Challenge 100: Little Things for Big Impact

Help us meet the challenge to enhance trust and belonging for all! In honor of our Centennial and our 2024 Year of Belonging - Trust Initiative, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is pleased to launch our new Challenge 100: Little Things for Big Impact.

The Offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Justice and Belonging are proud to announce the recipients of the Challenge 100: Little Things for Big Impact mini grants. We received 300 applications and more than 80 have been selected to receive up to $1,000 to implement their ideas by December 1, 2024.

How Were Ideas Selected?

Each idea aligns with at least one of the following five themes:

Understanding Our History
Respect and Safety
Consistency in Relationship Building 
Action with Integrity 
Transparency and Accountability

Each idea also clearly showed that it could:

Develop trust and belonging through the Trust Initiative Framework
Be expanded in some way over time across our Wake Forest Baptist footprint and stakeholders (patients, teammates, community and learners)

Winning Ideas Submitted by Teammates

Teammates submitted ideas to be implemented at each of the following locations. Expand sections to view ideas.

Davie Medical Center

Campus Trail Signage: Install trail signs and distance markers around Davie campus to identify community resources using QR codes. Submitted by Jennifer Kreger, Clinical Quality Improvement.

High Point Medical Center

Survivor Celebration: Host a survivor celebration to reunite post-thrombolytic stroke patients and their treatment teams during the hyperacute phase of stroke treatment. Submitted by Brooke Prevatte, Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Clothing Closet: Support a clothing closet stocked with essential items to support patients during a medical crisis in Acute Rehab and the Emergency Department. Submitted by Karen Gammons, Network Director Care Coordination.
Hygiene Cart: Provide items such as underwear, socks, etc. and culturally appropriate hair products (hair gel, shampoo/conditioner) for different hair types for the Hygiene Cart in the Emergency Department for the pediatric mental health/social holds population. Submitted by Suzanne Hunter, Nursing Education.
Wellness Resources: Host quarterly wellness sessions and resources during various shifts to promote resilience and coping skills, including Sound Healing sessions, throughout at HPMC. Submitted by Tiffany Seaford, FaithHealth.

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem Campus)

Blood Pressure Cuffs: Provide blood pressure cuffs to patients with Medicaid who have uncontrolled hypertension and are unable to afford a home monitoring device. Submitted by Amy Ashby, Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Window Art: Start a pilot to provide washable window markers that can help children at Brenner Children’s Hospital take their minds off their illness (ref. Window Treatment-Bringing Art and Joy to Hospital Rooms). Submitted by Amy McMichael, Dermatology.
Age-appropriate Activities: Enhance the waiting area in the Pediatric Emergency Department with age-appropriate activities and materials. Submitted by Anna Matthews, Medical Laboratory Science.
Bilingual Resources: Provide English and Spanish educational resources to families of patients with acquired brain injuries (ABI) receiving care at the J. Paul Sticht Center. Submitted by Anne Gallagher, Neonatology, Medical Laboratory Science.
Kennedy-Hopkins Mentor Academy Accreditation: Provide the Kennedy-Hopkins Mentor Academy with associated Category 1 CME credits. Submitted by Artina Dawkins, Orthopaedic Surgery.
Promotional Video: Create a video to promote the benefits of the Transforming White Privilege program sponsored by the Atrium Health White Alliance for Racial Equity. Submitted by Ashley Knight, Spiritual Care, Brenner FIT.
Pill Cutters: Provide pill cutters to all pediatric hematology and oncology patients requiring split medications for accurate and safe home administration. Submitted by Austyn Grim, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics.
Pain/Anxiety Reduction: Launch a pilot project to provide 25 pediatric patients and families with one of two devices to ease injection pain and anxiety. Submitted by Elizabeth (Connolly) Woods, Specialty Pharmacy.
Comfort Care: Launch the pilot program, Comfort Care Initiative, an extension of Chaplain Tiffany Seaford's work at High Point Medical Center, with Comfort Care signs/magnets on ICU rooms that alert staff of a patient's transition to comfort care. Submitted by Emily Viverette, FaithHealth.
Resident Training Modules: Provide pediatric residents with free access to existing CME/CEU-accredited Brenner FIT training modules that teach effective treatment approaches to families of children with obesity. Submitted by Gail Cohen, Pediatrics.
Feminine Hygiene Products: Provide free emergency feminine hygiene products in the restrooms at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Submitted by Meg Hubregsen, Wake Forest University School of Medicine Student.
Education on Medical Racism: Provide education to third-year medical students at Wake Forest School of Medicine on the legacy of medical and structural racism in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Submitted by Sudarshan Krishnamurthy and Alex Soltany, PhD Graduate Program and Wake Forest University School of Medicine Student.
Healthy Meal Preparation Program: Provide Best SELF program participants who are AHWFB teammates, their dependents in grades 5-12 and WFSM medical student mentors with healthy meal preparation training to help them achieve academic achievement in STEM. Submitted by Stanford Hill, The Center of Excellence for Research, Teaching and Learning.
Diabetic Portion Plate: Provide patients with a portion plate along with education to provide guidance when following a diabetic diet at home. Submitted by Itzel Sanchez, Language Access.
Inclusive Teammate Portrait Series: Highlight faculty and staff that represent the diverse communities serve via a series of portraits throughout the Comprehensive Cancer Center. Submitted by Jessica Richards, Comprehensive Cancer Center.
OB Education Information Magnets: Create and distribute magnets, business cards, and removable stickers with contact information and reasons to call for pregnancy and postpartum questions and concerns to community members that visits eight of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist OB clinics. Submitted by Karen Hosking, RNC-OB, Procedure Area-Prep Recovery, Labor and Delivery.
Multilingual Informational Greeting Cards: Create pocket-sized informational cards with basic phrases and greetings in multiple languages to help patients feel more comfortable during their visit at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Submitted by Yi Robin and Shannon Moran, Dermatology.
Inclusive Art: Purchase artwork for the Voice and Swallowing Center that showcases racial and gender diversity, including LGBTQ+ individuals to better reflect the vibrant diversity of patients. Submitted by Kathryn W. Ruckart, Speech/Language Pathology.
Birth Trauma Education: Host a speaker at the monthly Birth Center Educational Series to provide a presentation on birth trauma and its effects on both patients and staff. Submitted by Lynette Smith Sechriest, Birth Center.
Comfort Care Signage: Pilot the use of the "Comfort Care" symbol to alert teammates and visitors when a patient is transitioning or nearing the end of life. Submitted by Megan Mayer, Emergency Department.
Sensory Bags: Provide sensory bags to reduce sensory overload and enhance the pediatric emergency department experience for autistic children with acute medical and behavioral needs. Submitted by Michael Mitchell, Emergency Medicine.
Craft Keepsakes: Pilot an interdisciplinary team, Crafty Keepsakes, in Brenner Children's NICU to help families create memories and encourage positive coping by celebrating holidays and milestones with crafts and professional photography. Submitted by Sarah Angle, BCH Child Life.
Keepsakes in Memory of Loved Ones: Provide keepsakes such as printings of adult or younger patient’s heartbeat or fingerprints in glass vials for families. Submitted by Margaret Caruso, Palliative Care Services.
Bilingual Patient Room Boards: Purchase marker boards for patient rooms with vinyl stickers to provide standardized information in both English and Spanish. Submitted by Melina West, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Wilkes Medical Center

Community Closet: Create a "Community Closet" in the Emergency Department to provide care packages for patients and their families in need. Submitted by Joseph Hayes Calvert, Emergency Department.

