BJC Media Coverage Recap: October 2025

November 24, 2015 9 minutes

October 2025

See below for the latest news coverage and stories from October 2025.

Chief Healthcare Executive: BJC Health System’s New CEO Takes Over – Nick Barto, president and CEO of BJC Health
Becker’s Hospital Review: BJC Welcomes New CEO - Nick Barto, president and CEO of BJC Health
Ingram’s: BJC Health System Selects Nick Barto as President, CEO - Nick Barto, president and CEO of BJC Health
Illinois Business Journal: Illinois Business Journal: New BJC Health System President and CEO Is Nick Barto - Nick Barto, president and CEO of BJC Health
Becker’s Hospital Review: Fall Brings a Flurry of CEO Changes at Health Systems Big and Small: 11 Shifts To Note - Nick Barto, president and CEO of BJC Health
RiverBender: Nick Barto Assumes Role as BJC Health System President and CEO - Nick Barto, president and CEO of BJC Health
Business Insider: How Doctors Use ChatGPT and Other AI, Including to Help Avoid Burnout – Dr. Carl Dirks, chief medical information officer at Saint Luke's, and Philip Payne, chief health AI officer at BJC Health
Becker’s Hospital Review: 112 Hospitals With 5+ Magnet Designations

Breast Cancer Awareness Month / Oncology

Straight Arrow News: Early Detection and Healthy Habits Key in Fight Against Breast Cancer – Kim Widel, imaging manager at the Memorial Hospital Shiloh Breast Health Center
KTUI: Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Lisa Lochner, president of Missouri Baptist Sullivan
KREI: KREI Newsmaker: Becky Buchanan, Nurse Practitioner at Parkland Health Center On Breast Cancer Awareness – Becky Buchanan, nurse practitioner at Parkland Health Center

St. Louis Children's Hospital / Pediatrics

Transplant

KTVI-FOX: STL Children’s Hospital Performs Groundbreaking Domino Transplant – Dr. Lakshmi Gokanapudy Hahn, associate medical director for the pediatric heart transplant program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
KMOX-AM Radio: Team at St. Louis Children's Hospital Performs Pediatric Domino Partial Heart Transplant in the Midwest – Dr. Lakshmi Gokanapudy Hahn, associate medical director for the pediatric heart transplant program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Southern Illinoisan: Team at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, WashU Medicine Heart Center perform first pediatric “domino” partial heart transplant in the Midwest – Dr. Jacob Miller, Dr. Janet Scheel, and Dr. Eli Fredman, WashU physicians
KSDK-NBC: Stranger Donates Kidney to Man He Met on Facebook: ‘A Second Chance Like Jesus Gave Me’

Heart & Vascular

Everyday Health: Exercising With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM): What You Need to Know – Dr. Richard Bach, a WashU Medicine cardiologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Patient Story: Care That Goes the Distance: How Virtual Aortic Monitoring Helped a Patient in Southern Missouri – Dr. Joshua Baker, cardiothoracic surgeon, and Jen Mcgee, nurse practitioner at Missouri Baptist
Patient Story: A Heart for Life: How One Woman’s Transplant Journey Came Full-Circle at Barnes-Jewish Hospital – Dr. Jasvindar Singh, a WashU Medicine interventional cardiologist at the WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Heart and Vascular Center, and Dr. Justin Vader, a WashU Medicine cardiologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Neurology

Patient Story: From Emergency to Empowerment: John Cline’s Stroke Story
Patient Story: Nicole Needed an Innovative Alzheimer's Treatment. Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital Made It Easier for Her to Access. – Dr. Nupur Ghoshal, WashU Medicine neurologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Lisa Lochner, president of Missouri Baptist Sullivan 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

