Paul & Paula Nicoletti welcome guests to the Magic Carpet Ride Gala

Thanks to the support of donors, sponsors, guests and this year’s gala committee, over $360,000 was raised for the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, which provides free health care to uninsured Martin County residents who earn less than 200 percent of the poverty level.

“The Magic Carpet Ride was a total success,” said Stuart City Manager, Paul Nicoletti, who co-chaired the gala with his wife, Paula, a member of the FVIM board.

As City Manager, Nicoletti supports VIM Clinic because it provides a critical service to the community. He thinks this year’s success marked something of a turning point “out of the economic doldrums and into a new era of volunteerism in our community.”

Dancers Yvonne Dudley & Megan Miller greet arriving guests

As guests arrived at Mariner Sands, they were escorted up the breezeway under the swirling veils of the dancers, then met at the door by the Nicolettis. Inside, some guests really got into the spirit of the evening by getting on the floor with professional belly dancer and instructor, Yvonne Dudley.

In addition to the fine dining and dancing, guests bid on their choice of silent auction items that included travel packages, golf trips, artwork and baskets full of delectable delights, all of which were donated to the fundraising cause.

Don Harvey wins box seats to an NFL game

Among the team of volunteers were auctioneers Tom Lyng, his father Joe Lyng and brother Joe Lyng Jr., who got bidders’ juices stirring during the live auction. At one point, a sponsor made an impromptu offer of NFL box seats that generated some very lively bidding and an extra $1,600.

Other live auction items included a natural Black Tahitian pearl necklace donated by Just Gold Jewelers, and a 10.52 carat, multicolored gemstone earrings created specifically for the evening’s theme by Diamonds by Terry.

Vickie Dodds ARNP, models the Black Tahitian Pearls donated by Just Gold Jewelers

Mariner Sands resident Joe Day won the prize drawing of the evening — his choice of a selection of diamond jewelry valued at $10,000 by Vivid Diamonds.
Mark Robitaille, president and CEO of Martin Health System was the honorary chair, in recognition of the support MHS provides VIM Clinic each year. MHS supplies about $6 million a year in free diagnostic and testing services for VIM Clinic patients.
“As Volunteers in Medicine celebrates its 17th anniversary this year, we look forward to recognizing other outstanding contributors to our community,” Nicoletti said.
Mary Fields, VIM Clinic’s executive director said the gala raised more than half the clinic’s annual operating budget of just over $710,000. However, there is a huge multiplier effect because of the clinic’s large corps of volunteers.

“We’re able to provide more than $8 million in health care services because of our volunteers,” she pointed out. The clinic relies heavily on lay and medical volunteers, and the gala is VIM’s major source of fundraising.

So, while attendees had a good time, Nicoletti said, “more importantly, they see the benefit they bring to those in need.”

“The 2012 Gala represents all that is good and generous in our community,” he added.

Volunteers have donated a total of 90,000 hours to VIM Clinic. From January through November of 2011 alone, 99 volunteers have contributed more than $463,000 worth of their time and talent.

To honor their contribution, a volunteer appreciation party was held Nov. 22 at The Yacht and Country Club in Stuart. About 70 guests attended the event sponsored by Gail and Lois Warden.

“We don’t exist as a clinic without all the great people who volunteer so much,” said Dr. Howard Voss, who became volunteer Medical Director in 2002, along with founder Dr. Fred Carter. Dr. Carter died in 2006.

In fact, if you add up all the hours Dr. Voss has worked at VIM Clinic, his contribution is worth well in excess of $1.5 million, said Ivins Steinhauer, president of The Friends of Volunteers in Medicine Clinic board of directors.

“We keep telling him we’re going to have to double his wages,” Steinhauer joked. “We really have to be thankful to the wonderful physicians and all the other people who have been so generous to us,” he noted.

Steinhauer thanked Dr. Bill Tozzo and his wife June, who funded VIM Clinic’s mortgage until it was retired this year, and have now established a building fund to help meet future expansion needs.

“Without that support, we would not be able to do what we are presently doing, and I have to admit, the need has never been greater than now,” Steinhauer said. “And from what we all hear in the news, I don’t think that’s about to change.”

Steinhauer and Dr. Voss both acknowledged the value of partnerships with Martin Health System and community physicians in meeting the growing need for health care among Martin County residents.

“Our patient population has changed,” Dr. Voss noted. “We have patients now who never dreamed that they would need to have medical care given to them. These are people who had jobs, put their kids through school and paid their mortgages. And that’s been a failure. But in Martin County, we can still provide them with health care.”

Mark Robitaille, president and CEO of Martin Health System, worked with the late Dr. Carter in getting VIM Clinic established in 1995. He’s the honorary chair of VIM’s upcoming Gala fundraiser at Mariner Sands Country Club on Jan. 28.

“It’s really been one of the highlights of my career to have been involved with this wonderful organization from the start,” Robitaille told the gathering.

Noting that VIM Clinic is “clearly serving a need,” he commended the devotion and dedication of all the volunteers in meeting the health care needs of less fortunate Martin County residents.

