Trios Health recently announced that Judy Folk, RN, has been recognized as the Trios Health 2022 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of LifePoint Health’s facilities who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.

The Mercy Award is an annual recognition program established in 2002 to honor the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, LifePoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a LifePoint employee can receive.

“At Trios Health, we share LifePoint’s commitment to Making Communities Healthier. This mission is best accomplished as employees exemplify compassionate service to others on and off the job,” said Anthony Rodebush, Chief Operating Officer of Trios Health. “We are extremely proud to recognize Judy for her efforts. She goes above and beyond each and every day to honor the worth of those around her; co-workers, providers, patients and visitors.”

Judy has worked in the Nuclear Medicine Department at Trios Health for more than 10 years, overseeing all nuclear medicine stress tests and working closely with Trios Health cardiologists. Her nomination highlighted her approach to patient care.

“She has a calm, caring demeanor that instantly puts patients at ease,” the nominator wrote. “She is able to relate to patients and help them understand what they’re going through – especially children.”

Judy’s soft spot for children extends beyond the walls of the hospital. She is also a children’s book author and draws on her experiences as a nurse to create stories where her characters face challenges, but overcome those challenges through realistic solutions.

She has published two children’s books, “Happy Go Lucky” and “Halley’s Hoodie,” that are part of a planned six-book series featuring The Nosey Parkers Club, a group of friends who help each other through life challenges with the mindset to “do something wonderful” and pay things forward. Her characters – like herself – have the mindset of making communities healthier. Each of her books starts with a simple message: “Big or small, old or young, we all have the power to do something wonderful.”

Following the theme of her books, Judy pays the proceeds forward by donating them to SIGN Fracture Care International, a local Tri-Cities group that designs and manufactures surgical implants and instruments and then supplies them to under-resourced hospitals.

Winners from all LifePoint Health hospitals, including Judy, will be considered for LifePoint’s 2022 companywide Mercy Award. The company-wide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, in August, to which Judy and all facility winners are invited to attend.

Trios Health is pleased to announce that Cindy Guede, ARNP, has joined Trios Medical Group in the Trios Spine and Interventional Pain Clinic.

Cindy is an experienced, board certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who has treated patients for imbalance, dizziness and vertigo, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), stroke, neurological and ear disorders, head impulse testing, eye recordings, and neurologic, stroke, and vestibular exams.

She is joining the Trios Spine and Interventional Pain Clinic with Neurosurgeon Matthew Fewel, MD, and Interventional Pain Specialist Michael Kolczynski, MD.

“Cindy is highly experienced and is a great addition to our team to help us expand our services and increase accessibility to neurological services for our community,” said Lorie Orozco, Director of Trios Medical Group Operations. “She is highly accomplished and respected in this field and will be a great asset for our patients.”

Cindy earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Ball State University in 1995 and went on to receive her Master of Science in Nursing-Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing in 2017. She worked as a Registered Nurse in the Medical Intensive Care Unit and Interventional Radiology, and Neurovestibular Nurse Specialist/Registered Nurse/Neuro-ophthalmology and Neuro-vestibular clinics, all at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois, as well as a Neurology Advanced Registered Nurse at OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute in Peoria.
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Cindy has several certifications and licenses, including CPR-BLS for healthcare providers, Registered Nurse license, Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI), Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse, National Provider Identifier Standard (NPI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license, Adult Gerontology Clinic Nurse Specialist Board Certified, and Washington State licensure as an ARNP and RN. She is a current member of the American Association of Neurosciences Nurses and serves as a trustee on the American Board of Neuroscience Nurses.

Cindy sees patients at the Trios Spine and Interventional Pain Clinic, located on the sixth floor the Trios Care Center at Southridge at 3730 Plaza Way in Kennewick. Patients can schedule an appointment by calling 509.221.6650. Providers can fax referrals to 509.221.6237. 

More than 1,300 people have shared with Mid-Columbia Libraries their opinions on current library services and future needs. While participation in the public library district’s on-line survey is well on the way to meeting its goal of 2,700 respondents, ethnic and gender diversity within the survey is lagging.

MCL leaders are asking local media, and especially Latino-serving or Spanish language news agencies, to help spread the word about the survey.

The 18-question survey began at the end of May and is available at midcolumbialibraries.org through June 22. It is also accessible through the library district’s social media channels, and is provided in both English and Spanish.

MCL will use public feedback to improve services, to include possibly adding new services, for residents of Benton, Franklin and parts of Adams counties.

“We’re really satisfied with the number of respondents so far, which includes about 25% who identify as Hispanic or some other ethnicity,” said Sara Schwan, MCL Advocacy and Development Manager. “That doesn’t, however, quite match the more than 30% of our combined counties who identify as Hispanic, and another 10% or so who identify with non-Hispanic minority groups. So we’re looking at about a 15% gap, which we hope to overcome, in minority group representation.”

“On one hand, the latest survey results validate our understanding of our most pressing need, which is to reach unserved or underserved groups with library services,” Schwan said. “On the other hand, we really need to hear from those under-represented groups so we can tailor our strategic planning and resources to best fit their wants and needs.”

