BJC HealthCare

BJC HealthCare We treat your health like it’s the most important thing in the world. Louis, southern Illinois and mid-Missouri regions.
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Find everyday care and the most advanced treatments at nationally ranked and community hospitals: www.bjc.org BJC HealthCare is one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States, delivering services to residents primarily in the greater St. With net revenue of more than $4 billion, BJC serves urban, suburban and rural communities and includes 15 hospitals and multiple community health locations. Services include inpatient and outpatient care, primary care, community health and wellness, workplace health, home health, community mental health, rehabilitation, long-term care and hospice. BJC HealthCare Physician Referral
Phone: (314) 747-9322
Web: https://doctors.bjc.org/wlp2/bjc/doctors/search

It started with a simple habit many of us have: neck cracking. For 29-year-old Anna, it was second nature—until one day ...
04/03/2026

It started with a simple habit many of us have: neck cracking.

For 29-year-old Anna, it was second nature—until one day in 2023, a quick tilt of her head changed everything. Instead of a “pop” of relief, she felt a sharp pain shoot down her arm. "I knew right away something was not right," she says.

What followed were months of debilitating migraines, nausea, dizziness, and pain so intense she couldn’t get out of bed.

“I couldn’t take care of myself. I couldn’t take care of my daughter,” Anna says. “It was hard, trying to explain to her why her mom couldn’t do things. It even got to the point where I was unable to work.”

Determined to get her life back, Anna tried physical therapy and injections, which provided little relief. Then Anna met with WashU Medicine Physicians neurosurgeon Kumar Vasudevan, MD, at Christian Hospital.

"Young people tend to have healthy necks, so when they come to you with a neck problem, you sit up and pay attention,” Dr. Vasudevan says. “That’s how it was with Anna. She had tried multiple things, but the pain was still intolerable. That’s when surgery enters the discussion.”

Dr. Vasudevan’s examination revealed the source of Anna’s pain—a pinched nerve caused by a damaged disk. Anna decided that the pain was severe enough to move forward with surgery to remove the disk and relieve the pressure.

The result? "It was a night and day difference," Anna says.

Today, Anna is back to the life she once feared was out of reach. She’s hiking, working at a dog daycare, and—most importantly—playing with her daughter at the park.

"I don’t have to cancel plans. I don’t have to miss out," says Anna. "I would do this surgery again 10 times. I can’t thank Dr. Vasudevan enough."

Read Anna’s full story to learn more about her journey and the surgery that restored her life: https://heyor.ca/yBDTBG

Congratulations to our latest St. Louis Blues Hometown Hero honoree, Tina! 🏆Tina is a specialty pharmacist at our Advanc...
04/01/2026

Congratulations to our latest St. Louis Blues Hometown Hero honoree, Tina! 🏆

Tina is a specialty pharmacist at our Advanced Family Care Pharmacy where she helps manage complex medications by providing comprehensive patient care, monitoring, support, and education.

Her nominator says, "Tina goes above and beyond to save our patients money and evaluate their medication options at our specialty pharmacy. Tina has helped countless patients remain on their medications because of her ongoing support to ensure the medications remained affordable."

In addition to her commitment to our community's health, Tina is also a proud organ donor: "I'm grateful that I found a career with BJC that allows me to work closely with pre- and post-transplant patients while sharing my own joy as a living kidney donor."

Join us in congratulating Tina on this well-deserved recognition!

Three years, countless smiles, and one very special pup. 🐾💙Last week, Missouri Baptist Medical Center celebrated Boo’s t...
04/01/2026

Three years, countless smiles, and one very special pup. 🐾💙

Last week, Missouri Baptist Medical Center celebrated Boo’s third birthday with a party full of her favorite things—treats, toys, and time with some of her fellow four-legged friends, including Frizbi (German Short Hair Pointer) from the Creve Coeur Police Department.

“The dynamic of having a canine on patrol here really puts us in a different light,” said Cpl. Sam Goodman, K9 Handler at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, on Fox2Now. “It’s a very therapeutic approach, and what’s amazing is it helps de-escalate situations in ways a human officer can’t.”

Join us in wishing Boo a very happy birthday! 🎉 Check out some highlights from her party: https://heyor.ca/GZILnv

"But no one in my family has had colon cancer." When it comes to colorectal cancer, BJC Medical Group Gastroenterologist...
03/31/2026

"But no one in my family has had colon cancer."

When it comes to colorectal cancer, BJC Medical Group Gastroenterologist David Lotsoff, MD, hears this myth repeated all too often at his Edwardsville clinic—and it’s a myth he’s serious about busting.

While genetics matter, they aren’t the whole story. In fact, nearly 80% of colorectal cancer diagnoses happen in people with no prior family history at all.

"The greatest risk factor for colon cancer is age," says Dr. Lotsoff. "The older you get, the more likely it is that you’re diagnosed with colorectal cancer, even without a family history.”

Over 45? Don't let a misconception keep you from a lifesaving screening. A colonoscopy is the most effective tool we have for prevention.

