Volunteer Spotlight: Eagle Scouts

The AMM Community Garden has received a few capital improvements this winter, thanks to Eagle Scout candidates Thomas Clark and Hunter Tuttle.

Thomas Clark built two tables for AMM’s greenhouse, which has and will enable to us to grow plants from seeds into transplants during winter months. Currently, AMM has 50 kale plants and 250 lettuce plants growing in the greenhouse, all available to give to patients to grow at home.

Check out Alliance’s new tiny library! 📚 Thanks to Eagle Scout candidate Hunter Tuttle for building and installing the library in AMM’s Community Garden. The library will be a place for the community to share books, resources, and pick up information about our garden. Hunter also installed a small natural area around the library with flowering perennial bushes. What a great addition to our garden!

Volunteer Spotlight: Mary Carr Allen & Natalie Holdstock

Mary Carr Allen (L) and Natalie Holdstock (R)

This month, we are ecstatic to have two familiar faces returning to AMM, Mary Carr Allen and Natalie Holdstock.

Mary Carr Allen was first introduced to AMM in 2009, when she was a Junior at Broughton High School. She volunteered weekly, and began thinking about pursuing a career in medicine. Mary Carr attended UNC-Chapel Hill, where she began a path to become a Physician Assistant, coming back to AMM in 2013-14 to shadow doctors and receive clinic hours. She in now in her third and final year at Campbell University’s Dual Public Health and Physician Assistant Program, a candidate for July 2019 graduation.

Mary Carr is completing a PA/MPR rotation at AMM, reviewing and revising our social determinants of health screening tool, and updating our resource guides to help address the many factors that affect our patients’ health on a daily basis. Mary Carr says she will take Alliance’s holistic health model with her wherever she practices medicine in the future as it has encourage and inspired her to be on the path she is today.

“Through shadowing doctors, nurses and even helping with filing, I realized the importance of seeing the whole patient. Our physical health is often a manifestation of something deeper going on. The people at Alliance have always helped patients see the root of their problems.”

— Mary Carr Allen

Natalie Holdstock was an intern at AMM during summer and fall of 2017. During her time as an intern, she helped with wellness programs, communication and marketing projects, and Share the Pie. Natalie is now in the process of applying to graduate school to pursue a Master’s in Public Health, and is supporting AMM with the Healthy Start breakfast and Million Step Challenge.

“When I decided to apply for a MPH program, I knew I wanted to work for a place that would fuel my passion for public health. Alliance is the perfect place to do that.”

— Natalie Holdstock

Volunteer Spotlight: MLK Day of Service

We are so thankful to the 25 amazing volunteers from First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh, Edenton Street United Methodist Church Missional Community, Boy Scouts of America Troop 369 and Activate Good who spent their MLK day serving with us.

Volunteers spent the day organizing our offices and cleaning the clinic. Groups picked up trash and branches around the Alliance Medical campus (in 30 degree weather!), deep cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms, and scrubbed the upholstered chairs. The groups also cleaned the conference room, yoga mats, kids play area, and teal pod refrigerator. The patient library, development office and hall printer closest were neatly organized. Ot is safe to say that our offices and clinic are looking cleaner and more organized than ever!

We were so grateful to have volunteers of all ages from 11-50+ years old on MLK day with one volunteer commenting, “I’m so glad you all have volunteer opportunities for all ages!” We are thankful for a day to reflect on the life and lasting legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. who once said,

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'“

Stay up to date with us on social media to find out about future volunteer opportunities! To find opportunities today, contact Ruthie Wofford at rwofford@alliancemedicalministry.org

Cooking Matters Class 1: Recipes

Check out the recipes our Cooking Matters class has been making and try them at home with your family!

Are you a patient wanting to join our new Spanish-speaking Cooking Matters course? Contact Jesse Crouch at jcrouch@alliancemedicalministry.orgto f ind out more information.

ZUCCHINI BURRITO BOATS

Yield: 8 “BOATS”    prep time: 25 min       cook time: 30 min           total time: 55 min

Taco Seasoning Ingredients:

•1 tablespoon chili powder

•¼ teaspoon garlic powder

•¼ teaspoon onion powder

•¼ teaspoon dried oregano

•½ teaspoon paprika

•1½ teaspoons ground cumin

•1 teaspoon salt

•1 teaspoon black pepper

• 4 large zucchini

• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 cup cooked brown rice

• 1  bell pepper, cored and diced

• 1/2 red onion, diced

• 1/2 cup corn kernels

• 1 jalapeno (or poblano pepper), cored and diced

• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon olive oil

• 1 packet of McCormick Taco seasoning

• 1 cup shredded cheddar/monterey jack cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Grease a 9 x 13” casserole dish, then set aside. Slice each zucchini in half lengthwise. Using a metal teaspoon, hollow out the center of each zucchini. Lightly brush the tops with one teaspoon of olive oil then place them skin side down in the casserole dish.

