility to those living with, exposed to, or at risk of HIV. Those services include diagnosis and treatment, health assessments and medical exams, access to lab work, immunizations and vaccines, education and counseling, and assistance with specialty and community referrals.

Girard is one person on a team of caregivers that includes physicians, pharmacists, nurses, social workers, and counselors.

“There are so many things in our lives that don’t fit into a neat place. Art helps us understand. It may be a scribble on a bad day or a flower that represents something beautiful like strength gained from a grandmother,” said Girard. She works at LifeCare one day a week and also works with patients at IU Health Neuroscience Center.

“With neurology patients, I see a lot of people with traumatic brain injuries, and patients treated for strokes and disorders of the central nervous system such as Parkinson’s disease,” said Girard, who also works with art therapist Ashley Hildebrandt. One of the projects created by their patients was a colorful flower mural displayed in the Neuroscience Center.

“Each person was given squares to paint and we put them all together. It created such great energy,” said Girard. Other flower murals represent specific neurological diagnoses.

At LifeCare, Girard checks in with patients and meets with them to help process their feelings through abstract art. “With HIV there is often a stigma and art helps clients express their feelings. It empowers them to tell their story,” said Girard.

Married to Chuck Girard, Maggie is the mother to two sons and a daughter. Her interest in art began at a young age. She remembers her mother encouraging her art with lessons, coloring contests, and supplies.

A graduate of North Central High School, she obtained her undergraduate degree in art and English from Hope College in Michigan.

She was working in AIDS Hospice care in Washington, DC when Girard met an art therapist.

“The more I learned about it, the more I felt there were a lot of my interests in one spot,” said Girard. She obtained her art therapy degree in 2010 and worked in mental health, school-based and private practice before coming to IU Health.

“When I was working in hospice care, with the patient’s permission, I spent time drawing their portraits. For me that was part of the healing process,” said Girard. “I see how powerful art is. It provides that space to explore and express feelings.”

Have you ever felt like you had a guardian angel at your bedside?

“On the night of September 12, my sweet Ruthie Marie’s birthday, I had a Guardian Angel by my side, and her name was Cassidy. Ironically enough, my name is also Cassidy, and God put her as my nurse for a reason,” says Cassidy Gross, RN.

A nurse on the IU Health Bloomington Acuity Adaptable unit, Gross is used to caring for others. But she’s thankful this fellow nurse was there on that chilly fall day to help when everything started going wrong.

The birth was “near perfect,” in Gross’s words. Then, she was moved into her postpartum room and introduced to Cassidy Barton, RN.

“I knew there was something special about this nurse,” says Gross. “Cassidy was attentive and compassionate as she walked me through my earliest hours of motherhood.”

Then, around midnight, the new mother had a postpartum hemorrhage.

Within seconds, a team was there with Barton and a midwife at the helm. Gross says that teamwork saved her life.

“Cassidy never left my side and acted on this critical situation like she had done it hundreds of times,” the new mother says.

It wasn’t until later she found out this was Barton’s first postpartum hemorrhage.

Barton says, “When the medical emergency occurred, I was honestly scared. It was my first experience dealing with this particular medical emergency. I knew what I needed to do and did what was best for my patient, and her outcome was the best outcome she could have had.”

“As a clinical advisor, I was so proud of her for stepping up to the plate and not letting any of her anxiety and fear show through,” says Gross.

“I hope this encourages other nurses to trust their gut and lean on their education,” continues Barton. “I also hope it shows that some of the scariest moments we walk through as nurses have a purpose, and God has a plan.”

After the scare, Barton would come in for frequent checks with a smiling face and a willingness to help with anything the family needed—including holding the new baby to give the new, sleep-deprived parents a bit of a break.

Their nurse also made sure to come by on their last day in the hospital, even though she was off the clock.

“I wanted to check in on them and make sure that they knew that they, along with their sweet baby girl, were loved and cared for,” explains Barton.

“Cassidy, thank you for your compassionate care,” says Gross. “Although my birth plan definitely didn’t go to plan, I feel that you played a huge part in making me feel safe.”

The experience compelled Gross to nominate Barton for the DAISY Award, and she was excited to be at the surprise award presentation earlier this January alongside Barton’s parents, who traveled from Alabama to be there.

Happy National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Week to all our nurse anesthetists across the IU Health system. “Their expertise, skill, and commitment to ensuring patient safety make them an indispensable part of our healthcare team,” said Stayce Woodburn, IU Health Physicians advanced practice officer. “Please join me this week in celebrating and honoring our CRNAs.”

David Squier lives alone and doesn’t have much, if any interaction with other people throughout the week. His primary care physician, recognizing David’s social isolation, asked IU Health’s congregational care network to help him find a friend.

Lisa Smith is the secretary for the post anesthesia care unit at Methodist Hospital. It’s her job to support the team that cares for patients who are just coming out of the operating room. “The most rewarding part for me is just making sure I make a difference for the staff and making sure that we have the things on our unit to function and recover the patients as we should be able to.”

As the new downtown hospital project moves forward, design teams are now soliciting input from clinical team members about how best to lay out patient rooms. “This is such a massive project and everyone has their thumbprint on it,” said Matt Siregar, University Hospital’s transplant unit manager. “For someone like me, who works inpatient and is just a small part of this very large organization, to be able to have our voice heard and make significant changes to the workflow of the room has been extremely impactful.”