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 co

mmunity 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

“Stroke is extremely common and really disabling—but most strokes can be prevented.” That’s the message Christopher Ray,...
05/22/2026

“Stroke is extremely common and really disabling—but most strokes can be prevented.”

That’s the message Christopher Ray, MD, a WashU Medicine neurologist who cares for stroke survivors, wants more people to hear.

Nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. experience a stroke each year. Survivors face a higher risk of another one, which makes prevention even more critical after a first stroke. Dr. Ray works closely with his patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital to identify what caused their stroke and to develop a personalized plan to reduce future risk.

Prevention after a stroke usually involves several approaches working together. Depending on the cause, medications may be used to help prevent clots or blockages. Many patients also benefit from structured rehabilitation programs that combine exercise with education and counseling, along with ongoing management of key risk factors.

“Up to 80% of strokes may be prevented by managing blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and heart rhythm issues—and by making healthy lifestyle choices,” Dr. Ray explains. “Aerobic exercise is one of the most important things people can do to lower their stroke risk.”

Prevention matters, but so does recognizing the signs of a stroke. The most common are identified in the acronym BE FAST:

B – Balance loss
E – Eye or vision changes
F – Facial drooping
A – Arm or leg weakness
S – Speech difficulty
T – Time to call 911

“Most stroke doctors have seen strokes across the entire age spectrum,” Dr. Ray shares. “That’s why everyone—not just older adults—needs to know the signs.”

If symptoms appear, call 911 right away. “Calling 911 allows paramedics to begin care immediately and alerts the hospital’s stroke team before the patient arrives,” Dr. Ray says.

For Dr. Ray, awareness is crucial—because strokes that aren’t prevented or treated quickly can change a life in an instant.

“Living a healthy lifestyle, seeing your doctor regularly, and knowing when to call 911 can make a real difference,” he says. “When symptoms show, don’t wait.”

Take the first step in stroke prevention and learn your stroke risk:
https://heyor.ca/D6hu4T

We’re excited to welcome Tiffany Hostert, FNP, to BJC Medical Group Primary Care at Shiloh – Suite 230.Tiffany was inspi...
05/21/2026

We’re excited to welcome Tiffany Hostert, FNP, to BJC Medical Group Primary Care at Shiloh – Suite 230.

Tiffany was inspired to pursue a career in health care while visiting her grandfather at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and watching the nurses who cared for him. That experience stayed with her and led her to begin her career as a technician in the Emergency Department at Christian Hospital—and, as she says, “the rest is history.”

After several years in emergency medicine, including travel nursing across New Mexico, Texas, and Tennessee, Tiffany returned home to Southern Illinois and took the next step in her career by becoming a nurse practitioner. She soon found her place in family medicine. While she loved her time in the Emergency Department, she was drawn to something different—the chance to build relationships and be there for patients over time, not just in the moment.

That connection is what keeps her coming back. Tiffany enjoys partnering with patients and working through challenges together. “Being healthy isn’t easy,” she says, “and it takes work from both the provider and the patient.” She values that shared effort—and the progress that comes from sticking with it.

And when that progress shows up, she doesn’t hide how she feels about it. “I literally jump for joy when a patient takes their A1c from 10 to 5,” she says. Whether it’s improving numbers, managing symptoms, or simply helping someone feel better day to day, she celebrates those wins right alongside her patients. Just as important are the moments when someone feels heard and understood—when a conversation alone can make a difference.

Tiffany provides primary care for patients of all ages, offering preventive services, wellness exams, and care for both acute and chronic conditions. She has a special interest in treating diabetes, hypertension, obesity, depression, and anxiety, and works closely with patients to create care plans that fit their lives and support long-term health.

Outside of work, Tiffany enjoys her two favorite “R’s”: reading and running. She’s an avid reader—especially romantasy and thrillers—and grew up loving Harry Potter. She also enjoys running long distances (at her own pace) and spending time with her husband, their two dogs, and their young son.

Learn more about Tiffany and schedule your appointment online: https://heyor.ca/3yDH6w

Monica thought she was about to have a panic attack. That afternoon, she was in the garage talking to her boyfriend, Jos...
05/21/2026

Monica thought she was about to have a panic attack.

That afternoon, she was in the garage talking to her boyfriend, Josh, and stepson, Owen, when a strange sensation rushed over her. Living with generalized anxiety disorder, Monica assumed it explained what she was feeling.

Seconds later, her right arm went numb, and her face began to droop. This wasn’t a panic attack—something much worse was happening.

“Owen yelled, ‘Dad, she’s having a stroke! Call 911,” Monica remembers.

Monica was taken to Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, a certified Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center, where imaging confirmed a stroke caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow to her brain. Less than an hour after she arrived at the hospital, Monica received tenecteplase (TNK), a clot-busting medication used for ischemic strokes.

As the medication took effect, Monica’s symptoms began to ease, and she started to feel more like herself. She was cleared to go home two days later and returned to work the following week, with no lingering physical effects from the stroke.

