2022 Health Care Heroes Awards

Nominations for the 2023 Health Care Heroes Awards will open in August 2023
2023 event details coming soon...

Congratulations to our 2022 Health Care Heroes finalists & winners!

The Greater Wilmington Business Journal's Health Care Heroes Awards honors individuals and organizations that are making an impact on the quality of health care in Wilmington.

Whether they are companies, doctors, nurses, specialists or managers, join us in recognizing those who embody the word “hero” and prove their excellence in helping others.

The finalists profiles were featured in the special Health Care Heroes section of the October 21 issue of the Business Journal and the winners were announced at an awards event on November 11 at the Country Club of Landfall.

Announcing the 2022 Health Care Heroes winners:

• Lifetime Achievement: J. Richard Tamisiea, Retired cardiologist, Wilmington Health
• Community Achievement: Candy Lee, Memory Partners Program manager, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
• Health Care Executive: J. Dale Key, CEO (retired), Eastern Carolina Emergency Physicians
• Innovation in Health Care: Lance Lewis & Erin Lambert, Pulmonary Embolus Response Team, Novant Health Coastal Region
• Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant: H. Deak Walden, Orthopedic physician assistant, EmergeOrtho
• Nurse: Marian Smith, LPN, Well Care Health
• Physician: Todd Kornegay, MD, Internal medicine, Novant Health New Hanover Primary Care
• Volunteer: Boys in Blue, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
• Unsung Hero: Sandra DiNapoli, Patient representative, Wilmington Health

Meet the 2022 Health Care Heroes finalists:

Community Achievement:

Honors an individual or team who successfully implemented a program addressing a problem in health care administration, delivery or community outreach. Judges will consider its uniqueness, cost-effectiveness and impact on the community.

• Kelly Ezzell, Child medical evaluation provider, The Carousel Center

• Candy Lee, Memory Partners program manager, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare

• Sarah C. Ridout, Healthy Opportunities Program director, Cape Fear HOP, Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear

Health Care Executive: 

Honors an individual whose job performance is considered exemplary by people within their organizations, peers and community members. Judges will consider their impact on their organization and the community and relevant testimonials.

• Daisy Deweese-Gatt, Senior vice president clinical delivery, ICON

• J. Dale Key, CEO (retired), Eastern Carolina Emergency Physicians

• Ian Tooley, Director of facility services, Wilmington Health
   

Innovation in Health Care: 

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. Judges will consider the current and potential impact of the innovation.

• Jess Ahlum, Early relational health coach, Happy Families Happy Babies

• William Lewis & Erin Lambert, Pulmonary Embolus Response Team, Novant Health Coastal Market

• Amy Nolan, Owner and director, Therapy Works of Wilmington

Lifetime Achievement: 

Honors an individual for achievements throughout his or her career. Judges will consider the individual's professional accomplishments, impact on the community and assistance they gave to others.

• Richard Tamisiea, Medical director of Cardiac Rehab, New Hanover Regional Medical Center

Unsung Hero: 

Honors anyone working in health care who may not fit into the categories listed above. This includes first responders, physical therapists, dental professionals, chiropractors, certified nursing aides, mental health professionals, researchers, administrators and others whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, colleagues and other health care providers. Judges will consider evidence of positive clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction and relevant testimonials.

• Sandra DiNapoli, Patient representative, Wilmington Health

• Doug Flynn, Patient care tech/unit clerk, Dosher Memorial Hospital

• Monique Rodriguez Marshall, Pediatric registered nurse, Maxim Homehealth Care/Bayada Pediatric Homehealth Care

Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant: 

Honors a nurse practitioner or physician assistant whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.

• Megan Herrington, Physician assistant, Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute - Cardiology

• Dan Shapiro, Occupational medicine physician assistant, Wilmington Health

• H. Deak Walden, Orthopedic physician assistant, EmergeOrtho

Nurse: 

Honors a nurse whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers. Judges will consider evidence of positive clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction and relevant testimonials.

• Gwen Deininger, Administrative coordinator, labor and delivery and high-risk antepartum; Registered nurse, Novant Health NHRMC

• Anastasia Phillips, Registered nurse, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare

• Marian Smith, LPN, Well Care Health

Physician: 

Honors a physician whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers. Judges will consider evidence of positive clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction and relevant testimonials.

• Todd Kornegay, Internal medicine physician, Novant Health New Hanover Primary Care

• Lindsey Prochaska & Kristopher Swiger, Co-medical directors, Novant Health Zimmer Cardio-Oncology Clinic

• Barton Williams, Physician, Wrightsville Beach Family Health

Volunteer: 

Honors a volunteer at a health care provider or other health-related organization who is considered exemplary by people within those organizations. Judges will consider their impact on health care delivery and how their involvement has made a significant difference.

• Boys In Blue, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare

• Anne Patterson, Volunteer mentor, SCORE Cape Fear Chapter

• Carol Wagner, NICU volunteer, Novant Health NHRMC

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  Click here to learn about the 2022 Health Care Heroes honorees.