Discover the raw, unfiltered heart that beats at the center of the health-care experience.
Sassafras Street is a moving collection of stories that speaks directly to the essence of the caregiving experience. You will see your own journey reflected in these honest, powerful accounts from nurses, doctors, and family members alike. This book emphasizes the immense value of caregiving and the profound impact patients have on their health-care teams.
Whether you are supporting a loved one through illness or are a caregiver or health-care professional, Sassafras Street offers compassion and much-needed encouragement. It will deepen your understanding of the power of human connection and will motivate you to approach your work or caregiving with renewed passion.
Wintz, Diane: - Diane Wintz, MD, FACS, is the owner of Jay's Heart, which was formed in August 2023 as a legacy to her dad, Jay Schwartz, and his journey through heart disease and the transition to palliative care at the end of his life. This company prioritizes independence and quality of life during the medical journey, helping people to understand information and become educated on their options.Dr. Wintz is board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care, having completed her residency and fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas. She cares for injured patients through her hospital practice in California. She is the medical director for trauma and a new program called Generational Health, which is a multidisciplinary health-care package for hospitalized older adults who want to maintain independence and cognition.Dr. Wintz's outcomes research on trauma mentorship and geriatric trauma has been nationally recognized, with several podium presentations at the World Trauma Congress and theAmerican Association for the Surgery of Trauma. She presented "Geriatric Trauma: Building a Program from the Ground Up" at a Society of Trauma Nurses webinar in 2023. She is a member of the standards and verification committee for geriatric surgery with the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Dr. Wintz championed the creation of a geriatric center of excellence at Sharp Memorial Hospital, in part due to high geriatric volume in the trauma population. This has resulted in tremendous gains for the geriatric trauma population, as well as a workshop and a Pecha Kucha at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's annual summit and publication in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery showing decreased length of stay, mortality, delirium, and time to mobilization. Her team recorded several nationally syndicated podcasts for ACS, Geriatric Emergency Department Collaborative, and Fierce DEI. The program achieved geriatric surgery verification, level one status, through the ACS in 2024, making Sharp Memorial Hospital the first facility in Southern California to achieve this designation.Dr. Wintz's main interest is to guide patients and their families through some of the toughest parts of end-of-life care.
Wright, Kelly: - Kelly Wright, MSN, MBA, RN, CHPN, OCN, is a registered nurse and coordinator for medical navigation services at Jay's Heart. Wright has board certification in oncology, hospice, andpalliative care. She fosters the mission and vision of Jay's Heart by providing the best care for people in need through educating, identifying what matters most, and ensuring adequate resources are in place. She works closely with the Jay's Heart team, provides leadership to health-care professionals, and collaborates with experts to provide excellent care coordination for individuals and communities.Wright is the nurse manager for Generational Health and Advanced Illness Management (AIM) at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California. She is a transformational leader in health care, and focuses on revolutionizing the experience for older adults by honoring their individual wishes. She began her career in oncology, where her leadership qualities led to her promotion to manager of the AIM team through peer nomination. Her leadership journey continued when she was promoted by the chief nursing officer to lead the development of the Generational Health team, addressing the unique needs of older adults including surgical patients, healthy aging patients, and those transitioning to end-of-life care. Wright has developed programs, fostered relationships with administration, and reported quantifiable improvements while supporting colleagues in their new roles. Her nursing team engages with over five thousand patients annually, focusing on establishing code status, goals of care, surgical risk assessment, and vulnerability screening. Wright has been a podium presenter at prestigious conferences including the American College of Surgeons Quality and Safety Conference, the European nursing conference in Dublin, Ireland, and the American Geriatrics Society Presidential Abstract competition. She is instrumental in educating health-care professionals on end-of-life discussions, palliative care philosophy, and incorporating compassion into care plans.