Monica is thankful for how quickly her family and care team responded.

Recognizing stroke symptoms quickly helps protect against long‑term effects. If treated within an hour of stroke, patients are significantly more likely to recover with little to no deficits.

“I remember the EMTs letting us know that it’s very important when stroke signs and symptoms begin to appear that you don’t put the person in the car or go to urgent care,” Monica shares. “They might not have the TNK shot.”

Today, Monica lives with a deeper appreciation of how suddenly a stroke can happen—and how crucial it is to know the signs. “Seek help immediately if you notice any of the symptoms,” Monica says. Every minute matters.

One morning, just a month after retiring from medicine, neurologist Dr. Michael Hatleid began losing his balance and fal...
05/20/2026

One morning, just a month after retiring from medicine, neurologist Dr. Michael Hatleid began losing his balance and falling into the furniture. He recognized the signs of stroke immediately and asked his wife to call 911. He was taken to Missouri Baptist Medical Center—the same hospital where he had spent decades caring for stroke patients.

After guiding countless others through recovery, Dr. Hatleid suddenly had to navigate life as a stroke survivor himself. His stroke left him with mild slurring of speech and lasting coordination deficits on his left side.

“I still have to be careful going up and down stairs with my left leg,” he shares.

That experience deepened Dr. Hatleid’s perspective on stroke survivorship and recovery as something that unfolds over months and even years.

“Recovery from a stroke is significantly impacted by the will of the patient,” Dr. Hatleid said. “It can become boring, but it’s incredibly important to keep working with speech, physical, and occupational therapy.”

Just as important, he says, is not doing that work alone.

“A stroke impacts not only the patient, but the family as well,” Dr. Hatleid said. “Patients and families need to work together with therapists and support systems to continue moving forward.”

That’s why Dr. Hatleid is such a strong advocate for stroke support groups. Through his own recovery, he’s seen how powerful it can be to connect with others who understand the challenges of survivorship firsthand.

“When a patient or family goes to a stroke survivorship meeting,” he said, “they realize that they are not alone.”

Whether you’re a stroke survivor or taking care of a loved one, we invite you to join a BJC stroke support group to connect and heal with others who understand what you’re going through: https://heyor.ca/2jaLyw

After her stroke, LeAnn knew surviving was just the first step. From years of working with stroke survivors herself, she...
05/18/2026

After her stroke, LeAnn knew surviving was just the first step. From years of working with stroke survivors herself, she understood that what came next—recovery—would matter just as much.

She began physical therapy at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, the same place she works and has spent years helping others access care. It was, in many ways, a full‑circle moment.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

Because of the speed of her care, LeAnn avoided major long‑term deficits from her stroke. But one lingering challenge remained.

“My left foot flops a little louder when I walk. It’s worse at the end of the day.”

For someone who loves being outdoors, LeAnn wasn’t interested in limiting herself to flat, easy paths.

“I need to be outside. It’s a resetting of my soul. Being on a river in a kayak or hiking through the woods—it’s important for me to get back to that.”

“She understood she needed to get to therapy right away,” says Amelia, LeAnn’s primary physical therapist at MoBap. Combatting deficits through therapy within the first six months after a stroke can make a big difference in overcoming physical setbacks.

Before LeAnn’s stroke, Amelia and LeAnn were coworkers. During recovery, they bonded as teammates.

LeAnn shared what she wanted from her recovery, and her therapy plan was built around her personal goal: regaining the strength and endurance she needed to return to nature. Twice a week, she worked on foot control, stamina, and balance—preparing herself for roots, rocks, and uneven trails.

“She hates them a lot, but I make her do hurdles,” Amelia says, with a laugh.

The repetition and challenge were intentional—helping LeAnn’s brain relearn movement through consistency and focus. As part of her therapy, she also used a wearable device that delivers targeted electrical stimulation to help activate weakened muscles in her leg.

Today, LeAnn is back at work in a job she’s always loved—now with a deeper appreciation for her clients, colleagues, and hospital. She’s also working toward a new personal milestone: completing a 20‑mile hike before the one‑year anniversary of her stroke.

“I don’t think there was one thing I would change about my care,” LeAnn shares. “It was the best and fastest care possible. It’s opened my eyes in more ways than one.”

05/15/2026

Kindness. Teamwork. Respect. Compassion. These are the values and ideals that bring exceptional moments to life each and every day at BJC Health.

This week, we're celebrating and honoring the thousands of BJC team members who work together every day to provide exceptional care to our patients and our community.

To our BJC team members: Thank you for your commitment to excellence. Thank you for your dedication to safety. And thank you for the empathy and kindness you share with each person you come into contact with every day.

Happy Health Care Week! 💙

When LeAnn suddenly lost control of her left leg at work, she didn’t immediately connect the dots—but her coworkers did....
05/15/2026

When LeAnn suddenly lost control of her left leg at work, she didn’t immediately connect the dots—but her coworkers did.

