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Message .America’s 100 Best HospitalsWe’re pleased to announce that St. John’s Hospitals have earned America’s  Best Hospitals Award™ from Healthgrades for two years in a row! The distinction places St. John’s Hospitals in the top  of more than  hospitals nationwide for superior clinical performance as measured by Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. Our hospitals were also named America’s  Best Hospitals for both Coronary Intervention for  years in a row and Pulmonary Care for two years in a row. Additionally, St. John’s Hospitals have been recognized as: •  in the state for pulmonary care •  in the state for coronary intervention •  in the state for cranial neurosurgeryOur numerous ve-star ratings in cardiac, stroke, pulmonary, and critical care, place St. John’s Hospitals among the top hospitals nationwide once again, reecting the organization’s dedication to exceptional care.KEEPING PHYSICIANS ABREAST OF THE LATEST NEWS AND INFORMATION AT DIGNITY HEALTH – ST. JOHN’S HOSPITALSWINTER Medical Dialogue.St. John’s Earns Prestigious Straight “A” DesignationWe’re pleased to announce that St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo have once again earned “A” Hospital Safety Grades by the Leapfrog Group for achieving the highest national standards in patient safety. Not only have both hospitals earned “A”s in the fall  Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, but also the elite “Straight A” designation.As “Straight A” hospitals, St. John’s Hospitals have earned an “A” grade in at least ve consecutive cycles of the Hospital Safety Grade – an uncommon feat that makes our facilities true standouts. Our recognition letter from the Leapfrog Group, an independent organization, reads in part:“A ‘Straight A’ Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is an extraordinary achievement for your entire sta that demonstrates dedication and consistency. The investments you are making don’t just earn your hospitals the ‘Straight A’ status; they give you a more trusted reputation in the community, an enhanced ability to recruit and retain, and most notably, better patient outcomes such as reduced length of stay and mortality rates.”Thank you to all of our physicians for your dedication to creating a culture of safety and an environment that is worthy of such prestigious recognitions.

2 St. John’s Medical Dialogue.MEC Member SpotlightIn each issue of Medical Dialogue, we feature a Medical Executive Committee member so our physicians can get to know them better. In this issue, we shine our spotlight on Joseph LoPresti, MD, Treasurer and Immediate Past Chief of Sta.What inspired you to enter the medical field? I can’t point to a single moment or event that inspired me to enter medicine. My father owned and operated a medical lab, so I grew up exposed to and immersed in medicine. I realized at age  that I wasn’t going to be an operasinger, and medicine was the only other option. As I progressed through my education, I found my anity and aptitude for biologic/life sciences, so a career in medicine almost seemed inevitable. And now, over  years later, I have no regrets and I clearly made the right choice.What are you most proud of at St. John’s Hospitals?There are two answers that come to mind. First, is the commitment of St John’s to its community. As a member of the hospital board, I have learned about the many dierent ways in which St. John’s supports and is involved with its surrounding community. Second, I believe St. John’s has an outstanding medical sta, as I have had many members of the sta care for several members of my family and myself across numerous disciplines. Furthermore, I nd the medical sta very cohesive and supportive of each other. I have worked at other institutions where the medical sta is very contentious and competitive within its ranks. I have not encountered that here.What are you most proud of accomplishing during your term as Chief of Staff? When I started my term as Chief of Sta, the Department of Anesthesia was going through a challenging time. The transition had just been made to Somnia, and I worked hard to ensure we had the most committed providers and that our peer review/quality processes could achieve set goals. I continue to work as the Past Chief of Sta in the areas of peer review and quality.Who are your role models? This is a tough question. I try to use Jesus as my ultimate role model with the knowledge that I fall short. As a physician, there are residents with whom I trained that I still hold in very high esteem and continue to use them as role models. They taught me to work hard, equanimity under duress, and the commitment and ownership of my role as a surgeon. And I don’t know if I’d say role model, but I learned a lot about leadership from Barry Wolfman, our former CEO.What do you like to do in your spare time? Spare time? The rst thing that comes to mind is music. I write and record original music and have created a pretty cool home studio over the years. I play keyboards and guitar. I also play in the contemporary worship band at church and play in a cover band with Chairman of the Board Jerry Zins – who is quite a drummer himself! A lot of my athletic pursuits have faded away with age – I was a pitcher in college, and my mountain biking forlays are less frequent. At this point, I continue to ride my bicycle as my major form of exercise. I also like to cook, read and travel.Joseph LoPresti, MD Treasurer and Immediate Past Chief of StaffMedical Staff OfficersChief of Staff Stephen Evans, MDTreasurer Joseph LoPresti, MD, and Immediate Past Chief of StaffDepartment ChairsAnesthesiology Parvinjit Dhaliwal, DOEmergency Services Chris Chauhan, MD Medicine Niusha Damaghi, MDOB/GYN Peter Robilio, MDPathology Joanna Xie, MDPediatrics Guillermo Rios Rios, MDRadiology William Deruso, MDSurgery John Baber, MD

