Dear Colleagues,
One of the great privileges of my role as executive vice chancellor for health affairs is the opportunity to spend time with the teams who bring our mission to life every day.
This past July, system chief nurse executive Shanon Fucik, RN, and I joined director of nursing Justine White, RN, on the Tier 1 Cardiovascular Huddle. The huddle was co-led by nurse manager Michelle Shelkey, RN, and nurse educator Sam Phillips, RN, whose preparation and collaboration were immediately clear.
The Tier 1 Cardiovascular team poses for a photo. Shanon Fucik, RN, Justine White, RN, and I are standing on the far right.
During our visit, I learned more about the unique role the 4 East unit of University Hospital plays in our organization. The 29-bed unit serves patients from four specialties: cardiology, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery and cardiothoracic surgery. When capacity allows, the team also serves patients from other units, demonstrating the teamwork and flexibility of our organization.
Highlights of the Huddle
The huddle itself was a masterclass in operational and clinical excellence. The team reviewed equipment, supplies and staffing. They discussed patients with Foley catheters and shared situational awareness updates on individuals requiring special attention.
A high point was the falls update. The unit proudly reported zero patient falls over the last three months — an accomplishment that shows genuine commitment to patient safety.
Recognition was another important part of the huddle, and there was no shortage of individuals to celebrate. Team members recognized for their outstanding work included:
- Clinical care team associate Pearl Gilchrist
- Clinical care team associate Makayla Anderson
- Nurse educator Sam Phillips, RN
- Staff nurse Sam Reznicek, RN
- Staff nurse Estrella Rodriguez, RN
- Staff nurse Adriona White, RN
- Staff nurse Emily Freidank, RN
- Staff nurse Garrett Hite, RN
Showcasing the team’s culture was a special section of the huddle board devoted to team birthdays. I hope staff nurse Emily Gibler, RN, clinical care team associate Sabrina Drew and staff nurse Payton Erickson, RN, enjoyed their birthdays!
A Full-Circle Moment
Perhaps the most meaningful moment of the visit came during a conversation with staff nurse Christian Birtell, RN. Christian has been a registered nurse on 4 East for the past year and a half since graduating from the Sinclair School of Nursing, but his connection to the unit goes back much further.
Christian has worked on 4 East since 2020, when he was a freshman, and I had also freshly arrived at Mizzou. He took the initiative to introduce himself, share his background — from Chicago, the son of a nurse anesthetist — and talk about his career aspirations.
Seeing him now, as a professional nurse caring for patients and building his career at MU Health Care, is a wonderful reminder of the importance of talent development.
It’s always a pleasure to see leaders come together to engage our teams and advance our mission to save and improve lives.
Sincerely,
Rick Barohn, MD
Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Hugh E. and Sarah D. Stephenson Dean, School of Medicine
rbarohn@health.missouri.edu
