The Research Foundation

HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT STUDENTS, PROFESSIONALS, PATIENTS, AND PEOPLE IN THE KC COMMUNITY.

THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION'S MAIN PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SUPPORTING HEALTH CARE STUDENTS, NURSING STUDENTS AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, PATIENTS, AND THE KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)HEALTH CARE STUDENTSSCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED TO 62 UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS WHO ATTEND AVILA UNIVERSITY, RESEARCH COLLEGE OF NURSING, AND WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE.SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED TO 25 STUDENTS STUDYING RADIOLOGY TECHNOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE, OR RADIATION THERAPY. SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED TO 38 STUDENTS IN THE DOCTORAL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAMS AT ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, AND UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS. SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED TO 24 MEDICAL ASSISTING STUDENTS STUDYING AT CONCORDE CAREER COLLEGE.SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED TO 16 AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ATTEND EXPLORE RCON, A 3-DAY IMMERSIVE NURSING EXPERIENCE. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPLORE THE FIELD OF NURSING AS A POTENTIAL FUTURE CAREER.OTHER SUPPORT FOR NURSING STUDENTSTHE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FUNDED WHITECOATS/COMMITMENT COATS FOR NURSING STUDENTS AT RESEARCH COLLEGE OF NURSING, AVILA UNIVERSITY AND WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE TO CELEBRATE THEIR ENTRANCE INTO THE NURSING PROFESSION. FUNDING WAS ALSO PROVIDED FOR LAB KITS FOR 3 NURSING STUDENTS AT AVILA UNIVERSITY AND WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE. IN 2022, A NURSING STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND WAS CREATED TO HELP STUDENTS WHO NEEDED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, TRANSPORTATION TO CLINICALS, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS. 38 NURSING STUDENTS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE.FUNDS WERE ALSO PROVIDED TO AVILA UNIVERSITY AND WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE NURSING PROGRAMS TO PURCHASE CARDIAC INSTRUCTIONAL SIMULATION EQUIPMENT FOR THE EDUCATION OF NURSING STUDENTS IN THE CLINICAL SETTING.HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALSNURSING FACULTY AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS - AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED FOR NURSING FACULTY MEMBERS AT AVILA UNIVERSITY, RESEARCH COLLEGE OF NURSING, AND WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE WHO ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS EDUCATING STUDENTS. ADDITIONAL AWARDS ARE PROVIDED FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE, SCHOLARLY ACHIEVEMENT, OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND THE DR. NANCY DEBASIO FACULTY LEADERSHIP.DOCTORAL STUDY SCHOLARSHIPS THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ENHANCE THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF DOCTORAL PREPARED NURSE EDUCATORS IN THE GREATER KANSAS CITY AREA THROUGH THE FUNDING OF DOCTORAL STUDY FOR INDIVIDUALS PURSUING A PHD/DNP/EDD.CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR FACULTY THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ENCOURAGE CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR NURSING FACULTY.FACULTY RESEARCH GRANTS THESE GRANTS ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT BY ENHANCING THE FACULTY MEMBER'S RESEARCH AND/OR SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING THROUGH A STIPEND, WHICH FUNDS SHORT-TERM RESEARCH PROJECTS.CONTINUING EDUCATION AWARDS TO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AT REGIONAL HOSPITALS ARE AWARDED ANNUALLY. TWO CHILDRENS MERCY HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES RECEIVED THE HAL M. QUINN EXCELLENCE IN NURSING AWARD AND THE KATHY DEGRANDE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE.CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION -THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION COORDINATED AND SPONSORED A FULL-DAY CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ED BIXBY INSTITUTE FOR POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION