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HEALTH CARE HEROES 2021
Greater Wilmington Business Journal
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HEALTH CARE HEROES 2021
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| HEALTH CARE HEROES 2021 |
I
Heroes who stay the course
t’s been a long year-and-a-half. Those in health care know it, and so do most of us. But heroes aren’t those who only rise to the occasion in a movie’s big fight scene. In the real world, they tend to be those who keep showing up daily even after the spotlight dims. For this year’s Health Care Heroes, it’s a good time to fire up the lightbulbs again and shine attention on those who continue day-in and VICKY day-out to fight for the community’s health as we near the second-year mark of the pandemic. COVID has permeated all corners of health care, including the work done by the health providers, volunteers, professionals, administrators and others who are recognized in the awards. And that was reflected in the nominations that came in this year from patients, peers, co-workers and families. Meanwhile, others are continuing to improve health and wellness on all fronts from cardiac to pediatrics. The Greater Wilmington Business Journal has put on the Health Care Heroes awards program since 2013 to honor the people and organizations making an impact on the quality of health care in the region. Included in this year’s awards special section are the finalists in 10 categories: Community Achievement,
JANOWSKI
First Responder, Innovation in Health Care, Health Care Executive, PA/NP, Physician, Nurse, Health Care Professional and Volunteer. Our panel of judges chose to make this year’s Community Outreach category a spotlight on the different teams, from team leaders to public health officials to school nurses, who played roles in the community’s response to COVID and vaccine rollouts. You can read more about those teams on page 14. All of the award nominators share their accolades on the following pages. And this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Dr. John Powell, a physician who made strides in the OB/GYN field and gynecologic oncology as well as played a leading role in the establishment of the Zimmer Cancer Center (page 10). A big part of the program is to give health care workers a much-deserved night out, holding an event to recognize the finalists and announce the category winners. As we monitor conditions, we’re holding off on the event for now but hope to come together early next year to celebrate their hard work. Stay tuned for details. In the meantime, please join us in congratulating and thanking these Health Care Heroes. -Vicky Janowski, editor Greater Wilmington Business Journal vjanowski@wilmingtonbiz.com On Twitter: @vickyjanowski
HEALTH CARE
HEROES
HEALTH CARE
HEROES
ABOUT THE JUDGING
Each year, the Business Journal opens up the CARE HEALTH nominations process to the community for the Health Care Heroes awards. Our outside judging panel combs through the nominations and applications to pick the finalists and winners in each of the 10 categories as well as the Lifetime Achievement honor. Judges who know or work with the nominees disclosed any potential conflicts. In the cases in which judges were nominated in a category, they were recused from the deliberation process.
HEROES
JASON CLAMME, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
JIM HUNDLEY SR., Retired physician and businessman
JOHNSIE DAVIS, retired nurse
ALEXIS HUNTER, Wilmington Health
MICHEALLE GADY, Atrómitos
ZAC LONG, Well Care Health
CHARLES HARDY, UNCW College of Health and Human Services
ELAINE LOYACK, Delta Dental CLARENCE L. WILSON II, representing New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society
Honoring Remarkable Healthcare workers deserve to be recognized for their heroic service, particularly during these challenging times. To the nominees, we are especially grateful. Your impact has been deemed exceptional, and your dedication inspires us all.
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Greater Wilmington Business Journal
HEALTH CARE HEROES 2021
2 0 2 1 AWA R D S
HEROES HEALTH CARE HEROES
HEALTH CARE
FOUNDING SPONSOR
PRESENTING SPONSORS
JIM HANSEN PNC Regional President for Eastern Carolinas
ZAC LONG CEO of Well Care Health
“W
ell Care Health is incredibly proud to be the Founding Sponsor and an avid supporter
of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s Health Care Heroes. This recognition is a unique and meaningful way of honoring our outstanding health care community. This year’s nominees will inspire and amaze you, and they have shown dedication, resilience, and true courage in serving our community during its most critical time of need. We are so pleased to be a part of thanking and celebrating the health care heroes that too often don’t get the recognition they deserve.”
“T
he Health Care Heroes being recognized this year are more than practitioners ,
trusted advisors, and advocates for their patients. Their contributions are vital to a thriving local healthcare sector, which is an important driver of the local economy. Against the backdrop of unimaginable challenges, the Cape Fear region continues to grow due in no small part to the dedication of these individuals and organizations. Congratulations to the 2021 Health Care Heroes, as well as their families and those who support them. On behalf of all of us at PNC, please accept our sincere gratitude and appreciation for all you do.”
We help innovators, entrepreneurs, community champions, and change-agents tackle #wickedproblems in order to create healthier, more resilient and more equitable communities.
Learn More at
www.atromitosconsulting.com
HEALTH CARE
HEROES JEFF JAMES CEO of Wilmington Health
“O
ur area’s healthcare providers deserve high praise for the
life-saving and life-enhancing work they perform each and every year. But amid these challenging times, their critical contributions to the Wilmington community have become even more apparent – and more vital – than ever. With a tireless devotion to our health and well-being, these Health Care Heroes not only make daily sacrifices to keep their neighbors in good health, but they often lay their own well-being on the line to do so. And for this, we can never thank you enough.”
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| HEALTH CARE HEROES: COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT | Honors an individual or team who successfully implemented a program addressing a problem in health care administration or delivery.
