May 2018

Farewell to Patti Ellish

In 2000, St. Tammany Parish Hospital Board of Commissioners selected as its new chief executive a young but experienced nurse with a passion for patients. That leader was Patti Ellish FACHE, who is retiring later this year after 18 years at the helm of St. Tammany's largest hospital. 

Ellish transformed what was then a small community hospital into the thriving medical center it represents today. A nationally recognized hospital for safety, quality and patient experience, STPH bears measurable results of her influence including kudos from US News & World Report, CareChex, Healthgrades, Leapfrog, Women's Choice, The Joint Commission and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

A native New Orleanian with nursing, bachelor's and master's of health administration degrees, Ellish began her career in healthcare at West Jefferson Hospital in 1974, rising to director of nursing by 1996. She left West Jefferson to become vice president and chief operating officer for the Memorial Health System of East Texas where she led significant growth and improvement before joining St. Tammany Parish Hospital as CEO in 2000. 

Her time here is marked with significant achievements for the hospital and St. Tammany Hospital Foundation, and her leadership in the past 18 years now sets the next leader of St. Tammany Parish Hospital on firm footing for success into the hospital's next phase delivering on the promise: world-class healthcare, close to home. 

Read more about Patti's impact at STPH and the legacy she will leave here.
New to the Foundation!


Doug Walker joined our team in March of 2018. 

Doug is responsible for executing an annual support program, including major gifts, donor stewardship, third-party events and an employee campaign.

View our team and find out how to contact Doug here.
Your Chance to WIN $10,000 Cash and the 2018 
Raising the Roof for Charity Raffle House!

St. Tammany Hospital Foundation is proud to participate as a charity partner in the Northshore Home Builders Association's 2018 Raising the Roof for Charity Raffle House. 

This year's home, built by Blake Mendheim of 110 Builders Inc., is a four-bedroom two-bath valued at $415,000. 

Click here to view photos of the Raffle House.

Don't miss your chance to win $10,000 CASH on Sunday, May 20 or the grand drawing for the home on Saturday, June 2. ( Please Note: Winning a cash drawing does not affect your chances of winning the house.)

Purchase your ticket in support of St. Tammany Hospital Foundation online at  raisingtherooffoundation.org/STHF or at one of our ticket outlet locations. 

For a listing of outlets and more information, visit  sthfoundation.org/RaisingtheRoof or call 985-898-4141. 
THANK YOU for Supporting STHF this Spring!

The foundation had a busy start to 2018 with Gurney Games and the seventh annual Get Lucky! Golf Tournament both held this spring. 

Racing for Gurney Glory...

Ten teams and more than 300 spectators came together for the 2018 Gurney Games presented by fl+WB Architects on Sunday, March 25 at the Covington Trailhead. 

Teams paraded down the street to earn awards for Best Gurney Decor and Best Judges' Bribe and raced in tandem against other gurney teams for fastest time. 

Covington Mayor Mike Cooper,  Dave Bruce of WYLK Lake 94.7,  Ashley Rodrigue of the Lou isiana State Fire Marshal's Office and Kieran Weldon of fl+WB Architects served as judges.

Thank you to the sponsors, participants, volunteers and in-kind donors who made this event a success, raising more than $12,000 in support of the foundation.

See more pictures from this year's Gurney Games here

Lots of Luck on the Course...

The seventh annual Get Lucky! Golf Tournament sponsored by Refreshment Solutions was held on Thursday, April 19 at Money Hill Golf Course in Abita Springs. 

24 teams participated in this year's event, which featured food, beverage, gifts and prizes for the golfers. 

Congratulations to our winners:
1st Place - Honda of Covington
2nd Place - Bradley Murchison Kelly & Shea
3rd Place - Horne, LLP

The tournament raised more than $45,000 in support of the foundation. Thank you to all sponsors, participants, volunteers and in-kind donors for your support. 

