PRESS: Sr. Adele O'Sullivan, CSJ, MD to be honored at 2009 Red Ball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2009

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact: Edward Phillips, Sage Foundation Executive Director 480-222-9229 e.phillips(at)scnm.edu Or Salina Bazurto, Marketing and Public Relations Manager 480-222-9222 s.bazurto(at)scnm.edu

SR. ADELE O’SULLIVAN, CSJ, MD, CHOSEN AS 2009 HEALTHCARE STARS AWARD RECIPIENT FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

Providing for the unmet needs of the homeless, especially during illness

Tempe, AZ – Sister Adele O’Sullivan, CSJ, MD, will receive the 2009 Healthcare Stars Award for Outstanding Achievement at the 2009 Sage Foundation for Health’s annual Red Ball, held November 7 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Phoenix, Ariz. Sr. Adele is being honored for her commitment in providing medical care for the homeless and the creation of Circle the City -- a safe place for the homeless to recover from illness. She will be joined at the event by three other award winners: Debbie Gaby, Sleep America President, for her continuing philanthropic commitment to the community; About Care for their volunteer program providing dignity and transportation to East Valley elderly, some with incomes of less the $20,000 per year; and Dr. Suzanne Zentner for creating a fitness wellness program in the impoverished Isaac School District.

Since 1996, Sr. Adele has been a physician for the Healthcare for the Homeless (HCH) Program in Phoenix, Ariz. In 2000, Sr. Adele took charge as the program’s Medical Director. It was in her medical practice that she realized her homeless clients had needs far beyond simple medical care. The resources to provide those needs were lacking.

Sr. Adele appealed to both her religious community and the Phoenix community at large to help bridge the gap. What began as modest donations collected in a shoebox has today become Circle the City, a 501 (c)(3) public charity the provides for the unmet needs of homeless individuals, especially during times of illness. The organization funds specialty health care consultations, diagnostic exams, surgeries, eye exams and glasses, counseling services, as well as temporary rent and utilities assistance, and respite services. Sr. Adele’s current project with Circle the City is to raise funds to open a Medical Respite Center to provide a safe place for homeless persons to recover from illness or injury once they are discharged from a hospital or ambulatory acute care setting.

Sr. Adele received the Family Physician of the Year award from the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians, and was honored in 2006 as the American Family Physician of the Year by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Recently, Sr. Adele received the 2008 Caring Award from The Caring Institute, a nonprofit organization founded to promote the values of caring, integrity and public service.

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The mission of the Sage Foundation for Health is to provide quality, natural, compassionate healthcare along with conventional medicine to uninsured and underserved children and adults of Arizona. Established in 2002, through the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences (SCNM), the Foundation currently provides no-cost medical treatment and medications to over 20,000 Arizonans each year through eight community collaboration clinics. The Foundation funds these operations through an ongoing appeal to the community at large, as well as at the annual “Red Ball” which generates revenues to support ongoing operations. New fund development initiatives are being considered to increase funding to meet the ever growing need as a result of the economic downturn.

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Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) offers a four-year, professional-level, accredited degree program in naturopathic medicine. The Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center is a teaching clinic for students from SCNM.