QUICK RESPONSE TEAM ORGANIZATION: Coastal Horizons WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “The Quick Response Team (QRT) of Coastal Horizons operates in the Wilmington area to engage overdose survivors, those who are at high risk of overdose and those close to them – helping them to be safer, supported and ultimately connected to treatment and recovery resources. The [QRT, which is headed up by Buffy Hughes, shown above] is comprised of Peer Support Specialists – who have lived experience with substance use and/or mental health issues – and Licensed Therapists – who are trained in evidence-based interventions – to build rapport, encourage safer practices and then facilitate access to treatment and recovery resources. … Since QRT began in 2018, they have been able to meet with 566 overdose survivors and connected 493 overdose survivors to treatment, which has given QRT an overall engagement rate of 85.7%. QRT made over 3,000 follow-up contacts since inception to provide a team-based approach that allowed QRT staff to build relationships with each person. Since inception, there have been 14 subsequent overdoses after an overdose survivor was engaged with QRT and unfortunately five deaths since 2018.” - Elizabeth Redenbaugh, Coastal Horizons development director
ALYSSA THOMPSON TITLE: Director of health services ORGANIZATION: Plantation Village WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Alyssa Thompson is a registered nurse and director of health care services at Plantation Village, a nonprofit Life Plan Community in Porters Neck. When COVID hit in early 2020, Alyssa’s leadership was instrumental in implementing an emergency response campaign that kept the community’s 300 residents 100% COVID-free during the quarantine period before vaccinations were available. Alyssa spearheaded Plantation Village’s on-site COVID vaccination program and successfully vaccinated more than 99% of all residents, which is a phenomenal feat that demonstrates her expertise not only in health care, but in advocacy and resident relations. She has worked tirelessly for 18+ months since COVID first became a concern; has selflessly volunteered to cover overnight shifts for her staff members and consistently supports both the residents and staff to keep them happy and healthy in both body and spirit. As a registered nurse with 20+ years’ experience, Alyssa has worked in a variety of settings, including independent living, assisted living and memory care, home health case management and primary care.” - Plantation Village
CARLA TURNER TITLE: Public Health assistant director ORGANIZATION: New Hanover County Health & Human Services WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “At the onset of the pandemic, Carla Turner, Public Health Assistant Director for New Hanover County Health and Human Services (HHS), led her team to begin surveillance and contact tracing for county residents infected with the virus. … She coordinated testing sites for persons suspecting infection. She engaged her contacts within the Sheriff’s [Office], Emergency Management, Fire and Rescue to assist in these efforts. She led the implementation of a COVID Call Center to assist the public with the numerous questions they had about this new and deadly virus. When HHS was faced with the daunting challenge of delivering COVID-19 vaccines to our community, they committed to achieving this with unmatched dedication and perseverance. When HHS received limited supplies of life-saving vaccine, the nursing staff of HHS delivered vaccine efficiently and with great speed. Carla oversees approximately 75 public health nurses. She organized them to operationalize three large volume vaccination sites. On some days, each site administered over 1,000 doses of vaccine. Carla was ever-present – doing anything to help, whether the task was big or small. … Carla is truly an unsung hero during this pandemic.” - Donna Fayko, NHC Health & Human Services director
| HEALTH CARE HEROES: FIRST RESPONDER| Honors a first responder whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.
TOMMY BATSON TITLE: Pender County emergency director ORGANIZATION: Pender County WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Tommy Batson … started his public service career more than 24 years ago as a volunteer firefighter. More than 18 years ago, Batson started his first employment opportunity in Pender County as a part-time telecommunicator in the Sheriff’s Office 911 center. Most recently he has served as the county’s fire marshal and assistant emergency management director. During his years of service, Batson earned numerous certifications, including NC Level III Fire Inspector, NC Fire Instructor II, NC Certified Fire Investigator, NCEM Executive Coordinator, NC Type III All-Hazard Incident Management Team-Planning Section Chief and Operations Section Chief and Liaison Officer. In his years of emergency services, Batson has received three Life Saving Awards for saving six people in three different events. Batson is an experienced leader who has served Pender County through difficult storms as well as the recovery process. During Hurricane Florence, Batson served in the Emergency Operations Center for 42 straight days. Throughout his career, Tommy has served in response to every major natural disaster in Pender County – and often in the region – from search and rescue operations, wildfires, tornadoes, flooding and hurricanes.” - Tammy Proctor, Pender County public information officer/tourism director
ANDREA BLEVINS
HEALTH CARE
TITLE: EMT-Paramedic ORGANIZATION: Novant Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “She works tirelessly to help serve her community, especially during a time when help is hard to come by. She is also the reason why I have my paramedic certification and now have a career in EMS. She pushed for me to go all the way to my paramedic when I was going to go for my basic. She educated me on my career options in EMS, and she was one of my biggest supporters going through medic school. I am beyond thankful for all she does, not only for me but for her family, her community and her patients.” - Bianca Doty, EMT-Paramedic, BCEMS “Andrea learned compassion and service at home as she assisted her parents while growing up with over 40 foster children who lived in their home and were embraced by their hearts. This level of service has spilled over into her adult life as she chose to become a paramedic and serve her community in the best way she knows how: immediately, compassionately and daily. As an NHRMC paramedic, Andrea daily faces the excruciating toll of circumstances outside human control with grace and compassion.” - Jennifer Blunier
HEROES
MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH
ORGANIZATION: Novant Health HEALTH CARE WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Over 300 dedicated health
HEROES
care professionals are committed to the NH NHRMC Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) team … This year, VitaLink celebrates 30 years of serving the community. NHREMS [Emergency Medical Services] joined the NHRMC family 23 years ago, and AirLink has been safely flying patients across Southeastern North Carolina for 20 years! Today, they together all make up the MIH family impacting more than 68,000 annual lives while using 30+ ambulances, three helicopters and five community paramedic units. … MIH team members have provided well over 1,000 service hours to [COVID-19] immunization clinics. At the onset of the pandemic, EMS launched a telemedicine program to enhance the delivery of out-of-hospital health care.” -K evin Collopy, Novant Health Mobile Integrated Health clinical outcomes and compliance manager
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| HEALTH CARE HEROES: HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVE | Honors an individual whose job performance is considered exemplary by people within their organizations, peers and community members.