More than 75% of survey respondents to date are female.

“The gender gap makes some sense with respect to traditional child care roles within the family, but we’d really like to hear from more men in the community,” said Schwan.

The survey asks respondents to rate the importance of quality-of-life influencers such as cultural diversity, educational opportunities, career programs, social connections and access to resources. It also explores associated demographic characteristics such as income, ethnicity and age.

To date, 95% of respondents are current MCL cardholders.

“It’s great to hear from the fans,” said Schwan, “but we also want to hear from those who don’t use our services. Why don’t they? Is it access, relevance, cultural representation? We’re a public library system. We’re here for everybody. So those without an MCL card will likely have insights with respect to how we can be of greater value to all community members.”

The survey is open to any resident 18 and over living in a city served by MCL, which covers Benton, Franklin and parts of Adams counties. Those living in some select census-designated and unincorporated communities, as well as visitors to any of the 12 branch locations, may also participate. All participants who complete the survey are entered to win an Apple iPad mini and can pick up a free book bag from their local branch, while supplies last.

After accessing the survey site, participants will be asked to enter their ZIP code. Users will be allowed to proceed only if they enter a ZIP code from Benton City, Basin City, Burbank, Connell, Eltopia, Finley, Kahlotus, Kennewick, Mesa, Othello, Pasco, Prosser, Paterson, Plymouth or West Richland.

“We’re laser-focused on inclusiveness,” Schwan said. “Our best planning effort will only come from a balanced representation of the diverse voices in our communities. So please, pause a minute or two to take this survey.”

Lourdes Health is pleased to announce that Jesus Mendiolaza, MD, has joined Lourdes Health as a locum cardiologist.

Dr. Mendiolaza is an experienced cardiologist specializing in all noninvasive cardiovascular procedures, all cardiac consultations, cardiovascular clinical management and prevention, and all cardiovascular imaging modalities, including 3D Echo, carotids Doppler, CTA coronaries, coronary calcium scoring, and ambulatory BP monitoring.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Mendiolaza join our team. He is highly experienced and capable and will help us to meet the cardiac needs of our patients,” said Amy Almaraz, Clinic Manager.

Dr. Mendiolaza earned his medical degree from Federico Villarreal University, School of Medicine in Peru and completed his internal medicine internship with Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and his internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship program with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Medical School. He has been an attending cardiologist since 2007, following the completion of his residency and fellowship programs.  

Dr. Mendiolaza has several certifications, including Diplomate of the Peruvian Medical Boards, Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Board Certification in Nuclear Cardiology, Board Certification in Cardiovascular Disease, Level III Certification in Cardiac Computed Tomography, Certification in Carotid Vascular Ultrasound and Doppler, Certification in 3D Echo, TEE, Strain and Mechanical Dispersion, Level I Certification in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance, Certification in Vascular Ultrasound Arterial and Venous, and Certification in Implantable Loop Recorders.

He speaks English and Spanish and is also fluent in French, Italian, and Portuguese.

Dr. Mendiolaza will practice with Lourdes Cardiology at Lourdes Medical Center, located on the first floor at 520 N. 4th Avenue in Pasco. Patients can schedule an appointment with Dr. Mendiolaza by calling 509.416.8882.

Mid-Columbia Libraries (MCL) proudly announces its “Inspiring Latinos / Latinos Inspiradores” video series, a project of the Tri-Cities Latino Community Network (TCLCN), was recently named a silver winner in the 43rd Annual Telly Awards for Social Video Series: Diversity & Inclusion category. The two winning videos, featuring Washington State University Tri-Cities graduate Savanna Navarro Kresse and Columbia Basin College graduate Michael Villa, can be found on YouTube.

This is MCL’s second Telly Award; in 2019 the series won a bronze in the Social Video Series: Culture & Lifestyle category. The Telly Awards honors excellence in video and television across all screens and is judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks, production companies and including Vice, Vimeo, Hearst Digital Media, BuzzFeed and A&E Networks. Last year the competition received 12,000 entries from around the world.

The series, produced by Mid-Columbia Libraries’ Communications Department together with videographer Ryan Scott of Firefly Photography & Cinematography, showcases the leadership, talents, generosity, and resilience of six inspirational Latinos who are making the Tri-Cities community a better place. More about the project can be found at midcolumbialibraries.org/latinosinspiradores.

“Mid-Columbia Libraries and the Tri-Cities Latino Network, together with the support of our project sponsors Columbia Basin College, HAPO, and Firefly Photography & Cinematography, are committed to uplifting the voices of our Latino community,” says MCL Communications Manager and TCLCN co-founder Annie Warren. “With this project we are dedicated to providing a platform for these inspiring stories to be seen and heard.”

Other silver winners in the category included Under Armour, Sony Music, and Fox Entertainment. The full list of the 43rd Annual Telly Awards winners can be found at tellyawards.com/winners.

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation has signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Port of Pasco regarding the Tribes’ economic development efforts in Pasco. The Colville Tribes owns approximately 184 acres of land in Pasco and is developing the site for future business ventures.

