“Over the past month, more than 2,500 patients have walked through our doors for medical care ranging from primary care and preventive screenings to emergency services and inpatient care,” said Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, Norton Healthcare. “This facility was built to help improve health equity in West Louisville and make access to care easier. This first month of care at Norton West Louisville Hospital is a major step in reaching a community goal of improving health outcomes.”

“The reviews since opening our doors have been excellent,” said Corenza Townsend, chief administrative officer, Norton West Louisville Hospital. “Patients love the ease of access, the feeling of community and the attention we’ve given to the details that make a visit go smoothly.

“We will continue to seek feedback, so that we can continue to meet the needs of our community.”

West Louisville is composed of nine neighborhoods and has endured years of disinvestment. The most recent Health Equity Report published by the Louisville Metro Center for Health Equity still shows that life expectancy for residents of West Louisville is 15 years lower than other areas of the city. The report also shows higher rates of death connected to stroke, heart disease and cancer in this area of Louisville.

Norton West Louisville Hospital has a 24/7 emergency department; inpatient treatment; operating rooms; laboratory services; imaging services, including X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI; and a retail pharmacy. The medical offices inside the hospital house adult primary care providers and specialists in cardiology, endocrinology, orthopedics, pulmonology, surgery, women’s care, oncology/hematology, neurology and neurosurgery. For children, the offices have pediatric primary care providers and specialists in pediatric endocrinology and pediatric oncology/hematology. Both children and adults have access to care from providers with Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute, a part of Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s. Having medical office space inside the hospital, rather than in a separate medical office building, is a unique feature of Norton West Louisville Hospital.

The hospital also has a centralized check-in area, community room, a bistro, outdoor green space and a Dare to Care food pantry.

Norton West Louisville Hospital

• Opened to patients on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024
• Numbers from first month of operation (Monday, Nov. 11 through Tuesday, Dec. 10)
• Number of emergency department visits: 1,363
• Number of surgeries: 52
• Number of inpatient admissions: 37

Imaging 1,875 exams

• Number of X-rays: 854
• Number of CT scans: 758
• Number of MRIs: 126
• Number of mammograms: 68
• Number of ultrasounds: 69

Norton Community Medical Associates and Norton Children’s Medical Group

• Outpatient visits total: 579
• Adult: 466
• Pediatric: 113

Additional areas

• Number of people served through the food pantry: 261
• Number of prescriptions filled: 1,623

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“Norton West Louisville Hospital was constructed to provide access to quality medical treatment by eliminating obstacles so all residents can live a healthy and prosperous life,” said Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, Norton Healthcare. “While we have adult and pediatric medical offices in West Louisville, this state-of-the-art hospital will help us care for more patients and continue to put health equity in the forefront.”

West Louisville is composed of nine neighborhoods and has endured years of disinvestment. The most recent Health Equity Report published by the Louisville Metro Center for Health Equity still shows that life expectancy for residents of West Louisville is 15 years lower than other areas of the city. The report also shows higher rates of death connected to stroke, heart disease and cancer in this area of Louisville.

“As a dad, I know that when your child is hurt or sick, it’s scary. Every minute feels like an eternity,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Now, thanks to our partners at Norton Healthcare, no one in West Louisville will have to wait, because they’ll have a world-class hospital close to home. Thank you for this investment, which will help Kentucky families for generations to come.” 

“The first hospital built in West Louisville in more than 150 years is long overdue, and I am thrilled Norton Healthcare is making this investment in our community and the people who live here,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “I am thankful for Norton Healthcare’s belief in this project and am confident this will improve health, wellness and economic well-being for residents who’ve been underserved for too long.”

Norton West Louisville Hospital has a 24/7 emergency department; inpatient treatment; operating rooms; laboratory services; imaging services, including X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI; and a retail pharmacy. The medical offices inside the hospital house adult primary care providers and specialists in cardiology, endocrinology, orthopedics, pulmonology, surgery, women’s care, oncology/hematology, neurology and neurosurgery. For children, the offices have pediatric primary care and specialists in pediatric endocrinology and pediatric oncology/hematology. Both children and adults have access to care from providers with Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute, a part of Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s. Having medical office space inside the hospital, rather than in a separate medical office building, is a unique feature of Norton West Louisville Hospital.

