Nurses Give Back
(pg. 3)
Fall 2014
Sneak Peek
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Spotlight On Healthcare Excellence
Pioneering a Cure for Atrial Fibrillation
Marty Shubin of Villa Park believes hiking, fishing and taking
photographs in the California Sierras do his heart good, but these
pursuits came to a halt in his early 50s, when his heart would
suddenly begin racing. Only after having one of the area’s first
Robotic-Assisted Hybrid Atrial Fibrillation Ablation procedures was
he free to fully enjoy life again.
SMF Welcomes New
Board Member
page 2
Events Calendar
page 2
On a Personal Note:
Cecilia Belew
page 3
Ease of
Automated Giving
page 3
Nancy and David
Lagrew, M.D.: A
Portrait of Giving
page 4
This past year, medical director of robotics and minimally invasive
cardiac surgery Jeffrey D. Lee, M.D., and electrophysiologist Howard
Thanks to Drs. Howard Frumin and Jeffrey Lee,
grateful patient Marty Shubin has been able to
Frumin, M.D., at the MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at
return to his active lifestyle.
Saddleback Memorial Medical Center introduced a combination of
minimally invasive techniques, to solve what Marty and millions of other Americans have – atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation, or Afib, strikes one in 10 people by age 80. Afib happens when out-of-control electrical currents
cause the heart to beat quickly and irregularly. It is a major cause of stroke and long-lasting heart damage.
A racing heart sent Marty to an emergency room where he was diagnosed with Afib. When medications
didn’t work, Marty received cardioversion – the placing of paddles on his chest to shock his heart back to a
normal rhythm.
“I began seeing a cardiologist who prescribed medications that helped keep my condition in check for a
couple of years,” he recalls. “Eventually, medication became less effective. By last November I was having two
to three episodes a month. I’d sit down and ‘veg’ for hours while the problem ran its course. It was exhausting
and depressing, so I decided to try something else.”
A friend suggested Marty visit Dr. Frumin, a specialist with 30 years’ experience in treating heart rhythm
problems. Dr. Frumin told Marty about the new hybrid therapy that he and Dr. Lee use to remedy Afib.
Published data have reported up to 90% success rates with this hybrid approach.
Dr. Lee has over 20 years’ experience in traditional cardiothoracic surgery as well as specialized training in less
invasive approaches to heart disease. He recently completed prestigious year-long fellowships in robotic-
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At-a-Glance
Robotic-assisted hybrid ablation is one of many treatment options offered at the MemorialCare
Heart and Vascular Institute at Saddleback Memorial. This particular procedure offers the benefits of:
• High cure rate
• Faster recovery than with large
chest incisions
• Little pain
• Reduced blood loss
• Minimal scarring
Pioneering a Cure for Atrial
Fibrillation – Continued
assisted coronary artery bypass surgery at the University of Maryland, and in robotic-assisted and
minimally invasive heart valve surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.
Ablation creates scars that block signals causing the heart to misfire. By using a robotic-assisted
approach to surgery, Dr. Lee avoids major incisions. Instead, he makes tiny “keyhole” incisions for
precision visualization and movement around sensitive heart structures.
“About 30-60 days after I perform the minimally invasive cardiac ablation, Dr. Frumin threads a tiny
catheter through a vein in the patient’s leg into the heart to survey the results from the inside and
‘spot weld’ any residual areas,” Dr. Lee explains. “This hybrid, or combined approach, brings together
the best techniques of both worlds – that of cardiac surgery and cardiology.
“A big difference between our combined approach and catheter ablation alone is we are able to
close off the left atrial appendage, which should significantly reduce our patient’s risk of stroke.”
The goals of this unique program are to prevent stroke, and to convert the patient’s heart back into
normal rhythm – permanently. This procedure is not for everyone, but is one of the many options
Saddleback Memorial now has to treat our patients with Afib.
Dr. Frumin adds, “Traditional therapies for uncontrolled, chronic Afib aren’t always durable solutions.
Historically with ablations, patients may return for a second, third or even fourth procedure, and
there can be complications. I’m very enthused about the new hybrid procedure in carefully selected
patients like Marty, as a safer and superior approach to the stand alone catheter ablation.”
For both procedures, Marty stayed overnight in the hospital. “It was a lot easier than I ever imagined,”
he recalls. “The nurses were phenomenally kind and caring. Even though I had major surgeries,
neither procedure felt like one. I had surprisingly quick recoveries.”
