BJC Media Coverage Recap: June 2026
June 2026
See below for the latest news coverage and stories from June 2026.
- Becker's Hospital Review: 20 Most Socially Responsible Hospitals, According to Lown
- Becker's Hospital Review: The No. 1 Hospital in Every State, per AI
Transplant
- KTVI: Illinois Girl Healthy 10 Years After Liver Transplant - Brian Hesketh, transplant coordinator at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- MSN: Illinois Girl Healthy 10 Years After Liver Transplant - Brian Hesketh, transplant coordinator at St. Louis Children's Hospital
- Nine PBS: The Hidden Cost of the Toy Mountain Problem - Brittany Kaiser, Safety Stop community educator at St. Louis Children's Hospital
- KMOV: Tkachuk Brothers Bring Olympic Gold Medal to St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- MSN: Tkachuk Brothers Bring Olympic Gold to St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- KSDK: Tkachuk Brothers Bring Olympic Gold to St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- Markerzone: Matthew and Brady Tkachuk Just Found Themselves at the Center of an Unexpected Story
Becker, vice president and administrator of St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth
- Pet Food Industry: Purina Family Pet Center Marks 10-year Anniversary
- KMOV-CBS: My Mom Club: Bug Bites, Rashes, and Summer Skin - Dr. Jamie Kondis, WashU emergency medicine physician at St. Louis Children's Hospital
Hospice
- KMOV: Camp Stepping Stones Helps Children Navigate Grief and Find Hope After Loss - Andrea Tritinger, BJC Hospice support services manager and camp co-director, and Eileen Spinner, BJC Hospice bereavement specialist and camp clinical staff Member
Heart and Vascular
- Daily Journal: Parkland Health Center Has Ribbon Cutting for Heart Health Center - Annette Schnabel, Parkland Health Center president
- MyMOInfo: Heart Health Center Officially Opens
- Business Daily Network: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Parkland Heart Health Center on Jun 17, 2026
- KMOV: Father Raises Awareness After Son Dies From Heart Condition - Dr. Anthony Pompa, WashU cardiologist at St. Louis Children's Hospital
- Becker's Hospital Review: 46 Top Cardiac Care Hospitals: Money Magazine
- Patient Story: From Nurse to Patient: How a Rare Heart Condition Changed Abigail Ellis’ Life - Dr. Jacob Miller and Dr. Pirooz Eghtesady, WashU pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Women & Infants
- KMOV: Mother Shares Infertility Journey To Raise Awareness During World Infertility Awareness Month - Dr. Kenan Omurtag, WashU director of reproductive endocrinology & infertility at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- KMOV: Staying Safe in Heat During Pregnancy - Dr. Megan Sauer, BJC Medical Group OBGYN at Alton Memorial Hospital
General
- AOL: Medical Experts Warn of Heat Dangers Across the St. Louis Region - Dr. Charlotte Albinson, BJC Medical Group medical director of Convenient Care and Virtual Care
- Yahoo: Medical Experts Warn of Heat Dangers Across the St. Louis Region - Dr. Charlotte Albinson, BJC Medical Group medical director of Convenient Care and Virtual Care
- KTVI: Medical Experts Warn of Heat Dangers Across the St. Louis Region - Dr. Charlotte Albinson, BJC Medical Group medical director of Convenient Care and Virtual Care
- KTVI: Soccer Players Battle Heat, Humidity at ECNL Playoffs
- My MOInfo: KREI Newsmakers, Rachael Nicholson, BJC Medical Group Nurse Practitioner at Parkland Health Center - Rachael Nicholson, BJC Medical Group nurse practitioner at Parkland Health Center
- Straight Arrow News: Beyond SPF: What Really Keeps Your Skin Safe in the Sun - Dr. David Y. Chen, WashU dermatologist of Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- KMOV: National Eat Your Veggies Day - Dr. Joya Keys, a BJC Medical Group primary care physician at Bellville Memorial Hospital
- Daily Journal Online: Parkland Health Center names June Employee of the Month
- KREI Newsmaker: Dr. Rafael Figueroa, BJC Medical Group General and Colorectal Surgeon - Dr. Rafael Figueroa, BJC Medical Group general and colorectal surgeon at Parkland Health Center
- KSDK: St. Louis Braces for Triple-Digit Heat As Nonprofit Works To Keep People Cool - Dr. Charlotte Albinson, BJC Medical Group medical director of Convenient Care and Virtual Care
- KTUI: Wound Care at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital - Elizabeth Hellmann, program director of the Wound and Hyperbaric Clinic at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital
- Can This Viral Fitness Test Really Reveal Your “Bio Age?” - Dr. Caitlin Rogers, a BJC Medical Group primary care physician
- Care That Changed Her Career - Dr. Stuart Higano, a BJC Medical Group cardiologist and Dr. Michael Mauney, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Missouri Baptist Medical Center
Goldfarb School of Nursing
- Modern Healthcare: Hospitals Expand Training Programs To Ease Staffing Shortages - Tommye Austin, CNO for BJC HealthCare and Angie Clark, president of Goldfarb School of Nursing
- St. Louis Magazine: Photos: 2026 Excellence in Nursing Awards
Oncology
- Patient Story: Caring for Others, Caring for Herself - Dr. James J. Clanahan, director of Harold & Dixie LePere Breast Health Center, and Dr. John Visconti, an oncologist at Washington University Physicians in Illinois, Inc.