The hospital also has a centralized check-in area, community rooms, a bistro, outdoor green space and a Dare to Care food pantry.

“Members of our community were instrumental in providing feedback on the services and amenities they wanted to have in their community hospital,” said Corenza Townsend, chief administrative office, Norton West Louisville Hospital. “We hosted several community forums and collected data from a survey that was completed by more than 4,500 people, the majority who live or work in West Louisville. Norton West Louisville Hospital will evolve to meet the community’s needs.”

Special touches found in the $90 million hospital include three construction beams signed by more than 2,000 employees and residents that are displayed outside of the Gouverneur H. Nixon Jr. Community Education Center. With donations made through the Norton Healthcare Foundation, artwork curated by a West Louisville resident — and many pieces by two West Louisville artists — adorn walls throughout the hospital and medical office space.

A special monument honors the medical pioneers of West Louisville who dedicated their lives to providing medical care to people of color in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The monument was funded by the family of Richard S. Wolf, M.D., through the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation, in memory of Dr. Wolf’s life and work as a pediatrician, former medical director at Norton Children’s Hospital and “Mayor” of Safety City. Dr. Wolf was a passionate advocate for access, prevention and wellness for children in our region.   

Norton West Louisville Hospital is located at 850 S. 28th St. on the Norton Healthcare Goodwill Opportunity Campus. It employs more than 350 people in a variety of clinical and nonclinical positions.

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As Norton Healthcare prepares to open the first new hospital west of Ninth Street in 150 years, these early medical pioneers are being honored with a special monument on the Norton Healthcare Goodwill Opportunity Campus.

The monument was funded by the family of Richard S. Wolf, M.D., through the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation, in memory of Dr. Wolf’s life and work as a pediatrician in our community. As the former medical director at Norton Children’s Hospital and Mayor of Safety City, Dr. Wolf was a passionate advocate for access, prevention and wellness for children in our region.      

“When we began researching this project, we uncovered so many stories that needed to be told,” said Corenza Townsend, chief administrative officer, Norton West Louisville Hospital. “Those featured were some of the first to treat citizens in West Louisville or they established a hospital, a medical school and practices that forged a path where none existed.”

These providers include:

• Henry Fitzbutler, M.D., the first Black doctor in Louisville, the first Black student to earn a medical degree from the University of Michigan and founder of Louisville National Medical College.
• Sarah Fitzbutler, M.D., the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in Kentucky after graduating from Louisville National Medical College.
• Artishia Gilbert Wilkerson, M.D., the first Black woman to pass the medical boards and and become a doctor in Kentucky.
• Mary E. Merritt, R.N., the first registered nurse of any race to work in Kentucky, and the recipient of a certificate of merit from President Woodrow Wilson for her service during World War I.
• Mary Etta Porter Potter, M.D., a physician who provided women’s and children’s care out of her home and established the Fraternal Hospital Training School for Nurses.
• John A.C. Lattimore, M.D., a physician as well as organizer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Louisville Urban League.
• Physicians involved in chartering Louisville National Medical College, the only school that accepted Black students. It became known as one of the best U.S. African American medical colleges and the only one owned and operated entirely by African Americans. It later merged with Simmons University, which is now Simmons College of Kentucky.
• Physicians involved in the creation of Red Cross Hospital, a four-bed hospital originally located on Sixth and Walnut streets. It went without gas or electricity for many years and was the only Kentucky hospital to educate Black nurses in the early 1900s.

The monument is on the corner of 28th Street and Garland Avenue, and is surrounded by bricks that were purchased by those interested in providing support to the hospital and this project. In addition to a monument, stories of these pioneers and others can be found at NortonWestLouisvilleHospital.com.

This project also was made possible through input from Berea College Special Collections & Archives, Filson Historical Society, Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation, Norton Healthcare Archives, UofL Kornhauser Health Sciences Library and UofL Libraries Archives & Special Collections.

To provide support or purchase a brick, visit Norton West Louisville Hospital Brick Pavers Project (GiveButter.com).

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The hospital, located at 28th Street and West Broadway, will offer comprehensive services, from primary care and surgery to social support, with a diverse team of providers dedicated to meeting the needs of patients.

Keep reading to meet four compassionate providers who share why they chose to work at Norton West Louisville Hospital and their excitement for making a positive impact on the community.

