Skaggs Foundation awards $29,500 in scholarships to local students

Skaggs Foundation awarded 33 scholarships to students this month.

Skaggs Foundation made a $29,500 investment in the future of the health care industry this month by

awarding 33 scholarships to local students pursuing careers in the medical field. The scholarships are

Jamille Twedt

for summer and fall 2017 semesters.

Among the 33 scholarship recipients, 26 are employees at Cox Medical Center Branson, six are seniors at Branson High School and one is a senior at Forsyth High School.

Scholarship recipient Jamille Twedt, RN, OCN, has been a nurse for 39 years and in oncology for 28 of those years. She is currently an assistant nurse manager of Cox Cancer Center Branson and working toward her Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

Without the support of Skaggs Foundation, she says she would not have been able to complete her BSN.

“Skaggs Foundation is committed to the health of our community not just today, but for years to

Forsyth senior Whitney Haynie

come,” Twedt says. “In our rural community, we need to increase health care access by paving the way for people who want to become doctors, nurses, provide advanced

radiology services, and the like. There are many people who have a desire to better their lives and be a part of the medical field, but that education can be very expensive. Skaggs Foundation helps reduce the burden of paying for school for those wanting to improve their own lives and make a difference for others.”

“At Skaggs Foundation, we are committed to improving the health of Taney and Stone counties today, but also ensuring that excellent health care will be available here for years to come,” says Skaggs Foundation President Meghan Connell.

Since its inception in 2002, Skaggs Foundation has awarded a total of $312,450 to students pursuing degrees in the medical field. 

Students wishing to apply for a spring 2018 scholarship have until Nov. 1. Please visit

Six Branson High School Seniors received scholarships

SkaggsFoundation.org for more information about the scholarship program.

Skaggs Foundation continues the tradition of caring established in 1950 by M.B. and Estella Skaggs who provided the financial support to establish the area’s first community-owned hospital. Today the Foundation, thanks to the generosity of its donors, supports and leads community initiatives that improve health and wellness in Taney and Stone counties.

The little things can mean so much

Diabetes testing supplies – it’s another way we are making a difference.

When we learned that Cox Medical Center Branson Cardiac Rehab had patients who could not afford their diabetes testing supplies, Skaggs Foundation quickly stepped up to the plate.

“It’s so important for a patient with diabetes to manage their blood sugars in order to minimize both short term and long term complications,” says Cardiac Rehab Nurse Beth Gillispie. “Of course, a meter is necessary to track blood sugars and therefore treat appropriately.”

By working with CoxHealth Pharmacy, the foundation has been able to obtain meters and necessary supplies at a reasonable price. Cardiac rehab patients who could not otherwise afford these supplies are now receiving starter kits which include a meter, test strips, lancing device, lancets and glucose tablets.

“The test strips and lancets are an ongoing cost but patients can replenish their supplies at a very economical price at our pharmacy,” Gillispie says. “Our desire is to enable patients to leave the hospital with the tools needed to get started on their road to better health management. Not only does this allow them to better manage their health, I think they can leave here feeling like we really care and truly want them to succeed, and that’s priceless.”

Skaggs Foundation 2017 Speaker Series kicks off with Dr. Chad Efird

Free lunch & learn to be held May 10 at Dixie Stampede

Skaggs Foundation’s 2017 Speaker Series kicks off this year with Orthopedic Surgeon Dr.

Chad Efird presenting Osteoarthritis: Living & Managing.

During this free lunch and learn at Dixie Stampede, Dr. Efird will discuss in detail osteoarthritis, how it can impact your life and treatment options available. He will also touch on hip, knee and shoulder replacement, as well as provide tips on the steps you can take to help prevent osteoarthritis.

This event, which will be held in the Carriage Room at Dixie Stampede, includes a complimentary lunch of Dixie Stampede’s signature three-course meal.

Dr. Efird is a board certified orthopedic surgeon at Cox Medical Center Branson.

The lunch and learn is presented by Skaggs Foundation, Central Trust Company and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction.

Registration is required and this event is expected to fill up quickly. To RSVP, email Ruby.Comer@skaggs.net or call 417-348-8998.

Galena Community Vision to host series for caregivers

Workshops to be held Wednesday afternoons at Stone County Library in Galena

Whether it’s caring for an aging parent or a spouse who has fallen ill, many people eventually find themselves in a caregiver role. Galena Community Vision, formerly known as Galena Vision of Hope, is hosting a three-part caregivers series designed to equip and educate local caregivers with the information they need to make the best, most informed decisions for their loved ones and themselves.

Each session will be held from 1-2 p.m. at the Stone County Library in Galena and includes the following schedule:

• April 19 - Caregiving: Identifying needs, organizing and planning
• April 26 - Explanation of Medicare and Medicaid Programs (home health, consumer directed care, in-home services and private pay help)
• May 3 - Caregiver health, community resources, Advanced Health Care Directive and more.

“These sessions will emphasize how important it is to care for the caregiver as well as the loved one in need,” says Connie Johnson, Galena Community Vision chairperson. “We want to help caregivers be better informed, be able to identify their loved one’s needs and be able to easily organize necessary care.”

This free series is made possible by the generous support of Oxford Healthcare and funded by Skaggs Foundation.

For more information or to register, call Connie Johnson at 417-357-6061.