Staff Updates

Welcome Mike Fordyce

Michael L. “Mike” Fordyce is no stranger to Craig — and Denny, the Board of Directors, the Foundation Board, and staff are all excited that Mike has agreed to become our new president. Our strong interest in Mike began a number of years ago when he served on the Craig Hospital Board of Directors, including one year as chair. During that time Mike came to love Craig, and his leadership skills were very apparent.

Fordyce has served as chief administrative officer and vice president of human resources during a 21-year career with Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), a national health care company that owns and operates 72 hospitals and 42 long-term care facilities across the country. In Colorado, CHI operates the Centura Health system, the largest family of hospitals and health facilities in the state. Mike understands hospitals, healthcare in Colorado and the U.S., knows the Craig culture through his board experience, and is excited to rejoin the Craig family. We are confident Mike will lead us well into the future.

Mike already has been participating in patient outings (river rafting and Hobie Day), staff meetings, and public events this summer, as he transitions into his new role.

We also welcome Mike’s wife, Terri, and their two children, Betsy and Chris, to the Craig family.

Denny O'Malley steps aside

Dennis “Denny” O’Malley, MHHC, has been Craig Hospital’s president for 34 years, and on October 1 he stepped aside to work part-time in the Craig Hospital Foundation to help raise money for the hospital.

Under Denny's leadership Craig has become internationally recognized as a premier center for the rehabilitation and research of adults with spinal cord injury and brain injury, and arguably is the finest rehabilitation hospital in the world. The individual accomplishments that have occurred under Denny’s leadership are too numerous to list here, but collectively they have created the clinical and research facilities and programs that have set the standard in the field, and to which others look as the gold standard. Denny received a B.S. in business from Creighton University in 1972 and a master’s in hospital and health care from the University of Minnesota in 1973. In 1999 he served as chair of the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association and is a current Board member. In 1997 Denny was recognized by his peers for his leadership and vision when he was awarded the American Hospital Association’s highest award, the Brent England Award. He received the Insurance Rehab Study Group’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

Throughout his career at Craig, Denny has consistently demonstrated remarkable vision, intelligence, wisdom, compassion, humor, and an unwavering commitment to patients, families, and staff. Yet he humbly credits others for creating and nurturing the amazing institution and family culture that Craig has become. It is an ageless truism that organizations take on the personalities and characteristics of their chief executive. Considering Craig’s extraordinary record of excellence and achievement over the past three decades, this truism is a profound tribute to Denny himself.

“I will continue my Craig association by helping to raise funds for an endowment that will help ensure Craig’s continued excellence,” Denny wrote in a letter to the Craig staff. “No one could have possibly enjoyed a more fulfilling career than I have been blessed with in the nearly 35 years it has been my honor to serve you and this magical place.” He also wrote about Mike Fordyce, who waits in the wings to become president, “Thanks for all you do to make Craig the special kind of place that can attract such an outstanding person to lead us well into the future!”

On behalf of all of us at Craig — and around the U.S. — thank you, Denny. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. For all that you are, and all you have done for us, for the field, and most importantly for our patients and families. Fortunately this is not goodbye — we will see you around and wish you the best in your “semi-retirement.”

Well-wishers may send a note to Denny at the Craig address or e-mail to administration@craighospital.org.

Staff Awards for Dan,Cindy, and Terry

Dan Lammertse, MD

Congratulations to Dan Lammertse, MD, the 2008 recipient of the American Paraplegia Society Excellence Award. This prestigious award, established in 1994, is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in spinal cord injury health care including service, research, education, prevention, and administration. Indira Lanig, MD, APS president, presented the award to Dr. Lammertse on August 12 in Orlando, Fla. Dr. Lammertse transitions to full-time research at Craig on September 1.

Cindy Harrison-Felix, PhD

Cindy Harrison-Felix received the 2008 Deborah L. Wilkerson Early Career Award in Rehabilitation Research by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) in conjunction with the ACRM Early Career Task Force.

The Deborah L. Wilkerson Memorial Fund was established by friends, family, and colleagues of Deborah who was a beloved ACRM member, former president (2003), and ACRM Fellow (2005). Deborah had many interests, but was particularly devoted to improving the quality of rehabilitation and independent living services for people with disabilities. Dr. Harrison-Felix is the assistant director of research at Craig, has graduate training in clinical sciences and community medicine, and is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Colorado–Denver. She has more than 30 years’ experience working in disability and rehabilitation research with an emphasis in TBI and SCI. She serves as project director for the TBI Model Systems National Data and Statistical Center located at Craig Hospital, and is co-project director for the Rocky Mountain Regional Brain Injury System (RMRBIS), the TBI Model System at Craig Hospital.