See photos from the tournament here

For more information on our special events, contact Melanie Rudolph at 985-898-4141.
A Brilliance of Hope

The Healing Arts Initative's Spring 2018 installation of it's Rotating Gallery Series "ABrilliant Hope" was on display at St. Tammany Parish Hospital from Feb. 20 to Apr. 9. 
Ten local artists displayed their work along the hallways for this exhibit, each of whom also donated a piece to the foundation's permanent collection.

A sincere thank you to the Healing Arts committee members and STPH staff who assisted with this exhibit, as well as to the artists: Dawn Harris Brown, John Fridge, Michelle Gibbs, Cindi Guillot, Marcia Holmes, Denise Hopkins, Christine Pappion, Michael Paul Pizzella, Abby Sands and Bill Stewart. 

For more information on the Healing Arts Initative, visit sthfoundation.org/healingarts or email healingarts@stph.org
Three Faces of Giving

A Patient Gives Back

Dick Kelley used to drive past St. Tammany Parish Hospital six or eight times a day. The now 79-year-old retiree and Covington resident admits in those days he didn't even notice the hospital. 

"I didn't even notice the hospital much until I needed it, and since then I certainly have," Kelley said. "That's the thing about community services like fire departments, police protection and hospitals, you don't want to need them, but they are always there for you when you do."

The New Orleans native has since become a longtime donor and a member of the St. Tammany Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. 

Connected to Her Community

Amy Gowland is in the business of helping employees learn and grow. The STPH human resources department head gives to STH Foundation through payroll deduction. The focus of her giving? Helping her fellow employees. 

Gowland directs donations to STH Foundation's Learning Together Fund, which has supported everything from employee educational fairs and school at work programs to more trainings to enhance the services offered at STPH. 

"It's a way to invest in personal growth and professional development that supports the hospital's mission," Gowland said. 

A Passion for Art's Healing Power

Jean-Marie Desrosiers is passionate about the power of art to heal. 

That passion intersects with charitable giving and volunteer work that extends from his native Haiti to the Northshore, where he supports and volunteers for STH Foundation's Healing Arts Initative and the St. Tammany Hospital Guild. 

About five years ago, the retired telecommunications director and his wife Artlette Delcham MD, began Helping Hands Gallery, a virtual gallery that features work by regional artists. The couple directs their share of proceeds from Helping Hands Gallery art sales to STH Foundation and other nonprofits. 

"I can't explain the gratification I get from helping another human being," Desrosiers said. "It's powerful to be able to make a difference in the life of even one person."

For their full stories, view the latest issue of Heart to Heart here

Save the Dates!

THE Gala benefitting St. Tammany Cancer Center

Join us for a magical evening of music, dancing, the finest spirits and delicious delicacies. We have several surprises up our sleeves for THE Gala, which is sure to become the talk of the town. Stay tuned for more information. 

Monster Mash 30th Anniversary!

Mark your calendars for the 30th anniversay of the community-beloved family festival Monster Mash presented by Metairie Bank Northshore

Join us on Saturday, October 20 at Bogue Falaya Park for a fun-filled day of trick-or-treating, entertainment, crafts and games and the exclusive, reservations-only Princess & Pirate Tea. 

Proceeds from Monster Mash benefit the STPH Parenting Center whose mission is to promote competence and confidence in parenting, promote optimal child development and enhance the well-being of the family as a whole.

For more information, visit stph.org/MonsterMash or call 985-898-4435. 
Charo Arnold, Mandeville mom and neonatal nurse, was 16-weeks pregnant with Mila Grace when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Our multidisciplinary team of specialists delivered the best possible outcomes: Charo is cancer-free thanks to treatment before and after the birth of her daughter. Having your breast cancer treatment close to home can make all the difference. 

We offer the highest quality care right here in Covington, from our breast-fellowship trained radiologists and NAPBC accrediation to our multidisciplinary team approach including breast surgery, STPH delivers top tanked breast cancer care close to home.

Visit stph.org/BreastCancer for more information.