Patient Assist VI supports patients in need during the COVID-19 pandemic
St. Thomas, VI (27 April 2020) — Thanks to a generous, anonymous donor, Patient Assist VI safely delivered care packages full of food, beverages, basic hygiene products (toilet paper, soap, wipes), and cleaning supplies to the porches of patients who needed them most.
“The idea came together after an elderly patient called me in tears because she was nearly out of food and was scared to leave her home due to COVID-19,” said Angela Beall, Patient Assist VI Executive Director.
The donor and executive director had been discussing patient needs, so this donation came at the perfect time. Patient Assist VI typically does not operate outside of the prescription medications they obtain for patients, but the circumstances made it possible to deliver even more.
VI Daily News Nonprofit Profile, Oct 8, 2019 – by Lori Abbotts
Appreciative to the VI Daily News for choosing Patient Assist VI for their Nonprofit Profile this week!
Changes at Patient Assist VI
2019 has been a year of change for Patient Assist VI (PAVI.) At its annual board meeting in January, with all board members present (Dr. Peter B. Corr, Chairman, Dr. Siri Akal, Mike Allietta, Giresh Miurpuri, Dr. Debra-Wright Francis, Dr. Brian Bacot and Laurel Nuschke)
Dr. Peter B. Corr tendered his resignation as Chairman of the Board of PAVI. Dr. Corr held the Chairmanship position since the inception of PAVI in 2012. As a Professor at Washington University School of Medicine and as a pharmaceutical company executive and entrepreneur, he has provided valuable guidance and financial support as PAVI has grown and continues to meet the medication needs of Virgin Islanders. Dr. Corr has agreed that he would stay on as Chairman Emeritus, supporting PAVI in any way requested. Under his leadership, PAVI has provided almost $2,000,000 worth of free medications to patients who cannot afford their medicine. Auven Therapeutics, Dr. Corr’s company in the USVI has donated over $63,000 to PAVI and will continue to do so.
Dr. Siri Akal took over the role of Chairwoman of the Board. Dr. Akal is a well-known physician on St. Thomas and St. John. As owner of Red Hook Family Practice, Yacht Haven Family Practice and Cruz Bay Family Practice, she has practiced medicine in St. Thomas since 2007. Dr. Akal held the position of Treasurer since joining the Board of PAVI in 2012. Always an advocate for her patients, Dr. Akal has worked closely with PAVI advocates and has promoted its mission so patients can find the assistance for the medicines they require.
Mike Allietta who recently joined the board took over the roles of Secretary and Treasurer. Mike is currently President of International Private Bank on St. Croix and has been closely involved with International Capital and Management Company on St. Thomas serving on their Board of Directors as well. Founder, Laurel Nuschke who has served as President since inception continues in that role.
In addition, Ryan Uszenski and Minu Sakhrani joined the board. Ryan is the Managing Director of Century Wealth Advisors, which he founded in 2017. He has been a resident of St. Thomas for 15 years. As an active member of the community, Ryan and his wife Kelly have supported multiple charitable causes throughout the Virgin Islands. Minu also known as Simran has been in the jewelry business on St. Thomas for the past 25 years. She grew up on St. Thomas and has raised her family here. Minu started “giving back” to the community at the age of 13 and has supported multiple charitable organizations over the years.
Executive Director Corrie Habib who promoted PAVI’s mission for almost two years resigned in May and Patient Advocate Angela Beall has taken over the ED position. Angela joined PAVI in 2018. Angela has a nursing and healthcare consulting background and brings years of both medical and business experience to the role. In addition, Kourtney Giovengo Weissman joined the PAVI team in June as a Patient Advocate. She also has a background in nursing. She has begun helping patients on St. Thomas and St. John.
Patient Assist VI receives $50,000 grant from HelpUSVINow!
PAVI was selected to receive $50,000 from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands in December, 2017. The HelpUSVINow! fund consists of a donation and pledge from longtime residents of St. Thomas, the Stephenson Family to aid in relief and recovery efforts in the territory after the devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria in September. See the full article HERE.
Patient Assist VI celebrates million-dollar milestone:
PAVI is delighted to announce that it has been instrumental in obtaining $1,000,000 in free prescription medications for Virgin Islanders. The medication donations are made by multinational pharmaceutical companies, generous individuals and companies associated with the U.S. Virgin Islands. A celebration for donors was held at the Caribbean Fish Market on Tuesday April 18th, 2017 thanks to the generosity of the St. Thomas Restaurant Group and Bellows International.
Moving forward, PAVI will continue to communicate its mission to medical professionals in St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, while prudently utilizing its resources to increase its capacity to provide more patients with free medications.
Brisa Max Holdings VI donates $50,000 to Patient Assist VI:
Brisa Max Holdings VI, a management consulting company and UVI Partner Tenant at the Research & Technology Park, made a first-time $50,000.00 donation to Patient Assist VI. Brisa Max support for Patient Assist stems from its commitment to helping the people of the Virgin Islands in meaningful ways, and nothing is more meaningful than someone’s health. For more information please click on the Article from the St. Thomas Source, January 26, 2016.
Patient Assist VI is pleased to announce the hiring of new Executive Director Katherine Haneef! She began work with the organization during April of 2015.
Katherine has a Master’s Degree in Social and Public Policy, and an extensive background in nonprofits, community development, and outreach programming including education to Hispanic, African-American, African and Asian populations. Katherine has worked in a program administration and leadership role for 10 years and has successfully managed grants and programs working for the United States Peace Corps in Costa Rica, and The Women’s Fund in Houston, TX. She served as Executive Director of The Women’s Fund for two and a half of her four years there.
Founder and Former Executive Director Laurel Nuschke will remain involved as President of the Board.
Moving forward, Patient Assist VI will continue its efforts to grow and prudently use its resources so that more people can obtain prescription drug medications that would otherwise be unattainable due to income limitations. Additionally, PAVI will continue to communicate its mission across St. Thomas and St. John and work on an expansion which is still in the infant stages- to provide services to the island of St. Croix.
Patient Assist VI’s “DO NOTHING BALL” was a great success with over $30,000 raised to continue the wonderful work being done to assist those in need here in the Territory. A donor thank you reception was held Thursday, March 5, 2015 to celebrate the success to date of bringing in medication valued at over $286,000 for patients since inception!
Auven Therapeutics donates $5,000 to Patient Assist VI:
For the third year in a row Auven Therapeutics Management, L.L.L.P, a global private equity firm focused on the development of new medicines primarily in cancer, eye diseases and orphan diseases and a local EDC beneficiary, made a $5,000 donation to the local non-profit, Patient Assist VI, Inc. For more information, please click on the Press Release Auven Therapeutics donation to PAVI 10 23 14
Dinner and A Cause hosts fundraiser for Patient Assist VI:
On Friday, October 3, 2014 the Dinner and a Cause team of Eula Castleberry-Hymes , Joan DeLugo, Letty Hulsman, Pam Larsen, Suzanne Mabe and Kristy Solt hosted a fundraiser for Patient Assist VI in the ballroom at the US Virgin Islands’ Government House. The fundraiser was a tremendous success with over 85 in attendance and $17,686 raised to support the cause. A huge thank you to Alpine Securities USVI LLC for matching the donations received at the event. We at Patient Assist VI are truly grateful to these ladies for hosting such a successful event and for all that Dinner and A Cause does for the community. We are also especially grateful to First Lady Cecile deJongh for offering such a beautiful venue. By Monday morning we had received 12 new referrals to the program!