Kalyn Churchill, APRN: Commitment to community health

Kalyn Churchill, APRN, a primary care nurse practitioner who will work with adult patients, feels a strong connection to West Louisville, where her two children attend elementary school.

“I honestly feel called to be in this position,” she said. “There’s no other community that I’d rather serve.”

Kalyn’s husband and his family are West Louisville natives, and she is passionate about supporting patients who have historically faced barriers to accessing quality health care.

“For the years that I’ve been here, I’ve been deeply connected to this community,” she said.

Kalyn enjoys educating patients, helping them meet their health care goals and understanding the importance of taking preventive measures to live longer, healthier lives. She values getting to know her patients and their families on a more personalized level. With a focus on building trust and relationships in her practice, she hopes to create a welcoming environment where people feel comfortable seeking medical care.

Kaylyn says traditionally underserved areas often lack access to health care.

“I believe Norton West Louisville Hospital is here to make that change,” she said.

Melinda C. Ruberg, M.D.: Making health care accessible for all

Melinda C. “Mel” Ruberg, M.D., medical director of Norton West Louisville Hospital, values inclusivity in health care, putting patients at the center of her work.

“We want everyone who walks through the doors of this hospital to feel like they belong,” she said.

Dr. Ruberg will be a family medicine provider, interacting with patients of all ages, and looks forward to creating a compassionate and welcoming environment for all West Louisville families.

“I like putting family in the center of medicine, so if patients want to come in with 11 family members and we go through the entire family medical history at the same time, I’m all in,” she said.

As a lifelong Kentuckian, Dr. Ruberg believes Norton West Louisville Hospital will provide an opportunity for equitable health care access across Louisville. It is the first hospital to be built west of Ninth Street in the past 150 years. She looks forward to helping build up the community, after understanding barriers that have historically existed.

“I had a roommate in medical school who was from the West End, [and] that helped to really take my blinders off, and I attribute a lot of what I know about the West End to him,” she said.

Stephen J. Kelty, M.D.: Bringing surgical expertise to the community

As chief of surgery, Stephen J. Kelty, M.D., brings over 33 years of experience to Norton West Louisville Hospital, with a passion for providing surgical care to those who need it most.

“This opportunity coincided with my interest in medical mission work overseas,” he said.

Dr. Kelty, a Louisville native, is excited about the range of surgical services the hospital will provide, including general surgery and advanced abdominal and esophageal endoscopies.

He looks forward to performing a variety of surgical procedures for patients, including abdominal, breast, thyroid, hernia and gall bladder operations, plus colonoscopy screenings and more.

“The equipment, materials and technology at the hospital are all top-of-the-line,” he said. “Patients can be very assured that they are going to get really good care here.”

Aisha Rucker, LCSW: Addressing social determinants of health

With 20 years of experience, licensed clinical social worker Aisha Rucker, LCSW, has a passion for people.

“There is something in our DNA; once you’re called to serve, you want to go serve,” she said.

Aisha will be the hospital’s manager of social work and care continuum, which is a role dedicated to addressing the social factors that impact the overall health of patients in West Louisville.

According to recent Louisville health equity reports, the life expectancy of residents in West Louisville is more than 10 years less than those living in other areas of town. Disproportionate health outcomes in the Black community also were apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, which added fuel to Aisha’s passion to serve her community.

“Most of my formative years were here in West Louisville, so it’s kind of personal,” she said. “The West End has more diversity than just the Black community, but the majority of West Louisville is Black people, people who look like me,” Aisha said. “I wanted to serve the people who look like me, and hopefully we can close the health disparity gaps we’ve seen throughout history.”

Aisha’s team will support patients by identifying social determinants of health, so the patients continue to have support after they leave the hospital — whether that is via connecting patients with necessary medical equipment or providing other resources for basic needs. The team will work with patients to detect disparities, such as transportation, housing and food insecurity. Patients will have access to a food pantry inside the hospital.

Social workers also can provide therapeutic support for people navigating life transitions or a new diagnosis.

“This hospital is a place of healing,” said Aisha, who believes that hospital leadership and staff share this common mission. “I think people are going to experience that [healing] when they come to Norton West Louisville Hospital.”

Looking ahead to opening day

Norton West Louisville Hospital’s team of experienced health care professionals is excited to serve the West Louisville community. The new hospital will begin welcoming patients on Nov. 11, 2024.