AND KC SOUTHWEST CLINICAL SOCIETY. THE SYMPOSIUM IN 2022 FOCUSED ON PRIMARY CARE AND WAS ATTENDED BY PHYSICIANS, NURSES AND ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT THE GREATER KANSAS CITY METRO AND SURROUNDING AREAS.PATIENTSVERDA'S PLACE - THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION COLLABORATES WITH BRA COUTURE KC TO PROVIDE VERDA'S PLACE, AN APPEARANCE CENTER FOR UNINSURED AND UNDERSERVED CANCER PATIENTS IN THE KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY. LOCATED IN THE SARAH CANNON CANCER CENTER AT RESEARCH MEDICAL CENTER, VERDA'S PLACE PROVIDED WIGS, HATS, SCARVES, LYMPHEDEMA SLEEVES, BRAS, PROSTHETICS, AND OTHER ITEMS FOR CANCER PATIENTS. SUPPORT WAS ALSO PROVIDED FOR UTILITIES, FOOD CARDS, MEDICATIONS, AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR PATIENTS. 67 LOW-INCOME CANCER PATIENTS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE THROUGH VERDA'S PLACE DURING 2022. DR. KELLEY YOUNG MEMORIAL FUND - FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF ONCOLOGIST DR. KELLEY YOUNG ESTABLISHED THE DR. KELLEY YOUNG MEMORIAL FUND TO FURTHER EXPAND SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME CANCER PATIENTS IN NEED. DURING 2022, 26 CANCER PATIENTS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THE DR. KELLEY YOUNG MEMORIAL FUND.DURING 2022, THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY TO PROVIDE GIFT CARDS FOR FUEL TO HELP CANCER PATIENTS WITH TRANSPORTATION TO TREATMENTS. A TOTAL OF 228 CANCER PATIENTS WERE HELPED WITH 5,582 ONE-WAY RIDES TO/FROM TREATMENTS.HAPPY BOTTOMS - THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH HAPPY BOTTOMS TO ADDRESS DIAPER NEEDS AMONG LOW-INCOME MOTHERS AND BABIES AT RESEARCH MEDICAL CENTER IN 2022. A TOTAL OF 490 NEWBORNS WERE SUPPORTED WITH DIAPERS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IN 2022.KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY:THINKFIRST OF GREATER KANSAS CITY - THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION SERVES AS THE KANSAS CITY CHAPTER FOR THINKFIRST, A NATIONAL, AWARD-WINNING INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT TEACHES YOUTH, GRADES K-12, HOW TO AVOID TRAUMATIC BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD INJURIES THROUGH A FREE SCHOOL-BASED ASSEMBLY. THE PROGRAM IS DELIVERED BY SPEAKERS WHO HAVE ALREADY SUSTAINED A BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD INJURY. THROUGH THEIR MOVING TESTIMONY, THEY SUPPLY YOUNG ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT SEAT BELT SAFETY, SAFE DRIVING PRACTICES SUCH AS NOT DRIVING DISTRACTED, HELMET USE, PEDESTRIAN, AND BICYCLE SAFETY, PREVENTING DIVING INJURIES, AND AVOIDING GUNS AND VIOLENCE. THE KANSAS CITY CHAPTER SERVES CLAY, PLATTE, JACKSON AND CASS COUNTIES IN MISSOURI, AND JOHNSON AND WYANDOTTE COUNTIES IN KANSAS. THE 2021/2022 SCHOOL YEAR CONTINUED TO BE CHALLENGING AS THE PROGRAM AIMED TO REBOUND FROM THE PANDEMIC. A TOTAL OF 95 PROGRAMS WERE HELD, REACHING 19,070 YOUTH IN THE GREATER KANSAS CITY AREA DURING THE 2021/2022 SCHOOL YEAR. YOUNG TRAFFIC OFFENDERS PROGRAM - THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION COORDINATES AND MANAGES THE YOUNG TRAFFIC OFFENDERS PROGRAM (YTOP). THIS PROGRAM OFFERS JUDGES A WAY TO DETER YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SPEEDING, DRUNKEN DRIVING, INATTENTIVE DRIVING BEHAVIORS AND OTHER RELATED DRIVING OFFENSES. DURING THE COURT ORDERED YTOP PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS FOLLOW THE PATH THEY WOULD TAKE AFTER BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A CAR CRASH. A TOTAL OF 707 YOUNG DRIVERS ATTENDED YTOP DURING 2022. HOME VISITOR SAFETY INITIATIVE - THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH CHARLIE'S HOUSE WITH FUNDS FOR THEIR HOME VISITOR SAFETY INITIATIVE. THIS PROGRAM WORKS WITH GROUPS THAT DIRECTLY INTERACT WITH FAMILIES WHO HAVE PRE-SCHOOL OR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN ORDER TO PROVIDE HOUSEHOLD SAFETY EDUCATION TO THESE FAMILIES.EMPLOYEES CONTRIBUTING TO HELP OTHERS OR ECHO PROVIDES SUPPORT TO RESEARCH MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FINANCIAL NEED DUE TO AN ILLNESS, NATURAL DISASTER, DISABILITY AS OF A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OR HOMELESSNESS. FUNDS HELP WITH RENT, UTILITIES, GROCERIES, OR TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES. THE PROGRAM IS EXCLUSIVELY FUNDED BY RESEARCH MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS.