Newsworthy

Exceptional care means doing whatever it takes, even after exhausting the usual options.

When a patient who lived alone arrived at the Stormont Vail Health Ophthalmology clinic with severe vision loss and an urgent risk of perforation, treatment required hourly, around-the-clock antibiotic eye drops. With regional hospitals unable to accept the patient and the necessary compounded medications not stocked on site, the situation demanded creativity, persistence, and teamwork.

Sheldon Newsham, ophthalmic surgery coordinator, spent hours coordinating with King Pharmacy in Topeka and the Stormont Vail Hospital Pharmacy to secure the specialized antibiotics and arrange transport.

When weekend closures and staffing challenges threatened to delay care until the following Monday, Brooke Noonan, ophthalmic assistant, personally drove to King Pharmacy to pick up the medications and deliver them to Stormont Vail Hospital so treatment could begin immediately.

Throughout the process, Kori Wilson, registrar, kept our Ophthalmology clinic running smoothly, rooming patients, and managing phone calls and patient flow amid the disruption.

Together, their teamwork ensured the patient received timely care critical to preventing permanent vision loss. We are grateful to Brooke, Sheldon, and Kori for their dedication and compassion—and proud to recognize them as April 2026 Persons of the Moment.