Here are the finalists in the 2016 Health Care Heroes Health Care Executive category.

Honors an individual whose job performance is considered exemplary by people within their organizations, peers and community members.

 

Stephen DeBiasi

TITLE: CEO

ORGANIZATION: OrthoWilmington (now EmergeOrtho)

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “I have watched Stephen work tirelessly to lead our organization through four years of intense change and growth, while also helping our practice successfully navigate the rapidly evolving health care environment.

Under his leadership and vision, we have successfully navigated through three mergers, built a culture that embraces change and adopted two electronic health record systems ... What I appreciate most about Stephen is that he does all of this work with a determination to balance the change and growth, while meeting the needs of our many stakeholders, including our patients, employees, physicians and health care partners.

...Throughout the process, he remains open-minded, willing to test new concepts and try new ideas without fear of failure. Stephen works hard to make our health care organization evolve for the better, with the goal of enhancing patient care, the practice and the community where we live and work. While committed to these various stakeholders, inside and out of our organization, he remains dedicated to his family.”

-Shawn Hocker, adult joint reconstruction and sport medicine specialist at OrthoWilmington (now EmergeOrtho)
 

Ruth Glaser

TITLE: President

ORGANIZATION: Pender Memorial Hospital

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Ruth has been PMH [Pender Memorial Hospital] president for six years.

Under her leadership, PMH renovated our radiology and emergency departments, brought a 16-slice CT scanner to Burgaw, increased resident and employee satisfaction within our SNF facility, redesigned the pharmacy department, developed a thriving Physicians’ Specialty Clinic on campus and is currently remodeling the PMH cafeteria and kitchen as well as adding an ability garden for our SNF residents.

Ruth lives in Burgaw and readily declares that PMH is her hospital, meaning this is where she and her family will seek care if needed.

She is invested in our community. She encourages PMH leaders and staff to become involved in community activities to bring PMH to the Pender County citizens in environments like Relay for Life, the [N.C.] Blueberry Festival, church and civic health fairs and school career days.

It is a joy to work at PMH. I look forward to coming to work every day. Ruth Glaser’s influence, vision and leadership are the foundations of our thriving workplace.”

-Angela Livingood, Pender Memorial pharmacy manager
 

Mark Tillotson

TITLE: Coastal market medical group leader

ORGANIZATION: Novant Health

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Dr. Tillotson is a Brunswick County general surgeon and a member of the Novant Health leadership team.

Locally, he serves as the leader of the Novant Health medical group clinics, and as part of the health system, he is a member of the medical group’s system leadership team.

He is willing to have the tough conversations both locally and within our broader health system and always has the patient at the core of every decision.

He has championed many initiatives for the organization including our First Do No Harm initiative focused on patient safety, the electronic medical record transition and many changes to make health care more convenient for patients (including increasing hours, online access, etc.). He is perhaps most comfortable is in his daily interactions with patients and families. His office manager said, ‘Patients leave the office, but he doesn’t forget them. He genuinely cares about their outcomes. Each patient leaves feeling loved and cared for.’

He also has a philanthropic heart – supporting the hospital foundation, Brunswick County Relay for Life and the Brunswick County Pink Angels, in particular.”

-Amy Myers, Novant Health