ZANE BENNETT TITLE: Director of business development ORGANIZATION: Life Care Services WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: Zane Bennett was recently promoted to director of business development for Life Care Services. Bennett previously served as Plantation Village’s executive director for seven years and throughout the pandemic. “Plantation Village, a nonprofit Life Plan Community in Porters Neck (managed by Life Care Services (LCS)), is a case study on how to implement a COVID-19 emergency response campaign for a vulnerable population to ensure their health and well-being. When COVID-19 hit in early 2020, Plantation Village did not hesitate to spring into action to ensure the safety of its 300 residents ranging in ages from 62 to 100, its 150-member staff and family members. Thanks to leadership’s proactive response, there have been only two incidents of COVID among residents – each resident was vaccinated, had mild cases in August 2021 and are now fully recovered. … In January and February 2021, Plantation Village hosted on-site vaccination clinics in partnership with Walgreens. The community is working with Walgreens to host an on-site booster vaccine clinic as soon as it’s available. LCS introduced Eversafe 360, a new standard that raises the bar for overall safety for residents and staff.” - Debbie Elliot, Talk Inc. president
JOHN GIZDIC TITLE: Executive vice president & chief business development officer ORGANIZATION: Novant Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “John Gizdic has spent more than 15 years leading New Hanover Regional Medical Center … . In his roles at the organization, which have included vice president of strategic planning, COO, president and CEO, he has led several key initiatives, including the creation of the NHRMC Physician Group. Gizdic also led the organization’s accountable care organization, which coordinated high-quality Medicare and oversaw approximately $1 billion in capital projects. … In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic crippled our national economy and changed the way we had to deliver health care. Through it all, Gizdic maintained the confidence of our team members and the community as NHRMC led the effort to inform the public, protect health care workers, and distribute the vaccine. Before the pandemic, Gizdic launched an effort to find the best health care solution for our region. … Through a comprehensive, detailed process, a committee helped NHRMC partner with Novant Health, ensuring that NHRMC’s ideals and commitments to our community would be fulfilled, while allowing the expansion of needed health care services in our region.” - Lindsay Smith, Novant Health marketing strategist
LYNDA STANLEY TITLE: President ORGANIZATION: Dosher Memorial Hospital WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Lynda Stanley stepped into her role of president of Dosher Memorial Hospital at the onset of the COVID pandemic, as the entire health care world was forced to pivot into a new sphere of normal. Even with the challenges that the pandemic year has presented health care, Lynda has continued to find ways to grow hospital service lines and in February of 2021, Lynda played a key role in bringing robotic arm-assisted knee replacement surgery to Dosher, putting the hospital on the map as the first in the region to offer this technology. Lynda made a commitment when she accepted her role as hospital president to make Dosher a great place to work. Under Lynda’s navigation, the hospital has operated more profitably than it has in over a decade and recently, Lynda had asked and secured approval from the Dosher Board of Trustees to award all staff members with a one-time bonus, as appreciation of their hard work and dedication through this most challenging year. The financial viability of the hospital puts Dosher in a position to continue to offer high-quality services to the Smithville Township area and remain a key employer for the region.” - I lene Evans, Dosher’s director of marketing & community relations
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| HEALTH CARE HEROES: HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL | Honors any health care providers other than physicians or nurses whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.
FRAN JOHNSON TITLE: Director of nursing for surgery center ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Fran Johnson has led our COVID-19 vaccination clinics from the very beginning, along with being the clinical manager of one of the busiest specialties throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which is Pulmonology. Our Pulmonology providers are serving on the front lines at the COVID ICUs, and Fran serves as direct support for our pulmonology heroes. Fran Johnson also has sacrificed much time outside of her day-today responsibilities to be sure the COVID-19 vaccination clinics are running smoothly, as well as that we are providing staff support and vaccines to our underserved communities. She supports our community in not only getting vaccines but also supports the care provided to our COVID-19 infected patients and supporting their return to recovering from COVID-19. Fran’s dedication and service to our entire community throughout this pandemic have been crucial and surely appreciated! She is a TRUE health care hero.” - Desirae Hrynko, Wilmington Health marketing manager
MICHELLE SUMRALL TITLE: Manager of respiratory services ORGANIZATION: Novant Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Michelle has over 17 years experience as a respiratory therapist. She started her career in medicine working for the Emergency Management Services in her hometown before pursuing her degree in respiratory therapy. As the manager of respiratory services at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center (NHBMC), she oversees respiratory care services, cardiovascular diagnostics and cardiac rehabilitation. This has put her and her team on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic; treating the sickest COVID patients who need help breathing, monitoring supplemental oxygen or placing patients on a ventilator. The ICU has often reached and exceeded capacity, meaning long, difficult shifts for Michelle and her team. Every day, she works alongside them providing leadership and support. … Michelle has also led her team in implementing the tele-ICU program for remote monitoring and treatment of intensive care patients at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center with five tele-ICU carts. Along with other care team members, Michelle’s team rounds with the Telehealth providers on the floor to consult on each patient’s care plan. During the pandemic, it has allowed for family members to remotely be involved in their loved one’s care.” - Danielle Stevens, Novant Health nurse manager for SCU & Telemetry
CASSANDRA TAYLOR TITLE: CNA ORGANIZATION: Well Care Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Cassandra Taylor goes above and beyond when it comes to taking care of her patients and assisting the Well Care team. Providing individualized care for each patient comes naturally to her, and she gives 100% of her energy to making sure everyone is well-cared for and as comfortable as possible. Her days begin early and often end late, as she regularly works late to ensure that all her patients are taken care of. Yet, even on long days, she never complains about anything. Cassandra is exceptional at taking care of her patients. … Cassandra makes patients laugh and constantly smile, even on their bad days. She is one of the reasons Well Care has so many repeat patients – they all love her and do everything they can to make sure they see her again. Even years after patients were cared for by her, her patients rave about how much they love her and miss her. Cassandra is always in demand by patients because of the quality care she provides and the compassion she brings. If patients are wary of accepting help, we always emphasize just how great she is and how much they will love her – and they always do.”
