BJC Media Coverage Recap: December 2025
December 2025
See below for the latest news coverage and stories from December 2025.
General
- Becker's Hospital Review: BJC Health’s Next Chapter: Where 2 Leaders See Integration Benefits — and What’s Ahead – Nick Barto, president and CEO of BJC Health, and Chris Watts, Chief Strategy Officer at BJC Health
- Becker’s Hospital Review: What Shaped Healthcare CEO Leadership in 2025 — and What Lies Ahead – Nick Barto, president and CEO of BJC Health, and Chris Watts, Chief Strategy Officer at BJC Health
- Becker’s Hospital Review: 10 recent health system rebrands
- Becker’s Hospital Review: Why health systems are turning to cross-market mergers
U.S. News Maternity Ratings
- US News and World Report: 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care by State
- RiverBender: BJC Health Hospitals Named to U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care
- Illinois Business Journal: U.S. News & World Report Names BJC Health Hospitals Among Best in Maternity Care
- The Kansas City Star: These Hospitals Are the Best for Maternity Care in Kansas City, New Study Says
- KCTV: Best Hospitals for Maternity Care: 8 of Nation’s Best Are in Kansas City Metro
- FOX 4: US News and World Report Shows 8 of the Region's Top Maternal Hospitals Are in the KC Metro
Pediatrics / St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- WCIA-CBS - Champaign, IL: 8-Year-Old Mattoon Girl Designs NFL QB’s Cleat for a Good Cause
- KYTV: Teen Receives First Pediatric Combined Heart-Kidney Transplant in Missouri
- KMOV-CBS: Teen Receives First Pediatric Combined Heart-Kidney Transplant in Missouri – Dr. Justin Berger, a WashU Medicine Cardiologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- The Sullivan Independent News: Jennings Family Delivers Joy During Annual Toy Donation At Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital
- KMOV-CBS: St. Louis Children’s Hospital Patients Design Cleats for Brady Cook
- KSDK: Brady Cook Wears Custom Cleats Designed by Patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- KMOX: Brady Cook Makes First NFL Start in Cleats Hand-Painted by St. Louis Children's Hospital Patients
- Matrix Midwest: St. Louis Children’s Hospital Patients Design Cleats for Brady Cook
- KTVI-FOX: Holiday Season Kicks Off at St. Louis Children's Hospital with Love Light Celebration
- KMOV-CBS: Holiday Season Arrives at Saint Louis Children's Hospital
- KSDK-NBC: St. Louis Children’s Love Light Celebration
- KSDK-NBC: Blues Players Visit Saint Louis Children's Hospital
- KTVI-FOX: St. Louis Blues Players Spread Cheer at St. Louis Children's Hospital
- KMOV-CBS: St. Louis Blues Players Pay a Special Visit to St. Louis Children's Hospital
Goldfarb School of Nursing
- St. Louis Magazine: How Nicholas Murphy Went From Subsidized Housing to Carnegie Mellon to Goldfarb – Nicholas Murphy, student at Goldfarb School of Nursing
Women’s
- KTUI: Midwife Care at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital – Jessica Eakins, certified nurse midwife at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital
- Illinois Business Journal: U.S. News & World Report Names BJC Health Hospitals Among Best in Maternity Care
- RiverBender: BJC Health Hospitals Named to U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care
- Patient Story: Staying Three Steps Ahead – Dr. Jeannie Kelly, a WashU Medicine OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist
Behavioral Health
- MissouriNet: Missouri Resources Bridging You to Disaster-Related Assistance in Your Time of Need – Jennifer Haasis, compliance director at BJC Behavioral Health
- KTVI-FOX: 77-Bed Children’s Mental Health Hospital To Open in St. Louis – Trish Lollo, president of St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- KMOV-CBS: My Mom Club: Setting New Year's Resolutions – Beverly Hopgood, supervisor at BJC Behavioral Health
- Webster-Kirkwood Times: Construction Milestone For New Hospital In WG – Trish Lollo, president of St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- KFF Health News: Morning Briefing: St. Louis Public Radio: Webster Groves Pediatric Mental Hospital Set To Open In 2026
- Healthcare Design: New Pediatric Behavioral Health Hospital Reaches Construction Milestone In Webster Groves, Missouri
- STL NPR: Construction Underway for 77-Bed Webster Groves Pediatric Mental Health Hospital – Cynthia Rogers, division director and vice chair of child psychiatry at Washington University
- KMOV-CBS: New Progress on Children's Mental Wellness Center in Webster Groves – Trish Lollo, president of St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- KMOX-AM: Topping Out Ceremony Held at New Children's Mental Wellness Campus on Gore Avenue
- KWMU - St. Louis Public Radio: Construction Underway On New Pediatric Mental Wellness Center in Webster Groves – Cynthia Rogers, division director and vice chair of child psychiatry at Washington University
- KSDK: Final Beam Placed In New Children's Behavioral Health Hospital
- The Beacon: Missouri System Lags in Serving Children With Mental Health Troubles
