The Power People Need To Hear From Us

Gayle Schrier Smith M.D. • Apr 12, 2013

Something really important will happen next week in Richmond, and if you would like to be a part of shaping the healthcare options of our children and grandchildren…

You have to write to the Power People.  They are meeting to consider building our new children’s hospital.

Imagine what it would look like.  They are the Power People.  They arrive at work tomorrow; people who can give the nod to building an independent hospital for Richmond’s children, and they find hundreds and thousands of emails from parents like me… people who have heard that there’s money to build a new children’s hospital… and we are all writing to ask for help.

Imagine what the Power People might do when they see this ground-swell of parental hope, of heartfelt commitment to our children…dedication to the idea of having a really kid-friendly hospital just for the children…

Do you think all our letters will melt hard hearts?

Do you think seeing the children’s faces and hearing their stories will sway the stubborn ones to FIND a way to build a new hospital for the children?

I think so .  So I’ve found photos of my children…those really cute ones that melt my heart, and I’ve written kind words for the Power People about my children.  I’m telling my children’s story, and I’m reminding the Power People that they now play an important part in MY children’s healthcare story.  I may ask some of my patients if I can tell their stories, too.

EVERY DAY until TUESDAY, April 16, I am writing to the Power People .  That’s the day that they all get together and talk about important things… like should we build a new hospital for the children.

I thought about posting an example letter to send to these Board members, but the facts are  part of my DrDownload blog  week after week.  Pick a few that matter to you by clicking on the link above if you want. Or you can read more at the  PACKids.org  website; these are some of my doctor colleagues who have gotten on board with the cause.  In my heart though, I know that it will be our stories and the faces of our children that will soften hearts.

If the decision to build this new hospital is based JUST on the money and power, it will never happen.  Sadly, for the children…I know that it SHOULD not happen if the Power People can’t move beyond those two driving forces.

It will not be until the grownups can look at the children and hear their stories and believe that they are worth the hard work of collaboration… that our youngest ones will have the hospital that they so richly deserve.  I have never stopped praying.  And believing it’s possible.  And writing.  Won’t you join me

Here are the Power People as best as I can tell:

Dr. Michael Rao                      president@vcu.edu

Dr. Sheldon Retchin               retchin@mcvh-vcu.edu

Delegate M. Kirkland Cox      delkcox@house.virginia.gov

Delegate John O’Bannon      deljobannon@house.virginia.gov

Senator Donald McEachin     district09@senate.virginia.gov

Dr. PJ Coney                            pconey@vcu.edu

Dr. Michael S.Gonzalez           mgonzalez@mcvh-vcu.edu

Dr. Anton J. Kuzel                   ajkuzel@vcu.edu

Dr. Bruce Mathern                 bmathern@mcvh-vcu.edu

Dr. Susan Roseff                     sdroseff@hsc.vcu.edu

Margaret Lewis               Margaret.Lewis@hcahealthcare.com

Chris Broughton-Spruill               cbroughton-spruill@chfrichmond.org

Peter Bernard               Peter_Bernard@bshsi.org

I’m stuffing envelopes for some of the Power People because they prefer Snail Mail.

Mr. Robert M. Blue

VCU Health System Board of Directors

1630 Pope Avenue

Richmond, VA 23261

 

Ms. Katherine E. Busser

VCU Health System Board of Directors

1 Lower Tuckahoe Rd. W.

Richmond, VA 23238

 

Ms. Lakshmi Challa

VCU Health System Board of Directors

Challa Law Offices

5040 Sadler Place Suite 200

Glen Allen, VA 23060

 

Mr. Thomas N. Chewning

VCU Health System Board of Directors

4800 Locke Green Circle

Richmond, VA   23226

 

Dr. John Doswell

VCU Health System Board of Directors

6010 St. Andrews Lane

Richmond, VA   23226

 

Mr. William M. Ginther

VCU Health System Board of Directors

2605 Autumnfield Road

Midlothian, Virginia 2311

 

Mr. Thomas E. Gottwald

VCU Health System Board of Directors

4601 Lilac Lane

Richmond, VA 23221

 

Ms. Lillian L. Lambert

VCU Health System Board of Directors

9455 Deer Stream Drive

Mechanicsville, Virginia  23116

 

Dr. W. Baxter Perkinson

VCU Health System Board of Directors

10620 Cherokee Rd.

Richmond, VA  23235

 

Mr. John Sherman

VCU Health System Board of Directors

5 Mary View Drive

Richmond, VA 23226

 

Mr. Stuart C. Siegel

VCU Health System Board of Directors

800 Old Locke Lane

Richmond, VA 23226

 

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