Westmont Hilltop High School senior Nastasia Easter thought holding a talent show that would combine talent, fun and charity, would be a perfect senior project. Easter is the coordinator of “Westy Has Talent,” benefiting the expansion of Memorial Medical Center’s Critical Care Unit—a cause that has impacted the young woman on a very personal level.
“I decided to raise money for the Critical Care Unit because I love helping those in need,” says Easter. “Also, when I was 12-years-old my father died from a heart attack, so it definitely was something that opened my eyes.”
The event, which will include “coffee house” style performances, will take place Friday, April 16 in the Westmont Hilltop High School Auditorium at 1 p.m. Some of the talents displayed will include singing, rapping and Easter’s talent of choice, dancing.
“Westy Has Talent” is open to the public. Tickets will be sold at the door for $3, and additional donations are welcome.
“We are so pleased and proud that Nastasia has taken it upon herself to coordinate an event that will benefit thousands of people from around our region,” says Susan Mann, President, Conemaugh Health Foundation. “This expansion will allow our caregivers to care for more critically ill patients, who benefit tremendously from the expertise and advanced technology offered at Memorial.”
Memorial’s Critical Care Unit cares for more than 1,150 patients each year from across the region. In order to accommodate this large number of patients, Memorial is expanding the Unit by adding nine additional Critical Care beds as a specialized Coronary Care Unit. The Critical Care Unit treats patients with acute, life-threatening illnesses or injuries including heart attack, pneumonia, surgical complications and stroke. Critical Care also includes the care of trauma patients, which is extremely important since Memorial is the only Level One Regional Resource Trauma Center between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg and is routinely referred patients from hospitals across several counties.
“By increasing capacity, we will help ensure that we are providing patients who are critically ill with the appropriate, high level care administered by specially trained critical care professionals,” says David Carlson, Chief Medical Officer, Conemaugh Health System. “The expansion of our Critical Care Unit is necessary to fulfill our vision of providing ‘Excellence, Every patient, Every time.’”