The post Introducing the care team at Norton West Louisville Hospital appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

The new hospital will include a 24/7 emergency department, inpatient treatment, operating rooms, laboratory services, imaging services (including X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI) and a retail pharmacy. Outpatient office space will include adult and pediatric primary care, women’s services (including obstetrics and gynecology), cardiology, orthopedics, diabetes care, behavioral health services and more.

Norton Healthcare broke ground on the new hospital in June 2022, and construction began on what is the first new hospital to be built in West Louisville in more than 150 years. In a partnership with Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, together the two organizations will bring a wealth of services and health care to a single location. Goodwill’s Opportunity Center is part of the campus and provides social services with various community partners.

Based on community feedback, Norton West Louisville Hospital will feature a centralized check-in area, community room, outdoor green space and a food pantry. In addition, work from local artists will be on display in the facility.

Norton West Louisville Hospital has created more than 380 jobs. For more information on available jobs, visit NortonHealthcare.com/NWLH-Jobs.

The post Norton West Louisville Hospital announces opening day appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

The community recently received a sneak peek of the hospital as the building continues to take shape at 28th Street and Broadway. The 86,500 square-foot facility, located on the Norton Healthcare Goodwill Opportunity Campus, is designed to meet the unique needs of the West Louisville community.

“We made a promise to our community that we were going to build an innovative Norton Healthcare facility in West Louisville, and here we stand,” said Corenza Townsend, chief administrative officer of Norton West Louisville Hospital.

As the first hospital built west of Ninth Street in over 150 years, the state-of-the-art facility aims to improve the health and well-being of the West Louisville community for generations to come.

A welcoming entrance

Upon entering the hospital, visitors are greeted by a centralized check-in area with an abundance of natural lighting, creating an inviting and warm atmosphere that sets the tone for the hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care in the community.

First floor features

The hospital’s first floor includes a variety of amenities, such as a kitchen and bistro that offers refreshments and snacks for patients and visitors. Nearby, patients will find a Norton Medical Group office that will house specialties including primary care, women’s services, pediatrics, orthopedics and other services. An on-site retail pharmacy will provide a convenient one-stop shop for various health care needs.

The hospital actively sought community feedback over the past two years, which inspired a community room. This versatile space is equipped with A/V capabilities, TV monitors and plenty of seating to host community meetings, events or seminars on topics such as finances or nutrition. A chapel can be found nearby.

Additionally, the emergency department, located on the north end of the building, features private patient rooms to help enhance patient comfort and privacy, with the hospital’s imaging and lab services nearby.

Second floor amenities

The second floor houses the hospital’s comprehensive surgical services, including operating rooms and designated pre- and post-operative areas. The hospital has 20 inpatient beds, and each room is designed to further promote peace and healing. Each patient room features 9-foot windows offering views of the private rooftop patio greenspace outside, creating a serene and healing environment.

Patients also can find a food pantry on the second floor, thanks to the hospital’s partnership with Dare to Care Food Bank. Here, a fully stocked and refrigerated food pantry will be available to help support patients in need.

Comprehensive health care services

The hospital will provide a wide array of services, including:

• Emergency department
• Surgical services
• Adult primary care (with extended hours)
• Pediatric primary care (with extended hours)
• Pharmacy
• Inpatient unit
• Outpatient lab and diagnostic imaging (mammography, CT, ultrasound)
• Women’s services
• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Orthopedics
• Behavioral health
• Back and neck pain care
• Hematology
• Neurology
• Pulmonary care
• Pediatric specialized care (asthma and sickle cell treatment)

A community effort

From the hospital’s inception, Norton Healthcare incorporated community feedback, ensuring the final design reflects the needs and desires of the West Louisville community. To further promote diversity on the jobsite, Norton Healthcare partnered with the Louisville Urban League and general contractor Harmon/Messer to provide jobs to women and minorities through the Urban Workforce Development Initiative.

“We’ve done things differently here. We’ve engaged people differently here,” Corenza said. “To see the love this facility is getting, to see people come together to make sure that our kids and our kids’ kids are healthier. We need each other, and to take care of our health — that’s why we’re here.”

Norton West Louisville Hospital is scheduled to open in November.

