Especially for You Race draws more than 16,000 participants, raises $520,000. Mercy Medical Center's 36th annual Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer drew a total of 16,310 registered participants to the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center in the MedQuarter on Sunday, Oct. 4. Proceeds from the race went towards the Especially for You fund, with more than $520,000 in registrations raised and donated this year. The fund is used in order to provide necessary financial assistance for breast and gynecological cancer screenings and services for individuals in the area. Since its creation, the fund has assisted more than 16,000 people with 48,000 services in Linn County. 1,102 cancer survivors registered for the race, 908 of those being breast cancer survivors. Participants from 37 different states, as well as Guam, were registered. 600 registered teams participated. Congratulations to everyone at Especially for You on another successful event!

Nurses rally in Joliet to protest the closure of Saint Joseph maternity services. Local elected officials criticize Prime Healthcare's decision. September 30, 2026 at 5:43 pm CDT Nurses at Saint Joseph's Medical Center in Joliet rallied outside the hospital Wednesday afternoon in protest of the planned closure of its obstetrics and special care nursery departments. Prime Healthcare plans to close the unit on Thursday. Prime Healthcare, the for-profit company that purchased the hospital along with several other Illinois facilities from Ascension in 2025, announced the closure of the maternity department on Sept. 1. The company is also closing the OB maternity departments at Mercy Medical Center in Aurora and Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago. The closures follow the cancellation of OB services at St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee and the pediatric unit at Saint Joseph's. Prime said the closures were the result of declining birth rates and a lack of demand, saying Saint Joseph Joliet was only seeing about 20 births per month. The Saint Joseph's nurses union has stated its opposition to the closure since it was announced, saying the changes "threaten the health and wellbeing of Joliet's mothers and children" and have gathered over 1,000 signatures on a petition to stop the closures. The closure could also force other nurses to leave the hospital or work in departments where they have less experience, the nurses said. "The decision to close these units greatly impacts the nurses who have dedicated themselves to caring for patients and families in our community," said State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, in a statement. "The NICU and OB unit are specialized units that require a special skill set that not all nurses have. Skills necessary to provide care to a premature baby and the mother are not always transferable," she said. "Anyone in our community should be able to show up at their local hospital and know that they are being treated by the most qualified nurses." Between 30 and 40 people gathered in the cold rain on Wednesday to partake in the protest, including Joliet Township Supervisor Cesar Guerrero and staff from the office of U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, who is also a former nurse. "You're all here today because Prime Healthcare has betrayed this community's trust," said Emily Caplan, a spokesperson for Underwood. "They made a lot of promises when they started buying up our hospitals; they've since broken those promises to patients, to policymakers, and to all of you. Prime has cut staffing, reduced services, and closed units. They've ended pediatric care, and they've left Illinois' fourth largest city without a birthing hospital. Nurses, patients, and our community deserve better." Guerrero shared his own family's experience, noting that he was born at Saint Joseph's after his mother experienced complications and would not go into labor. "Joliet mothers deserve to be able to give birth to their children right here in Joliet," he said. "The future generation of leaders in this community deserve to be able to say that 'I was born and raised right here in Joliet.' We cannot take that away from them. We cannot expect mothers to drive 45 minutes to an hour away; that time is critical." Joliet City Councilwoman Suzanna Ibarra, while not in attendance, expressed her support for the nurses in a statement Tuesday, calling on the state to intervene with the plans to close the OB units. "Joliet families deserve reliable access to essential healthcare services close to home," she said. "The planned suspension of obstetrics services at St. Joseph raises serious concerns about how expectant mothers and families will access care." Officials expressed concern that the closure could put expectant mothers and children at risk, especially those who face financial and transportation barriers, which could prevent them from traveling further to neighboring hospitals. Prime previously told Shaw Local that it was advising its patients to go to Olympia Fields or Chicago hospitals if they wished to remain in the Prime network. Other alternative arrangements were also being coordinated to transfer care to Silver Cross in New Lenox, as the closest alternative hospital. Nurses noted that those locations could be 40 to 90 minutes away from Saint Joseph patients' homes in areas like Plainfield. "It is shameful that Prime is closing these units simply because they don't maximize profits," said Kimberly Craig, RN in the Special Care Nursery at Saint Joseph Joliet. "Where are pregnant people in Joliet supposed to go? What if a mother has an emergency? Are they supposed to drive an hour and a half to Chicago? That drive could be the difference between a healthy baby being born, or serious complications that put mothers and their babies at risk." "We're putting a lot of mothers at risk," Joliet City Council member and former Silver Cross nurse Jan Quillman said when the closure was first announced. "They have to get to the hospital quick. Shame on them for putting our residents at risk after all these years of being in Joliet. Our community should not have to depend on a single hospital while essential services are reduced. Joliet needs a long-term plan for accessible, full-service hospital care." Jessie has been reporting in Chicago and south suburban Will and Cook counties since 2011.

