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For the Babies Gala
Save the Date! Thursday, May 17
6:00-10:00PM
The Villa, Mountain Lakes, NJ
To Benefit The Lake Drive Sound Start Program
For Babies Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Honorary Chair-Angela Kubisky
Executive Vice President, Membership and Marketing at Morris County Chamber of Commerce
Keynote Speaker – Sue Thomas, "F.B. Eye"
Former Undercover F.B.I. Agent, Writer, Speaker, and Trainer of Special Skills Dogs for Hearing Impaired Individuals
Honoree – Dr. Laura Crawford, Au.D. FAAA CCC/A
Program Director of MidAtlantic Newborn and Infant Medical Services (MANIMS), Providing Newborn Hearing Screening for 10,000 babies a year at St. Clare's Hospital, Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, and Chilton Hospital.
About Keynote Speaker, Sue Thomas
Sue Thomas Photo with her dog Katie
Through speech therapy Sue developed her voice. She also became an expert lip reader. At the age of seven, Thomas became the youngest Ohio State Champion free-style skater in skating history. She learned to play piano, attended public school and graduated from Springfield College with a degree in Political Science and International Affairs.
After college, Sue heard that the FBI was looking for deaf people. She started out as a fingerprint examiner, but when an FBI agent discovered her lip reading ability, she became a key member of an undercover surveillance team.
In 1990 Sue Thomas wrote her autobiography entitled Silent Night. The acclaimed book became the basis for the TV series to follow. Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye was watched by more than 2.5 million viewers in the United States and was syndicated to 60 nations. The weekly drama helped raise awareness of the abilities of those with physical challenges.
In spite of being diagnosed in 2001 with multiple sclerosis, Sue remains active as a compelling speaker and runs a nonprofit center in Vermont to train special skill dogs like “Katie” to assist hearing impaired individuals.
About our Honoree, Dr. Laura Crawford
As Program Director of MidAtlantic Newborn and Infant Medical Services (MANIMS), Dr. Crawford oversees newborn hearing screening for nearly 10,000 babies a year in four major hospitals, Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, St. Clare’s Hospital and Chilton Hospital. Dr. Crawford is responsible for the program’s development, implementation, daily oversight, clinical research and annual conference, Current Topics in Congenital Hearing Loss.
Under her leadership, MANIMS’s model is a leading program in the state in identifying and tracking the follow up of newborns with hearing loss. Statewide, 56.7% of babies who do not pass their newborn hearing screening rates are lost to follow up. Dr. Crawford’s team ensures that every infant receives testing, and rescreening when necessary, prior to discharge. Fewer than 0.1% of infants are lost to discharge.
With future plans to publish results MANIMS strives to contribute to the success of newborn hearing screening programs both nationally and internationally.
In New Jersey, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening was mandated effective in January 2002. Dr. Crawford reflects how Newborn Hearing Screening has given babies with hearing loss a sound start for successful futures.
"I will never forget the first time I had to tell a parent that their child had a significant hearing loss. The child was a little boy age 3 who had bright blue eyes. I gave him some crayons and paper and sat down with mom as she cried. You can imagine the feeling of loss for her “perfect” little boy but what she cried the most over was how guilty she felt that she had missed it, not seen the signs, was not there for him. She expressed how she should have done something sooner and blamed herself not only for the hearing loss but the delay. She was distraught over the fact that she constantly yelled at him for not listening or following directions.
Unfortunately this scenario played out too often. The advent of universal newborn hearing screening could never take away feelings of loss, anger, denial and heartache a parent feels when they find out that something is wrong with their child. With counseling and education however the feelings are replaced with hope, assurance and confidence in the success of their child. Universal newborn hearing screening took away the most important aspects of a new diagnosis, shock, regret and guilt.
I have been extremely fortunate in my career to see the changes that early diagnosis and early intervention can make in the lives of children born with hearing loss. I am extremely proud to be cog in this process, one part of a system that finally works.
This award is indeed an honor. The Lake Drive Program is not only one of the most committed programs to excellence in education, but what stands out is their commitment to the children. Just walking through the doors you can sense the genuine concern and love the staff, teachers, directors and administrators all express for the children. It is a privilege to work with them all.” -Dr. Laura Crawford
Lake Drive's Michele Klimovitch and Trish Filiaci Accept the Healthcare Heroes Award
On June 21, 2011 at the Palace in Somerset Park in Somerset, New Jersey, The Lake Drive Programs for Children Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Mountain Lakes, NJ was named winner in the category of Education Hero-Organization, in the 2011 NJBIZ NJ Healthcare Heroes Awards.