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| HEALTH CARE HEROES: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT |
Patient care from all fronts BY NEIL COTIAUX
“L
ife isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself,” the acclaimed playwright, George Bernard Shaw once said. If that adage is true, then John Powell, this year’s recipient of the Health Care Heroes Lifetime Achievement award, has most certainly created a masterpiece of self-portrait and one that has changed the lives of countless patients and fellow professionals for the better. Now retired and living at Wrightsville Beach, Powell was raised in Sampson County where his father practiced dentistry. His mother, an educator, was named North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year in 1983. He was encouraged by them to pursue medicine as a career. Powell took his parents’ advice, and after completing his studies at Davidson College, enrolled at UNC’s School of Medicine at Chapel Hill. Graduating in 1968, he embarked on a journey that took him from delivering thousands of babies to pioneering work in the field of gynecologic oncology and finally, to developing and overseeing New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Zimmer Cancer Center, now known nationally as a center of excellence. “He’s a very quiet-spoken guy, and you would never know what a big deal he is just by talking with him,” said Jim Price, a retired OB/GYN who several times turned to Powell for expert guidance on difficult cases. “His skill in the operating room is just consummate,” Price said. Following training in the Army’s senior medical student program at Chapel Hill, Powell served in the Army Medical Corps for eight years, rising to the rank of major and delivering more than 5,000 babies. “And that cured me of wanting to get up in the middle of the night,” Powell said, chuckling. Wrapping up his tour of duty in West Germany, Powell accepted a gynecologic oncology fellowship at Emory University, setting the stage for years of private practice and hospital affiliations in Georgia before moving on to professorships at Tufts University School of Medicine and the University of Massachusetts. All the while, his stature grew as a result of pioneering research into the use of laser surgery and the invention of two surgical instruments: a laser speculum manufactured in 1977 and
PHOTO BY MICHAEL CLINE SPENCER
Physician expert: During his career, John Powell impacted the region’s medical community through patient care, surgical instrument development, organization of the Zimmer Cancer Center and more.
a hysterectomy clamp introduced in 1984. As one of the first physicians to publish articles about the use of lasers in gynecology, Powell found himself training thousands of physicians on their safe and appropriate use, lecturing on the subject in 26 states and a dozen foreign countries. At the same time, he assumed a prominent role in the introduction of robotics to medicine, including at NHRMC. Within the specialty of OB/GYN, “there are certain places where robotics are better than hand-eye coordination alone,” his colleague Price explained. “You have different types of pelvic prolapse procedures, and all that can be done better with robotics.” Nearly three decades after delivering his first baby, ushering in the laser era and becoming a go-to expert in that field, Powell was approached about returning to the Port City to play a leading role in designing and launching the Zimmer Cancer
Center. When Zimmer opened in 2000 it had six exam rooms for medical oncology, surgical oncology and gynecologic oncology along with 12 chairs for infusion chemotherapy on one end of the building. On the other end there were four exam rooms for radiation oncology and a CAT scanner. An 18-month renovation and expansion project was completed in 2017. Currently, there are three gynecologic oncologists on staff at Zimmer, and the number of chairs for infusion chemotherapy has risen to 50, Powell said. During his time based at Zimmer, Powell served as a teaching professor affiliated with UNC Chapel Hill in addition to driving the growth of the facility. He was one of two gynecologic oncology surgeons who performed more than 600 surgeries a year, according to a January 2007 article published by NHRMC. Patients with malignancies or complicated benign conditions requiring
surgery have come to Zimmer from as far away as Morehead City, New Bern, Lumberton and North Myrtle Beach. “We made a huge change in what happens to patients in Eastern North Carolina,” Powell said. Powell retired from his practice at Zimmer in 2009. He is currently on the executive board of the New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society and is the coordinator of its retired physicians section. During 40 years of full-time professional activity, Powell produced a prolific body of written material of considerable help to his colleagues. He is the author of 222 published articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and 14 book chapters. He also participated in 21 research projects. “His extraordinary expertise, as well as the entirety of his career, are nothing short of astounding,” Price said. “Being a physician is far, far more than what John Powell chose to do to make a living. It is what he chose to do with his life.” Powell gives his wife, Caroline, much of the credit for his success, “probably because my wife was taking responsibility for raising our kids and looking after our 10 apartments and houses we lived in all over the world, and looking after me while I was busy taking care of patients, delivering, operating and writing. So she gets the credit.” While Powell is now retired, he is nonetheless willing to share his opinions. During most of the current pandemic, some health experts appeared hesitant to recommend that pregnant women be inoculated against the virus that causes COVID-19. In an Aug. 11 statement on the subject, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy “outweigh any known or potential risks.” Currently, there is no evidence that any vaccines cause fertility problems or that pregnant or recently pregnant individuals are more likely to become severely ill with COVID, the CDC said. Powell concurs with the CDC’s position, adding that his entire family is vaccinated against the virus and that he personally feels a lot safer. “It’s the best way,” he said, “to protect family and friends and people who aren’t friends, even.”
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| HEALTH CARE HEROES: INNOVATION| Honors an individual or team behind a new scientific discovery, procedure, treatment or device that can save lives or improve the quality of life for a large number of people.