Orthopedics
- Stretching vs. Strengthening: What Your Body Really Needs - Dr. Katherine Caldwell, a WashU physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Marathon Running Is Breaking Records. Here’s How to Start Safely - Dr. Zachary Burnett, a BJC Medical Group orthopedic surgeon at Christian Hospital
- Expert Advice for Protecting Your Joints So You Can Stay Active at Any Age - Dr. Kevin Quigley, a BJC Medical Group orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician at BarnesJewish St. Peters Hospital and Progress West Hospital
World Cup in Kansas City
- FOX 4: Avoiding Heat-Related Illness During the World Cup - Dr. Todd Fristo, a primary care physician at Saint Luke's Primary Care – Independence
- KCTV: Navigating World Cup and Large Crowds - Amanda Davis, director of therapy services at Saint Luke's Hospital Crittenton Children's Center
- FOX 4: Raising Human Trafficking Awareness During the World Cup - Cara Yingling, clinical forensic nurse manager at Saint Luke's
- Health News You Can Use: World Cup in KC: Seeking Medical Care and Heat Safety - Dr. Marc Larsen, an emergency medicine physician at Saint Luke’s
- KCTV: Same-Day Care Options From Saint Luke's - Dr. Marc Larsen, an emergency medicine physician at Saint Luke’s
- The Beacon: Kansas City Hospitals Are Ready for the World Cup - Dr. Michael Main, senior vice president and chief clinical officer of Saint Luke’s, the West Region of BJC Health
- FOX 4: Psychiatrist Shares Tips on Navigating World Cup Chaos - Dr. Emily Perry, a psychiatrist with Saint Luke’s Behavioral Health Specialists
- KMBC: Saint Luke’s Welcomes KC’s Newest and Tiniest Soccer Fans
- KCTV: Saint Luke’s Welcomes KC’s Newest and Tiniest Soccer Fans
- Becker's Hospital Review: How Are Hospitals Bracing for the World Cup - Dr. Michael Main, senior vice president and chief clinical officer of Saint Luke’s, the West Region of BJC Health
- Kansas City Business Journal: Saint Luke’s Plaza Emergency Room Predicts 20% More Daily Visits During World Cup - Heather Armata, director of patient care Services, Emergency Department and Trauma Program
- The Beacon: Kansas City’s Gun Violence Problem: Can the World Cup Be a Wakeup Call? - Dr. Leo Andrew Benedict, trauma medical director at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City
Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute
- FOX 4: ‘Know CPR:’ Lee’s Summit Man Shares Story of Survival - Dr. Sanjaya Gupta, cardiologist at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute
- Patient Story: Heart Transplant Helps Soccer Executive Kick Off a New Season of Life - Dr. Andrew Kao, cardiologist and heart failure specialist with Saint Luke's Cardiovascular Consultants
General
- Media Coverage: Kansas City Heat Wave: Tips As Families Head Out for Weekend Celebrations - Layne Strookman, nurse practitioner at Saint Luke’s Urgent Care
- Health News You Can Use: July 4 Weekend Fireworks Safety - Dr. Rachael Payne, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Saint Luke's Plastic Surgery Specialists
- HCP Live: Despite Advances, Gaps in DKA Recognition Persist Across Diabetes Populations - Dr. (Larry) Kurt Midyett, pediatric endocrinologist at Saint Luke's Endocrinology Specialists
- Becker's Hospital Review: 46 Recent Hospital, Health System Executive Moves - Monica Smith, MSN, RN, president of Saint Luke’s East Hospital and Saint Luke’s South Hospital
- Patient Story: New Mom Turns to Saint Luke’s Twice in One Unforgettable Year
Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
- KSHB: New Drug Doubles Survival Time for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients - Dr. Marc Roth, medical director of gastrointestinal oncology at Saint Luke's
- Patient story: Preventive Mastectomy Helps Mother of Four Live with Clarity - Dr. Brian Jao, a plastic surgeon at Saint Luke’s
Saint Luke’s Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute
- Patient Story: After First Signs of a Stroke, Dorothy Finds Lifesaving Care in Under an Hour - Dr. Yifei Duan, a neurosurgeon with Saint Luke's Neurological & Spine Surgery, and Rachel Arrow, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City
- Patient Story: From the ICU to “I Do” - Dr. Carlos Bagley, director of Saint Luke’s Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute
- Patient Story: Innovative Stroke Protocol Helps Bill Make Up for Lost Time - Dr. Karin Olds, stroke medical director for Saint Luke's Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute
Bariatrics
- Patient Story: Bariatric Surgery Gives Elizabeth a Healthier Future - Dr. Geoffrey Slayden, bariatric surgeon at Saint Luke’s Center for Surgical Weight Loss
Critical Access Region
- Lloyd DeSpain Named Wright Memorial Hospital’s Employee of the Quarter–Second Quarter 2026
- Scott’s Road to Recovery with Swing Bed - Drew Mueller, a physical therapist at Allen County Regional Hospital