Improving Community Health -- $7.4 million, supporting more than 279,000 people

BJC and its hospitals touch individual lives every day through programs that bring health resources into the community -- in schools, neighborhoods, workplaces and places of worship.

Conquering Asthma

Gwendolyn Montgomery was a single mom with triplets born too soon. Seven weeks premature, with underdeveloped lungs, all three girls -- Anache, Breana and Chakya -- were diagnosed with asthma as infants. The struggling young family suffered through constant respiratory infections, bronchitis, pneumonia and trips to the emergency room. Read more >

Steps to Emotional Healing

The journey through grief and loss can be difficult and lonely, especially for a child. For 10 years, the Stepping Stones camp -- operated by BJC Hospice at no cost to campers -- has provided a safe place to explore grief, anger and fear -- balanced by plenty of fun. Read more >

Healthy Mind-Body-Spirit

“Sistahs Helping Sistahs” brought together more than 100 women at a north St. Louis County church for a day of education and screenings surrounding women’s health issues including female cancers, reproductive problems, menopause, parenting, mental health, sexually transmitted diseases and wellness indicators. Speaking at the event was a breast cancer survivor from The Witness Project, a Siteman Cancer Center program through which African-American women witness about their triumph over breast or cervical cancer in churches and community centers. Read more >

Connections Between Cultures

Navigating the U.S. health care system is difficult enough for the average American. For a newly arrived refugee in St. Louis, the challenges are much more complex. They often arrive with little or no knowledge of the language, culture and practices of their new communities. For them, a trip to the hospital means facing complicated paperwork, strange machines and providers with whom they are unable to communicate.

Anna Vigdorchik knows what it’s like to be in their shoes. Read more >

Christian Hospital Tackles Diabetes

In an effort to combat the spread of diabetes and create greater awareness of this life-changing disease, the Christian Hospital Diabetes Institute is dedicated to providing screenings and education to the community. Read more >
 

Warding Off Influenza

Each year, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital join forces to provide more than 29,000 flu shots free of charge in the St. Louis community. The shots are dispensed over the course of about two weeks on the medical center campus and at health centers, churches, supermarkets and shopping malls throughout the area. Read more >