JONATHAN HINES TITLE: Chief medical officer ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Dr. Jonathan Hines has served our wonderful community for 25+ years, and he has dedicated himself to not only the expert primary care he provides at Wilmington Health but also has dedicated himself to community service efforts as well throughout his many years. … Dr. Hines also serves at Wilmington Health as the chief medical officer, which he dedicates himself day-in and day-out to transforming the health care delivery system, which has truly impacted the quality of health care not only in our region but also nationwide. Dr. Hines directly supported the development of the Today’s Care Plus at Wilmington Health, which directly supports the overutilization of the ERs in our area, as well as providing readily available care to our patients in need. … In Dr. Hines’ time, he has also directly supported efforts in Wilmington Health earning accolades as providing the best value among Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) across the country. … Dr. Hines has also directly supported all of Wilmington Health’s COVID-19 pandemic efforts in ensuring our community has safe, trusted, convenient access to care and vaccines.” - D esirae Hrynko, Wilmington Health marketing manager
MELISSA ODOM TITLE: Chief operating officer, Physician’s Healthcare Collaborative ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Melissa continuously leads with grace and compassion. While she oversees all of the operations for the operations for the Accountable Care Organization at Wilmington Health, she also finds time to mentor, challenge and teach employees and interns across all of Wilmington Health. … While every health care executive in the world has faced new challenges over the last two years, Melissa has turned those challenges into opportunities. The majority of our patients under our ACO are Medicare recipients, who have been scared and worried to come in doctors’ offices. Melissa led our team to ensure our senior patients were called and walked through how to do virtual visits. We ensured that the majority of our senior patients were scheduled for an annual wellness visit where they didn’t have to come in our office. We received 5-star ratings in a year where patients were frustrated and grieving through a pandemic but still found high value in their health care experience at Wilmington Health. Much of that comes from Melissa’s leadership in teaching our staff how to adapt to change, how to ensure a positive patient experience and how to change the health care delivery system.” - Alexis Hunter, Wilmington Health community liaison
MEENA RAO TITLE: Medical director, Cape Fear Heart Associates Atrial Fibrillation Clinic/Medical director, EP Lab ORGANIZATION: Novant Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Dr. Meena Rao joined Cape Fear Heart Associates in 2016, after completion of her cardiology and electrophysiology fellowship at Duke University Medical Center. Her presence has had a tremendous impact on the NHRMC Electrophysiology Lab, where she performs ablations to treat cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, supra ventricular tachycardia (SVT), atrial flutter and ventricular tachycardia (VT), and also implants cardiac devices. She brought new procedural techniques to Wilmington, including performance of radiofrequency ablation of complex arrhythmias in the left atrium and performing ablation procedures with zero radiation for staff or patient. She was the first physician in Wilmington to implant the Watchman left atrial appendage occlusion device, which is a device that reduces stroke in atrial fibrillation patients who cannot take blood thinners. She currently implants these devices in coordination with the CFHA Structural Heart Team for these needy patients. In addition to her contributions in the NHRMC Electrophysiology Lab, Dr. Rao has become a leader among the physicians at Cape Fear Heart Associates. Shortly after arrival in Wilmington, Dr. Rao became the director of the CFHA Atrial Fibrillation Clinic.” - William Smith, Cape Fear Heart Associates medical director
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| HEALTH CARE HEROES: NP/PA | Honors a nurse practitioner or physician assistant whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.
MCKENZIE KLINE TITLE: Physician assistant ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Health WHAT THE NOMINATORS SAID: “McKenzie is an on-site provider on our company’s campus. She is knowledgeable, listens and doesn’t seem too judgmental. She always goes the extra mile for all of her patients and takes the time to get
to know them.” - Jo Richardson, Live Oak Bank insurance risk manager “We are so fortunate to have McKenzie Kline as our PA-C at our Tiburon campus. She has always gone above and beyond for our employees. Recently, with the uptick in COVID cases, she has called to check on employees at night and on weekends. She is never too busy to answer questions that we may have. She listens to her patients with compassion, and she is so knowledgeable with her answers.” - Megan Pratt, Live Oak Bank insurance specialist “There is no better PA than McKenzie. She goes above and beyond on a daily basis for her patients and their families. I have never had a level of care or felt as comfortable at ease with another provider. She answers the phone before her hours start and follows up with every patient no matter why they went to see her. McKenzie has navigated COVID with true grace. I couldn’t ask for a better provider.” - Erin Welker, Live Oak Bank VP-marketing events
JEN PARROTTE TITLE: Critical care nurse practitioner ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Jen has tirelessly worked in our critical care units and consulting on our COVID floors to [provide] health care for the sickest patients during this pandemic. She works with our critical care physicians, pulmonologists responsible for frontline care of the sick and dying. She never complains and always projects a positive attitude and outlook. She’s taking on extra shifts and additional hours. She puts herself in harm’s way in order to save lives. She is outstandingly intelligent, caring for these patients at the highest level independently. She works with doctors from both Wilmington Health and from New Hanover [Regional Medical Center] in their critical care department. Without her, we would have lost significantly more lives from this tragic pandemic.” - Matt Janik, Wilmington Health cardiologist
CARRIE THOMAS TITLE: Physician assistant ORGANIZATION: Coastal Carolina Care WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Carrie is the PA at Coastal Carolina Care, a primary and urgent care office in Hampstead. She goes above and beyond with the care she provides for patients. She will see any and all patients from the moment the practice opens in the morning to the moment it closes. She truly listens to what patients have to say – and honestly treats them all like family. I have seen her hold her tearful patients’ hands that have dealt with tragedy and comfort them beyond the level of just a provider. She is a provider that is not in it for the money but for the patients. I remember being amazed the first time I saw how much forgiveness she has when patients are unable to pay for their care. She will call patients personally to see how they are doing. As an employer, she goes above and beyond as well. I have never felt more valued by any other employer. As a hopeful PA as well, I learn something from Carrie every day – both nonclinical and clinical. I aspire to be like Carrie when I become a provider. I believe Carrie is a hero for the Hampstead community.” - Bianca Skinner, Coastal Carolina Care medical assistant
| HEALTH CARE HEROES: NURSE | Honors a nurse whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.