Theresa M. Chase, ND, MA

Terry Chase, Craig’s coordinator of patient and family education, received Denver University’s 2008 Founders Day Community Service Award for her community voluntarism and advocacy work. Terry has a master’s degree in exercise science from DU, a doctorate in nursing from the University of Colorado, and a master’s in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica. She has worked at Craig since 1996, earning a national reputation as a pioneer in spinal cord injury rehabilitation education and care.

“My goal is to infuse the concept of health promotion into everything we do,” she says. “The typical model is to treat sickness. I feel very strongly that we need to teach patients to listen to their bodies, stay fit, and speak up for themselves.” Terry is also an avid outdoors woman. This photo of her was taken on a Craig reservoir outing, where she taught patients how to climb back into a capsized kayak. Congratulations, Terry, and thank you who you are and what you do.

Staff continue National SCI Leadership roles

The 2008 Congress of Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation conference was held in Florida, August 11-13. This is a combined annual conference of the American Paraplegia Society (APS), the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses (AASCIN), the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers (AASCIPSW), and the Therapy Leadership Council (TLC). Several Craig Hospital physicians and staff members contributed to the conference:

• The Joint Program Committee for the conference was chaired by Indira Lanig, MD. Dr. Lanig will continue to be chair of the committee for the 2009 conference, which for the first time will be a combined program with the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA).<\li>
• Daniel P. Lammertse, MD, was this year’s recipient of the APS Excellence Award, presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in SCI health care. <\li>
• Diane Reinhard, RN, presided over the American Association of SCI Nurses meeting as president. <\li>
• Lester Butt, PhD, presided over the AASCIPSW meeting as president. He also presented “When Life is Not Enough: Assessment and Treatment of Suicide in Individuals with SCI.” Additionally, Dr. Butt moderated a workshop including presentations by Susan Charlifue, PhD, and Patricia Tracy, MSW, and himself, titled, “Encircling the World: Developing an Internationally Relevant SCI Dataset, Parts 1, 2, and 3.” <\li>
• Darrell Musick, PT, served on the Planning Committee for the Therapy Leadership Council. He also presented “A Problem Solving Approach to Understanding Incomplete vs. Complete Spinal Cord Injuries using the International Standards for the Neurological Classification of SCI.”<\li>
• Kelly Johnson, RN, MSN, CNFP, CRRN, presented “Supplemental Nursing Intervention Documentation in a Multi-site Study Describes SCI Rehabilitation Details.”<\li>
• Terry Chase, ND, RN, presented “Shifting the Power: Using Dialogue in Patient Education.”<\li>
• Toby Huston, PhD, presented “Family Support Programs across Diverse Rehabilitation Settings, Part II.”<\li>
• Stephanie Laub, PT, presented “PT Treating the Incomplete SCI: Do ASIA Motor Scores Really Matter?”<\li>
• Diedre Bricker, RN, gave a poster presentation titled, “New Graduate Simulation Education of Spinal Cord Untethering and Laminectomy.”<\li>
• Amanda Carr, OT, gave a poster presentation titled, “Skills for Real Life: Incorporating It into Rehab.”<\li>

Tom Stock Receives Prestigious Pharmacy Award

Craig pharmacist, Tom Stock, RPh, was recently selected by the Colorado Pharmacists Society to receive the Bowl of Hygeia Award. The award is given annually to a pharmacist in each state who has contributed to his or her community and profession.

Tom has been employed part-time at Craig Hospital for three years; however, he has been associated with Craig for many years. He was the pharmacy director at Swedish Medical Center when Craig moved to the Swedish campus. At that time, the Swedish pharmacy provided pharmacy services to Craig Hospital. He also served as pharmacy director at Fort Logan Mental Health Center and at Phebe Hospital in Liberia, West Africa. He has been involved with many pharmacy organizations during his career. He was a co-founder of the Colorado Pharmacists Recovery Network, a program to assist pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and their families with problems related to alcohol and drug abuse and other mental illness problems. During the Vietnam War several physicians and staff members at Swedish established the Friends of Children of Vietnam organization. Tom and other pharmacists collected drug samples. The medications were sorted, packed, and shipped to servicemen for distribution to orphanages in Vietnam.

