Laros Foundation Grant Supports St. Luke’s Simulation Center

The family legacy of Russell K. and Helen K. Laros lives on through their great-granddaughter Elizabeth Shimer Bowers, the newest Trustee of the R.K. Laros Foundation. On January 17, Elizabeth, on behalf of the Foundation, presented St. Luke’s University Health Network with a $20 thousand gift to help fund the purchase of a virtual anatomy table for the Network’s Simulation Center.

The table, developed by Anatomage, takes anatomy education to the next level for St. Luke’s medical and nursing students. It has a life-size full body display and comes equipped with a comprehensive library of clinical content, including case studies, interactive games, and quizzes – the perfect mix for improved information retention and educational outcomes.

Like “Simone,” the “mom simulator” in the center whose purchase was supported by a generous grant from the R. K. Laros Foundation, the Anatomage Table provides educational opportunities on cadavers without the involvement of an actual patient.

“Quality of educational resources and quality of patient care go hand-in-hand,” stressed R.K. Laros Foundation Executive Director, Sharon Jones Zondag. “St. Luke’s is a cornerstone of the health of our community. This piece of technology will help better engage and train various cohorts of learners and will make a remarkable impact on the future of modern medicine.”

The R.K. Laros Foundation is a long-time supporter of St. Luke’s, having previously contributed to the development of its inpatient hospice, advancements in dental medicine, medical and nursing school initiatives, and much more.

“It is exciting that Elizabeth joined the Board in time to present this gift to St. Luke’s,” Zondag said. “She, like all members of the Board, embodies the mission of our organization. To have another member of the Laros family help execute that mission is a significant milestone for us and for the community.”

The technology will add to The Network Simulation Center’s existing inventory of procedural skills training equipment, robotic simulators, and standardized patients.

“Simulation is an essential part of medical education, as well as continuing education for existing health care staff,” said Megan Augustine, M.Ed., St. Luke’s Director of the Network’s Simulation Center. “It’s an opportunity for them to enhance their skills.”

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Philanthropic support allows St. Luke’s University Health Network to deliver world-class care that makes a difference every day for every patient. Make a gift online to a St. Luke’s cause that’s meaningful to you, or call the Development Office at 484-526-3067 to learn more.

About R.K. Laros Foundation, Inc.

R.K. Laros Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust, established by Mr. Russell K. Laros and Mrs. Helen K. Laros with a Deed of Trust on November 16th, 1952. The Foundation was established to support community non-profit organizations serving the arts, education, environment, health, historical preservation and public and human services. The Foundation welcomes grant proposals for projects that will have a lasting impact for the organization and the community it serves.

About St. Luke’s

Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 14,000 employees providing services at 10 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient sites.  With annual net revenue greater than $2 billion, the Network’s service area includes 10 counties: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe and Schuylkill counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey.  Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke’s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania.  In partnership with Temple University, St. Luke’s created the region’s first and only regional medical school campus.  It also operates the nation’s longest continuously operating School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 28 fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with 226 residents and fellows.  St. Luke’s is the only health care system in central-eastern Pennsylvania to earn Medicare’s five-star rating (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction.  In 2018, St. Luke’s was named a Top Hospital in the Teaching Hospital category by the Leapfrog Group.  It has repeatedly earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation from IBM Watson Health (formerly Truven Health Analytics) – six times total and four years in a row including 2018.  It has also been cited by IBM Watson Health as a 50 Top Cardiovascular Program.  Utilizing the EPIC electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing the breadth of the SLUHN’s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information.  St. Luke’s is also recognized as one of the state’s lowest cost providers.