Orthopedics
- Ladue News: A Doctor’s Advice on Working Out in the Winter – Dr. Jeremy Hartman, a WashU Medicine Physical Medicine Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine physician at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- KMOV-CBS: My Mom Club: Mental Health & Young Athletes – Dr. Michael Messmer, a BJC Medical Group sports medicine physician at Alton Memorial Hospital
Heart and Vascular
- The Daily Journal: Parkland Opens New Heart Health Center at Farmington Campus
- Everyday Health: Can Wearable Devices Help Prevent Heart Disease? – Dr. Krasimira Mikhova, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis
- Patient Story: Living with Marfan Syndrome, Marcy’s Journey After Aortic Dissection – Dr. Alan Braverman, a WashU Medicine cardiologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital; Dr. Luis Sanchez and Dr. J. Westley Ohman, WashU Medicine vascular surgeons; Dr. Puja Kachroo, WashU Medicine cardiothoracic surgeon
- Patient Story : One of the First: Lois’s Remarkable Recovery with a New Transcatheter Valve – Dr. Prashanth Thakker, a WashU Medicine cardiologist at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital; Dr. Alan Zajarias and Dr. Nishath Quader, WashU Medicine cardiologists; and Dr. Tsuyoshi Kaneko, a WashU Medicine cardiovascular surgeon
- Patient Story: When a Woman’s Symptoms Tell a Different Story: Karen’s Life-Saving Heart Surgery – Dr. Linda Schulte, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Missouri Baptist Medical Center
- Patient Story: Beating the Odds: A Pastor’s Journey Through Advanced, Lifesaving Heart Care – Dr. Tsuyoshi Kaneko, WashU Medicine cardiothoracic surgeon
Neurology
- Patient Story: After Cracking Her Own Neck Went Wrong, Spine Surgery Solved Anna’s Pain – Dr. Kumar Vasudevan, a WashU Medicine neurosurgeon at Christian Hospital
- Patient Story: Ultra-Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Gives Patient Her Life Back – Dr. John Ogunlade, a WashU Medicine neurosurgeon at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
General
- KTVI-FOX: BJC and Aetna Reach Agreement
- STL NPR: BJC, Aetna Reach Deal To Keep Patients In-Network
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: BJC, Aetna Reach Agreement To Keep BJC in Coverage Network
- The Missouri Times: Opinion: How Missouri Can Utilize Vacant Buildings for Our Kids’ Future
- The Wilson Times: How AI Can Bring Humanity Back to the Doctor’s Office
- Becker's Hospital Review: BJC Adds Centralized Logistics Hub To Boost Supply Performance
- The Construction Broadsheet: Milestones: Dec. 11, 2025: Barnes-Jewish Plaza West Tower
- KMOV-CBS: When Sickness Strikes on a Holiday – Dr. George Hoganson, a WashU Medicine emergency medicine physician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- Construction Owners: McCarthy Finishes Plaza West Tower
- Construction Dive: McCarthy Leverages Logistics, Prefab on St. Louis Hospital Tower
- RE Journals: McCarthy Building Companies Completes Construction of West Tower at St. Louis’ Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Becker's Hospital Review: The Top-Recommended Hospitals in Every State
- WROK: 28 Illinois Hospitals Named To The “Best In The US” List
Saint Luke’s and Sporting KC Announce New Partnership / Sponsorships & Events
- Media Coverage: Sporting Kansas City and Saint Luke’s Team Up for New Community-Affiliated Partnership – Julie Quirin, president of Saint Luke’s, BJC Health West Region
- The Kansas City Star: Sporting KC & Saint Luke’s Announce New Partnership
- Kansas City Business Journal: Sporting KC Ends Children’s Mercy Partnership, Adds Saint Luke’s
- KMBC: Sporting KC Announces Major Partnership With Saint Luke's As Children's Mercy Takes a Step Back
- FOX 4: Sporting KC To Rename Stadium As Children’s Mercy Partnership Ends
- KCTV: Sporting KC Ends Partnership With Children’s Mercy, Begins New Deal With Saint Luke’s
- KSHB: Sporting Kansas City Jerseys To Feature Saint Luke’s Sleeve Patch as Part of Multi-Year Partnership
- KSHB: Children’s Mercy Won’t Renew Stadium Naming Rights Partnership With Sporting KC
- Ingram's: Sporting KC Enters New Partnership with Saint Luke’s, Children’s Mercy Deal Ends
- KMBZ-FM: Sporting KC Announces New Partnership with Saint Luke's As Official Team Care Provider
- Becker's Hospital Review: MLS Team To Wear Saint Luke’s Jersey Patch
- Sports Business Journal: Sporting KC Stadium To Get New Name As Children’s Mercy Deal Ends
- KFEQ: Sporting KC To Rename Stadium As Agreement With Children’s Mercy Ends
Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute
- KSHB and KCTV: 15-Year-Old Grabs Wheel, Saves Grandfather From Heart Attack on Highway – Faith Cordle, lead advanced practice provider at Saint Luke’s Cardiovascular Consultants
- FOX 4: Physician Shares How Higher Omega-3 Levels Can Improve Mental Health, Reduce Holiday Stress – Dr. James O’Keefe, director of preventive cardiology at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute
- News Release: Higher Omega-3 Levels Associated with Improved Mental Health