LeAnn had spent years helping stroke survivors at Missouri Baptist Medical Center. During a lunch break last October, she became a stroke patient herself.

When LeAnn told her coworkers her symptoms, they didn’t hesitate. They accompanied her to the Emergency Department, where her care team quickly made the call. A blood clot was blocking blood flow in her brain, depriving it of oxygen—she needed to be treated for stroke right away.

“I’m so fortunate it happened the way it did,” LeAnn says. “If I had been home, I probably wouldn’t have called 911. My story would be very different. I may not be here to tell it.”

For stroke patients, every second matters. The longer the brain goes without oxygen, the greater the risk of permanent damage. At Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s Primary Stroke Center, stroke care is built around rapid evaluation, immediate imaging, and fast decision‑making.

Through BJC HealthCare’s telestroke network, LeAnn was evaluated in real time by a WashU Medicine stroke specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital—helping her care team make faster treatment decisions when every second mattered.

She was given tenecteplase (TNK), a clot‑busting medication that helps restore blood flow to the brain.

Two hours after treatment, LeAnn could move her left foot again. Five hours later, most of her symptoms had disappeared. After a night of close monitoring and additional testing, she was able to return home with a plan in place for follow‑up neurological and cardiovascular care with BJC Medical Group clinicians.

From those first moments in the Emergency Department through the ongoing care that followed, all aspects of MoBap’s stroke care came together to change the course of LeAnn’s life.

Read LeAnn’s full story and see how her coworkers became her partners in recovery: https://heyor.ca/ZET2TM

We’re excited to welcome Anna Bailey Berkley, MD, to BJC Medical Group Primary Care at St. Peters – 100. Dr. Berkley’s i...
05/14/2026

We’re excited to welcome Anna Bailey Berkley, MD, to BJC Medical Group Primary Care at St. Peters – 100.

Dr. Berkley’s interest in medicine began early, influenced by her mother, who worked as a licensed practical nurse. That introduction to the field set her on the path to becoming a physician.

She was drawn to primary care for the opportunity to build lasting relationships with patients. Over time, those relationships help her better understand each person’s needs and guide them as their health changes.

Dr. Berkley takes pride in earning the trust of her patients by listening, answering questions, and making sure they feel supported at every step. In each visit, she takes time to explain options and help patients feel confident in the decisions they make about their health. She also enjoys helping train and mentor her colleagues and believes trust and teamwork are essential to providing great care.

As an internal medicine physician, Dr. Berkley treats patients ages 16 and older and offers a range of services, including preventive care, wellness and well‑woman exams, vaccinations, screenings, and treatment of common illnesses and minor injuries. She also manages chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and joint pain, performs joint injections, and treats minor skin conditions like skin tags and warts.

Outside of work, Dr. Berkley enjoys creative pursuits like drawing, painting, sculpting, cooking, and baking desserts. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends and is active in her church and community through volunteer work.

Learn more about Dr. Berkley and schedule your appointment online:
https://heyor.ca/qkt42T

This week, BJC Health leaders laced up their walking shoes for CEOs Against Cancer, a regional initiative raising awaren...
05/14/2026

This week, BJC Health leaders laced up their walking shoes for CEOs Against Cancer, a regional initiative raising awareness about the role physical activity and healthy habits can play in reducing cancer risk.

Greg Patterson, president of Barnes-Jewish St. Peters and Progress West Hospital, and Deb Graves, president of Memorial Hospital Belleville and Memorial Hospital Shiloh, spent time walking their campuses, connecting with team members, and encouraging wellness across our communities.

We’re proud to support initiatives that promote cancer prevention, wellness, and the power of showing up for one another. 💙

This Nurses Week, we’re celebrating the incredible nurses across BJC HealthCare who show up every day with compassion, s...
05/07/2026

This Nurses Week, we’re celebrating the incredible nurses across BJC HealthCare who show up every day with compassion, skill, strength, and heart. 💙

From comforting patients and supporting families to leading with expertise in every setting, nurses make a lasting impact in ways both big and small. Their dedication helps shape healthier communities and better outcomes for so many.

Thank you to every nurse across BJC for the care you provide, the lives you touch, and the difference you make each and every day. We are so grateful for you this week and every week. Happy Nurses Week! 👏

NICU graduates, families & care teams—we’re reuniting!Join us for the NICU Reunion at the March of Dimes March for Babie...
05/01/2026

NICU graduates, families & care teams—we’re reuniting!

Join us for the NICU Reunion at the March of Dimes March for Babies Walk on Saturday, June 6 at Energizer Park.

Stop by the BJC tent to enjoy refreshments, crafts, and kid‑friendly activities, and connect with graduates and their families from St. Louis Children's Hospital NICU, Missouri Baptist Medical Center NICU, and Memorial Hospital Belleville and Memorial Hospital Shiloh Level 2E Special Care Nursery.

Whether you’re celebrating a graduate or staff member—or honoring the memory of a NICU baby—we would love to see you there.

Register today for free: https://heyor.ca/Hlicnw

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