Atrium Health

Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute recently hosted its annual Celebration of Life event, honoring patients whose lives have been transformed by heart transplantation and LVAD therapy. Patients and their families reunited with care teams to express gratitude and reflect on the innovative heart care they received. This year, we set a record with 61 heart transplants and 37 LVAD implants, underscoring our commitment to advancing heart health and providing second chances.

Dr. David Sachar's dedication to service spans decades in the U.S. Army and now at Atrium Health. Dr. Sachar’s journey began in 1993 when he was accepted to the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. After graduating, he was promoted to Captain and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. From there, he was stationed at the 121st General Hospital in South Korea, serving both as a hospital internist and as a physician to the Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Forces Korea. In 2001, Dr. Sachar returned to Walter Reed to complete a fellowship in Gastroenterology. His career continued at Fort Bragg’s Womack Army Medical Center, where he became Chief of Gastroenterology and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his deployment to Afghanistan in 2005, he served as Battalion Surgeon for the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, earning the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service and the Combat Medic Badge after his convoy was attacked in Wardak Province. He was later deployed to Iraq as Field Surgeon for the 581st and 601st Area Support Medical Companies. In 2010, after completing his active-duty service, Dr. Sachar joined Atrium Health, choosing this organization to work alongside fellow veterans in his specialty. Working alongside colleagues like Robert Yavorski (Army), Thomas Pacicco (Army), Kent Holtzmuller (Army), and Oscar Brann (Army) – all with military backgrounds. We are grateful for Dr. Sachar’s extraordinary commitment to service, both in the field and in healthcare, and are honored to have him as part of our Atrium Health family.

Navigators play a crucial role in cancer care. This significance is underscored by the invitation extended to two of our leaders to participate in key discussions in Washington D.C. Dr. Ruben Mesa, president of Atrium Health Levine Cancer, and Kris Blackley, director of patient navigation, traveled to our nation’s capital to talk with other health leaders and White House officials about ways to expand navigation services for cancer patients nationwide. One year ago, the Cancer Moonshot initiative facilitated the reimbursement of navigation services through Medicare and private health insurers. This significant milestone has greatly enhanced the support available to cancer patients, improving their health outcomes and overall experience. Learn more about navigators and why they are so important: https://bit.ly/4hTWIe1

As a child, Atrium Health teammate Emma Cruz remembers her mom Dawn being away for weeks with Atrium Health's MED-1 mobile hospital. MED-1 has been a critical part of providing communities with emergency medicine services in times of disaster. For 17 years with MED-1, Dawn has participated in several deployments, including hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018. Two years ago, Emma had the opportunity to follow in her mother’s footsteps, becoming a MED-1 teammate. Emma explains that she was heavily inspired by her mom, stating “she has been on several MED-1 deployments for hurricane relief, among other things, and it was truly inspiring to me”. Since joining MED-1, Emma has received training helping prepare her to provide care during large-scale incidents, such as natural disasters and other community events. In October of this year, Dawn and Emma shared a special moment as they were both deployed to Tryon, NC following Hurricane Helene. “The opportunity to travel together to the site and serve the community in that capacity was both exciting and heartwarming to share that together,” shares Dawn. Thank you, Dawn and Emma, for your incredible contributions to our team and for being such an inspiration to us all. Your dedication and passion truly make a difference. Read their story: https://bit.ly/3ACa1Pr

Atrium Health will soon open the doors to a brand-new emergency department in Ballantyne, North Carolina. The new facility will help bring more access to emergency care to the communities in south Mecklenburg County and northern South Carolina. Atrium Health Ballantyne will help meet the growing needs of neighborhoods, while providing timely access to additional care such as their Level I trauma center, which is the only one of its kind in the region. We are excited to move into the neighborhood and begin offering emergency care close to home for our neighbors who have come to rely on Atrium Health.

From a bedside nurse to the Assistant Vice President for Patient Care Services, Misty Wheeler’s nursing career is a testament to dedication and passion, spanning over 30 years, with 25 of those years as a valued Atrium Health teammate. "I was inspired to pursue a career in nursing, driven by a desire to help others." Misty’s unwavering commitment to serving others and her ability to thrive in fast-paced environments led her early in her career to Carolinas Medical Center, where she pursued her dream of becoming a flight nurse. Throughout her journey, Misty excelled in various intensive care unit roles before stepping into leadership positions. Misty is deeply passionate about guiding new nurses and emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and well-being to maintain positivity and effectiveness in their roles. In line with her commitment to continuous growth, which she instills in her mentees, Misty is set to graduate with her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in December. She was also recently honored as one of the North Carolina Great 100 nurses for 2024. Beyond her contributions to healthcare, Misty joined the Army Reserves at the age of 45 and is stationed at Fort Liberty in Fayetteville, NC. She skillfully balances her reserve duties with her full-time role at Atrium Health. Misty is also actively involved in Atrium Health’s Veteran & Military System Resource Group, aiming to develop new programs to recognize veteran patients. Thank you, Misty, for sharing your passion and expertise with our patients, teammates and community!