St. John’s Medical Dialogue 3.Healing Hands AwardsHealing Hands Awards are presented each quarter to recognize physicians who demonstrate exceptional bedside manner, embody excellence in care and skill, and go above and beyond to touch the lives of our patients, their families and the communities we serve. Congratulations to our recent honorees.St. John’s Hospital Camarillo Kyle Brooks, MD, Emergency Medicine Dr. Brooks’ recognition from a grateful patient reads in part: “I was as sick as a dog when Dr. Brooks ran additional tests and made sure I was well taken care of. He felt my prayers and understood my pain and agony. He said, ‘You’re not going anywhere. I’m going to make sure we get you back home and feeling better.’ And he did! Because of him, I feel like a million bucks all over again.”Andrew Jeffers, MD, OrthopedicsDr. Jeers’ recognition from a fellow sta member reads:“Dr. Jeers is a true patient advocate. He plans diligently with his patients and oce sta in the pre-operative phase and follows his patients closely to ensure they are safely discharged as soon as they are able. He is always willing to educate the nursing sta as well. When the robotics program was rst introduced, he walked the nursing sta through what robotic surgery looked like and how it is dierent, ensuring nurses would better empathize with their patients and create safe care plans through his collaboration.”Mounir El Fatmi, MD, HBO/Wound CareDr. El Fatmi is recognized by a patient who stated: “Dr. El Fatmi is a brilliant doctor and compassionate human being. A daily dose of his humor along with his expertise and knowledge of stubborn wounds ultimately ‘sealed the deal.’ Today I am leading a healthy, productive and happy life thanks to him. SJHC is very fortunate indeed to have such an extraordinary doctor.”St. John’s Regional Medical CenterEdmond Kalantar Ohanian, DO, Internal Medicine Dr. Ohanian’s recognition from a grateful patient reads in part: “Dr. Ohanian was incredibly thorough and super informative during my stay at St. John’s Hospital. He was wonderful in taking the time to discuss my treatment plan and progress. He also provided me with kind suggestions and oered additional contacts for helping with my future treatment plans. He took more than adequate time to explain what I needed to know. He is a true reection of humankindness.”Dominic Tran-Nguyen, DO, Internal Medicine Dr. Tran-Nguyen’s recognition from a fellow sta member reads:“To describe Dr. Tran-Nguyen in just one story would be hard to do. Every interaction I have ever had with him has been amazing, and the entire  North night shift agrees. He is quick to reply with the utmost professionalism, whether it’s  p.m. or  a.m. His ability to quickly take care of any issue and make you feel part of a team is why Dr. Tran-Nguyen deserves to be recognized.” “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.”— Margaret Mead

4 St. John’s Medical Dialogue.First TMVR ProcedureSt. John’s Regional Medical Center is pleased to now oer heart patients an advanced TMVR Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement procedure, which is a favorable alternative to open heart surgery. The rst case of the TMVR procedure was recently performed at the hospital by Omid Fatemi, MD, Medical Director of the Structural Heart Program. TMVR is a minimally-invasive procedure that involves replacing a damaged or diseased mitral valve with an articial valve. It is performed in lieu of open-heart surgery, making it benecial for patients who may not be favorable candidates for open-heart procedures. They include those who are at a high surgical risk, have severe mitral valve disease, or are suering from symptomatic heart failure. During the procedure, doctors use a catheter inserted through the skin, typically in the groin, to reach the heart. They then replace the mitral valve with a prosthetic one, avoiding the need for open surgery. This approach can signicantly reduce recovery time and complication risks for patients, making it a game-changer for those who are not candidates for conventional surgery. Oering TMVR to our patients is a signicant achievement for St. John’s, as it involves advanced technology and expertise, and furthers our standing of providing exceptional heart care.PFA Now Available for AFibIn January , the FDA-approved pulsed eld ablation PFA for atrial brillation AFib, marking a milestone in electrophysiology. Now, PFA is available at St. John’s and we’ve already performed our rst complex AFib and AFlutter ablation using this technology. PFA oers increased safety, as well as improved success and eciency compared to traditional thermal energy methods.Instead of using heat or cold energy as in traditional ablation, the PFA catheter therapy uses short bursts of high energy to aect heart tissue that causes AFib.This new approach to treating AFib oers several advantages over traditional ablation techniques: • Less risk to adjacent structures: PFA can be safer for the heart’s adjacent structures. • Reduced complications: PFA can signicantly reduce complications. • No reported phrenic nerve injuries: PFA has not been reported to injure the phrenic nerve, which is essential for breathing. • Improved safety and ecacy: Early in-human data suggests that PFA is at least as eective as traditional thermal modalities, and may be safer. • Reduced ablation time: PFA can signicantly reduce ablation time, with an average reduction of  compared to thermal ablation. Bahram Namdari, MD, Anesthesiologist (2nd from left), and Ali Sovari, MD, Medical Director of Electrophysiology (3rd from left), performed St. John’s first pulsed field ablation to treat AFib. “Sometimes our breakthrough begins when we refuse to be impressed with the size of our problem.”– Bill Johnson

