KALAMAZOO MI–He teaches and is on the board of the Episcopal University of Haiti, a four-year baccalaureate School of Nursing, and repeatedly visits Haiti to serve the poor and vulnerable. He has been a champion of nurses at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital for the past four decades. He started the Cass County Free Health Clinic to help the area’s 6,000 uninsured residents. After “retiring” in 2011, he now serves as hospitalist, as well as Chief of Staff and Chief of Medicine at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital.
James L. Wierman, DO, FACP, will be recognized with the 2012 Borgess Lamplighter Award at the Sixth-Annual Friends of Borgess Nursing Endowment Fund Awards Dinner, May 9 at Western Michigan University’s Fetzer Center.
Living the Borgess reputation locally and internationally.
“Dr. Wierman extends his professional light to nursing, the community and around the globe,” said Joy Strand, Administrator and Chief Operating Officer, Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital. “He lives the Borgess reputation and the world is a better place because of his devotion.”
Dr. Wierman has partnered with our nursing staff to improve patient care, according to Katie Brick, Chief Nursing Officer, Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital.
“Partnerships resulted in the development of nursing-driven protocols and evidence-based practice policies and procedures,” said Brick. “He is a patient, respectful, supportive teacher to nurses. He takes time to explain concepts.
“For instance, Dr. Wierman shows nurses how to look-up evidenced-based practice information,” Brick said. “He views all communication as an educational opportunity, volunteering to provide in-services to nurses on many concepts and topics. This passion for teaching and working with nurses takes place at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, as well as at his adopted school of nursing in Haiti, where he teaches and served on their board.”
On his honeymoon, Dr. Wierman went to Haiti for the first time, according to Sue McCormick, Director, Administrative Services, Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital & Foundation. “They ended up living there for a year helping those in need.”
When the earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, Dr. Wierman and a team of medical providers immediately mobilized to offer medical assistance, according to McCormick.
“He even helped nine young Haitians receive advanced care in America as ‘humanitarian parolees.’”
“Dr. Wierman’s caring, thoughtful assistance to others is a wonderful example of our mission and values,” said Paul Spaude, President and Chief Executive Officer, Borgess Health. “We are honored to recognize his many, many contributions.”
About The Sixth-Annual Friends of Borgess Nursing Celebration
The Sixth-Annual Friends of Borgess Nursing (FOBN) celebration will again recognize and honor outstanding Borgess nurses and continue to enhance their healing mission through a special endowment fund.
Silent Auction, April 25 and Awards Dinner, May 9
The FOBN celebration actually consists of two major events. The first event is a silent auction held from 8 am to 5 pm, Wednesday, April 25, 2012 in the Borgess Medical Center cafeteria and at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital. At this auction, bidding will take place on more than 20 gift baskets containing several valuable gifts and gift certificates from area businesses.
The second and main event is the awards dinner to be held Wednesday, May 9, at the Fetzer Center, Western Michigan University. The awards dinner begins at 5 pm with refreshments, followed by dinner at 6 pm. Beginning at 7 pm, the awards ceremony will pay tribute to Dr. James Wierman with the Lamplighter Award. Tickets for the awards dinner, which includes entertainment, are $75 per person.
Funds raised through both of these events will go to the FOBN Endowment Fund. The funds will be used to continue to recognize nursing excellence at Borgess and to support future nursing education and scholarship. It is a wonderful way to help Borgess Healers continue to provide outstanding care.
“The Friends of Borgess Nursing Endowment Fund was established in 2006 to support nursing education, research and certification,” said Tony McDonnell, Chief Development Officer, Borgess Foundation. “Every year, our nurses enhance and redefine their critical role within the medical profession. We salute this year’s recipients, and wish them continued success in all of their professional and personal endeavors.”
Along with awards, the fund also distributes grants to assist with specialty nursing certification or certification renewal.
Proceeds from last year’s sponsorships, silent auction and dinner reservations exceeded $41,000. So far, $157,000 has been raised toward the overall endowment goal of $250,000.
For reservations, call (269) 226.8100 or go to foundation.borgess.com.
About Borgess Health
Borgess Health is a health system that offers high quality care in such areas as cardiovascular, neurosciences, orthopedics, vascular surgery, women’s health, primary care, emergency medicine, bariatrics, imaging, and long-term acute care. Borgess Health includes Borgess Medical Center, Borgess-Pipp Hospital, Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, Borgess at Woodbridge Hills, Borgess VNA Home Care and Borgess Hospice, the Borgess Health & Fitness Center, Borgess Gardens and many additional owned or affiliated services. The 122-year-old health ministry serves residents of 10 counties. It is one of the area’s largest health care providers and is also one of the largest employers. Borgess Health is a member of Ascension Health, the largest nonprofit health system in America. For more information, visit www.borgess.com.
DOWAGIAC, MI-When detected early, breast cancer is often more easily treated and women live longer. With this in mind, the Lee Memorial Foundation announces a new community fundraising campaign called the Borgess Tree of Love.
When detected early, breast cancer is often more easily treated and women live longer. The Borgess Foundation urges the community to support its annual Tree of Love campaign to help women in need receive lifesaving mammograms.
With 29 teams and 47 sponsors, the 20th-Annual Borgess Golf for Health on July 18 surpassed its fundraising goal by garnering nearly $31,000 to help fund acquisition of new equipment and technology for Borgess Medical Center’s surgical services department.
