November 2009

Grinnell Regional Medical Center welcomes Philip D. Sundquist, MD, to the team of five emergency department physicians who provide 24/7coverage at the medical center. Sundquist will begin working in rotation at the emergency department in late November.

Prior to coming on board at GRMC, Sundquist provided care at the Chariton Family Medicine Clinic and the emergency room of the Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, Iowa. He earned his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine, Portsmouth, Dominica. He completed a family practice residency at Tuscaloosa Family Practice Residency Program, Tuscaloosa, Ala., and a fellowship in obstetrics and gynecology at Austin Medical Education Program, Austin, Tex. He is board certified in family practice and had a private family care practice in Uriah, Ala. Sundquist served a tour of duty with the United States Army in Iraq and provided care at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, Tex.

GRMC had been recruiting for an ED physician since James Dy, MD, announced his decision to cut back to occasional status and work only part time in Grinnell.

“I’m really excited to welcome Dr. Sundquist to our emergency department,” explains John Bambara, MD, Emergency Department Medical Director. “He has excellent experience with multiple specialties like family practice, OB, and emergency care. He’ll be a fantastic addition to the department and the care we provide.”

Sundquist grew up in Nephi, Utah, where at the age of 16 he attended a few classes that sparked his interest in medicine and decided at that time to become a physician.

“I decided to come to Iowa to practice because I was looking for a good place to raise my family. We have a 25-acre hobby farm with horses. It’s a great place to live,” Sundquist says.

He and his wife, JoAnn, have six children.

Grinnell Regional Medical Center has received a challenge from seven Grinnell families and organizations that will allow gifts to the annual fund drive to be doubled through Dec. 31, 2009. Sponsors of the “Double Your Impact” challenge are Gerald Bell; Orville Bloethe; John and Marlene Manatt; Merlin and Verna Manatt; Dr. J.R. and Linda Paulson; Ramsey-Weeks Inc.; and Searsboro and Lynnville Telephone Companies.

This challenge comes on the heels of the successful completion of two different “4 to 1 Challenge” grants offered by the Brownell Family Foundation, Grinnell State Bank, the Claude W. Ahrens Charitable Trust, Isadore Berman, and an anonymous donor.

The “Double Your Impact” challenge is available for those who:

• Did not support last year’s annual fund drive.
• Increase their annual fund donation over their 2008 gift, the increase gets doubled.
• Make an additional 2009 annual fund drive, the entire gift gets doubled.

“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of the families and organizations that have collaborated to create this year’s challenges. Every gift is important to us, but thanks to these generous friends, gifts given now have an even greater impact,” says Mindy Uitermarkt, GRMC development director. A gift to the annual fund helps with the basic costs of running a hospital, including funding programs, medical equipment, and supplies.

Welcome the holiday season with the annual holiday wreath raffle sponsored by the Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary. The auxiliary will sell raffle tickets for 30 holiday and winter wreaths, decorated by area businesses and volunteers. Wreaths measure 18 inches in diameter and will fashion a wide variety of themes – from traditional, whimsical and contemporary.

Beginning November 30, wreaths will be displayed at GRMC in the entrance hallways by The Glass Gift Box and laboratory waiting area. The drawing for wreaths will be Thursday, Dec. 17.

This fundraiser for the GRMC Auxiliary supports its various medical center and health education programs, including $10,000 in scholarships, major equipment gifts to the medical center, books and gifts to newborns at the Kintzinger Women’s Health Center, and health education such as the Women’s Health Focus.

“Every year we ask businesses and individuals to donate their time and talent for our wreath raffle and every year they come through for our auxiliary and GRMC. We are very lucky to live in an area where people care,” says Sheila Latcham, auxiliary wreath raffle committee chair. “This holiday display inside GRMC will be absolutely stunning for the holidays.”

Raffle tickets may be purchased at The Glass Gift Box, the auxiliary’s gift shop inside the medical center, for $1 each or 6 for $5, beginning Monday, Nov. 30.