VIA CHRISTI MOUNT CARMEL FOUNDATION

The John U Parolo Trust has pledged $3.1 million to the Via Christi Mount Carmel Foundation. The grant will be used for associate scholarships, physician loan reimbursement, medical staff leadership education and continuing education for staff in multiple areas across the hospital. The Trust is dedicated to impacting individuals who will be serving the SEK community throughout their careers in healthcare. 

Pictured above: Kandus Foister is using grant money to achieve her RRT-ACCS credentials (Registered Respiratory Therapist Adult Critical Care Specialist) and Chealsey Chealsey is a house supervisor and ICU RN taking her CCRN for critical care. 

“Code Blue Education provided didactic and hands-on training for nurses throughout the hospital including ICU, Med/Surg, ARU, and ER.  This training has been requested by nurses and medical staff and will be integral in helping staff be prepared for different situations and to help save more lives.” - Jessica Cobb, Critical Care & Emergency Department Nursing Manager.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS: 

We are excited to announce scholarship recipients for the John U. Parolo Education Trust. The recipients work in departments across the hospital including medical/surgical, emergency department, and respiratory therapy. They work to take care of all patients and provide exceptional care. 

Recipient: Hannah Reed 

Hannah Reed is a Respiratory Care Intern at Ascension Via Christi in Pittsburg, KS. She is currently in her second year of the Respiratory Care program at Missouri Southern State University. She is also a Student Liaison for the Missouri Society for Respiratory Care and a student member of the mentoring program for the AARC House of Delegates. 

“I grew up in Broken Arrow, OK and ventured north to Kansas after High School to play softball in college. After spending a few years in school, I decided to pursue Respiratory Therapy. I had always known that I wanted to work in healthcare and I especially saw the need for Respiratory Therapists throughout the pandemic. I am excited to see how the field will continue to grow throughout my career and the ability I will have to help people and make a difference in their lives.”

RECIPIENT: Dalana Panier

Dalana is currently a senior at Missouri Southern State University and this will be her final year in the respiratory therapy program. She will graduate in May of 2022 with a bachelors in health sciences along with an associates in respiratory therapy. Upon graduation, Dalana plans to focus her studies in pediatrics.
 
“While being employed at Ascension Via Christi, as a student respiratory therapy assistant, I have had the opportunity to work with a well-rounded group of respiratory therapists and have gained a great deal of knowledge that will not only help me as I finish my schooling but also assist me in my future endeavors. 
I look forward to continuing to give back to the community once I graduate from the program and I begin my career as a registered respiratory therapist.”

RECIPIENT: MariKate Parsons

MariKate Parsons was born and raised in Pittsburg, KS. She graduated from Frontenac High School in 2017. MariKate is a recent graduate from Pittsburg State University with a major in Bachelor’s of Nursing. She was on the dance team in high school and also on the Pitt State Dance Team. MariKate has always dreamed of being a nurse, as her mother is a nurse. She graduated from Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing in May of 2021 and is now working as an RN on the Medical/Surgical floor at Ascension Via Christi in Pittsburg.
“I am very excited to start my career as a Registered Nurse at Ascension Via Christi In Pittsburg, KS. Your donation will help me graciously towards my student loans that I have accumulated over the last four years of working and studying to reach my goals of becoming a nurse. I strive to continue my education further and work towards becoming a Nurse Practitioner, and continue to help others in my work.”

RECIPIENT: Paige Shaw

Paige Shaw graduated with her BSN from Pittsburg State University, with plans to work as a nurse on the medical/surgical unit at Ascension Via Christi. She grew up in Liberal, MO and has been working at Ascension Via Christi as a nursing assistant for three years while going to PSU. Paige is excited to be taking on a new role in the hospital. She is following in the footsteps of her father who began his nursing career in the same hospital when it was Mt. Carmel. Her inspiration to become a nurse was not only her father who works in healthcare, but her mother who works as a school counselor. Watching both of her parents work as servants dedicated to helping others made nursing an easy career choice for Paige. She is incredibly grateful to have been chosen as a recipient of this scholarship, and hopes to pay it forward by providing excellent care for those in our community.
 
“I was ecstatic to learn that I was a recipient of the scholarship to support healthcare education. I am writing to say thank you for the generosity and financial support as I work towards being a part of providing care to our community. This truly is such a blessing, and I hope to pay it forward in the future by providing excellent care to our community as I begin my career as a nurse.”