Tom has known several Craig patients over the years, but one became very special. Ed Reinhardt, ’85, suffered a brain injury while playing football for the University of Colorado. Ed’s mother and Tom were classmates in high school, and Tom became involved in Ed’s therapy after he left Craig. The therapies were successful in helping Ed to progress to a much improved quality of life. Tom continued to work with Ed and his family during a visit at least weekly for more than 20 years.

Five Craig Employees Receive Assistive Technology Certification

Five members of Craig’s staff achieved Assistive Technology Practitioner (ATP) certification in 2007. This certification was driven by a new Medicare regulation requiring all power wheelchair specialty evaluations be performed by a “RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Practitioner specializing in wheelchairs.” This new regulation significantly impacts our ability to provide the proper equipment for our patients with Medicare. Jill Baldessari, OTR; Amanda Carr, OTR; Gail Gilinsky-Yount, OTR; Laura Shaubach, DPT; and Cindy Smith, RPT, sat for the exam on August 10. In order to prepare they attended preparatory courses and held many study sessions. This certification took hours of preparation on their part and will require ongoing continuing education to maintain. In addition they are able to network with other ATPs nationwide and can expect the same knowledge base on seating, positioning, and technology based services that we have at Craig. “We are very proud of our therapists. I have always known our staff is exceptional, but having all five pass this exam the first time is truly a demonstration of our commitment to quality care for our clients,” says Ellen Severe, OTR, occupational therapy director. This regulation has since been repealed with the hard work of APTA and AOTA lobbyists, but Craig Hospital was prepared for this significant change in procedure to begin December 2007.

Doctor Lammertse Changes Role: Dr. Balazy Becomes Medical Director

This summer, after 24 years as Craig Hospital’s medical director, Dan Lammertse, MD, will begin handing over the medical administration reins to Tom Balazy, MD, and begin to focus exclusively on Craig’s research projects and his consultant role for St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver. Dr. Balazy will assume the medical director position on September 1.

Dr. Balazy, who directs one of the SCI teams, has been at Craig since 1987, serving as medical director of the Multitrauma Unit at Swedish Medical Center for 17 years. He received his medical degree and completed his residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and completed a fellowship in spinal cord and brain injury at Craig. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and holds a sub-specialty certificate in spinal cord injury medicine. In 2006 Dr. Balazy received the Jerome Gersten Clinical Teaching Award from the Department of PM&R at the UCHSC School of Medicine. Dr. Balazy is the author of a widely read publication on chronic pain in spinal cord injury.

Dr. Lammertse is one of the world’s foremost experts
on spinal cord injury and SCI research, and is excited
to dedicate the remaining years of his career to research.
In addition to his duties at Craig, Dr. Lammertse serves as neurotrauma rehabilitation consultant at St. Anthony Central Hospital and is the project director of the Rocky Mountain Regional Spinal Cord Injury System. He has served as chair of the NIDRR SCI Model Systems Project Directors Committee, and as president and member of the board of the American Spinal Injury Association. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine and is a member of the Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Examination Committee of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Lammertse currently serves on several national and international research advisory boards including the International Collaboration for Repair Discoveries (ICORD) in Vancouver, British Columbia. “We are in an exciting era for clinical research in spinal cord injury, with advances in pre-clinical restorative research setting the stage for innovative human trials. I am pleased to turn over my administrative duties to the capable hands of Dr. Balazy and devote more attention to this critical area of research.”

Dr. Schraa Active in National Civilian and Military Public Policy.

Concerned by the current inadequacy of funding rehabilitation, equipment, and long-term care for civilians and military who sustain catastrophic central nervous system injuries, Craig Hospital’s Jim Schraa, PhD, convened a public policy meeting in Washington, D.C., on January 25 with financial support from the Arthur Seiden Scholarship Program at Craig. Dr. Schraa assembled representatives from a dozen major national associations and rehabilitation provider companies to identify major problems, gaps in funding and services, and to develop public policy strategies and recommendations in both the military and civilian sectors.