JO ANN BEHOUNEK TITLE: Surgical services/ emergency services nurse ORGANIZATION: Novant Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Jo Ann is an experienced nurse whose calm, competent presence shines through in every interaction. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jo Ann worked the forward triage station right outside the emergency room, testing and triaging patients who may have had COVID-19. It was a scary time for everyone, especially nurses, who were ‘facing something new every 30 minutes,’ as Jo Ann put it. Jo Ann’s instinct as a nurse is to rush in and help. But her work during the COVID-19 taught her to slow down and help – both her fellow nurses and her patients. She constantly reminded her coworkers to stop before treating a patient to put on their full personal protective equipment, their best defense at the time against the virus. She also stopped for countless patients during that time – ‘screeching to a halt,’ as she said, to listen to their worries and concerns. She had to do this because they had no family around to do so. It made her grow as a nurse, and she now sees it as a blessing. … Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Jo Ann was the kind of nurse who would work tirelessly to make a difference for her patients.” - Deborah Lannon, Novant Health
ERYN DAVIS TITLE: Staff nurse, COVID intensive care unit & medical intensive care unit ORGANIZATION: Novant Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Eryn is a COVID ICU nurse and has been since the start of this pandemic. She has tirelessly provided care to more patients than anyone predicted would enter her unit. Some of those patients went home, many did not. The physical and emotional toll of that reality is why she is my Hero. So many nurses are deserving of this award, but what sets Eryn apart is her unwavering compassion for the patients and family in spite of the tremendous odds against her efforts translating to a positive outcome. Often, she has found herself as the only person able to be with a patient as they take their last breath. She has consoled countless family members and struggled at a personal level with why she hasn’t been able to save more patients. This is the burden she bears without expectation of anything in return. … [Eryn and her fellow nurses] didn’t receive training or enablement to face this enemy. … Wearing ‘space suits’ and sacrificing water and food breaks during their 12/13/14 hour shifts. Being thrusted into shift lead roles before they were truly ready and being expected to endure the tragedies of staffing crises. Eryn is not ‘just’ a Hero, she is a Warrior.” - Chris Davis, spouse
OWEN HOWELL TITLE: School nurse at Codington Elementary/Lake Forest Academy ORGANIZATION: New Hanover County Health & Human Services WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Owen is the definition of an exceptional school nurse, going above and beyond her daily job requirements. She goes out of her way to establish relationships with the students, jumps in to help when we are short-handed on staff and is a leader in her field. Since the start of COVID, she has kept us up to date as information changes daily, been diligent with enforcing policies and procedures regarding symptoms, masking, distancing, contact tracing and protocols. She wears so many hats and wears them all well. She shares our school with another school in the county, serves on a leadership team, spends late hours at school weekly and gives her best ALL THE TIME! School nurses have so much pressure on them as ‘COVID police’ and carry so much weight on their shoulders to keep staff and students safe. She is not just an extremely hard worker and amazing school nurse, but the relationships and connections she has built with the students are remarkable.” - Anna Schatz, teacher
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HEALTH CARE HEROES 2020 Page 13
| HEALTH CARE HEROES: PHYSICIAN | Honors a physician whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.
MICHELLE JONES TITLE: Family medicine physician ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Health In August, Jones was named medical director of Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear, which provides locally based care management. She joined CCLCF a year ago as the nonprofit’s associate medical director. Jones graduated from medical school at East Carolina University and completed her internship and residency at Duke University. Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, she is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Jones continues to be a practicing physician at Wilmington Health, where she has been department chief of family medicine for the past five years. She has served on the New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society’s executive board and on the N.C. Medical Society’s board. Jones also has served as president of the N.C. Academy of Family Physicians and as a North Carolina delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians. WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Not only does Dr. Jones go above and beyond for her patients, she also goes above and beyond for her community outside of her clientele. She is always concerned for everyone’s well-being and wants to provide her patients and community with the best care, in and out of the office.” - Ally Grafius, Wilmington Health patient representative
School of Health & Applied Human Sciences
PAUL KAMITSUKA TITLE: Infectious disease/ internal medicine physician ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Health WHAT THE NOMINATORS SAID: “Dr. Kamitsuka consistently demonstrates exceptional care for his patients, people in our community and educating other medical professionals as well as students. I have seldom witnessed such tireless empathetic care in my 40-plus years of nursing. … Perhaps it is his passion for medicine combined with a unique ability to embrace those in his care with kindness, respect and the highest level of expertise. Our community is so fortunate to have a physician with his skills. The pandemic which we face has brought about some frightening events; we see Dr. Kamitsuka on the front lines providing information, care and unwavering guidance to all. It baffles me how he remains steadfast in his commitment to our community all the while treating others with such care, tenderness and the best possible medical knowledge.” - Lynne Rutherford, Wilmington Health former clinical director (retired) “Dr. Kamitsuka is kind, smart and caring. He has been a stalwart through this whole COVID-19 pandemic. He assesses the evidence and research and interprets it into relatable terms. Dr. Kamitsuka provides insight and reassurance in these turbulent times. He is someone I have come to count on to help safely navigate our new reality.” - Beth Mitchell, Wilmington Health dietitian
School of Social Work
Heroes are made here.
UNCW is an EEO/AA institution. Questions regarding UNCW’s Title IX compliance should be directed to titleix@uncw.edu.
