Hundreds honor Health Care Heroes

More than 200 people packed into a ballroom at the Francis Marion Hotel in downtown Charleston on Thursday night to say thank you to the volunteers, first responders, physicians and health care professionals for work that often goes unrecognized.

By Andy Owens
aowens@scbiznews.com
Published Nov. 20, 2009

For five years, the Charleston Regional Business Journal has honored the Health Care Heroes living and working in the Charleston area.

This year’s event was sponsored by the Force Protection Center for Brain Research at MUSC. After nominations were submitted, three judges independently scored each entry, and then the numbers were independently tallied. Judges didn’t know who won until last night’s event.

Dr. Ann Kulze, who served as the host and award presenter, set the wellness tone for the night by extolling the virtues of eating kale. Kulze credited the green, leafy vegetable to her success and rattled off statistics about how kale beats a sirloin steak for nutritional value.

Before the awards ceremony began, she ripped off her coat to reveal a pink T-shirt that read “Eat More Kale,” which inspired many kale-related comments from presenters, sponsors, finalists and award recipients throughout the night.

The 2009 Health Care Heroes are:

Community Outreach

Dr. William Prioleau started and staffs the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion Medical Clinic, which offers free health care for low-income people.

“I want people to know public service can make their years of retirement quite rewarding,” he said.

Physician

Dr. David Peterseim of Cardiovascular Surgery of Charleston modified a procedure to remove a heart tumor from a patient that allowed the patient to recover much quicker.

Peterseim thanked his wife and teenage daughter, saying, “You are both miracles of my life.”

He said he would not have tried the procedure without his operating partner, John Spratt, who attended the event Thursday.

Peterseim also announced the creation of Palmetto Palace, a new nonprofit organization that will provide free or assisted lodging and meals for families of patients at any hospital in the Charleston area. He said many families can’t afford to pay for a place to stay or even for food while their loved ones are in the hospital and often spend the night in intensive care units and waiting rooms.

He urged the medical community to support the effort.

“We have a long ways to go, but I know it’s the right thing,” he said.

Health Care Professional

Tyler Nance of East Cooper Regional Medical Center saved an officer with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office from drowning in the Wapoo Cut while chasing a suspect who jumped into the water.

Health Care Researcher

Dr. Mark George of the Medical University of South Carolina won for research on traumatic brain injury.

George was in Washington, D.C., for a meeting on TBI, but a video from the Force Protection Center for Brain Research at MUSC contained commentary from George about the research. The center, which is a partnership between Ladson-based Force Protection and MUSC, was the title sponsor for the Health Care Heroes event.

“He is truly an out-of-box thinker and innovator,” said Dr. Thom Uhde, one of George’s colleagues at MUSC who accepted the award in his absence. “Mark has always been an innovator, and it’s probably not recognized by many people.”

Volunteer

Dr. Glen Quattlebaum and Dr. Johnny Weeks of Shem Creek Family Medicine volunteer each week at Crisis Ministries in Charleston. Both of the doctors said they were only a small part of what Crisis Ministries does in helping hundreds of homeless people find a safe place to stay and eat.

“I’m here on behalf of Crisis Ministries,” Weeks said. “Crisis Ministries is a tremendous organization that I’m a small part of. To be honored for this is just icing on the cake for us.”

“It’s really because of their efforts that they’re so successful,” Quattlebaum said.

First Responder

Tim Howard, a part-time Charleston County EMS worker and full-time North Charleston firefighter, perhaps received the strongest applause after he was honored for reviving his neighbor’s 18-month-old child who was drowning in a pool.

“I really just feel like I did my job,” Howard said. “I’m always a fireman and an EMS person.”

Nurse

Nancy Cronk of Summerville Medical Center was honored for going above the call of duty in delivering babies. She was surprised during Thursday night’s ceremonies by the mother and child who nominated her for the award.

“I’m honored and just humbled,” she said. “I love what I do, just love what I do. It’s the most fantastic rewarding career ever.”

Profiles of all 21 finalists for the 2009 Health Care Hero awards will be published in the Dec. 21 issue of the Charleston Regional Business Journal.