On July 20, 2022, the nursing team in the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center (FCVC) hosted a special virtual Zoom session with honored guest Daniel Silverman to thank him and provide an update on how his named fund is supporting nurse education as well as improving the care and safety of heart transplant patients. 

Mr. Silverman and his family established the endowment in wanting to thank and recognize the nurses for his care. 

“We found all levels of the nursing staff to be exceptional and key to my specialized care — before, during, and after my multiple ablations, heart failure, ventricular assist device, and heart transplant journey.” Silverman says. “I am grateful for the pre- and post-transplant care and smooth transition to good health and life.”

Nurse staff specialist, Joan McNeice, RN, MSA, spearheaded the program. Twelve nurse supervisors and managers attended and shared how the Silverman family’s support has advanced innovative projects for RN, LPN, APP, and CCC positions that provide direct care for heart transplant patients.
 
These projects focused on staff and patient education, care improvement, and care coordination. McNeice worked in partnership with the Michigan Medicine development team who continued to keep in touch with Silverman and helped to make the special arrangements. 

Nursing presenters included Regi Freeman, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, FCNS; McNeice on the behalf of nurse recipients; and Scherolyn Leggett, MSN, RN, CNS-C, who described the problem and proposed a solution on how their gifts will benefit patients. 

These projects included funding to purchase new CSU-ALS simulation material and equipment to practice collaborative methods for post surgery cardiac arrest scenarios, especially with residents, fellows, and advanced practice team members during planned annual training. The funding also helped update conference monitors to share educational information to introduce materials on heart failure material to current and new staff members. 

Silverman was very pleased with the presentation, saying, “I was delighted to learn that the funds provided the nurses with continued training and education that will inevitably help me and other patients with heart conditions.”

Support nurses in the Frankel Cardiovascular Center by making an online gift to our CVC Nursing Fund.