External/In the Community

Wellness Picnic: Host a wellness family picnic at the park to provide physical activity, such as Yoga or Zumba, for the community. Submitted by Alba L. Melendez-Guardado, Public Health Sciences, Social Science.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED): Purchase an AED for a large high school in Guilford County with multiple fields to provide easy access to life-saving equipment. Submitted by Chelsea LaFluer, Outreach Athletic Training Program, Orthopedics.
AED: Purchase an AED for low-income (TITLE I) high school in Winston-Salem. Submitted by Christopher Ina, Outreach Athletic Training Program, Orthopedics.
Rehab Equipment: Purchase rehabilitation equipment for Southwest Guilford High School. Submitted by Elana Smith, Outreach Athletic Training Program, Orthopedics.
Temperature Monitoring: Purchase a wet bulb globe thermometer to monitor athletes’ temperatures while accounting for humidity. Submitted by Briana Lawry-Popelka, Outreach Athletic Training Program, Orthopedics.
AED: Provide an AED for the 715 students at Walkertown High School for ease of access. Submitted by Ashlee Dunlevy, Outreach Athletic Training Program, Orthopedics.
Spanish Educational Sessions: Translate archived Autism Community Connections Clinic (ACCC) sessions on medical, educational and financial topics into Spanish for parents of children with autism access Amos Cottage. Submitted by Elliot D. Suarez, Pediatrics.
Sunscreen Dispensers: Install sunscreen dispensers and resources on skin cancer prevention and sun safety in highly trafficked outdoor areas in the community. Submitted by Hannah Yoash Gantz, Dermatology.
Alopecia Educational Event: Host an educational event for people of color who style their own hair and hairdressers to learn optimal hair care practices for patients with alopecia. Submitted by Jessica Duong, Dermatology.
AED/CPR Training: Provide adult and infant AED/CPR training and mannequins to teach lifesaving measures to the community. Submitted by Ayumi Deyton, Outreach Athletic Training Program, Orthopedics.
Fitness Bicycle: Purchase stationary fitness bike for the athletic training room at High Point Central High School. Submitted by Julianna Blatz, Outreach Athletic Training Program, Orthopedics.
AED: Purchase Spanish Language AED for Waughtown Indoor Soccer Facility. Submitted by Alan Woodruff, Anesthesia.
Science and Art Education: Host an educational booth and create a collective, nature-based art installation by local artists during the 2024 Earth Day Fair. Submitted by Alexandre Guevel, Biomedical Engineering.
CPR Manikin: Purchase a CPR manikin to support one of the Guildford County Schools we serve. Submitted by Allivia Chishol, Outreach Athletic Training Program, Orthopedics.
Medical Kits: Purchase branded medical kits for the staff to use at various high schools to support athletes. Submitted by Jessica Groulx, Outreach Athletic Training Program, Orthopedics.
Health Literacy Educational Event: Host a community health information session for low-literacy patients to provide information on common health issues and strategies for self-advocacy when seeking medical care. Submitted by Sha'Niqua Lewis, Office of Justice and Belonging.
Cancer Resources and Referrals: Connect community members diagnosed with cancer to local and national resource that provide aid in dealing with a life-altering diagnosis through the student-led organization, Take the Fight. Submitted by Allie Benton and Emma Jing Xu, Wake Forest University School of Medicine Students.
Breakfast with Ronald McDonald: Host a "Breakfast with Ronald McDonald" events where Wake Forest University School of Medicine medical students prepare and serve breakfast to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH). Submitted by Sydney Karre, Wake Forest University School of Medicine Student.
Rural Autism Evaluation: Establish a Rural Autism Evaluation and Education Outreach Clinic where a multi-disciplinary team will travel to a rural community to perform autism diagnostic evaluations at local pediatric practices. Submitted by Sarah F. Vess, Pediatrics Developmental.
Athlete Braces: Purchase bracing materials to provide to injured athletes in need at a Mount Airy school. Submitted by Patrick O'Neal, Outreach Athletic Training Program, Orthopedics.
Racial Inequities in Healthcare Education Session: Support a Year of Belonging Talk focus on sharing the history of racism in healthcare and the role of allies in advancing health inequities and access to care. Submitted by Lindsay Thompson, General Pediatrics.