2. Next, warm the tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and the peppers and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add the rice, corn, and beans along with the salt and taco seasoning. Stir everything together and continue to cook for about 5 minutes then remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.

3. Preheat the oven to 400°F and spoon the filling inside of each zucchini until they are all full. Sprinkle each one with cheese, arrange them in the dish and cover with foil. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes.

4. Allow them to cool for 5-10 minutes then serve and enjoy! Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

SIMPLE LENTILS AND VEGGIES

• 1 crown of Broccoli

• 2 bell peppers

• 1 large onion

• 8 oz of mushrooms

• 1 pound of lentils

• 1 medium sweet potato

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of radishes

• 1 zucchini or squash

• 1 tablespoon each of Oregano, basil, and chili powder

• 1 tsp each of salt and ground black pepper

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil

Directions:

Veggies

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat

2. Dice all veggies into small 1/4 inch cubes

3. Sauté radishes and sweet potatoes for 5 minutes in olive oil in a large pan.

4. Add peppers and onions cook another 5 minutes

5. Add  squash and cook another 2 minutes

6. Add mushrooms and cook another 3 minutes

7. Add spices , turn down heat to low and let     simmer for 5-10 minutes

Lentils

1. Put lentils in medium sauce pan and cover with 2 inches of water

2. Bring to a boil, turn down heat.

3. Cover and cook for 20-25 minutes.

Volunteer Spotlight: Betsy Allen, MSW, LCSW

Betsy Allen joined the Pastoral Care and Counseling team in 2013, and has been a regular volunteer since that time, seeing patients each week for counseling.

Betsy comes to AMM after a full career as a mental health/social work professional, which has included time with the North Carolina Council of Developmental Disabilities and the Wake County School System.

Betsy believes the emotional and spiritual health of individuals is a "part and parcel of a person's whole self. I think of it like a table with four legs -- medical care, diet, exercise, and spiritual/emotional care.  It all ties in together. The physical health mirrors the mental health. The ability to get better depends on resolving personal conflicts. As individuals are able to get a handle on what's troubling them, they're able to work on all parts of their lives.”

Betsy has formed strong relationships with her patients, helping them work through trauma, housing issues, financial challenges and job stress. "There are opportunities at Alliance for me to offer assistance and use my skill set to guide people down their path, their journey." Betsy's background as a long-time social worker in the Wake County area allows her to navigate other agencies and community resources available.

AMM Director of Pastoral Care & Counseling Dr. Toby Bonar shares that "we are so grateful for Betsy's friendship and generosity. She shares freely from her vast wealth of wisdom and compassion. What a gift she is to our patients and the entire Alliance family!"

“Alliance thinks about how to do things in a nurturing of the clients, and nurturing of staff. The medical teams are working with people, not at them or to them.  It’s a pleasure to be able to walk with patients on their journey to wellness.”

— Betsy Allen, MSW, LCSW

Patient Spotlight: Taposhi

Meet Taposhi.

In 2014, Taposhi Sarker found herself in a position of many uncertainties. Providing and caring for her then 16 year-old daughter while working with no health insurance, Taposhi was overjoyed when she found care at Alliance. She began seeing Dr. Laura Helton as her primary care doctor.

“Dr. Helton was more than my doctor. She was someone who listened to me and was someone I could confide in. I feel very important when I am with her.”

Dr. Helton suggested Taposhi may benefit from AMM's on-site counseling services, an integrated part of the medical care provided at the practice. Taposhi met Betsy Allen, a volunteer Licensed Clinical Social Worker at AMM. 

Taposhi and Betsy Allen (volunteer licensed social worker)

“I was at a point in life where I started to believe I was a nobody. It was Betsy who made me feel understood. She has given me my self-esteem back. That was so needed in my life.”

With Alliance's help, Taposhi has found multiple resources around Raleigh to help her get back on her feet. Betsy helped connect Taposhi to Green Chair Project where she found furniture to furbish her new town home. Taposhi was also able to receive a car through Wheels4Hope.

Welcome to New Board Members

Dr. Karen Burke-Haynes
North Carolina Medical Board

Dr. Karen Haynes currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer at the North Carolina Medical Board with a practice history spanning from academic medicine at the Cornell Medical Center, New York Hospital to solo practice in North Carolina. Dr. Haynes earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed postgraduate training in pediatrics at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Elizabeth McCullough
Young, Moore Henderson, P.A.

Elizabeth is a shareholder at Young Moore and Henderson, P.A., where she also serves as a member of the Practice Management Committee and leader of the Health Care Industry Group. She focuses her practice on advising and defending health care providers in matters involving patient care issues and risk management issues.

Bob Singletary
The Sunnyside Group, LLC

Bob is a seasoned health care administrator with nearly 40 years of experience with strong leadership skills and a deep knowledge of hospital administration. Bob has held various executive leadership roles in his health care career, including at WakeMed Health and Hospitals in Raleigh, Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson, WedMed-Cart Hospital and WakeMed Fuquay.