“We’re just honored at Martin Memorial to be part of this, and to be able to serve the community through the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic.”

We sincerely hope everyone enjoyed the wonderful luncheon and learned some creative decorating tips for their holiday tables.

Each attendee received a personal invitation to visit VIM Clinic and we very much hope everyone will take us up on this offer!  Of course, everyone is welcome to visit VIM Clinic. We would love to show you what we do, and how your support makes a huge difference every day.

Our Creative Entertaining luncheon could not have been such a great success without the help and support of many dear friends. In particular, we extend our warmest thanks to:

♥ Claudette Bublak and Patrick Brown of Calico Corners for all their work with the gorgeous tablescapes.

♥ Stacy Silvestri of Calico Corners for her generous sponsorship and support.

♥ Paula Nicoletti for all her hard work in planning, organizing and promoting this inaugural event, along with Paul Nicoletti for his help and support. The Nicolettis will be preparing a dinner for up to six people, which was served up as a live auction item.

♥ David Moore & Dr. Kathy Santoriello for donating a three-hour sunset cruise for six on their private yacht.

♥ The City of Stuart Police Department for donating a day with Chief Ed Morley.

♥ Brenda Lytton of Mariner Sands Country Club and Ana Hernandez of All Spiced Up for their contributions to our Creative Entertaining cookbook.

♥ Joanna Silvestri & Linda Mancuso of Mariner Sands Country Club for all their help, and to the Pro Shop at Mariner Sands for their gift donation.

♥ Joe Day of Fresh Designs of Stuart, Kilwin’s Chocolates, Country Club Florist, Importico’s Bakery Café, and Stephen Bonanno of The Original Bonanno’s Sandals, all of whom generously donated prizes and auction items.

♥ Kathy DeMont for being our wonderful auctioneer!

Again, we would love to show you what we do at VIM Clinic.  Just give us a call at 772-463-4128 Ext. 211.

Thank you for everything you do!

Sheila Anderson, ARNP Student

Sheila Anderson originally wanted to major in business or become a lawyer. But somehow, she says, “I fell into nursing and I’ve never looked back.”

Sheila started her health care career as a medical assistant and worked for an oncologist for seven years. She decided to further her education and become an RN. Six years later, she returned to school to become a nurse practitioner, while continuing to work at Hematology, Oncology Associates of the Treasure Coast.

She came to VIM Clinic to do her clinical rotation under the guidance of Clinical Director Betty Tsarnas ARNP.

“One of the doctors I work for, Dr. Paul Swanson, recommended I come here,” she said. “He spoke so highly of Betty Tsarnas, my preceptor.”

Betty was instrumental is setting up VIM Clinic before it opened in 1995. Because of her enormous contributions to the community, she recently was inaugurated into the Alumni Hall of Fame at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University.

For Sheila Anderson, working at VIM Clinic has been an eye-opening experience on many levels. “It’s not at all what I expected,” she said. “I mean, I can’t even begin to describe how fortunate the patients are for the care they receive here,” she said.

“I thought it would be like a clinic that only provided limited care and benefits to the patients, but these patients get everything. They get better services than what an HMO or PPO would provide them.”

She is most struck by the care and compassion among the providers who donate their time, expertise and services. “They really take a lot of time, one on one,” she said. “They have a lot of patience, a lot of understanding. They just have a lot of care and compassion for the patients, and I’ve never seen that.”

The work at VIM is very rewarding,  Sheila said, and the learning environment is “wonderful.” In fact, her time at VIM has had a very personal impact.

“It’s been an eye-opener for me in terms my own personal health, the complications you can have just by not having a healthy lifestyle,” she explained. “Things that can be prevented if you just take the time to do little modifications in your life and diet.”

During Sheila’s time at VIM, she embarked on her own quest for a healthier lifestyle –  and had lost 35 pounds!

Timmie Mason, 64 "The Flower Man"

Timmie Mason, 64, is known as “the flower man” at VIM Clinic, because he always comes with lovely flowers to brighten up the office.

“I always bring a bouquet because I really love this place,” Timmie says. “Outstanding people work here. They have really helped me out a hundred and fifty percent.”

The Masons have lived in Martin County since the 1960s, and raised their five children here. They’ve been clinic patients since 2004, shortly after Timmie lost his job of 20 years. His boss passed away and the business closed.

Tall and slender, Timmie is an insulin-dependent diabetic. His daughter Priscilla, 21, says it runs in his family. “Yeah, all his brothers have diabetes,” she said. “They’ve lost limbs to diabetes. He’s the only one who hasn’t, and that’s because he’s been listening to his doctor.”

Priscilla Mason, 21

The family panicked when Timmie first got sick, because he lost so much weight. He ended up in the hospital for six days, where they discovered his diabetes. When he was discharged, Priscilla said, “we didn’t really know what we were going to do to be able to afford his insulin, his doctors, stuff like that.”

