Miller-Dwan Medical Center Adult Behavioral Health Department was awarded $6,100 to install a music and lighting system in the Lakeside Behavioral Health Unit to decrease stimulation, provide distraction and promote patient relaxation.

Miller-Dwan Medical Center Surgical Services Department was awarded $6,000 to purchase an “Essure” Hysteroscopic, which vaginally places micro-inserts into the fallopian tubes to create a gentler, less invasive option for women considering permanent birth control.

Miller-Dwan Medical Center Surgical Services Department was awarded $30,000 to purchase a “LOGIQe” Compact Ultrasound System, which gives unprecedented image quality that increases the surgeons’ ability to diagnose a patient’s condition.

Miller-Dwan Medical Center was awarded $6,000 to purchase six wheelchair accessible concrete tables with attached seating for Miller-Dwan’s new wellness garden.

Courage-Duluth was awarded $7,000 to fund the “Great Lake Mono-Ski Madness” three-day ski clinic for children and adults with physical disabilities and to purchase a mono-ski.

Lake Superior Medical Alliance was awarded $3,317 to provide funding for an elementary school health education project for all ISD#709 third and fourth grade students that supplements and enhances the existing health education and promotes public awareness of the need for health education opportunities in elementary schools.

Miller-Dwan Medical Center Surgical Services Department was awarded $75,795 to provide partial funding for the redesign of two operating rooms to be transformed into cutting edge surgical areas called “I-Suites”.

Miller-Dwan Medical Center Adult Behavioral Health Department was awarded $5,000 to conduct a seminar for behavioral health professionals on methamphetamine abuse. The seminar will include information regarding the implications of abuse in the community and treatment options.

The College of St. Scholastica was awarded $18,419 to purchase pain management equipment currently used in the hospital setting. Nursing students will be trained using this equipment allowing for advanced patient care knowledge at the time of graduation and job placement.

Washburn Edison School was awarded $6,865 to fund the Olweus Bully Prevention Program, a multi-level, multi-component school based program designed to prevent or reduce bullying in grades k-8 at Washburn Edison, Kenwood Edison, and Raleigh Edison Schools.

Lutheran Social Services/ AIDS Information Duluth was awarded $10,000 to provide funding for HIV prevention education for at-risk populations, including high school and college students, as well as people served by local soup kitchens, drop-in centers, and prisons.

The Damiano Center was awarded $6,000 to fund the Mental Health Care Access program, which assists low-income Central Hillside residents who suffer from a mental health illness in receiving proper medical services.

Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health was awarded $1,000 for the 2006 Child and Mental Health Conference. The conference offers parents, professionals, and key state government agencies a chance to share knowledge and resources related to child and adolescent mental health issues.

Range Mental Health Center was awarded $10,000 for the Human Nature Initiatives Program that delivers expedition/experience-based mental health services to youth and families in northern Minnesota.

Grants from the Van Gorden Fund of the Miller-Dwan Foundation

The Van Gorden Fund provides support to organizations in our region dedicated to providing people with injuries or physical disabilities assistance to reach their highest possible level of function. The following grants were awarded from this fund.

Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center was awarded $34,428 to replace the flooring and soffits on the second level of Polinsky to create a safer environment for patients and embed therapeutic tools into the floor, while allowing the corridors to be color coded to improve wayfinding.

Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center was awarded $83,850 to purchase the SMART EquiTest System with Head Shake – Sensory Organization Test, which provides a complete battery of tests that will objectively quantify and differentiate among the wide variety of possible sensory, motor and central adaptive impairments to balance control.

Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center was awarded $7,715 to purchase a Dynavox DV4 Augmentative Communication Device for pediatric and adult patients who have experienced brain injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, development delay and other neurological disorders. An electronic speech-generating device it is the benchmark for augmentative communication devices and will streamline patient assessments.

Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center was awarded $8,360 to fund a two-day workshop on the Graston Technique®, an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, which enables clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions using specially designed stainless steel instruments to detect and treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation.

Miller-Dwan Rehabilitation Center was awarded $1,800 to fund the keynote speaker for the Rehab Center’s Journey Award and Junior Journey Award celebration in honor of National Rehabilitation Awareness Week.

Miller-Dwan Rehabilitation Center was awarded $4,062 to purchase adapted computer equipment for use in therapy by people who have suffered a stroke, spinal cord injury, or brain injury.

Miller-Dwan Rehabilitation Center was awarded $60,000 to purchase a new accessible bus for use by the Rehabilitation Center’s patient community reintegration program.

Miller-Dwan Rehabilitation Center was awarded $3,216 for the purchase of a bariatric wheelchair that assists patients suffering from obesity in strengthening muscles, sitting upright, and participating in therapies toward improved function.

Minnesota Ballet was awarded $3,000 to support the 2006-2007 year of creative dance for children with physical challenges.

Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center was awarded $3,000 to fund the “Brain Gym” education course for clinicians. “Brain Gym” is a system of movements that stimulate the brain and work the body simultaneously, which allows learning to occur with greater ease.

Duluth Clinic Fitness & Therapy Center was awarded $350 to fund an Alzheimer’s educational session to teach clinicians how Alzheimer’s symptoms affect patients’ communication and behavior. The workshop will provide skills training to overcome these barriers during treatment.

Duluth Clinic Fitness & Therapy Center was awarded $3,100 to purchase specialized Graston Technique instruments for use in myofascial treatment of muscle and connective tissue.

SMDC Audiology Department was awarded $61,578 to purchase equipment essential for Electronystagmography/Videonystagmography (ENG/VNG) testing, which is a standard of care in the evaluation and treatment of patients experiencing dizziness. Currently, this equipment is not available anywhere in the region.

St. Mary's Hospital-Superior was awarded $1,578 to purchase an Aqua Chair for the St. Mary's Hospital-Superior Rehab Department for use in the therapy pool at the YMCA. The purchase of a water wheelchair allows those who are wheelchair-bound or who walk with an assistive device access to the pool for exercise and therapy.