What other misinformation about colorectal cancer might you believe? Learn the other two most common myths on our blog: https://heyor.ca/fcW7Uf

Multiple Sclerosis affects nearly 1 million people in the U.S., but no two journeys are the same. Showing up for a loved...
03/31/2026

Multiple Sclerosis affects nearly 1 million people in the U.S., but no two journeys are the same. Showing up for a loved one recently diagnosed with MS requires an approach that is unique to each person.

At BJC, our MS specialists advocate for a support system that understands the "invisible" side of the disease and focuses on the reality of living with the disease. These are practical ways to be a better partner, friend, or family member:

Learn the symptoms: Many MS patients experience pain, numbness, blurred vision, and "brain fog," which can be hard for others to notice. Understanding that their experience is real, even on days they "look fine," is a meaningful way to provide emotional support.

Respect the "energy budget": MS fatigue is real and unpredictable. If they need to cancel plans last minute, let them know it’s okay. They aren’t being lazy—they’re listening to their body.

Offer specific support: Instead of "Let me know what you need," try "I’m coming over Sunday to help with meal prep" or "I’ll take the kids for three hours so you can rest."

Watch the weather: It is warming up in St. Louis, and heat can be a major trigger. Suggesting an indoor activity, offering a cooling device, or helping them remember to stay hydrated shows you’re considering their comfort.

MS may be unpredictable, but compassion and consistency go a long way.

Read our blog to learn more ways you can support someone with MS: https://heyor.ca/PsNP5F

𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲. Today, on National Doctors’ Day, w...
03/30/2026

𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲. Today, on National Doctors’ Day, we honor the hands that heal, the hearts that carry our community’s health, and the minds that never stop seeking better medicine. Your impact is felt far beyond our hospital walls—in the hope you restore, the lives you save, and the loved ones who return to their families.

Our promise is kept in the daily commitment of our doctors. It is a calling defined by quiet, personal sacrifice: the missed dinners, the long nights at the bedside, and a responsibility that doesn’t end when the shift does. We recognize the physicians who show up, who become the steady anchor a family needs, and who offer a reassuring presence that says: “We are in this together.”

To our physician partners: Thank you for the expertise you bring, the sacrifices you make, and the humanity you offer every person in your care.

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀. We invite you to take a moment to thank a doctor in the comments and let them know the difference they have made in your life.

"I became a doctor to help people in need—and in gastroenterology, that means preventing colon cancer,” says Mei Huang, ...
03/27/2026

"I became a doctor to help people in need—and in gastroenterology, that means preventing colon cancer,” says Mei Huang, MD, PhD, a BJC Medical Group gastroenterologist.

This Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Huang is here to debunk two dangerous myths: that you only need a screening if you are experiencing symptoms and that colon cancer primarily affects men. As a specialist in women’s GI health, she wants women to know they are nearly just as likely as men to develop the disease.

Because early-stage colorectal cancer often has no symptoms, a colonoscopy is the only tool that allows doctors to find and remove precancerous polyps before they have a chance to progress.

"It is very important that we catch it early, before symptoms develop," Dr. Huang says. "This is especially true as we have seen a rise in early-onset colorectal cancer in recent years. That is why the recommended screening age has been lowered to 45."

If you are nervous about the procedure, Dr. Huang is here to listen. “It’s my job to help patients navigate their anxiety and fear,” she says. “To me, every colonoscopy is a unique opportunity to protect a patient’s future.”

If you are 45 or older, take control of your health, and request an appointment for your colonoscopy today: bjc.org/colonoscopy

There is no better wake-up call than a high-five and a smile! BJC nurses joined the "High-Five Friday" tradition at Gle...
03/27/2026

There is no better wake-up call than a high-five and a smile!

BJC nurses joined the "High-Five Friday" tradition at Glen Carbon Elementary earlier this month for a morning of high-energy hand slaps.

Watch the video from KTVI-FOX 2 to catch the smiles in action: https://heyor.ca/AqmrOQ

What if the key to healing your chronic muscle or joint pain was already inside you? For years, Robert lived with a cons...
03/26/2026

What if the key to healing your chronic muscle or joint pain was already inside you?

For years, Robert lived with a constant, grinding pain in his hips. It was so severe that he struggled to sit comfortably or bend down to tie his shoes. As a devoted St. Louis sports fan, the pain kept him out of the stadium and away from the games he loved. Worse? He didn't even know what was causing it.

A breakthrough finally came when an ultrasound revealed the hidden culprit: tears in the tendons of both hips.

To get moving again, Robert met with Michael Messmer, DO, a BJC Medical Group sports medicine physician at Alton Memorial Hospital, who proposed a relatively new kind of treatment: PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy. By using a concentrated boost of Robert’s own platelets injected into his injured muscles, Dr. Messmer "restarted" his body’s own repair process to heal the damage.

“I was nervous at first because I had never heard of this,” Robert says. “But Dr. Messmer explained everything and reassured me this could help.”

