Shriners Hospitals for Children to bring 'hospital experience' to TPC Summerlin

October 13, 2014

LAS VEGAS– Shriners Hospitals for Children, title sponsor and host of the PGA TOUR's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, will host the first-ever 'hospital experience' at TPC Summerlin on Tuesday, Oct. 14 as part of the week-long events surrounding the Open. 

During the experience, Shriners Hospitals’ national patient ambassadors will guide PGA TOUR professionals through various stations designed to help them learn more about what it’s like to be a kid at a Shriners Hospital and what it’s like to be a child, or parent of a child, with a disability.

The health care system’s national patient ambassadors, Joe Dertinger of Minnesota and Katie Ladlie of Missouri, both amputees, will share their inspiring stories with the players, and explain the impact of the physicians and staff of Shriners Hospitals on their lives. In addition, Katie and Joe will provide each participant with an “interactive learning experience.”

“It’s going to be a blast to share with PGA TOUR players a little bit of what happens at our hospitals. Since there isn’t a Shriners Hospitals for Children in Las Vegas, this makes for a great opportunity for everyone to get to know more about the kids – the real kids – who benefit from this Tournament,” said Joe.

In other words, the golfers will learn what it’s like to live life with an artificial limb – or missing a hand or arm. The activities will help them gain, on a very personal level, a deeper understanding of how their support of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open can affect kids’ lives in a very real way.

 “We are going to show the pros that patients at Shriners Hospitals for Children are just like any other kids, but sometimes we have to do things a little bit differently,” said Katie. “That’s what Joe and I want everyone to take away from this experience.”

The hospital experience will conclude with an opportunity for the PGA TOUR professionals to teach the patient ambassadors some of their tricks, something both Joe and Katie said they are looking forward to.

“I had to putt in a celebrity tournament benefiting our hospital in St. Louis, and I found out that putting isn’t easy,” Katie said. “I could really use some tips from the pros so I can make a better showing of it next time.”