According to Dr. Lee, “Hybrid robotic-assisted cardiac ablations evolved from earlier therapies to
benefit a growing number of Afib sufferers. It is one of the biggest advances in curing heart disease
and preventing stroke of this decade, although most patients and physicians haven’t heard much
about it yet.”
Marty adds, “What a blessing to no longer have this hindrance holding me back. I didn’t have to
chase down experts from another area of the country. Pioneers who could successfully treat my
heart problem are right here.”
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Events Calendar
November
Douglas/Bravo Golf Tournament
Monday, November 3
Aliso Viejo Country Club
•Support The Women’s Hospital at
Saddleback Memorial at this 3rd
annual golf tournament in
memory of the Douglas and
Bravo Families’ newborns.
December
Tree of Light
Thursday, December 4
SMMC-Laguna Hills
Conference Room 1
•Commemorate a loved one at this
annual tree lighting event.
February
Heritage & Friends Luncheon
Friday, February 6
El Niguel Country Club
•A celebration of gratitude and
giving in honor of Saddleback
Memorial Foundation’s Heritage
Society Members and Friends of
the Foundation.
For information about these events,
call the Foundation at (949) 452-3724.
Saddleback Memorial Foundation
Welcomes New Board Member
Saddleback Memorial Foundation is pleased to welcome Laurie Konsugar-Louie to the Board of Directors. Her
understanding of the hospital system and strong emphasis on ethics will help the Foundation in its mission to
develop philanthropic resources necessary in enhancing the health and well-being of the community.
Laurie found her passion for the world of medicine at an early age and continued to pursue an education in
the health field. She obtained a degree in Health Sciences Administration and worked as a hospital assistant
department administrator at Kaiser Permanente San Diego. She also spent time overseeing the gift shop
which raised money to help patient-centered programs at the hospital.
Since moving to Orange County from San Diego to care for her late father-in-law, she has seen first-hand how Saddleback Memorial
creates a healing and comfortable environment for both patients and their family. She hopes her past experience and presence on the
board will help her to aid Saddleback Memorial in its continued effort of delivering quality and compassionate care.
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On a Personal Note…
Cecilia Belew, President
Saddleback Memorial Foundation
Gratitude is shown in so many
ways. We say “thank you,” we offer
to do things in return for good
deeds bestowed upon us, and
many like to “pay it forward.” At
Saddleback Memorial, we are
grateful for our patients who say
thank you through charitable
contributions to the Foundation.
Each gift we receive on behalf of the hospital is very much
appreciated. Jack and Diane Hecht made giving simple by
setting up monthly automated payments directly from their
bank account. They are able to support our hospital and the
patients we serve in a convenient way that works for them.
Dr. Lagrew and his wife Nancy have been supporting the
medical center since 1988 through several ways including
deferred charitable gift annuities. The hospital benefits while
providing income and tax savings for the Lagrews – a
win-win for all!
Many companies and physicians groups prefer to support
the medical center through event sponsorship, such as our
Spring Gala and Corporate Golf Classic. Many Saddleback
Memorial employees give through payroll deductions
while retired staff give other ways like the nurses who give
towards scholarships.
Whether it’s a cash donation or including Saddleback
Memorial in a bequest, every dollar counts and impacts the
lives of many. For that, we are grateful.
Ease of Automated Giving
Automatic monthly
donations have made Jack
and Diane Hecht an
integral part of the healing
mission at Saddleback
Memorial that they care so
much about sustaining.
Through an automatic recurring gift, funds are securely
transferred from a bank or credit card account to the Foundation.
And as Jack and Diane do, funds may be designated to a certain
area of service at the hospital.
“We’re able to give a small amount on a regular basis. Using a
debit from my bank is secure and so much easier than writing a
check every month,” says Jack, a retired manager of nationwide
metal recycling companies and donor since 2010.
Born in Germany, Jack fled with his parents to Shanghai, China
during the Holocaust, before finding a way into the United
States. His early years gave him a deep appreciation for suffering,
and life.
“It was Jack who first had the idea to share what we have – I
really admire that about him,” says Diane, a native of Brooklyn,
NY, mother, grandmother, retired schoolteacher, and Jack’s wife
of 58 years.
Two of Jack and Diane’s grandsons were born at Saddleback
Memorial, before the couple moved to Laguna Woods in 2006.
Since then, both octogenarians have been patients at the hospital.
