On June 28, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital announced a $116,000 gift from the Women of Wellness Council, a local women’s giving society.
The WoW Council allocated $87,000 in funding with an additional $29,000 in anonymous support.
A program of the Dominican Hospital Foundation founded in 2018, the WoW Council’s purpose is to provide financial resources to support and expand women’s health services at Dominican Hospital. This year marks the sixth round of funding, raising more than $440,000.
The WoW Council selected these initiatives:
- Noninvasive Ventilation, Respiratory Therapy — $27,971. Noninvasive ventilation is a technique employed using a mask interface to deliver positive pressure and precise amounts of oxygen to treat respiratory distress associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and pulmonary edema.
- Bioness Integrated Therapy System, Occupational Therapy — $45,390. This new technology is designed for advanced rehabilitation of patients with visual impairment due to a neurological condition.
- Carts for Fetal Monitors, Birth Center — $8,700. These will help improve nursing workflow and allow easier charting while providing 1:1 care to labor patients.
- Outpatient NICU Nutrition Program, Nutrition — $4,939. An anonymous WoW member gave $4,000 for comprehensive follow-up care for former preemies or babies experiencing nutrition-related issues possibly due to failure to thrive or drug exposure.
- DHMG Oncology Women’s Resources — $5,000. Funded by an anonymous WoW member, DHMG Oncology will create a program for patients with limited income by providing products to support their cancer treatment. The aim is to stock items typically recommended to patients to alleviate side effects, but are expensive or not covered by insurance.
- Wig Boutique, Katz Cancer Resource Center — $20,000. Fully funded by an anonymous WoW member, this gift will create a beautiful wig room at Dominican’s Katz Cancer Resource Center at the Mary & Richard Solari Cancer Center.
“For more than eight decades, the mission and values of Dominican Hospital have been shaped by visionary female founders and senior leaders,” said Dominican Hospital President Nanette Mickiewicz, MD. “It is only fitting that today, the highly influential women of the WoW Council help carry on the hospital’s legacy of improving patient care now and into the future.”
Council members pledge to donate at least $1,000 annually to support crucial technologies, programs, and services for women at Dominican Hospital. The council convenes three times annually to stay updated on women’s health services at the hospital and to hear about new developments from key physicians and care providers.
Council members strive to recognize and understand the requirement for new or enhanced programs, equipment, or facilities, and to build new connections. They then have the opportunity to evaluate project proposals presented by the hospital and vote to decide which proposals will receive funding.
“The WoW Council is a unique opportunity to see your impact locally,” said WoW Chair Anissa Novak.
“With your membership, you choose which departments and services to support which also allows broader access to the hospital. I love learning more about the great work we’re doing in Santa Cruz and feel like I’m part of something bigger. I love this sisterhood.”
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To learn more, call the Dominican Hospital Foundation at (831)462-7712 or visit www.supportdominican.org/women-of-wellness-council