For the third time in four award years, the N. F. Leifer Memorial Journalism Award was presented to Eau Claire Energy Cooperative’s Mary Kay Brevig, manager – communications & public Relations, by the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association recently in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The Co-op’s monthly magazine was judged consistently as the best of the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative News editors for 2016-2017. Brevig serves as editor for the local magazine pages and was also presented the award in 2013 and 2015. The Leifer award is given annually to the cooperative selected by an independent judge as having created the magazine’s best local co-op pages during the prior year.
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County Materials congratulates Shawano Lawn and Stone of Shawano, Wis., PICS Inc. of Rhinelander, Wis., and TMS Landscapes Inc. of Muskego Wis., for receiving recognition in the 10th Annual Hardscape North America (HNA) Awards. Hosted by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), the awards program recognizes the best-of-the-best projects in the industry by contractors building residential and commercial walkways, patios, driveways, and commercial plaza, parking lots, streets and more. The competition pits hardscape projects from across North America against each other for top honors. This year judges select projects from a pool of a record 149 entries for their design, construction challenges and site integration. Three projects utilizing materials manufactured by County Materials were selected as top in the nation.

HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals welcomed Layton Anderson to the role of chief human resources officer for both hospitals. Anderson has more than 25 years of health care experience in areas of strategic planning and implementation, development of leaders, improving engagement scores, and collaborating with physicians and colleagues. Anderson most recently served as vice president of hospital operations and outpatient services for Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. Prior to his 16 years there, he served as human resources director for Riverview Healthcare Association in Crookston, MN, and prior to that, at Villa St. Vincent, a senior living campus, also in Crookston.

Michael San Juan, a registered nurse in HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital’s cardiology department, recently earned his Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) accreditation. This certification is a credential granted by AACN Certification Corporation that validates a nurse’s knowledge of nursing care of acutely ill adult patients. PCCN certification promotes continuing excellence in progressive care nursing.
Country Jam USA recently announced the first wave of its 2018 line up confirmed to perform at the three-day country music festival. Performers include: Blake Shelton, Dustin Lynch, Justin Moore, Clay Walker, Tracy Lawrence, Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye and Sammy Kershaw. Additional acts will be announced at a later date.

Marco, a technology services provider, announced it has purchased BusinessWare Solutions, an IT services and managed print company headquartered in Hutchinson, Minnesota. They also have locations in Owatonna, Willmar and Chanhassen. BusinessWare Solutions has been providing its clients with technology solutions since 1994. Its employees have joined the Marco team and will be serving clients from each of the existing markets. Marco has 1,140 employees and serves more than 32,500 customers from its 49 locations throughout the Midwest and nationally.  

SEEK Careers/Staffing, Inc. recently announced its partnership with the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC), based in Milwaukee. SEEK will be working together with HWCC to promote employment within the Hmong community. The Hmong Chamber of Commerce provides financial and technical support for Hmong and Southeast Asian entrepreneurs desiring to build their own businesses in order to improve the economy in low-income areas. The Chamber also supports the community through business workshops, events, and one-on-one assistance. Through their partnership and combined networks, SEEK and the HWCC will expand their abilities to support the business and employment needs of their communities.

Winners of the 2017 eHealthcare Leadership Awards were recently announced at the Healthcare Internet Conference in Austin, Texas, and mayoclinichealthsystem.org twice received the highest level of recognition possible. The website received Platinum Awards for Best Overall Internet Site and Best Healthcare Content in the Healthcare System class. The site also received a Gold Award for Best Doctor Directory, a category where there were no Platinum Award winners. This is the first time Mayo Clinic Health System has received Platinum eHealthcare Leadership Award recognition. The eHealthcare Leadership Awards recognize outstanding health care websites and digital communications targeted towards consumers and health care professionals.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire has been re-verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the Verification Review Committee, which is an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons. After a rigorous on-site review, the American College of Surgeons commended Mayo Clinic Health System for its demonstrated commitment to provide superior trauma care for injured patients. To maintain verification, a review is required every three years. Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire became a Level II Trauma Center in February 1998. It was the first recognized Level II Trauma Center in the state and is the only one in northwest Wisconsin. Statewide, only 12 trauma centers are verified by the American College of Surgeons among all levels. 

​Azza Ahmed, M.B.B.S., recently joined the Hospital Medicine Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Ahmed completed medical school at the University of Khartoum College of Medicine in Sudan. She completed an internal medicine residency at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan. Ahmed is certified in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. She is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Heart Association.

Cardiologist Ismail Tabash, M.D., recently joined the Cardiac Center at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Tabash earned his medical degree from Al-Quds University on the West Bank in Palestine. He completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He completed a cardiology fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia – Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia. Tabash is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology and National Board of Echocardiography. He is certified in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of Echocardiography and Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.
 

Thank you to the sponsors, volunteers and committee members who made the spring Real Life Academy a success. We had more than 330 students from Altoona, Augusta, Fall Creek, McKinley Memorial, North and Regis high schools participate in the event on Wednesday, November 15 and experienced a day of "real life." 