Winning Ideas Submitted by Community Partners

Action4Equity, Thriving Together Initiative: Create a robust network of health organizations, community groups, physicians and residents to dismantle barriers to health, well-being, economic mobility and education (Forsyth).
Child Care Resource Center, Family, Friends & Neighborhood Program: Provide focus groups and home visits to educate community about the importance, impact and benefits of quality, affordable licensed childcare centers/family homes (Forsyth).
Clemmons Food Pantry: Increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables and awareness of nutritional food options at their volunteer-guided, no-cost grocery store to address food insecurities (Davidson).
Crisis Control Ministry: Provide a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshop to employees to minimize biases and grow a culture of dignity within our organization and provide more equitable care to clients and our community (All Counties).
Davidson Medical Ministries Clinic, Inc.: Support a referral network of 45 local agencies, DC Connect Inc., through information forums and outreach events with such topics as food access, employment, and housing assistance (Davidson).
Delta Arts Center: Create the Delta Arts Center Mini Library which will offer a collection of art books including art history, monographs, technique books, catalogues and children's art books to help establish the DAC Book club (Forsyth).
Forsyth Backpack Program: Provide culturally friendly food items to be distributed to families of Pediatric Clinic patients who have picked up three or more bags of food in one year from the onsite pantry (Forsyth).
Forsyth County Department of Public Health: Provide book bag, school supplies and resources for youth at Back-to-school event in collaboration with the Hispanic Liaison program (Forsyth).
Grace Presbyterian Church: Expand the community garden initiative via student engagement to Ashley Academy, and Mineral Springs Middle School in collaboration with Winston-Salem State University and Carver High School increase understanding of health living and environmental stewardship.
Harvest Vineyard Mission Church - The Well: Host an outreach Thanksgiving meal and fellowship for 100 residents who have nowhere to go (Wilkes).
Heart of the Future, Inc.: Purchase book bags and other school supplies given during Youth summit focused on youth career readiness and behavioral health (Forsyth).
Hispanic League: Create enduring training modules and workshops to encourage organizations to hire bilingual applicants to cover topics such as understanding multicultural background and language barriers to fostering inclusivity (Forsyth).
Hub of Hope at St. Mary's Episcopal Church: Host community events with guest speaker to highlight community needs and address inequities in follow-up patient care through a new organization, Hub of Hope, which partners with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center, FaithHealth Ministries, and the faith community (Guilford).
Iglesia Cristiana Sin Fronteras: Provide the surrounding Hispanic community who are served by the mobile clinic with healthy food, first aid items, hygiene products, diapers and transportation vouchers (Forsyth).
Latino Community Services: Promote strong parent engagement within the Latino community served through monthly support groups and activities (Forsyth).
Leadership Winston-Salem: Host a non-profit fair for Leadership Winston-Salem’s 2024 Flagship Program Day that connects program class members with partner organizations and opportunities to serve as board members, volunteers and donors (Forsyth).
Lincoln Heights Recreation Corporation: Produce a video montage showcasing the history of Lincoln Heights Rosenwald School, including a virtual tour of the Elizabeth Grinton Library (Wilkes).
Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods: Host Resident Health Connector-led listening sessions to engage community members to broaden existing training on trauma awareness, Social Determinants of Health, economic, education and health improvement initiatives.
Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA): Support the 2024 Sustainability Roundtable forum to facilitate cross-sector dialogue with various business, higher education, community, and government agencies on critical community issues such as climate change, public health, sustainable housing and green jobs.
SPARK (Share Peace and Rekindle Kindness, Inc.): Launch a pilot "directory" featuring organizations, churches, neighborhoods and initiatives offering targeted resources.
Triad Cultural Arts, Inc.: Create a brochure that visually represent the historical timeline of racial disparities and medical breakthroughs in healthcare on both a national and local level.
Winston-Salem State University: Expand an existing pathway program that offer mentoring opportunities for black male high school and college students interested in STEM and health care fields to help them navigate to college and graduate programs at Winston-Salem State University (Forsyth).