St. John’s Medical Dialogue 5.Patient PraiseCongratulations to physicians who recently received complimentary letters to our hospital administration.Glen Abergel, MD, Critical Care Medicine – “He and his sta provided me with excellent care and I’m so grateful for their dedication.”Sulaiman Barkho, MD, Hospitalist – “She was so thorough and spent a lot of time with me to explain everything in great detail so I understood.”Byungwoo Choi, MD, Infectious Disease, and Robert Nguyen, MD, Internal Medicine – “They were amazing. They studied my infection, gured it out, prescribed correct meds, and then cured me!”Jeery Davies, DO, Emergency Medicine – “I am so impressed with how kind, and reassuring he was during my visit. He exhibited capability, professionalism, and attended to me with utmost compassion and concern.”Roseller DiTangco, MD, Internal Medicine – “He is amazing. I’m so grateful for his care and genuine concern.”Jerey Kopstein, DO, Internal Medicine – “He was attentive and informative.”Joseph LoPresti, MD, General Surgery – “He is awesome! He’s very direct with no u or vagueness. He also took the time to ask me personal questions regarding my health and was a great motivator.”Darren Maehara, MD, Critical Care Medicine – “Every question we posed to him was answered thoroughly.”Todd Monroe, MD, OB/GYN – “He is so amazing, and answered all of my questions.”Esam Obed, MD, Interventional Cardiology – “He kept me informed of the condition of my heart and was so informative.”Richard Rothschild, MD, Interventional Cardiology – “He was absolutely fantastic!”Ryan Shanahan, MD, Emergency Medicine – “He was very professional and kept me abreast of all of the test results as they came in. Once the diagnosis was made, he provided me with the best treatment plan and I felt condent moving forward.”Karandeep Singh, MD, Interventional Cardiology – “He placed my pacemaker, took the time to explain things thoroughly and addressed my concerns.”Patrick Um, MD, Emergency Medicine – “He spoke clearly, answered all of my questions, and even made a follow-up call the next day to see how I was doing.”IntegrityExcellenceCompassionInclusionCollaboration

6 St. John’s Medical Dialogue.HRO Tool of the MonthYour Questioning AttitudeYour Questioning Attitude is often the rst step in preventing harm. This tool is a behavior-based approach to human error prevention. The universal skills associated with this tool are Pause, Question and Conrm, and Know Why and Comply. They increase our awareness and encourage us to question situations that don’t seem right. Pause, Question and Confirm helps us:This skill helps us listen to our internal alarm. It encourages us to question information and assumptions that may be incorrect and lead to errors. By using this tool, we:• Ensure work activities are stopped when faced with uncertainty or unsafe conditions.• Actively nd a resource to ensure we are doing the right thing.To use Pause, Question and Conrm, stop and ask yourself these questions:• Does this make sense to me? Is it right, based on what I know?• Is this what I expected?• Does this t with my experience or other information I may have at this time?A questioning attitude also questions the answer. Conrm an answer by nding an independent, qualied source to ensure the situation or information is correct. “It’s okay not to know, it’s not okay not to ask!”Know Why and ComplyKnow Why and Comply reinforces the appropriate use of workplace resources such as policies, procedures and job aids that are necessary for the day-to-day work that we accomplish. It helps us exercise our right to understand why we do what we do while ensuring that we accomplish our tasks correctly. It does this by clarifying what a Continuous Use resource is versus a Reference Use resource.• Continuous Use resources, such as checklists or ow sheets are necessary to provide tasks/action steps for infrequently performed or high-risk/complex procedures.• Reference Use is for tasks or processes often performed by memory, and typically by one individual. They must be referred to when details are not known or to review activities frequently completed from memory. Compliance entails reading the entire reference beforehand, ensuring we understand all the steps, and referring to the reference often.Having a questioning attitude helps ensure we accurately perceive the situations and conditions around us so that we choose the correct response. Accepting a questioning attitude from others is important too, and helps prevent errors.Welcome New Physicians to the St. John’s Hospital FamilyEmergency MedicineDhawal Ruwala, DO Family MedicineJoseph Papador, DOInternal Medicine John M. Lee, MDAbigael Magadia-Abutin, MDPreetham Vekateswaran, MD Daniel Virnich, MDOB/GYNJennifer Mikhail, DOMichael Singer, MD RadiologyAndrea Weiss, MD Tele-PsychiatryNagui Achamallah, MDJoel Dey, MD