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“This is one of the most exciting parts of this whole project for me – finding the compassionate caregivers who will make history at this new facility,” said Corenza Townsend, chief administrative officer, Norton West Louisville Hospital.

Hiring of key leadership roles began late last year as part of a phased approach to hiring. Phase 2 welcomed additional leadership, who will play a role in this new hiring phase.

Available positions include the following areas:

“We’re looking for people who want to make an impact,” Corenza said. “You need to believe in Norton Healthcare’s mission and want to be part of changing health care in our community.”

The post Norton West Louisville Hospital is now hiring appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

The ride begins in front of the Norton Cancer Institute, where every day, patients undergo the latest cancer treatments, research is conducted, and people support their loved ones.

For most riders, getting on the bike is personal. For Chris Crews and his wife Monica, this event is part memorial, part victory ride and part holiday.

A diagnosis

After a chiropractor’s X-ray showed some irregular results in 2010, Chris went to his family physician. There were more tests, including a CT scan and a biopsy, which confirmed the worst: cancer. Chris was eventually diagnosed with lymphoma. He was 36 years old.

Through it all, Chris’s mom, Alberta, was there for him. “She was my biggest supporter,” he said. Mother and son spoke often over the years of intense treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation. Finally, Chris was in the clear – the oncologist told him to keep up with yearly bloodwork with his regular physician.

The family didn’t have very long to revel in Chris’s cancer-free status — Alberta was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2017. During her treatment, it was Chris’s turn to be a source of comfort, information and support for his mom. “She would call to talk about treatments and what to expect and that kind of thing.”

A Special Bond

Chris and Alberta always had a close relationship. “I’m much younger than my three older siblings, so they were out of the house by then,” Chris said. He was eight when his father passed away. “It was just me and my mom.” Alberta focused on her son and her Catholic faith to get her through difficult times.

They spoke often, especially during their respective cancer diagnoses. Two themes stand out to Chris about chats during that time, wisdom from a woman who had lived 73 years in this world: life is short and take care of your health. “My diagnosis and then my mom’s diagnosis really made me aware of my health in general,” he said.

Perhaps the strong bond between mother and son, catalyzed by their cancer diagnoses, was what made her death in 2018 so devastating.

Just like riding a bike

A vacation in 2019 sparked Chris and his wife Monica into more serious cycling. “We rented bikes on the trip and when we got back, we started biking for health reasons.” That was also their first year participating in Bike to Beat Cancer.

“It’s odd, I remember my first oncology visit at Norton Cancer Institute. There were these brochures in the waiting room for Bike to Beat Cancer,” Chris said. “I thought, ‘Well, that’s interesting but that’s not for me.’” Little did he know that less than a decade later, he and his wife and a team of supporters would create their own little holiday around this event.

Since 2019, Chris, Monica, and a rotating team of family and friends have ridden in BTBC. “We have always done 35 miles, but maybe this year we will make the jump to 62, or maybe 100,” the couple said.

A Holiday in September

For the Crewses, BTBC is a celebration, a memorial and an athletic event all rolled into one two-day event. “It really starts the day before the actual ride, at the Celebration of Courage,” Chris said. “Picking up packets and so forth, it all has a very welcoming and festive feel.” The next day, after fueling up with breakfast, they head to the starting line.

“There’s a tremendous sense of community, of support,” Chris said. “They treat the riders so well, it’s a really well-run and organized event. We look forward to this all year.”

Riding this route mimics a cancer journey. “There are ups and downs, there are times when you feel really good, and times when you have to push through,” Chris said. “My mom and I, during our treatments, rallied around the idea of one day at a time. If that’s too much, get through the next 6 hours. If that’s too much, get through the next hour. Or the next 15 minutes.” The name “Team 182” is a reference to Alberta’s days in retail. “Her timeclock number was 182,” Chris said. “Her motto was to just keep going, moving forward, one foot in front of the other.” Or in this case, one more push of the pedal.

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At the front of the room, Lloyd Kelly greets his class of about 20 with a fist-to-palm salute. He bows his head and says, “ni hao,” greeting them in Chinese. The class repeats it back to him.

From there, he leads them in a 1½-hour tai chi course. The Chinese art form is known for its slow, intentional movements as a form of gentle exercise and meditation.