In the civilian sector, Dr. Schraa and the group made the analogy of today’s insurance world to the current sub-prime mortgage crisis — that employers and individuals are purchasing “subprime health insurance.” Employers, individuals, and their families don’t know how inadequate their insurance is until there is a catastrophic injury, when individuals experience financial devastation, and provider expenses are cost-shifted to Medicaid and Medicare. In the military sector, the work group discussed a large number of complex of related to the Defense Department and VA’s treatment and funding of military personnel with traumatic brain injury. Of major concern is the lack of TRICARE policy benefits in the areas of cognitive therapy and long-term family supports. The work group is currently working on follow-up action items to the meeting, including providing data for a GAO report documenting the cost-benefit analysis and return on investment of quality rehabilitation.

Denny O’Malley Receives Lifetime Service Award

The Insurance Rehabilitation Study Group (IRSG) presented Denny 0’Malley, Craig Hospital’s president, with a Lifetime Service Award at their annual meeting in Charleston, S.C. on May 1. Leigh Ann Turner, IRSG president, made the presentation, followed by a toast by Maurice Goldman, MD.

Craig Staff Take on Lead Roles in Three National SCI Associations

For decades Craig staff and doctors have held leadership positions on various local, regional and national boards and associations. But never before has there been a time in such close proximity when Craig physicians and staff were presidents of three national spinal cord injury associations.

• Indira Lanig, MD, continued as president of the American Paraplegia Society (APS) through August 2007.
• Lester Butt, PhD, ABPP, assumed the presidency of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers (AASCIPSW) beginning in August.
• Diane Reinhard, RN, became president of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses (AASCIN) in August.

Congratulations, Dr. Lanig, Dr. Butt and Diane. We thank you for your leadership and for your unselfish service and dedication to persons with spinal cord injury.

Ron Branish to Retire

In November Ron Branish will hang up his cleats after 20 years of tireless service to Craig as our vice president of finance. Ron, who was in the oil industry and on Craig’s Board of Directors previous to his employment at Craig, has directed the business functions at Craig for two decades including the business office, contracting, information technology, guest services, Craig’s asset management, the Adaptive Equipment Company and more. Thank you, Ron, for your outstanding service and dedication to Craig. You will be missed. We know we will find you and Linda — and sometimes your boys, their families and your grandchildren — hanging out together at the lake in Minnesota or skiing at Steamboat! The very best to you.

Succeeding Ron is Julie Keegan who has been transitioning with Ron for the past year. Welcome, Julie!

June Nowatzke Named State’s Respiratory Therapist of the Year

Congratulations to Craig’s June Nowatzke, RRT, who recently was named 2007 Respiratory Therapist of the Year by the Colorado Society for Respiratory Care. June was chosen from a field of more than 2,200 respiratory therapists for this award. June has been employed at Craig Hospital for 11 years during which she has established herself as one of Craig’s finest. She is a wonderful patient care provider, a loyal patient advocate and a stellar educator. June is originally from Indiana and has been married to her loving husband, Leon, for 18 years. We are very proud of you, June.

Retired Craig chaplain Publishes Book About Craig Experience

Rev. Rich Stewart has written a book about his 24 years as Craig chaplain and his relationships with his patients and families. As Real As It Gets is available through www.richstew.com. Some of the proceeds of the book will go to the Craig Foundation for patient assistance. In the book Rich salutes Craig patients and families as “a gritty bunch who, beyond surviving, drive on toward thriving again.” Check it out!

Scott Manley Retires

After 35 years of dedicated service to Craig, Senior Vice President of Operations Scott Manley will retire this fall. Since 1970 Scott has been a living embodiment of Craig — through his intelligence, his work ethic, and his caring and compassion for patients, families, and staff. Scott’s values, ethics, and humility have significantly helped to shape the Craig culture.

Scott began at the “old” Craig as one of the first Patient and Family Service Counselors and moved over to the “new” Craig in 1970, when he was the first Director of Family Services. In 1980 he became Assistant Administrator; in 1991, Vice President; and in 1995, Senior Vice President of Operations.

Born and raised in Denver, Scott earned master’s and doctorate degrees in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Northern Colorado.

Scott’s contributions to Craig, various state agencies, and other community organizations are too numerous to list, but his impact on the delivery systems for people with disabilities in Colorado has been profound, widely recognized, and greatly appreciated. Over the years Scott may have worked harder than anyone we know — weekdays, evenings, weekends, holidays, snow days — every day with a smile, and that is no exaggeration. His cheerful mood in the face of long hours of complex and difficult work issues has been remarkable and inspiring.