The Mason family has been living on Timmie’s Social Security benefits, which he took early. That brings in $835 a month. His wife Linda, 55, cleans houses with Priscilla’s help.

The familly heard about VIM Clinic from Martin County social service workers, so they went through the screening process to become patients. Priscilla wasn’t eligible at first because she qualified for services from the Martin County Health Department.

When Priscilla turned 18, Linda made sure she applied to VIM Clinic. “We had hard times, you know? We couldn’t put her on Medicaid, and we didn’t have money to take her to a doctor. We always had to run to the emergency room,” Linda said.

Linda herself was “back and forth to the emergency room for two years before we found VIM Clinic,” because of unresolved health issues. “Here, they put me through the right tests, found out what was wrong with me and treated me. They knew exactly what I needed and they took care of it.”

Linda Mason, 55

Linda appreciates the straight talk and caring staff. “They listen to you here,” she says. “You’re treated with dignity and respect. And they tell you like it is, no beating around the bush.”

Timmie chuckles at this. It brings to mind the time he first met Dr. Howard Voss, VIM’s Medical Director. “He told me, ‘Timmie,’ I’m going to tell you right now, if you listen to me, I can help you, but if you don’t listen to me, there’s no sense in you wasting my time.’”

Timmie apparently listened, because his diabetes is under control. He returns to the Clinic every few months for follow-up visits with Dr. Voss. “He tells me, ‘Timmie, you’re my star diabetic patient.’”

He chuckles again and shakes his head. “I love that guy.”

VIM Clinic has been a critical safety net for the Masons in keeping them healthy, but the words they use include “godsend,” and “family,” and “community.” They know everyone’s names at VIM and have their favorites, like “Miss Betty,” the Clinical Director, or “Miss Alice,” the screener.

For his part, Timmie is dreading the day he turns 65 and becomes eligible for Medicare. Once that happens, the flower man will no longer be eligible for Clinic services. “If this clinic wasn’t here, I might not be sitting here today,” he says.

Timmie pauses for a moment, searching for words. “I really love this clinic,” he says. “I mean it.”

Pre-med student Matt McCord gets vitals from patient Michael Gentile

The student program at VIM Clinic has been an unmitigated success, said Medical Director, Dr. Howard Voss. “It makes me very hopeful about the future of health care.”

VIM Clinic is participating in a community-based teaching model with the Florida State University College of Medicine. Third-year medical students are mentored one day a week in a health care facility. Over the course of a year, they get to know the patients and their health issues.

“The students have a unique opportunity at VIM to do initial evaluations and follow-ups on new patients,” Dr. Voss said. “They see the fruits of their medical practices as the patients heal and improve.”

Dr. Voss hopes VIM Clinic’s student program perpetuates excellence in primary care. He’s heartened by students such as Brandon Mauldin, who just completed his year-long rotation at VIM. Mauldin scored in the 93^rd percentile nationally on his internal medicine exam, one of the so-called “shelf exams” that third-year medical students must take.

Mauldin, 27, who has a Master’s degree in epidemiology and infectious diseases from Johns Hopkins University, jumped at the chance to get clinical experience under the mentorship of Dr. Voss.

“I was just totally floored at the opportunity,” Mauldin said. “Dr. Voss spent so much time with me. The really neat thing about Volunteers in Medicine is we do get to spend a lot of time with patients. I’ve learned a lot being immersed in that environment and from the lifetime of knowledge Dr. Voss has.”

Pre-med student Matt McCord and volunteer Cina Crittenden in the records room

Dr. Voss said Mauldin’s academic and clinical growth “was remarkable” at VIM Clinic. “He became a valuable asset in helping me with patients as his abilities grew over the course of the year.”

Impressed by the caliber of FSU medical students he’s mentored so far, Dr. Voss is looking forward to welcoming his third this summer. Meantime, it appears the word is getting out about VIM as a teaching facility.

Four pre-med students from Indian River State College, the University of Florida and Florida Institute of Technology are volunteering for the summer.

Two nurse-practitioner students travelled from Indiana Wesleyan University to do rotations at VIM, as did a pharmacy student finishing her doctoral program at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Also, a Ph.D. candidate in nursing from the University of Central Florida will conduct her dissertation research on Advanced Care Planning in partnership with VIM.

Medical assisting students frequently rotate through VIM Clinic from the Lincoln School of Technology, Keiser University and IRSC.

FIT pre-med student Matt McCord, 21, said he decided to spend his summer volunteering at VIM Clinic to verify if he really wants to become a physician. “It’s certainly a good cause, and it’s an excellent opportunity for patient interaction,” he said.

In addition to taking patients’ vital signs and doing paperwork, McCord gets valuable learning experience from shadowing seasoned health care professionals. “Oh, absolutely,” he said “This has let me know I certainly do want to be a physician.”

For Dr. Voss, “it’s a joy and a privilege,” to participate in the medical training of these outstanding students.

“What’s most gratifying is the fact that they see and experience medicine as it should be, where patient care comes first, and every person is treated with compassion and dignity.”