The Cooperation Agreement includes a commitment by the Port of Pasco to officially support the Tribes’ Pasco project and assures that the Port is kept informed about the progress of this effort. This agreement follows other agreements with the City of Pasco and the Franklin County PUD as the Tribes pursues cooperation and collaboration with local government entities.

Colville Business Council Chairman Andrew C. Joseph, Jr., said today, “We are pleased to sign this Cooperation Agreement with the Port of Pasco. It has long been our goal to bring the Palus Tribe back to their ancestral lands. The Colville Tribes will be a good neighbor and this economic development project will significantly benefit the local economy by adding jobs, tourism, and new businesses to the area. This project is a win for all involved.”

​Port of Pasco Commission President, Vicki Gordon, said today, “The primary objective of the Port of Pasco is to grow the economy by creating opportunities for investment and growth. We see our agreement with the Colville Tribes as an opportunity to welcome a new neighbor and to expand Franklin County’s economy.”

Prosser Memorial Health is proud to add Dr. Jayme Thompson, DO, to our team at the Prosser Clinic. Dr Thompson is a Yakima Valley native and has previously worked as a Family Medicine physician in Wapato. She received her bachelor’s in medical biology from Heritage University before going on to receive her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. She also completed an internship and residency focused on Family Medicine with Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic’s Sollus NW Family Medicine. Dr. Thompson also holds several certifications including Basic and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, American Association of Family Physicians, and American Osteopathic Association.

Dr. Thompson is excited to be working with Prosser Memorial Health as a family medicine provider. She loves getting to know her patients and creating a relationship with them. She understands that trust between her and her patients is important and works to build that trust from the first meeting. Dr. Thompson will be providing a wide variety of services and treatments, including primary and preventative care, acute illnesses, women’s health, and implementation of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment. Her services will cover care for patients of all ages, from newborn to geriatric. She is enjoying the family environment created within the Prosser Clinic team and the small-town, community feel in Prosser. Having been born and raised in the area, Dr. Thompson grew up being very outdoorsy. She loves skiing at White Pass with her husband and son, or simply staying active.

Dr. Thompson is currently taking new patients at the PMH Prosser Clinic. To learn more about her services, or to schedule an appointment, please call 509.786.1576 or visit prosserhealth.org.

Advaitha Motkuri will be presented with Scouting’s highest honor, the Eagle Rank, on June 11th at the Hindu Temple of Eastern Washington in West Richland, the Blue Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America has announced.
 
Advaitha is the daughter of Radha Motkuri of Richland.  Advaitha is one of the founding members of Scouts BSA Girls Troop #0219, chartered by Hill Spring Church and one of just a handful of girls to achieve the rank of Eagle in the Blue Mountain Council.  Her Scoutmaster is Wendy Cicotte.
 
To achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, Advaitha had to earn 21 merit badges and show leadership by planning, developing, and completing a community service project.  For her project, Advaitha built a playground at the Hindu Temple of Eastern Washington in West Richland with donations and help from her community, Scouts BSA troop, family and friends.  Her project took 181 hours to complete and now provides a safe place for the families with small children to play during various events held at the temple.
 
Advaitha attends school at Richland High School, where she is active in Key Club, DECA, Robotics club and the String Orchestra. She was also one of the finalists in the U.S National Chemistry Olympiad and placed in the Regional and State Science and Engineering Fair. Outside of school, she is in U.S World Class Taekwondo, plays the piano and has been learning Indian Carnatic Music for the past 10 years.   Advaitha plans to get a 4-year degree in Computer Science/Cybersecurity or Medicine. She is a good, and well-respected Scout.
 
The rank of Eagle is earned by less than four percent of all youth who join Scouts BSA. In 2021, 49 Girls and Boys in the Blue Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America earned the Eagle Scout Award, providing over 7300 service hours in the community.

Trios Health is pleased to share that obstetrics and family medicine physician Ana Sofia Rosa-Ruiz has relocated her practice to the Trios Care Center at Chavallo, effective June 6.

Dr. Rosa-Ruiz – formerly Dr. Zelaya – is now seeing patients at the Chavallo Care Center. She previously saw patients at the Trios Care Center at deBit. Her move puts all of Trios’ obstetrics, gynecology, and women’s health providers at either the Trios Care Center at Chavallo or the Trios Obstetrics & Women’s Health Clinic at the Trios Care Center at Southridge.

“Dr. Rosa-Ruiz is a great physician, and it’s great to be able to have all of our providers for women’s health services at two locations now,” said Lorie Orozco, Director of Trios Medical Group Operations.

As a family medicine and obstetric physician, Dr. Rosa-Ruiz treats patients for a variety of conditions and provides a number of services, including obstetrical care, vaginal and cesarean section deliveries, bilateral tubal ligations, gynecological procedures, annual and sports physicals, preventive care, well-child care, immunizations, and more.

The Trios Care Center at Chavallo is located at 7211 W. Deschutes Ave., Suite B, in Kennewick. Patients can schedule an appointment with Dr. Rosa-Ruiz by calling 509.221.6930 or online at TriosHealth.org/Schedule.