The Healthcare Heroes awards program recognizes excellence and innovation and honors individuals and organizations making a significant impact on the quality of healthcare in New Jersey. More than 350 guests attended the annual event to celebrate the finalists and hear the winners announced in each category. Finalists and winners were chosen from more than 100 nominations by an independent panel of judges including: Donald J. Cinotti, MD, Medical Society of NJ; David Knowlton, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute and D.N. Lombardi, Ph.D., USMC®.
The Education category recognizes individuals and organizations making a difference in health education either in the community or the industry. The Lake Drive Programs for Children Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing received the top award in the category for the wide-ranging health and educational services the school provides to hearing impaired children and their families. Lake Drive offers New Jersey’s most comprehensive continuum of educational opportunities for children with hearing loss from birth to high school graduation. The team of specialists includes teachers of the deaf, speech and language pathologists, pediatric audiologists, physical and occupational therapists, clinical social workers, psychologists, and dysphagia experts offering the only eating and drinking skills program in a public school setting in New Jersey.
The award also reflects the emphasis Lake Drive puts on early intervention. Lake Drive’s Sound Start Early Intervention Program is the most intensive in the state, with a full day inclusive program for toddlers 18 months through 3 years old. In Ivy Nursery, toddlers with and without hearing loss learn side by side in a specially created environment to enhance auditory learning. Designed to take full advantage of the developing brain, Ivy Nursery focuses on language, communication and literacy skills, physical health, motor development, social and emotional development, cognitive development, art, music, math, science, family, community and culture. There is a strong family education component to build parenting confidence and provide strategies to reinforce their child’s learning.
Technological advances such as cochlear implants have dramatically changed the way Lake Drive addresses the educational programming for students. “Cochlear implants have revolutionized educational opportunities for children who are deaf, but they are not a miracle cure,” explains Michele Klimovitch, Supervisor of Programs. “It takes intensive therapy, especially in the first three years of life to teach a child how to listen, hear and speak.”
“We provide whatever programming is needed to help prepare our students to lead independent, fulfilling lives,” explains Trish Filiaci, Principal of The Lake Drive Programs.
“Each student has very individualized needs. We tailor our programs to maximize each child’s potential. Over the years we have been able to watch our students develop into adults with meaningful careers and promising futures.”
Graduates have gone into fields including medicine, dentistry, finance, the hi-tech industries, teaching, social work, graphic design. They’ve competed in the World Games, volunteered with Holocaust survivors, and taught sign language in third world countries.
Founded in 1969, Lake Drive has transformed the lives of more than 1,000 students from northern and central New Jersey who are deaf and hard of hearing. While New Jersey’s high school dropout rate is 17%, and the national average for students with hearing loss who do not receive high school diplomas is 50%, Lake Drive’s graduation rate is 100%.
Healthcare Heroes, produced by NJBIZ, New Jersey’s premiere business news publication, is sponsored by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Hackensack University Medical Center, New Jersey Hospital Association, NJTopDocs.com and WithumSmith+Brown, PC.
Finalists were selected in eleven categories: Corporate Achievement, Education Hero-Individual, Education Hero-Organization, Hospital of the Year, Innovation Hero-Individual, Innovation Hero-Organization, Nurse of the Year, Nursing Home/Assisted Living Facility of the Year, Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Center of the Year, Physician of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. (See list of finalists and winners below.)
Other finalists in the Education Organization Category included The Armenian American Health Professionals Organization in Far Hills; Liberty Science Center in Jersey City; Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey – Lutheran Senior LIFE at Jersey City; and The Meridian Health Pawsitive Action Team in Neptune.
For more information about The Lake Drive Programs call 973-299-0166 or visit www.lakedriveprograms.org.
The 2011 Healthcare Heroes Finalists and Winners
*In alphabetical order by category.
Corporate Achievement Hero
AtlantiCare
Hackensack University Medical Center – WINNER
Quick Chek Corporation
Education Hero-Individual
Linnea A. Brown, BA, RN, OCN
AtlantiCare Cancer Care Institute, A Fox Chase Cancer Center Partner
Gary Del Moro – WINNER
Hackensack University Medical Center
Nancy DiLiegro, PhD, FACHE
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Joseph Roth
NJ Sharing Network
Rosanne Tully, RN
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Ilise Zimmerman
Northern New Jersey Maternal / Child Health Consortium
Education Hero-Organization
AAHPO – Armenian American Health Professionals Organization
Liberty Science Center
Lutheran Senior LIFE at Jersey City
The Lake Drive Programs for Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing – WINNER
Meridian Health
Hospital of the Year
Capital Health – WINNER
Jersey City Medical Center
Saint Barnabas Medical Center
South Jersey Healthcare
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Innovation Hero-Individual
David A. Baran, MD
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Jeffrey Brenner, M.D. – WINNER
The Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers and Cooper Hospital
Shabbar F. Danish, MD
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson
Gerard J. Ferro
Free For All, Inc.
