Linda Dean, Director of Physical Medicine and Health Management, and Janice Sears, Nurse Manager of the Rehabilitation Unit, have been named recipients of the Mother Celine Women in Leadership program at Resurrection Medical Center.

The 18-month program provides two women in middle management positions at the hospital with advanced leadership training, opportunities for mentoring and observing RMC Senior Leadership meetings and grant money to attend outside leadership seminars and workshops.

The Mother Celine Development Program for Women in Leadership was created to provide advanced leadership training to prepare candidates for new leadership positions. The program was named in honor of Mother Celine Borzecka, C.R., the founder of the Sisters of the Resurrection, who was committed to the education and development of women, both within and outside of the Sisters of the Resurrection Congregation.

Renee Reich, M.D., has been elected President of the Medical Staff for Rush North Shore Medial Center. She is the first woman to hold the distinction of governing the medical staff.

Elected for a two year term, Dr. Reich will serve as the chief administrative officer and represent the over 600 physicians on staff at the 268-bed hospital. As Chairperson of the Department of Pathology at Rush North Shore Medical Center, Dr. Reich leads a staff of 70 who are responsible for providing test results to members of the medical staff. She received her medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School and completed her residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Hope is a wish or desire. For the parent of a child with a potentially life-limiting illness, their hope changes as their child’s disease progresses. They may hope for a cure, hope for remission, hope for comfort, hope for strength or hope for peace. For a child, Hope is a puppet that can be a source of comfort. Hope’s Friends are able to visit the child’s home to provide a very special kind of care, support and comfort.

Hope’s Friends is a new specialized pediatric program offered by Hospice of Northeastern Illinois designed to offer care to children, from birth to age 18, facing a potentially life-limiting illness and their families. The unique program gives parents access to a variety of resources and support while caring for their child at home.

"I am so excited about the ability to begin this much needed program for children," said Hospice of Northeastern Illinois Director of Program Development Mary Jo Fox, R.N. "While as a society we have accomplished a great deal in treating diseases in children, we have not made a commitment to children and families dealing with diseases for which there may be limited treatment available or a cure may not be possible. Hope’s Friends can make a difference."

Although the core philosophy of Hope’s Friends is aligned with the interdisciplinary approach to care that has been the hallmark of adult hospice care, it is a supportive care program that allows the child to continue receiving curative treatments and does not limit the time allowed to receive our compassionate, family-centered care.

The program, guided by pediatricians who specialize in pediatric palliative care, focuses on the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the child and family. Hospice of Northeastern Illinois’ compassionate nurses, certified nursing aides and other support staff are specially-trained to provide this unique kind of care throughout the disease process, rather than care only during the final weeks of life.

A certified art therapist may also spend time with the child Hope’s Friends is caring for as well as the siblings. Art therapy empowers children to share their private feelings and fears through projects like painting, drawing or making a craft, which can help to begin dialogue about their emotions.

"For years, the health care industry has utilized the expertise of an art therapist in assisting children as they deal with illness, loss, tragedy, or grief," said Fox. "Hospice of Northeastern Illinois is the first hospice program in the Chicago area to offer such a comprehensive Integrative Therapy Program to our patients and families."

At the heart of Hope’s Friends is supporting the child and family and involving them in all decision-making to ensure a plan of care and treatment options that reflect the family’s values, beliefs, wishes and needs.

"There are times in life when no matter how hard we may try to make a situation better, the greatest gift we can give to another is to be with them during times by simply offering our presence, care, and support," said Fox. "The commitment of the Hope’s Friends team is to offer medical expertise, compassionate support, and the willingness to walk along side of the children and families who, until now, had to face their long difficult journey alone."