Despite his dedication to Craig, he and Cathy (an OT who he met at Craig, now on call) raised two outstanding children, Bridget, an RN at Rose Medical Center, and Jake, who works in Craig’s Media Service department.

Scott cherishes the personal relationships with the patients and families he has known and helped over the years. Those who have been fortunate to work in close proximity to to Scott’s office have watched a steady stream of patients and families from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s come visit when they are in town or back for re-evals to say hello and to thank him for all he did. He is respected by insurance executives, claims handlers, and case managers for his wisdom and professionalism. Scott is a rehabilitation counselor at heart, and his skills and caring have made a difference in literally thousands of lives.

We know Scott will be busier and happier than ever with all the various projects he has planned for his retirement. We’ve lost count of the number of antique cars and trucks Scott is restoring and the number of garages he needs to build to store them. (We tease him that he lives in the garage and Cathy slips him meals under the door to keep him out of the house.) After we give Scott some well-deserved time off, we hope to negotiate a volunteer position to keep him involved in the Craig family!

You can send Scott a note at smanley@craighospital.org. He’d love to hear from you.

Dr. Lanig Honored

Indira Lanig, MD is the new President of the American Paraplegia Society. Her term began this month at the APS Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Dr. Lanig has served on the APS Board of Directors for many years, and for five years was the Chair of the APS Program Committee who organized the annual Annual Scientific Conference. Dr. Lanig is very proud of the quality of conferences (more than 400 physicians and researchers) APS has organized. She also is on the editorial board of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, the official journal of APS. Dr. Lanig will be the second female president in the 50-year history of the APS.

Dr. Lanig also received the 2005 Baylor College College of Medicine and University of Texas Department of PM&R Distinguished Alumnus Award. She trained at Baylor before coming to Craig in 1989. “I am very touched and honored by this award from my alma mater,” she says.

Kelly Johnson Receives Two Awards

Our congratulations to Kelly Johnson, RN, Vice President of Patient Care Services, who has received some prestigious awards recently.

On May 7 in Denver, in front of 700 guests at the 20th annual “Nightingala” dinner, Kelly was one of six recipients of the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Human Caring, hosted by the Colorado Nurses Foundation (CNF). The award is named after the legendary nurse, Florence Nightingale.

Kelly also is a regional finalist for NurseWeek’s Nursing Excellence Award in the Leadership category. This category is for registered nurses who have demonstrated exceptional leadership of nursing or patient care services in any setting. Of 300 nominees, Kelly was one of 20 finalists. She attended the Gala Awards Ceremony on August 27 in Las Vegas. They say this is the “Academy Awards of Nursing.”

Congratulations, Kelly!

Craig Earns AASCIPSW Award

In September 2004, Craig Hospital was awarded the Organizational Achievement Award by the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers in Las Vegas. This award is given to organizations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the areas of psychosocial care of persons with SCI in service delivery, research, education and/or administrative aspects of organizational programming.

“Craig Hospital has maintained a leadership position in the field of spinal cord injury throughout its history,” said Stanley Ducharme, PhD, as he presented the award to Denny O’Malley, Craig’s President. “The achievements of Craig Hospital and its staff members are recognized throughout this country and the world. Most importantly, individuals with spinal cord injury who have been rehabilitated at Craig speak highly of its professional approach, human warmth and sense of caring that is conveyed to its patients. I can think of no institution that is more deserving of this important recognition.”

Craig Nightingales!

Claire Cahow Named Colorado’s Top Recreation Specialist

On January 11, 2005 Claire Cahow, CTRS, received the 2004 Therapeutic Recreation Specialist of the Year Award by the Colorado TR Society. She was nominated by her peers and was chosen because of her dedication of more than 22 years in the field; her service as vice president on the board; and her charisma, enthusiasm, dedication and pure energy she gives to all her patients.

Lola Hershberger Retires

Lola Hershberger is retired in December after 32 years as an OT and Driving Evaluator at Craig. Thank you, Lola, for dedicating your long career of dedicated service to Craig Hospital. You will be dearly missed.

Craig’s Outpatient Staff Don’t Just Talk Turkey

Craig’s “Synapse” Staff Hockey Team Wins Championship

The Craig/AEC Synapse staff hockey team defeated the Porter Hockey Docs 3-2 in sudden-death overtime March 1 to win the Adult C League Winter championship.