Committee Members: 
Andie Auna, Mary Kay Brevig, Chris Brooke, Kristin Craker, Theresa Curtis, Eve Fischer, Kelly Hebert, Monte Lokken, Marsha Mohnsen,  Andy Neborak, Kelly Ostrander, Amanda Parkinson, Janelle Patenaude, Drew Seveland, Kim Shult, Adam Sommers,  Phil Swiler, Jon Sylte,  Melissa Wait, Jennifer Wampler, Greg Weaver,  Debbie Wentzel, Nicole Wilson

Major Sponsor:

Other Sponsors:
Associated Bank
Baker Tilly Virchow Krause
CCFBank
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Courtesy Corporation-McDonald's
Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce
Eau Claire Area School District
Eau Claire Auto Group
Eau Claire Energy Cooperative
Eau Claire Police Department
Global Finishing Solutions
Hand in Hand: A Place For All Children
Insurance Associates of Eau Claire, Inc.
Loffler Companies
Marshfield Clinic Health System
Mega! CO-OP
Oakwood Hills Animal Hospital 
Old National Bank
Peoples Bank Midwest 
Radial
River Prairie Wealth Partners
Royal Credit Union
Sam's Club
United Bank
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Walmart - Eau Claire
Weld Riley, S.C.
WESTconsin Credit Union 
Wisconsin National Guard
​Xcel Energy
YMCA

​L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls was welcomed as the newest member of the Hazelden Betty Ford Patient Care Network. The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation launched its Patient Care Network, the first of its kind in the addiction treatment industry, this fall. Members gain access to tools, resources and collaborative consultation for their organization’s leadership, staff, patients, families and communities. This is especially timely as the nation’s opioid crisis places added pressures on individuals, families and communities.

At the 4th Annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin’s Gala, the John Kell “Making a Difference Award” was given to Jon Strand, Fall Creek School District, for his advocacy and his annual fundraising efforts at Bowl for Kids’ Sake. Action City/Chaos Waterpark won Best Big Benefit, an award it received four years in a row for exceptional partnership. The Big of the Year Award went to Gloria Crossman, a former educator, who has facilitated amazing growth for her Little Sister in their six-year mentoring relationship.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire will relocate pharmacy services from 325 E. Madison St. to the Luther Campus pharmacy at 1400 Bellinger St. effective Dec. 1.The Madison Street location will continue to offer home medical supplies Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until transferring those services to the Luther Campus in the third quarter of 2018. Mayo Clinic Store Respiratory Services will continue to operate at the Luther Campus. In addition to the Luther Campus location, Mayo Clinic Health System will continue to offer pharmacy services at 733 W. Clairemont Ave. in Eau Claire.

Physician assistant Jesse Quinn recently joined the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Quinn has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Lawrence University in Appleton and a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. He also received a master’s degree in science education from Pace University in New York City. Prior to joining Mayo Clinic Health System, he was a general science and biology teacher in New York City and maintained licensure as an EMT.
 

Eau Claire Energy Cooperative announced the promotion of Monica Obrycki to the position of chief administrative officer.  Since joining ECEC in January of 2013, Obryicki has been a member of the management team. This is a new position within the cooperative. Obrycki holds an associate’s degree from St. Cloud Technical College and is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business administration through Lakeland University.
 
A new agreement between Chippewa Valley Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire facilitates credit transfers from CVTC to UW-Eau Claire, allowing CVTC graduates of the Nursing-Associate Degree program to complete their BSN degree with as few as 35 additional credits from UW-Eau Claire. With an associate degree in nursing from CVTC, a student can earn a registered nurse (RN) license by passing the board exam. While some transfer to UW-Eau Claire or another university to complete a BSN immediately, others begin working as nurses and complete their BSN part-time. The agreement specifies which CVTC courses a student should take to meet specific UW-Eau Claire requirements, combining online courses with on-campus courses. This includes not only nursing program classes, but many general education classes required as part of a bachelor’s degree.

Prevea Health is pleased to now offer Ideal Weigh at the Prevea Chippewa Falls Health Center. Ideal Weigh is a medically-supervised weight loss program that includes a diet low in carbohydrates and rich in healthy proteins. Under the guidance of Prevea internal medicine physician, Dr. Victoria Vande Zande, the Ideal Weigh program uses Ideal Protein products; includes weekly weight checks, blood pressure, BMI and body measurement analysis; provides education to help you maintain results; and offers one-on-one personalized weight loss coaching.
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Deepti Jacob, M.D., recently joined the Gastroenterology Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Jacob completed medical school at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She completed residencies in internal medicine and gastroenterology at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. She completed a fellowship in gastrointestinal motility at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus. Jacob is board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and board-eligible in gastroenterology. She is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada. She is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and American Medical Association.

Nurse practitioner Maria Spadaro recently joined the Emergency Medicine Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Spadaro received a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Towson University in Towson, Maryland and a master’s degree as a nurse practitioner in adult-gerontology acute care at the University of California-San Francisco. She completed an emergency medicine fellowship as a nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus. She is a member of the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the Emergency Nurses Association.