Orthopedics

KMOV-CBS: Teenager Inspired by Medical Flight Crew Explores Aviation Career – Bertram Hicks, Flight Nurse at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
St. Louis Magazine: The Cutting-Edge Medical Technologies and Treatments Happening in St. Louis - Dr. Kevin Quigley, BJC Medical Group orthopedic surgeon at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital
KMOV-CBS: My Mom Club: Sports Diversification and Preventing Injuries - Dr. Michael Messmer, BJC Medical Group sports medicine physician at Alton Memorial Hospital
Patient Story: Going Strong at 86: One Woman’s Hip Replacement Story – Dr. Nicholas Wilson, BJC Medical Group orthopedic surgeon
Patient Story: A Firefighter Finds Relief at Parkland Health Center – Dr. Jesse T. Beard, BJC Medical Group orthopedic surgeon
Patient Story: Walking Strong After Robotic-Assisted Knee Surgery – Dr. Anthony Berni, BJC Medical Group orthopedic surgeon at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital

Women & Infants

St. Louis Magazine: Healing & Hope: How St. Louis Is Advancing Maternal and Infant Care – Dr. Kathy Bligard, WashU Medicine Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist at the Fetal Care Center

Community Health Improvement

St. Louis Magazine: St. Louis Organizations Expanding Community Health Beyond Hospital Walls – Calencia Mitchell, manager of community health improvement at BJC HealthCare

General

KMOX-AM Radio: Infectious Disease Specialist Discusses COVID and Flu Symptoms and Vaccines – Dr. Hillary Babcock, chief quality officer at BJC HealthCare and WashU Infectious Disease Specialist
KMOX: Healthcare-Focused Charter School Celebrates Opening of New Building
KMOV: Metro Area Healthcare-Focused School Celebrates First Year With Ribbon-Cutting – Dr. John Lynch, group president of BJC HealthCare and president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Bloomberg Philanthropies Supports BJC HealthCare and BELIEVE Academy Partnership to Strengthen the Health Care Workforce – Dr. John Lynch, group president of BJC HealthCare and president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Steven Player, BJC vice president of Belonging and Inclusion
St. Louis Magazine: St. Louis Hospitals Expand With New Facilities Designed To Serve Patients Better – Angelleen Peters-Lewis, president of Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital and vice president and chief operating officer of Barnes-Jewish Hospital
NewsBreak: Forbes’ 25 Best Employers In Illinois
Making College Dreams a Reality for Local Teens – Steven Player, BJC vice president of Belonging and Inclusion, and Joan Magruder, BJC HealthCare group president

Breast Cancer Awareness Month / Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute

FOX4 and KMBC: Breast Cancer Survivor Turns Her Own Healing to Hope Through Therapy Dog Adoption – Dr. Ruby Meierotto, breast radiologist at Saint Luke's Cancer Institute
KCTV: Lee’s Summit Breast Cancer Survivor Goes from Pregnancy Diagnosis to Over a Decade Cancer-Free – Dr. Ruby Meierotto, breast radiologist at Saint Luke's Cancer Institute
KCTV: Early On-Set Breast Cancer and the Importance of Early Detection - Dr. Mary Mitchell, department chief of breast radiology at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
Iola Register: Saint Luke’s Takes Aim at Rising Breast Cancer Rates - Dr. Mary Mitchell, department chief of breast radiology at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
KKFI: Cowtown Conversations: Dr. Timothy Pluard, Oncologist, With Saint Luke’s Hospital, Discusses Breast Cancer During Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Dr. Timothy Pluard, medical director of Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
KSHB: ‘It Takes a Village’: Northland Golf Tournament Supports Breast Cancer Screenings
Health News You Can Use: Early Onset Breast Cancer and Importance of Early Detection – Dr. Mary Mitchell, department chief of breast radiology at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
Health News You Can Use: Advances in Treatment for Metastatic Breast Cancer – Dr. Timothy Pluard, medical director of Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute and Saint Luke’s Koontz Center for Advanced Breast Cancer
Health News You Can Use: What Happens After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis – Donna Freisinger-Loyd, patient care navigator at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
Health News You Can Use: Managing Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects – Dr. Kelly Gast, breast medical oncologist at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
Patient Story: Wisconsin Mother Flies to KC for Metastatic Breast Cancer Care – Dr. Timothy Pluard, medical director of Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute and Saint Luke’s Koontz Center for Advanced Breast Cancer

Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute

TODAY: A Twist on the Mediterranean Diet Is 'Ideal' for Heart Health, Cardiologist Says – Dr. James O'Keefe, director of preventive cardiology at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute
TODAY: The 1 ‘Important’ Ingredient a Cardiologist Adds Liberally to Dinner - Dr. James O'Keefe, director of preventive cardiology at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute
American Heart Association: American Heart Association: Combined Resources Will Improve Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Care - Melissa Magwire, RN, MSN, CDCES, program director of the Cardiometabolic Center Alliance
Bioengineer: Integrated Resources Set To Enhance Cardiovascular, Kidney, and Metabolic Healthcare - Melissa Magwire, RN, MSN, CDCES, program director of the Cardiometabolic Center Alliance
TCTMD: Imperfect Evidence: How Strong Is the Case for Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Interventions? - Suzanne Arnold, MD, board-certified and fellowship trained cardiologist with Saint Luke's Cardiovascular Consultants
Patient Story: On the Road to Better Heart Health – Dr. Anthony Hart, cardiologist at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute

Women’s & Maternity

KCTV: Saint Luke’s Hospital Lab Uses High-Tech Mannequin to Train Staff for Birth Emergencies – Madeline Goodman, clinical education specialist at Saint Luke’s and Dr. Kristen Wootton, medical director of obstetrical and neonatal services at Saint Luke’s and chief medical officer of Saint Luke’s Central Region
FOX 4: Babies in Saint Luke's Hospital NICU Celebrate Halloween Early – Easton Thomas, information associate at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City NICU, and Mindy Smith, Clinical Resource Nurse
FOX 4: NICU Babies Celebrate Halloween at Kansas City Area Hospitals

Population Health

KCTV: Saint Luke's Offers Free Gun Locks to Promote Firearm Safety – Dr. Andrew Benedict, trauma medical director at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City
Gun News Daily: Hospital Distributes Free Gun Locks Amid Surge in Injuries – Dr. Andrew Benedict, surgeon and trauma medical director at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City

Saint Luke’s Hospital Crittenton Children’s Center

KCTV: Expert Shares Safety Tips for Parents and Their Teens This Halloween – Molly Pelletiere, substance use program coordinator at Saint Luke's Crittenton Children's Center
KSHB: Keeping Kids Safe This Halloween – Molly Pelletiere, substance use program coordinator at Saint Luke's Crittenton Children's Center

Critical Access Hospitals

Iola Register: Hospital’s Future in Focus: Allen County Regional Hospital Administrator Sees a Strong Case for Voters’ Renewal of a Quarter-Cent Sales Tax Extension – Pat Patton, administrator at Allen County Regional Hospital
Iola Register: Panelists Say Sales Tax Extension a Vital Investment for Hospital’s Future – Pat Patton, administrator at Allen County Regional Hospital
The Iola Register: This Is Our Hospital; Let’s Keep Investing in It – Pat Patton, administrator at Allen County Regional Hospital
The Iola Register: County Commission Hears Hospital’s Outlook – Pat Patton, administrator at Allen County Regional Hospital
KTTN: Hedrick and Wright Memorial Awarded for Rural Stroke Care Excellence – Catherine Hamilton, administrator of Wright Memorial Hospital and Hedrick Medical Center

General

Ingram’s: The 2025 Ingram’s 250: The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Greater Kansas City – Jani Johnson, president of Saint Luke’s Central Region, and Julie Quirin, president of BJC Health West Region
Becker’s Hospital Review: Saint Luke’s Regional President To Retire – Jani Johnson, president of Saint Luke’s Central Region
Ingram’s: Wisdom From the Corner Office - Jani Johnson, president of Saint Luke’s Central Region
Becker’s Hospital Review: 4 Ways Cleveland Clinic, Saint Luke’s & Texas Children’s Are Easing AI Anxiety – Jeffrey Sattler, hospitalist at Saint Luke’s