Dr. Lueck Retires

After 27 years of serving patients and families at Craig Hospital, Roger Lueck, MD has retired to the Colorado mountains to pursue a life of leisure. Dr. Lueck started his tenure at Craig in 1977 when Harry Hahn, MD was Medical Director. Over the years he has held a variety of inpatient and outpatient positions at Craig and at Craig's Multi-Trauma Unit at Swedish Medical Center next door. In addition to his spinal cord injury expertise, Dr. Lueck long will be remembered for his kindness to patients, families and staff; for his calm demeanor; and for his great sense of humor. Dr. Lueck, the entire Craig family wishes you a wonderful retirement, and thank you for your many years of service to Craig Hospital.

Dr. Lanig's Role Changes

With Dr. Lueck's retirement, Indira Lanig, MD, has left her inpatient SCI service and will work part-time in Craig's Outpatient/Follow-up program, allowing her more time to spend with her family. Dr. Lanig has been at Craig since 1989. She has a sub-specialty certification in SCI by the Board of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and she serves as President-elect of the American Paraplegia Society.

Welcome, Dr. Ripley

David L. Ripley, MD began his practice with the CNS Medical Group at Craig Hospital on August 16, and will lead one of Craig's spinal cord injury treatment teams. Dr. Ripley earned his degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He performed his internship at the Medical College of Georgia and his residency at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital where he was Chief Resident. Dr. Ripley comes to Craig after serving most recently as Medical Director of post acute services and Medical Director of brain injury research at The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Ga. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and is a fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehab. Prior to medical school, Dr. Ripley worked as a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and retains certification as a CRC.

Craig celebrates Denny O'Malley's 30 Years as President

If you want to learn about an organization, look carefully at its leadership.Considering Craig Hospital's record of excellence and achievement over the past three decades, this truth is a living tribute to all of Craig's leaders, and specifically to Denny O'Malley as President.

• Where else do you find an administrator who unilaterally supports clinicians, and places human-istic values and ethics above all else in patient decisions? asks Lester Butt, PhD, Chair of Psychology, at Craig for 27 years.
• Where else do you find a president who is on a first-name basis with staff, patients, and families, and whose door is always open when you have a question or concern? asks Sharon Blackburn, PT Supervisor, at Craig for 25 years.
• Where else are you told to build everything with quality and class? asks Lee Means, Engineering Director for 22 years.
• Where else do you find a president who likes to dress like Madonna or play the Fairy Godmother at Halloween? asks Scott Manley, Senior VP of Operations, long-time friend, and Craig employee for 34 years.
• Where else do you find an administrator who impersonates Elvis at annual music performances? And who has taught spinning classes for staff at 6:30 a.m. in the Wellness Center? And who insists that he and all non-clinical staff personally assist with patient feeding on the floors so we can stay in touch with our mission?

Many questions, but they all have just one answer.

In 1972, at the age of 23, Denny came to Craig from next door at Swedish Medical Center where he was the Assistant Administrator. He has been at Craig's helm since 1974.

Under his watch Craig's staff has grown from 150 to 650. Under his watch the Multi-Trauma Unit was created, and the categorical TBI team was created and developed. Under his watch Craig purchased its own DME company, created dozens of other specialty services and clinics, became Model Systems Centers for SCI and TBI, and underwent three major building projects and dozens of renovation projects. Under his watch Craig has initiated landmark clinical research trials, published leading literature in the field, and become one of the top rehabilitation hospitals in the country.

Denny is revered among his peers as a national leader in the field of rehabilitation. In 1999 he was the Chairman of the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association. In 1997, he was awarded the American Hospital Association's highest award - the prestigious Brent England Award.

Throughout, Denny remains a humble man and credits the staff at Craig for creating a culture that enables patients to heal and to achieve productive and satisfying lives.

Perspectives

Congratulations are in order for Sam Andrews and Carolyn Bauer, who also are being recognized this fall for 30 years of service to Craig Hospital.

Sam Andrews: "Over 9,000 work days and somewhere near 11,000 patients and their families have taught me how tremendously resilient people are," says Sam Andrews, who was the Director of Therapeutic Recreation for 29 years and now serves as Craig's Volunteer Coordinator. "I feel fortunate that I have been able to live my dream of tying sports and recreation to medicine to help others explore ways to live healthy and enjoyable lives."

