Ellicottville, NY – Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Olean General Hospital (OGH), Kaleida Health facilities, will host the 2^nd Annual Pulse of the Community Gala on Friday, September 20.

            The event is presented by the Bradford Hospital Foundation and Olean General Hospital Foundation to unite to improve cancer care services in the region.  The black-tie event will run from 5:30 pm to 10 pm at Holiday Valley Resort’s main lodge with a rolling agenda. 

            “After the success of last year’s inaugural event that supported heart and vascular services at both hospital campuses, we knew that this would be an annual event to help enhance our local healthcare services,” said Stacy Williams, executive director, Bradford Hospital Foundation. “All funds such as sponsorships raised in each community for this event stays local at that local hospital campus.”

            Last year’s Pulse of the Community Gala event raised over $143,000 for local heart and vascular services. These funds were used to launch the practice of Dr. Thomas Langan, vascular surgery, in Olean and the opening of the advanced procedure lab set to open this Fall bringing some outpatient procedures back to BRMC.

            The celebration will also recognize the previous Golden Stethoscope and Nightingale award recipients.  The Golden Stethoscope is presented to a physician who exhibits an exceptional level of professionalism, integrity, and teamwork in caring for patients and families, as well as interacting with hospital staff and other physicians. This is given out twice a year to a physician throughout the healthcare system. The two providers that will be recognized at this year’s event will be Christian Wilson, MD, hospitalist, OGH, and Sarmad Baloch, MD, hospitalist, medical director, OGH.

The Nightingale award, named after Florence Nightingale, is awarded to a nurse who provides exceptional patient care, excels in patient and family teachings, creates an environment of efficient open communication with patients, as well as serving as a role model for peers. This prestigious award is presented quarterly to one nurse. The nightingale honorees include Ashley Ameis, RN, and Deborah Knier, RN.

 “This is a great way to honor these devoted community members that provide altruistic care to our family, friends, and neighbors. Also, promoting the message of unity in our region for a cause that affects all of us in some way: knowing someone who was diagnosed or has battled cancer,” said Steve Jackson, president, OGH Foundation. “Our communities are fortunate enough to have several options to aide in their fight against cancer whether it be surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Many rural areas don’t have these services so close to home!”

The average travel time for an individual from a small rural town to travel for essential cancer care services is 59 minutes. Some treatments require multiple trips per week. The average travel time to the Mildred Milliman Radiation Medicine Center was 35 minutes. The center has treated over 4,000 local patients since it’s opening which totals over 76,100 treatments. The medical oncology sites at Barry Street Health Center in Olean and the oncology suite inside BRMC saw a total of 1,590 patients in 2023.

As an affiliate of the Roswell Park Care Network, the radiation medicine and medical oncology services are supplied with additional resources to support the services.

“What the community should know is that chemotherapy treatments and radiation medicine treatments are managed by Roswell Park physicians right here in our own communities. These doctors have access to a wealth of support from fellow Roswell Park providers. Our community members can be treated right here in their own community to save time and be cared for by people that live and work in their community,” added Jackson.

To support the cause, anyone can purchase a ticket for $150 each which includes an open bar at the beginning of the event, endless hors d’oeuvres, as well as an entry into a $10,000 diamond pendant giveaway, which was donated by ADJ ASK Design Jewelers.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://e.givesmart.com/events/zxk/ or www.brmc-ogh.org.

Photo Caption: The inaugural Pulse of the Community Gala raised over $140,000 for heart & vascular services for both Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital. The Gala included a $10,000 diamond earrings giveaway donated by ADJ ASK Design Jewelers.