- CNBC: Novo Nordisk beyond weight loss has investors wary, scientists hopeful
- The Final Call: The importance of CPR and Sudden Cardiac Arrest training – Dr. Evan O’Keefe, cardiovascular fellow at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute
- The Independent: Saint Luke’s Foundation – Heartland Gala 2025
- Patient Story: Roadside Heroics Lead One Grandfather to Lifesaving Care at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute – Dr. Andrew Sauer and Dr. Jonathan Enriquez, cardiologists at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute
- Patient Story: A Team Effort Brings Patient Back to Life at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute – Dr. Dany Jacob, cardiologist; Dr. Karthik Vamanan, vascular surgeon; Lyndsay Kidd, advanced practice provider; Kimberly Campbell, advanced practice provider; Stetson Harris, CV lab specialist; Kylie Lambert, nurse, and McKenzie Thompson, nurse at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute
Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
- FOX4: Healthy Holiday Eating Tips - Dayane Parker, registered dietitian nutritionist at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
- Patient Story: Second Opinion Saves Charles’ Life After Pancreatic Tumor Diagnosis – Dr. Marc Roth, hematology oncologist at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute, and Dr. Sunpreet Rakhra, radiation oncologist at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
- Patient Story: Kelsie Cancer Free After Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Scare – Dr. Elizabeth Butler, breast surgical oncologist at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
- Patient Story: Nina Offers a Helping Paw to Saint Luke’s Cancer Patients – Nina Noe, volunteer at Saint Luke’s East Hospital
Women’s & Maternity
- KMBC: Santa Surprises Saint Luke’s NICU Families with Special Holiday Visit – Mindy Smith, NICU clinical resource nurse at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City
- Missouri Independent: Missouri Doctors Warn CDC Vaccine Change Could Put Newborns at Risk for Hepatitis B – Dr. Bret Gordon, gynecologist and division chair at Saint Luke's Women's Health South
- The Kansas City Star: These Hospitals Are the Best for Maternity Care in Kansas City, New Study Says
- KCTV: Best Hospitals for Maternity Care: 8 of Nation’s Best Are in Kansas City Metro
- FOX 4: US News and World Report Shows 8 of the Region's Top Maternal Hospitals Are in the KC Metro
- Patient Story: Saint Luke’s Babies Defy the Odds After Rare Genetic Condition – Dr. Jillian Moore, OB-GYN at Saint Luke’s Hospital
Saint Luke’s Bishop Spencer Place
- KCTV: New, Specialized Memory Care Wing From Saint Luke’s Bishop Spencer Place – Dr. Anthony Jackson, medical director at Saint Luke’s Bishop Spencer Place
Saint Luke’s Hospice House
- FOX4: The Afternoon Drive: Navigating Grief During the Holidays – Bruce Leisy, hospice grief and bereavement counselor for Saint Luke's Homecare & Hospice
Orthopedics
- KCTV: Former Bodybuilder Undergoes 5 Joint Replacements, Returns to Active Lifestyle – Dr. Wes Frevert, orthopedic surgeon at Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists at Saint Luke’s East Hospital
- KMBC & KCTV: Doctor Weighs In on Patrick Mahomes’ ACL Recovery After Chiefs Confirm Injury – Dr. Wes Frevert, orthopedic surgeon at Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists at Saint Luke’s East Hospital
- KMBZ: Doctor Weighs In on Patrick Mahomes’ ACL Recovery After Injury in Sunday's Game
- Patient Story: Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists Helps Former Bodybuilder Find Lasting Relief – Dr. Wes Frevert, orthopedic surgeon at Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists at Saint Luke’s East Hospital
Children’s SPOT
- Patient Story: From Fragile Beginnings: How The Children’s SPOT Helped a NICU Baby Thrive – Marcy Riedel and Allex Goossen Gradoville, occupational therapists at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City The Children’s SPOT
- Patient Story: Finding Her Voice: The Children’s SPOT Helps Young Girl Turn Silence Into Strength – Jeanette Platter, community chaplain at Saint Luke’s Bishop Spencer Place, and Kristin Schalekamp, speech language pathologist at The Children’s SPOT
Critical Access Hospitals
- Patient Story: Emergency Department Handles Retired Sergeant With Care – Dr. Stephen Terrill, emergency medicine physician at Hedrick Medical Center
General
- Kansas City Business Journal: Saint Luke’s Names New Top Executive for Its Plaza-Area Hospital – Bobby Olm-Shipman, president of Saint Luke’s South and East Region, and Julie Quirin, president of Saint Luke’s, BJC Health West Region
- Ingram's: Bobby Olm-Shipman Named New President of Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City
- Becker’s Hospital Review: Saint Luke’s Names Missouri Hospital President
- Platte County Landmark: Saint Luke’s Urgent Care now open in Parkville
- KCUR: KC Hospitals Already Seeing Winter Weather-Related Injuries