MAYRA OVERSTREET GALEANO TITLE: Chief medical officer ORGANIZATION: MedNorth Health Center WHAT THE NOMINATORS SAID: “Dr. Galeano provides service with patience, empathy and professionalism. She serves as the chief medical officer for MedNorth Health Center and as a faculty preceptor for the residents at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Besides juggling these two demanding schedules, she also serves as a clinical adviser for the CIN (clinically integrated network). Dr. Galeano adds patients to her schedule when other providers are out. Save never taking a day off, she epitomizes a health care leader.” - Althea Johnson, MedNorth Health Center CEO “Watching Dr. Galeano work in her clinical and administrative capacities makes you want to be a better person. I recently had a question about a patient who I was seeing. Dr. Galeano stopped a meeting that she was in to come examine the patient with me. A colleague was struggling to finish her day on time and needed to go pick up her children from daycare – Dr. Galeano stepped in to see some of the patients. She always makes time despite having the most demanding workload. She has a laser-like focus on helping our underserved community members, and as a result, our clinic was a leader in COVID vaccinations for minority populations.” - Shalane Moore, MedNorth family nurse practitioner
School of Nursing
uncw.edu/chhs
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HEALTH CARE HEROES 2020
| HEALTH CARE HEROES: COMMUNITY OUTREACH | Honors an individual or team who communicated to the community about a health issue, including treatments and best practices, health threats and other education initiatives. Editor’s note: Above is the description every year for the Community Outreach category. In the second year now of a global pandemic and national vaccine rollout, the Health Care Heroes judges decided to use this category a little differently this time. The Community Outreach category this year recognizes the large teams of area health providers and professionals who have responded throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in helping to protect and treat the community. While there’s not enough space here to list all the teams’ members who contributed to the efforts, they are included with the online version of this story at wilmingtonbiz.com.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “When New Hanover County Health and Human Services was faced with the daunting challenge of delivering COVID-19 vaccines to our community, they committed to achieving this with unmatched dedication and perseverance. … Health and Human
NOVANT HEALTH NHRMC COVID MANAGEMENT TEAM WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “I have had the privilege of working with many health care heroes during my time on staff at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, and I have submitted nominations on occasion in the past. However,
SCHOOL NURSES OF NEW HANOVER COUNTY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “The public health nurses who work in the New Hanover County schools are a phenomenal group of professionals tasked with meeting the
WILMINGTON HEALTH COVID-19 VACCINE TEAM WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Wilmington Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Team dedicated and sacrificed for our community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and they
Services (HHS) engaged the county’s newly formed Office of Diversity and Equity along with HHS’ dedicated staff who had many connections into Historically Marginalized Populations (HMPs). They reached out across our county to pastors, lay-leaders, ethnic associations, neighborhoods, community centers, businesses, free health care clinics and many more. When only hospitals and local health departments were receiving vaccine supply, HHS partnered with large local health care organizations to assure no dose of vaccine sat on shelves. They immediately shared thousands of doses with local medical providers with capacity to administer doses to our community for the fastest and greatest positive impact possible. They simultaneously redistributed doses to small organizations (local free clinics) who had a unique ability to reach some of the most vulnerable of our
citizens. … HHS stood up and operated three large-volume vaccination sites. HHS conducted vaccination clinics at several churches in the area with majority HMP congregations. They partnered with LatinX organizations to find locations to operate that felt safe for this group. They connected with the local MLK Center to provide easy access to a large historically African American community. They served homebound persons in their homes in partnership with the Senior Resource Center and the county and city firefighters, who also conducted fire safety and smoke detector checks while in homes. As a result of the coordination among community health providers, New Hanover County has one of the top percentages of population that are fully or partially vaccinated.” - Donna Fayko, NHC Health & Human Services director
I have never seen a more deserving recipient or an easier letter to write than this one. I write in support of the NHNHRMC COVID management team/task force. … This team has met daily since the beginning of the pandemic to manage NHRMC’s institutional, local and regional response to the virus. I have been privileged to be a part of the weekly phone calls that this group participates in, and, every week, I am in awe of the amount of work that has been required of this group – all of whom have other full-time jobs at NHRMC as administrators or physicians. This is the group that, while facilitating the treatment of more than 7,000 COVID inpatients, also instituted and managed a testing program that has tested more than 55,000 local residents for COVID, sometimes even driving the samples to Raleigh to expedite the results [figures from early September nomination].
In addition, the NHRMC vaccination program, utilizing a local vacant movie theater to provide more than 100,000 local residents with vaccines, received national news coverage for this innovative approach. In addition, this group managed to vaccinate the entire NHRMC community of physicians, nurses and other health workers in just two weeks last December, even offering vaccine clinic appointments during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! In short, it is not hyperbole to call this group heroes and lifesavers. Wherever you are when you are reading this, be it at home, in your office, or elsewhere, look around you. I am certain that someone within your sight is alive today because of the heroic work this group has done.” - Frederick James “Trip” Meine III, Cape Fear Heart Associates physician
routine health care needs of our medically fragile students, dispensing medications and assisting with injuries. … ‘School Nurses: Provide direct care for acute and emergent needs; provide case management for chronic needs; advocate for students and their families to help get the resources and support they need; assist those not served by the healthcare system find a medical home,’ [according to the] NHCS website. However, throughout the pandemic these professionals have also been called upon to help vaccinate the general public at community clinics as well as provide constant guidance to school stakeholders. The frequent, sometimes daily, changes to the NC Strong Schools Toolkit put these professionals in the incredibly difficult position of having to communicate those changing policies directly to staff and
parents of students affected by COVID-19. … Facing a significant staffing shortage during the most extraordinary public health crisis in their careers to date, these nurses have consistently sacrificed their own time and energy for the sake of our most vulnerable citizens – our children. ‘Spread thin’ does not adequately express the workload they have had to bear. In addition to long hours of contact tracing – often working overtime with no compensation – they have had to meet these demanding challenges in not just one school, but two or sometimes more. They have done so with a truly inspirational commitment to the health care of our entire community and deserve to be profoundly honored for their dedication.” - Diane Snow, teacher
were constantly striving for ways to innovatively reach our entire community in providing them the vaccine. One effort that WH’s Vaccine Team completed was developing vaccine clinics at local nonprofits so that our underserved communities would have convenient access to the vaccine. Wilmington Health also held a large vaccine clinic in our community in partnership with the Wilmington Convention Center and the City of Wilmington. The clinic provided access to anyone in our community to the vaccine in what the community referenced was a su-
premely organized, professional, safe and efficient process. This clinic also provided access to the second dose of the vaccine in a timely manner, ensuring that our community members were fully vaccinated, which now has provided protection from the … delta variant. Wilmington Health’s Vaccine Team volunteered time in addition to their daily work schedules to ensure our community was vaccinated and protected, and it was truly appreciated by our community.” - Desirae Hrynko, Wilmington Health marketing manager
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| HEALTH CARE HEROES: VOLUNTEER | Honors volunteers at a health care provider or other health-related organization who are considered exemplary by people within those organizations.