For this group, though, tai chi is much more than just a 90-minute class, two times a week. Almost all the class participants have been diagnosed with a neurological condition, and the slow movements are a way to improve balance, stability and movement — all things the neurological conditions have robbed from them over the years.

It’s also a chance to connect with people and form a bond with those who’ve shared similar life experiences.

This class, made possible by Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Centers and the Norton Healthcare Foundation, is celebrating 10 years in existence.

‘My passion is to help people’

Lloyd Kelly found tai chi at 10 years old.

His father was a pilot in the Air Force. His commanding officer had a passion for martial arts and would practice them on base. The officer loved it so much, he even offered classes for the pilots and their families at the base gym.

Lloyd tried tai chi and was instantly hooked.

“I saw that going on, and I said, ‘I don’t know what that is, but that’s cool,’” Lloyd said.

Lloyd practiced it ever since, and eventually went from student to teacher, quickly earning his certifications and teaching tai chi across the state of Kentucky. Ten years ago, Norton Neuroscience Institute called and asked Lloyd to lead a class for patients with neurological conditions. He agreed.

The first class in 2014 on the Norton Brownsboro Hospital campus had fewer than 10 participants. Ten years later, the class has grown to roughly two dozen people; many haven’t missed a class in years.

“My passion is to help people, so I’m really into the medical aspect of tai chi,” Lloyd said. “It’s been gratifying and life-changing for me, and I have a lot of gratitude to Norton Healthcare, because they had the foresight [to offer this program]. A lot of people see tai chi and they think, ‘Oh, it’s woo woo. It might be alternative medicine.’ This is not alternative medicine. It’s complementary. It’s to complement other medications and therapy. So it’s not to compete. It’s to add on.”

‘It just feels comfortable’

Susan Small was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1985.

Her diagnosis came with a flurry of emotions, but mostly fear of the unknown and the future. Susan was a pharmacist, and scoured libraries to find information about her condition. While she dug for knowledge, she bounced from doctor to doctor, looking for someone who could help her.

At the same time, she began to lose her balance. She fell several times, needing multiple surgeries as a result of her injuries.

In the beginning, it was scary.

“There were no [disease-modifying] drugs, no internet, no place for me to go for information,” Susan said. “By the time you get in to see a neurologist, they couldn’t even give you a diagnosis. But at the time, they couldn’t do anything about it anyway. So by then, I just got on with my life and stopped drowning in my condition. I decided, ‘you know what, I’m not going to let this possess me.’”

Determined not to allow her diagnosis to define her, Susan stayed active and eventually came across information about the “Neuro Tai Chi” class. She decided to give it a try and showed up for the first day of class back in 2014.

“I remember the first day of class,” Susan said. “It was so early in the morning. I remember I had to set my alarm, roll out of bed — and my husband made me a huge thermos full of tea. And I was sitting in the chair so tired.”

Despite the early wake-up calls, Susan quickly noticed something was changing. The more she attended class, the more her balance and stability improved. More than that, she felt like her memory was beginning to improve. It was exhilarating. She didn’t miss a class for 18 months.

“This class has helped me in so many ways,” Susan said. “It was like I was eating it up. I couldn’t not come, because I could tell it was helping me. I had to come, even if it was at 8:30 every morning. It was like this drive in me, and I could sense it in my body. It wasn’t just weight distribution and balance. It was my brain. There was something I was sensing that my brain was making the new connections. I can’t even really explain it, but I could do things [that I couldn’t before]. It was like my brain was picking up the signals. Now I know it’s neuroplasticity in the brain, where one side takes over for the damaged cells on the other.”

From there, she began recruiting others to join. Edi Deering was one of them.

Edi, diagnosed with MS in 1986, already had been taking tai chi at a different location. She agreed to try the class at Norton Healthcare. She hasn’t looked back either.

“It just feels comfortable, and it’s very good,” Edi said. “The balance and exercise of it, but the camaraderie of it too: People are very compassionate here, and Lloyd is fantastic about not making us feel bad. He shows us how to do it right and then allows us to do it as right as we can. Because everybody has their own limitations and body mechanics that either work or don’t work.”

‘That is the promise we made’

Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Center was officially established in 2013, as a place to provide help with the day-to-day challenges of living with a neurological condition. It’s part of Norton Neuroscience Institute’s goal to care for the whole person, not just the condition.