Richard P. Miller
Virtua
Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.P.E.
John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center
Innovation Hero-Organization
AtlantiCare Special Care Center
LIFE St. Francis
Summit Medical Group
The Chelsea at East Brunswick
The Senior Emergency Department (SrED) at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, a member of St. Joseph’s Healthcare System – WINNER
The Valley Hospital’s Peek-A-Boo I.C.U. Webcam Service
Nurse of the Year
Maryann Collins
Hackensack University Medical Center
Theresa E. Cope
South Jersey Healthcare
Lillian Dalrymple
The NBN Group/ Newborn Nurses
Rebecca P. Lynn
Lynn Developers LLC & Assisted Living, Inc.
Jenifer McEwan, RN – WINNER
Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center at Monmouth Medical Center
Lydia Stanislaus
Daughters of Israel
Nursing Home/Assisted Living Facility of the Year
Bridgeway Senior Healthcare
Green Hill, Inc – WINNER
Juniper Village at Williamstown Assisted Living and Wellspring Memory Care
Lincoln Park Care Center
St. Vincent’s Nursing Home, a member of St. Joseph’s Healthcare System
The Allendale Community for Mature Living
Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Center of the Year
Adler Aphasia Center – WINNER
Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation
Jerry & Dolores Turco Medical Rehab Center
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway
Physician of the Year
William M. Burke, M.D.
The Valley Hospital
Anthony R. Caputo, M.D.
Clara Maass Medical Center
Frank V. Castello, M.D. – WINNER
Children’s Specialized Hospital
Robert A. Kayal, MD, FAAOS
Kayal Orthopedic Center, PC
Helio F. Pedro, MD
Hackensack University Medical Center
Alexander G. Salerno
Urban Healthcare Initiative Program (UHIP)
Volunteer of the Year
Cavan M. Brunsden, DMD
KidzDent
Ruth Dugan
Gilda’s Club Northern New Jersey
Jessie F. Kukor
Saint Peter’s University Hospital
Gary Lotano
Community Medical Center/Saint Barnabas Health Care System
Erika S. Rech and Michael V. Ruane
Breast Friends Forever
John A. Schmidt, Jr. M.D. – WINNER
John A. Schmidt, Jr. M.D.
On May 2 at the Trump Plaza Hotel, club member Gail Dunlap Reuben of Convent Station and Dr. Laura McKirdy of Mendham, cofounders of The Lake Drive Programs for Children Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Mountain Lakes were awarded the 2011 New Jersey Women of Achievement Award by the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs of GFWC. The award celebrates the significant accomplishments of distinguished women in New Jersey who have demonstrated a strong commitment in leadership, humanitarianism, philanthropy, communy service, the arts, and to professional commitment. Distinguished past honorees include former Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Althea Gibson, Millicent Fenwick and Mary Higgins Clark.
On May 3, the cofounders were also honored at Ramapo College with The Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference which recognizes unsung heroes who have made a significant difference to the well-being of society. Reuben and McKirdy were among eleven finalists selected from more than 200 nominees by The Russell Berrie Foundation’s advisory board of distinguished New Jerseys business leaders and professionals. The Honorable Cory Booker was the event’s keynote speaker, sharing personal stories of how unsung heroes impacted his life enabling him to have the opportunities to become the person he is today. Angelica Berrie presented the awards, founded 15 years ago by her husband. Reuben and McKirdy received $5,000, which they donated to The Lake Drive Foundation for The Sound Start Early Intervention Program.
The Lake Drive Foundation is a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit established by community leaders in 1996 as the fund development arm of The Lake Drive Programs for Children Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Lake Drive offers New Jersey’s most comprehensive continuum of educational opportunities for children with hearing loss from birth to high school graduation. Lake Drive’s Ivy Nursery and Sound Start Early Intervention Program are the major programs supported by the Foundation.
Ivy Nursery and Sound Start provide therapy and educational services to sixty infants and toddlers who are deaf and hard of hearing from throughout northern and central New Jersey each year. Despite research demonstrating the importance and cost efficiency of early intervention for children with hearing loss, New Jersey state funding covers barely one third of the cost of these life changing programs. For more information about The Lake Drive Foundation visit www.lakedrivefoundation.org.
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