On Saturday, November 1, the Auxiliary of Albert Einstein Healthcare Network held its 56th annual Harvest Ball at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue.

The annual Harvest Ball crowns a year's worth of fundraising projects the Auxillians perform. Over 500 individuals attended this year's prestigious black tie affair. Proceeds totaling nearly $1.2 million will fund the creation of an Einstein Simulation and Learning Center. The center will give Einstein physicians, nurses and allied health professionals ‘real life’ patient experiences through guided artificial scenarios that evoke or replicate actual patient care.

From left to right: Joseph L. Neubauer, Chairman and CEO of Aramark; Richard J. Braemer, Einstein Board Chairman; Leonard Barrack, Jewish Federation Chair; Richard C. Sheerr, Vice Chairperson of AEHS; Ira M. Schwartz, Jewish Federation President & CEO; and Barry R. Freedman, Einstein President & CEO

Guests at the Harvest Ball enjoyed hands—on training sessions with two interactive simulators named SimMan and SimNewB (newborn baby). Attendees practiced inserting an IV or chest tube, monitoring heart and pulse rate, and performing other essential functions, all while dressed in their finest evening wear! Einstein medical residents were on hand supervising the demonstrations.

Simulators are currently used as a teaching tool at the network, but the new center, to be constructed on the 2nd floor of the Korman Research Building, will greatly enhance and expand the capability.

This year, the Harvest Ball also honored Wachovia Bank and Hugh Long, Wachovia's Northern Group CEO, for their continued support of Albert Einstein Healthcare Network.