The goal is to offer ways to improve access to care, provide information on disease management and address quality of life issues. The support is offered at no cost patients and their families, thanks to the support of donations through the Norton Healthcare Foundation.

“That is the promise we made our community, to give them the support they need free of charge,” said Yvette Cabrera-Rojas, director, Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Centers. “Without the Norton Healthcare Foundation, we would not be able to offer these incredible classes to our community. It’s plain and simple — without the Foundation, we would not have a Resource Center.”

At Norton Neuroscience Resource Centers, licensed clinical social workers help individuals who are in crisis and work with patients to determine short- and long-term plans. Four nurse navigators are tasked with educating patients and families about their conditions and available treatments, while ensuring there are no barriers between patients and treatment plans. Coordinators are also on staff to create and develop programming for each condition.

“We focus on what [patients] can do and what they cannot do,” Yvette said. “We also give them a platform so they can make friendships with people who share the same life experiences as them. It’s all because they have things in common. These groups truly understand each other. They know.”

Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Center programming is offered both virtually and in person. Offerings include exercise classes, therapeutic classes, educational programs and support groups. In 2023, attendance reached nearly 10,000 across the platforms. Also in 2023, the Norton Healthcare Foundation committed a minimum $100,000 to general programming and support and $64,000 to Parkinson’s disease programming.

’It’s an awesome bond, it really is’

Ten years in, Edi and Susan are still here, practicing tai chi with Lloyd and their tai chi family.

“For me personally, it’s been a wonderful experience,” Lloyd said. “It’s so gratifying to see people doing well, feeling better, be able to have a better quality of life. That’s life-changing to be able to provide that.”

Edi just celebrated her 80^th birthday, while Susan is now a certified tai chi instructor. They’re just two of many who’ve benefited over the years, thanks to Lloyd’s instruction and love of tai chi.

“It’s an awesome bond; it really is,” Susan said. “Because you get to a point where you think, ‘This is the group, and we protect the group.’”

The post Norton Neuroscience Institute’s “Neuro Tai Chi” class celebrates 10 years of helping patients with movement disorders appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

As a two-time cancer survivor, it was overwhelming to be a part of the event’s survivor’s parade. In 2015, Claudia had melanoma. Then, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in 2021. It was the same year she first signed up for Bike to Beat Cancer — but her cancer diagnosis derailed those plans. Less than two years later, she was back in the ride as a survivor, healthy and overwhelmed with emotions.

“I’m not a big emotional person, but I just cried,” Claudia said. “It was amazing: the feeling that you made it, and you’re there helping other people that are coming after you. And what a difference it can make, every little bit does.”

In her job at the hospital, Claudia provides physical therapy for patients, and while she works with all types of people, she often finds herself assisting cancer patients on the oncology floor.

“I try to be someone who is there for people, especially those who don’t have support or family. I’ve been with people in the room when a doctor told them they have cancer that can never be cured,” she said.

In addition to guiding patients through their physical therapy treatment plans, Claudia tries to be a calm and supportive voice. She remembers what it was like to feel shocked and scared during her own cancer experience.

“I had to get four surgeries on my face to remove the skin cancer,” Claudia said. “After I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I needed surgery, plus six months of treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation.”

According to Claudia, she was able to remain positive during her cancer journey by relying on God, her husband, Gary, and a solid group of family, close friends and her oncology team at Norton Cancer Institute. The support she received underlies her personal mission of being there for others, especially those who face similar battles.

Fighting cancer “is something you do with others — not by yourself. Especially for me, it was hard accepting help when you’re always the one building people up,” Claudia said. “It’s important to allow others to help you.”

Claudia just finished a yearlong doctorate-level certification as a precursor to launching her own business as a life coach. She plans her first group sessions to be with cancer survivors. 

For this year’s Bike to Beat Cancer, Claudia plans to do either a 15-mile or 35-mile ride. During her ride, she will rely on the support of her team, just like she did during her cancer treatment. Her goal is to cross the finish line — not only for herself, but for other cancer survivors and patients.

“The whole theme of the [ride] is what it’s going to take to try and find a cure,” she said. “It’s all about working together and relying on other people.”

Because fighting cancer takes a team. And finding a cure for cancer takes an even bigger team, a community, and a lot of hope. But with the support of others, anything is possible. Even the toughest challenges.

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