Presented annually in recognition of the caring spirit and philanthropic work of the late Dr. Thomas Frist Sr., the awards are a tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated a commitment and dedication to providing outstanding patient care and humanitarianism in their work.
Crystal Glass was named for the employee category. She is an anatomic pathologic laboratory and transfusion services manager at OU Medical System in Oklahoma. Our volunteer is JB Bermudez-Koch from West Valley Medical Center in Idaho. And our physician award goes to Dr. Dennis McCarthy, an anesthesiologist at Memorial Hospital of Jacksonville, Florida.
The awards include a $5,000 donation to the charity of the recipient's choice plus $5,000 for the employee and volunteer. For the physician recipient, $10,000 is donated to the charity of choice.
"The Frist Humanitarian Awards reinforce our most important values and recognize those individuals whose achievements are an inspiration for all HCA caregivers, volunteers and employees." -HCA chairman and CEO Richard M. Bracken.
Chrystal's efforts in ensuring her cancer patients received the correct diagnosis and working tirelessly to provide them support won her the honor. Part of that work includes her creation of the "Turtle Club", a support group dedicated to pray for young patients who are undergoing surgery. "Just as a turtle carries its shell, Chrystal helps young cancer patients carry their burden." The extent of her care has reached to Nigeria where she's volunteered to promote diagnosis and detection of cancer. Having lectured to a trained group of 70 Nigerian lab techs, she taught microscope techniques to diagnose cancer at the cellular level. She also was part of the first of its kind cancer screening lab in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria.
Eighteen year-old JB is three years into his volunteer service at West Valley Medical. JB says he became fascinated by the idea of helping people while a patient at the hospital himself. He started as an emergency room greeter, where his bilingual skills help with patients for whom English was not their native language and he spent lunch breaks at a summer job studying dog training, which helped him enlist Gesley, his Australian Shepherd certified by the Therapy Dogs Inc. Together, the two visit patients and guests, providing encouragement to all.
Dr. McCarthy initiated the City Rescue Mission's medical clinic in Jacksonville. The clinic is a short- and long-term residential program providing medical and spiritual care to patients suffering from addictions. In addition, he and his family regularly volunteer at local homeless shelters on major holidays delivering meals to those in need. Dennis' humanitarian efforts also extend to several countries. From the terrible earthquake that struck Haiti three years ago to the people of Guatemala, Ecuador, the Philippines, Thailand and Ghana, Dennis has volunteered the last 29 years of his medical mission work to helping those in the greatest need.
Congratulations to these three incredible and wonderful people and equally to all the dedicated and committed honorees!
SOURCE: Business Wire
PHOTO: HCA