That reassurance led to a total transformation. The procedure took minutes, and within a week, Robert was pain-free.

From struggling to walk to now climbing stadium stairs, see how PRP treatment got this St. Louis sports fan back into the game: https://heyor.ca/EdehO6

“Be curious, not judgmental.” Some TV fans may recognize this phrase as a quote from “Ted Lasso,” but for nurse practiti...
03/24/2026

“Be curious, not judgmental.” Some TV fans may recognize this phrase as a quote from “Ted Lasso,” but for nurse practitioner Andy Files, FNP, ENP, it has become a guiding principle, one that has influenced his career path and approach to patient care at Parkland Health Center.

Growing up, his fascination with the medical field was inspired by his mother, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse. “I was always interested in listening to her stories about caring for patients and the respect she received for the work she did,” he shared.

Once he entered nursing, Andy’s desire for new experiences and knowledge led him to pursue a wide range of assignments, including the Emergency Department, ICU, medical-surgical, swing bed rehabilitation, neonatal intensive care, and house supervision. After becoming a nurse practitioner, he spent nine years in family practice before transitioning to emergency medicine.

“I believe that each experience I have had—each interaction with patients and their families—has fueled my desire to grow and practice at the highest level,” he explained.

He has now worked in the Emergency Department for a decade, but the challenges and opportunities to learn never stop.

“Each day you come on shift, you are going to face a situation you have never faced before,” he said. “Those moments allow us to continue to evolve and become better at what we do.”

Outside of work, Andy relieves the pressures of emergency medicine by escaping into a new book or venturing out for a run. He has even completed two marathons—as he put it, “not fast, but finished.”

He also values time with his wife, Erin, whom he credits as a constant source of support and motivation, especially during challenging periods such as earning his emergency nurse practitioner certification during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working at Parkland Health Center is a source of pride for Andy, not only for the work he does, but also for the community he serves.

“I love that Parkland is constantly giving to the community,” he said. “As a provider who not only works but lives in this area, it makes me proud to be part of the team.”

We are excited to welcome Marion Dessalines, PA, a board-certified physician assistant, to BJC Medical Group Gastroenter...
03/20/2026

We are excited to welcome Marion Dessalines, PA, a board-certified physician assistant, to BJC Medical Group Gastroenterology at Edwardsville.

When Marion Dessalines moved from France to the United States seven years ago, she never could have expected that a simple health checkup would change the course of her career. In France, the "physician assistant" role doesn't exist—but after being treated by one for the first time, she knew she’d found her calling.

"Right there, I thought I needed to look into this more," Marion says. "I had dreamed of a profession that would mix investigation and problem-solving with real human connections, and now, several years later, I am a PA."

In the clinic, Marion is dedicated to partnering with her patients, taking the time to listen to their concerns, and making sure that they never feel lost in their care. "What motivates me is being able to help a patient truly understand their symptoms," she explains. "I love walking alongside them, guiding them on the pathway that leads to a clear treatment plan and, ultimately, a better life."

Marion specializes in care for adults 18 and older, managing everything from GERD and IBS to more complex conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and GI bleeding. Whether she is performing a colorectal cancer screening or an evaluation for swallowing difficulties, her goal is to provide the education and clarity her patients need to move forward with confidence.

When she isn’t in the office, Marion can be found traveling and exploring other cultures or enjoying a quiet movie night with her husband and her tuxedo cat, Yoshii.

Learn more about Marion and call to schedule your appointment: https://heyor.ca/fRIG1u

Gail has been a nurse for 32 years, spending the last 14 of those with the team at Memorial Hospital Belleville and Memo...
03/19/2026

Gail has been a nurse for 32 years, spending the last 14 of those with the team at Memorial Hospital Belleville and Memorial Hospital Shiloh. As a stroke program coordinator, she’s leading the charge to improve stroke care and education for staff, patients, and the community—just one of the many reasons we are proud to celebrate her as our most recent St. Louis Blues Hometown Hero!

In Gail’s work, 'time is brain.' During a stroke, every minute counts toward saving vital brain cells and improving a patient's outcome. She uses her decades of nursing experience to fine-tune how care teams work together, making sure everyone is ready to act the second a stroke patient needs us.

"Knowing our team’s collective knowledge, teamwork, and quick actions make a huge difference in our patients’ recovery is why we do what we do,” Gail says. “It continually drives us to make improvements that will help more stroke survivors live longer with more independent lives."

Outside of the hospital walls, Gail has a "contagious passion" for community health, and it shows. She’s on a personal mission to prove that strokes aren't just inevitable—they’re often preventable through lifestyle changes and simple check-ups. Whether she’s crunching data or out in the community teaching kids and adults how to spot the signs of a stroke, Gail is always looking out for her neighbors.

A past recipient of the Nursing Excellence Award, Gail is a true champion for the health of the Metro East. We are so honored to recognize the incredible work she does to improve care for those affected by stroke and her dedication to teaching her community all about prevention and treatment. 💙

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4901 Forest Park Avenue
St. Louis, MO
63108

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