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WVU Medicine and A Special Wish Ohio Valley recently announced a formal partnership, linking the organization that grants wishes to those under 21 years old with life-threatening disorders with a health system that stretches throughout the Mountain State, including WVU Medicine Wheeling and Reynolds Memorial hospitals.
The formal announcement was made by Ann Marie O'Grady, Executive Director of A Special Wish Ohio Valley and Amanda Mosman, Pediatric Physician Assistant at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital, during A Special Wish Ohio Valley's annual gala. The partnership will provide Mosman with a seat on the board of directors for ASWOV to help bring a more medically directed perspective to the nonprofit organization.
This will also allow WVU Medicine to help ASWOV grow their referral base as sick children and potential "wish nominees" come through the local pediatric offices.
In addition to general advocacy, WVU Medicine will have information about A Special Wish in each of its pediatric waiting rooms. Also, once the new WVU Medicine Children's Northern Region Outpatient Center is built, there will be opportunity for further integration. With conveniences like separate "sick and well" entrances, after hours appointments, and local appointments with pediatric specialists, families will be able to stay close to home for the care and comfort they need.
"A Special Wish Foundation helps provide comfort, joy, and, most importantly, lasting memories to families who are faced with the challenge of life-threatening illness," Mosman said. "Utilizing our pediatric resources at WVU Medicine, our partnership goal with ASWOV is to foster a sense of unity and compassion within the community. We hope to help network and connect families with this amazing foundation so that their children's smiles will last forever, and so families feel support and gain strength from the Ohio Valley during a very tough time."