Mercy Medical Center among first in the Mid-Atlantic to offer Mako SmartRobotics(TM) technology for shoulder replacement surgery. Sep 14, 2026, 14:00 ET Dr. Gregory Gasbarro Leads Introduction of Advanced Robotic-Arm Assisted Shoulder Arthroplasty at Mercy BALTIMORE, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Mercy Medical Center is advancing orthopedic care in the Mid-Atlantic region with the introduction of Mako SmartRobotics(TM) technology for shoulder replacement surgery. The technology, which enhances precision and personalization in shoulder arthroplasty procedures, is now available to patients through orthopedic shoulder specialist Gregory V. Gasbarro, M.D., among the first in the Mid-Atlantic region performing robotic Mako shoulder arthroplasty. The addition of Mako SmartRobotics(TM) for shoulder replacement represents the latest advancement in Mercy's comprehensive orthopedic program and provides patients with access to cutting-edge surgical technology close to home. Mako SmartRobotics(TM) for shoulder replacement utilizes a detailed 3D CT scan to create a personalized surgical plan based on each patient's unique anatomy. During surgery, the robotic-arm assisted technology aids the surgeon in executing that plan with enhanced precision and control while allowing the surgeon to make real-time adjustments as needed. "Bringing Mako SmartRobotics(TM) shoulder technology to Mercy represents a significant advancement in the care we provide patients suffering from shoulder arthritis and other debilitating shoulder conditions," said Dr. Gasbarro. "This technology allows us to create a highly individualized surgical plan and execute it with exceptional precision. The result is a more personalized approach to shoulder replacement that may improve implant positioning, optimize outcomes, and help patients return to the activities they enjoy." A board-certified orthopedic surgeon and fellowship-trained shoulder specialist, Dr. Gasbarro focuses exclusively on shoulder injuries and conditions. His expertise spans both complex shoulder reconstruction and shoulder replacement procedures, making Mercy a regional destination for advanced shoulder care. "As orthopedic technology continues to evolve, Mercy remains committed to providing our patients with the most advanced treatment options available," said Marc W. Hungerford, M.D., Chief of Orthopedics at Mercy Medical Center. "The introduction of robotic-arm assisted shoulder replacement further strengthens Mercy's position as a leader in orthopedic innovation and gives patients throughout Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic access to the latest advances in shoulder care." Shoulder replacement surgery is often recommended for patients experiencing chronic shoulder pain, arthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy, or significant loss of shoulder function that has not responded to conservative treatments. The addition of Mako SmartRobotics(TM) technology expands the range of advanced surgical options available through Mercy's orthopedic team. By offering robotic-assisted shoulder replacement, Mercy Medical Center continues its commitment to delivering leading-edge orthopedic care while helping patients achieve improved mobility, reduced pain, and a return to everyday activities, Dr. Hungerford said. Gregory V. Gasbarro, M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and fellowship-trained shoulder specialist at The Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist and Hand Center at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. He specializes in the repair and reconstruction of injuries to the shoulder and treats patients who are ages 15 and older. Dr. Gasbarro serves as Medical Director of The Shoulder Joint Journey program, an initiative to optimize recovery and provide comprehensive patient education for shoulder replacement surgery. As part of program, Dr. Gasbarro works with his colleagues, orthopedic surgeons Dr. Joseph Ciotola, Dr. Mark Slabaugh and Dr. John-Paul Rue, treating patients with rotator cuff tears, fractures, arthritis, etc. Founded in 1874 in Baltimore by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a nonprofit Catholic health care organization and teaching hospital. Mercy has been recognized nationally by both U.S. News and World Report and Newsweek for its achievements in the field of orthopedic surgery. For more information, visit Mercy online at www.mdmercy.com; MDMercyMedia on Facebook and Twitter(X); www.youtube.com/mmcbaltimore; or call 1-800-M.D.-Mercy. MEDIA CONTACT: Dan Collins, APR, ABC Senior Director of Media Relations, Mercy Medical Center Phone: 410-332-9714 Cell: 410-375-7342 SOURCE Mercy Medical Center