Craig's Therapeutic Recreation department has helped pioneer the first-ever downhill sit skiing, white-water rafting, kayaking, flying, world travel, hunting, fishing, hot air ballooning, sailing, camping, parasailing, and adaptation and use of video games.

"For a long time, so many of these activities were only dreamed about or talked about," Sam recalls. "But our patients are doing them, opening the door in their minds to what is possible."

Carolyn Bauer: "The years of working at Craig Hospital have enriched my life tremendously," says Carolyn Bauer, a Nurse. "Through the years the patients have taught me how to face pain, loss and uncertainty with courage and optimism. The privilege of working with these very special people humbles me. They are my true heroes."

Carolyn says she has gained some unique skills over the years - such as finding 40 patients without name tags every day ("I'm good at 'hide and seek,'" she says), and coming up with a million ways to encourage patients to take the medications they need.

"It's often claimed that a workplace is like a family. At Craig, this is a true statement," she says. "Without the love and support of my Craig family, my past cancer diagnoses and treatment would have been unbearable. What a blessing to work in Craig's unique environment - I know it helped with my positive outcome. Our patients, their families and my co-workers continue to be an inspiration and a source of joy for my life."

Congratulations to these "long-timers", too, who were honored at Craig's annual employee banquet on October 2:

Jim Richards: Everyday Hero

Jim Richards, a former Board member and Volunteer at Craig for 16 years, was awarded the Channel 7 Everyday Hero award by Mitch Jelniker, News Anchor, on July 21. Congratulations, Jim, and thanks for all you do for us.

Volunteer Ashok Bhatt Helps Craig Receive Donation

Ashok Bhatt has volunteered at Craig for the past five years, doing work in the Therapeutic Recreation department. He also has been instrumental this year in securing a $1,500 donation from Quest, his employer. Ashok, thank you for all you do!

Dr. Whiteneck Delivers Sell Lecture

Gale Whiteneck, PhD, Craig's Director of Research, was honored at the American Spinal Injury Association meeting in Denver in May by delivering the Annual Distinguished G. Heiner Sell Lecture. Dr. Whiteneck presented on "Measuring and Modifying SCI Outcomes." The Sell Lectureship was created in 1982 to honor Dr. G. Heiner Sell for his outstanding contributions to the field of spinal cord injury.

Mark Johansen, MD Earns SCI Sub-specialty Certification

At the American Spinal Injury Association meeting in Denver on May 14, Mark Johansen, MD of Craig was awarded his SCI sub-specialty certificate by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Johansen scored the highest score in the country on the certification examination. Congratulations, Dr. Johansen!

Craig's Synapses Are Firing

Craig sponsored a competitive Division C adult hockey team this year, with staff Alan Weintraub, MD, Don Gerber, PsyD, and Todd Branish among the members. The team, complete with cool-looking jerseys, went 14-1 for the season, and were defeated only in the tourney championship.

Dan Lammertse Celebrates 20th Year as Medical Director

January 2004 - Dr. Lammertse hails from Akron, Ohio, and received his medical degree and specialty training in rehabilitation medicine at Ohio State University. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation with sub-specialty certification in spinal cord injury. He has authored numerous chapters and scientific articles on topics in spinal cord injury, and presents regularly around the country and the world.

Dr. Lammertse is Project Director of the Rocky Mountain Regional Spinal Cord Injury System, is Past President of the American Spinal Injury Association and is the current Chair of the NIDRR SCI Model Systems Project Directors Committee. He also is Associate Editor of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, a member of the Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Committee of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Associate Clinical Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Colorado.

Dr. Lammertse serves on the External Advisory Panel of the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD) and the External Advisory Board, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, The University of Miami. Most recently he is Principal Investigator of the Craig-Proneuron Biotechnologies, Inc. Phase II clinical trial of ProCord™ in Denver.

During his tenure, Craig has prospered and has become a recognized leader in clinical research. "Dan has brought a practical yet innovative style of leadership to the hospital," says Denny O'Malley, Craig's President. "He is well respected by all - Craig's board of directors, staff, patients and families, and colleagues.

"Dan's dedication to our program goes beyond what we could ever reasonably expect and his integrity is impeccable," Denny continues. "We have been very fortunate to have him serve as Medical Director for all these years."