SUSAN GIBBLE TITLE: Physician assistant (retired) WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Susan Gibble, PA, was in private practice with her husband, Dr. Timothy Gibble, at Atlantic Internal Medicine in Brunswick County from 1986 until she retired and the practice was sold in 2016. Susan dedicated her life to the field of medicine and healing while working full time and raising her two sons. She made a lifetime commitment to improve the health of her community, working 50+ hours a week in a career that she truly loved and gave her heart and soul to her patients and community. She would often share her private cell phone number so her patients could reach her after hours with a phone call or a text with a worry or concern for themselves or for a loved one. While working full time, Gibble was the president of the Brunswick County Heart Association from 1987-1991 in addition to serving on the board of Brunswick Family Assistance from 1987-1993. She also volunteered with the N.C. Baptist Medical team devoting her time to offer mobile medical exams for those without access to health care in Brunswick County. Another extension to her volunteer service has been as a three-term member of the Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center Foundation board where she currently serves as the secretary and an active member of its Governance Committee.” - Cynthia W. Cheatham, Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center Foundation philanthropy manager
LAURA M. HOLMES TITLE: Occupational therapy assistant ORGANIZATION: Well Care Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Laura Holmes loves working with people, especially helping them, and communicating with them. In fact, it’s the reason she became an occupational therapy assistant. Her background includes work in hand therapy, skilled nursing and rehabilitation skilled nursing, all before she transitioned to home health. … One of the most exciting things about home health for Laura is helping patients succeed in their personal environment. ‘In a rehab setting, things aren’t the same as they are in the patient’s home. They might do great with a task at rehab, but when they get home, it’s a different story.’ Laura shares this important lesson with the students she mentors as a volunteer fieldwork educator for Cape Fear Community College. She has been preparing and training CFCC students on behalf of Well Care Health for the past four years. In her position, she works with students who are observing and those who are interning and work alongside her all day long. Laura was recently awarded the Cape Fear Community College Field Work Educator of Excellence Award, and we can see why. ‘To watch students go from being shy when interacting with patients to really communicating and putting themselves forward is amazing,’ Laura said. ‘It’s awesome to see them truly grow as an individual.’”
Even Kryptonite Is No Match For Healthcare Heroes!
Congratulations to healthcare professionals recognized as heroes, and thank you for your exceptional, compassionate care.
You are all heroes to us.
TITLE: Volunteers ORGANIZATION: Novant Health WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Bob Young and Walter Sieminski are the dynamic duo who have volunteered a combined 6,000 hours for New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Walter and Bob both started at NHRMC as Surgical Pavilion Transporters, helping patients who had been discharged back out to their vehicles. Over the years, they have added volunteer shifts as ambassadors in the Outpatient Services Unit and wheelchair roundup, walking all over the building looking for wheelchairs that have been moved to the wrong place and returning them to where they can be most useful. Bob also volunteers in the Emergency Department, stocking supplies and walking patients and families where they need to go. … Bob and Walter’s dedication and heart for service shone best when NHRMC stood up a COVID vaccination clinic at The Pointe Theater. Bob and Walter were among the first to sign up to volunteer, taking on any role that was needed.” - Erin Balzotti, Novant Health director of volunteer services
LPN-RN PROGRAM Application Period: February 15 - April 28, 2022
LPNs, get your RN in two semesters with CFCC’s accelerated, hybrid option. Clinical is completed through a preceptorship at New Hanover/Novant Hospital in Wilmington. Get information regarding the application process, prerequisites, and more at cfcc.edu/LPN-RN or contact the Health Science Enrollment Center at healthsciences@cfcc.edu.
EmergeOrtho.com 118150 emergeortho healthcare heroes ad-gwbj.indd 1
BOB YOUNG & WALTER SIEMINSKI
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HEALTH CARE HEROES 2020
CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL OF WILMINGTON’S
2021 HEALTH CARE HEROES! Dedicated to providing TRUE Care to the residents of southeastern North Carolina for half a century now, Wilmington Health could not be more grateful for the commitment to our community’s health and well-being that our caregivers and staff demonstrate each and every day. Please join us in celebrating our colleagues who have been nominated for the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s 2021 Health Care Heroes Awards! And congratulations to all of the finalists for this year’s awards! Every day, your dedication to and compassion for our community make lasting impacts that can simply never be fully measured!
JONATHAN HINES
FRAN JOHNSON
Chief Medical Officer Innovation in Health Care
Pulmonary Practice Manager Health Care Professional
MELISSA ODOM
DR. MICHELLE JONES
MCKENZIE KLINE
DR. PAUL KAMITSUKA
Chief Operating Officer Innovation in Health Care
Family Medicine Physician Award
Physicians Assistant NP/PA Award
Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine Physician Award
JENNIFER PARROTTE
WILMINGTON HEALTH COVID-19 VACCINE TEAM
Pulmonary NP/PA Award
Community Outreach
WILMINGTONHEALTH.COM