St. John’s Medical Dialogue 7.Physicians in the NewsWe’d like to thank and recognize the following physicians who were recently featured in the local media. Jeery Davies, DO, Emergency Department Medical Director, was featured on KNX 1070 Newsradio to discuss the importance of pre-hydrating during the summer heatwave that impacted Southern California. He also discussed how to protect against inuenza in the Ventura County Reporter.Megan Mescher-Cox, MD, Internal Medicine, was featured on ABC Channel 7 News in a story about a recent study that raised concerns on the possible link between sh oil supplements and heart disease. She was also featured in the BestLife publication in a story about incorporating the right foods in our diet to ght inammation in our bodies.Mani Nezhad, MD, Stroke Program Medical Director, was featured in the Camarillo Acorn in a story about James Russum, a grandfather of four, who made a miraculous recovery at St. John’s after having suered a massive stroke on the golf course.Edwin Ramirez, MD, OB/GYN, recently joined the Univision-Despierta LA team to share helpful tips on motherhood and how to prepare for a healthy pregnancy.Terry Simpson, MD, Surgery, Culinary Medicine Specialist, was featured in the BestLife publication in a story about overcoming food cravings to cope with emotional eating. He was also featured on KNX 1070 Newsradio where he discussed the benets of exercising at night.St. John’s Cardiac Program was featured in Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the top  “Hospitals and health systems with great heart programs” in the nation. This prestigious recognition would not be possible without the dedication and collaborative spirit of our physicians and sta.DEI HonorSt. John’s Hospitals were featured in the Camarillo Acorn publication in a story about our recognition as an LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s  Healthcare Equality Index for the second year in a row.15th Annual St. John’s Breast SymposiumThanks to St. John’s Integrated Breast Center Specialists for making St. John’s th Annual Breast Symposium an event to remember. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, executive leaders, sta, cancer survivors and community members were on-hand to enjoy a day lled with expert panels, vendor booths and chair massages. A special thank you to Patrick Caster, Hospital President; Dr. Lynn Jeers, Chief Medical Ocer; Alicia Zaragoza, Cancer Program Manager; and everyone who helped make this day memorable. We’re pleased to oer this event each year, which attendees have praised for providing them hope and inspiration.

8 St. John’s Medical Dialogue.CALL FOR ARTICLES: We encourage members of the St. John’s Hospital Camarillo and St. John’s Regional Medical Center Staff to submit information or articles for publication in the Medical Dialogue. We welcome your input! Please contact Tracie Gipson, Editor, at 818.522.4574 or tracie.cheesemangipson@CommonSpirit.org.EDITORIAL TEAMLynn Jeffers, MDCMO, St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Hospital CamarilloRenee ShimitzSenior Director, Medical Staff ServicesChristina ZicklinMedical DialogueEditorial DirectorTracie GipsonMedical Dialogue EditorVisit St John’s CMO Information Website at bit.ly/sjdoctorsHelping Colleagues Impacted by the Mountain FireThe recent Mountain Fire in Ventura County impacted many of our own here at St. John’s Hospitals. The re burned more than  acres and destroyed at least  structures, causing many of our caregivers and physicians to evacuate – some lost their homes. Our thoughts and prayers remain with those who were directly impacted by this disaster. If you would like to help those aected, please contact the Medical Sta Oce or Lynn Jeers, MD, CMO, at  -.