“The older we get, the less we take health for granted, because
when you don’t have your health, nothing else really matters,”
reflects Diane. “Our small sum adds up. Helping fund advances
like Saddleback Memorial’s new beds and linear accelerator to
fight cancer continues to give us a lot of personal satisfaction.”
Nurses Give Back
In 2013, four retired Saddleback Memorial registered nurses, Connie Beaman, Carleen Fellows, Carol Hadley and Marcie Smith,
started the “Nurses 4 Nurses” scholarship award to help Saddleback Memorial nurses in their educational pursuits. This year
registered nurse, Mary Ann Davidson also contributed to “Nurses 4 Nurses,” which will aid recipient Michelle Findlater in furthering
her education. The Foundation is grateful for the nurses’ continued investment in their fellow colleagues as Saddleback Memorial
employees strive to enhance their skills and ultimately provide quality care to our patients.
In addition to Michelle, 32 other deserving Saddleback Memorial employees received scholarships to help them pursue their
educational goals. This year more than $55,500 in scholarships were granted at the 37th annual Scholarship Awards.
Funding for these scholarships was made possible through the generosity of Foundation board member Gary Damsker, Joyce and
David Rabinov, M.D., Saddleback Kiwanis, Saddleback Memorial Foundation’s Endowment Fund and Jerry Werner.
Since the scholarship fund was established in 1977, nearly $1 million in scholarships ranging from $100 to $5,000 have been
awarded to over 550 valued employees at Saddleback Memorial.
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Planned Giving
Nancy and David Lagrew, M.D.:
A Portrait of Giving
Advantages of a Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity
David Lagrew, M.D. calls the Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity
(DCGA) he made to Saddleback Memorial a “win-win-win” for his
family’s financial security, his community’s hospital, and his own
patients – women receiving care for high-risk pregnancies.
Dr. Lagrew observes, “Walking around the campus I see the
overall appearance of the hospital, the new MemorialCare Cancer
Institute, The Women’s Hospital and key pieces of equipment
within the nursery, on the obstetrical floor and in the OR, all here
because of gifts like ours to Saddleback Memorial Foundation.”
When Dr. Lagrew finished his residency and fellowship in the
1980s, he was scrambling to figure out how to get caught up on
student loans. By the mid-90s he was making more and looked for
ways that he and Nancy, a Saddleback Memorial operating room
nurse, could put aside money for retirement. He chose a deferred
charitable gift annuity that helped with their financial security,
while supporting state-of-the-art care.
A DCGA is a charitable planning tool where you gift cash or
appreciated property to Saddleback Memorial in exchange for the
promise to pay you (at a later date that you determine) a fixed
income for the rest of your life. Based on the Lagrew’s ages at the
Four benefits of a DCGA you won’t find in other retirement
plans (like an IRA or 401k):
•A beneficial tactic to use during your highest earning
years due to the charitable tax deduction
•Partial bypass of capital gains tax on appreciated stock
•Partly tax free income
•Charitable gift to an organization that you value
time they set up the DCGA, they agreed to a certain rate and
selected a future date to start receiving payments. They also
received a tax break that same year. David and Nancy now have
the security of knowing they will receive fixed income throughout
their lifetimes with the remainder going to Saddleback Memorial
Foundation to support the hospital they care about.
“…it’s important to set aside
funds for retirement sooner
rather than later.”
David and Nancy have two successful, grown sons. Dr. Lagrew has
tried to impart to his sons that, “There will always be a lot of things
competing for your money, so it’s important to set aside funds for
retirement sooner rather than later.” He adds, “I know a lot more
about medicine than financial planning, but I do know a deferred
charitable gift annuity has many advantages for our family as well
as for the patients of Saddleback Memorial.”
Ways to Give
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The Pulse
Did you know you can make a contribution in support of Saddleback Memorial Medical Center online?
Simply visit www.memorialcare.org/smf and click on the “Give Now” button.
The Pulse is published by
Saddleback Memorial Foundation
24451 Health Center Drive
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 452-3724
FAX (949) 452-3779
Saddleback Memorial Foundation raises philanthropic support for Saddleback Memorial
Medical Center, a community-based, not-for-profit hospital with medical centers in Laguna Hills
and San Clemente.
www.memorialcare.org/smf
Saddleback Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Tax ID Number: 33-0011887.
For more information or to remove your name from our mailing list, please call
(949) 452-3724, or email smf@memorialcare.org.