The 2024 Health Care Heroes Winners:
- Lifetime Achievement: Bonnie Jeffreys Brown, Retired Executive Director, New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society
- Community Achievement: Socorro Costa & Wendy Holdsworth, Clinic Director of Christ Community Clinic & Executive Director of El Cuerpo & Clinic Director of Christ Community Clinic, Christ Community Church
- Health Care Executive: Angela Ives, Executive Director, Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear
- Innovation in Health Care: Taylor Bazemore, MD, Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute
- Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant: Kendra Kellermann, FNP, Child Medical Evaluation Provider, Carousel Child Advocacy Center
- Nurse: Julie King, BSN, RN/Chronic Care Manager, Wilmington Health
- Physician: Lekeshia Jarrett, Family Medicine Physician, Wilmington Health
- Unsung Hero: Karen Monroe, Device Clinic Coordinator, Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute
- Volunteer: Tony Dunn, Volunteer, Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Click here to learn about the 2024 Health Care Heroes honorees.
2024 Health Care Heroes Finalists:
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.
- Bonnie Brown, Retired Executive Director, New Hanover - Pender County Medical Society
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.
- Health Equity Team, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
- Ministering Circle, The Ministering Circle of Wilmington, NC
- Wendy Holdsworth & Socorro Costa, Clinic Director of Christ Community Clinic & Executive Director of El Cuerpo, Christ Community Church
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.
- Andres Afanador, Medical Director/Clinical Assistant Professor, Novant Health New Hanover Medical Group
- Angela Ives, Executive Director, Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear
- Mary Ellen Naylor, Dean, Health and Human Services, Cape Fear Community College
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.
- Brunswick Surgery Center
- Taylor Bazemore, MD, Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute
- Michelle Sumrall, Manager of Respiratory Services, Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Novant Brunswick Wellness Center, Novant Health
Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant:
Honors a nurse practitioner or physician assistant whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.
- Tiffany Bowers, FNP-C/Family Nurse Practitioner, Dawson Med & Dawson Med Urgent Care
- Kendra Kellermann, FNP, Child Medical Evaluation Provider, Carousel Child Advocacy Center
- Chris McKinley, CEO & President, Coastline Wellness
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.
- Leah Gillikin, BSN, RN/Clinical Nurse Education Specialist, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
- Julie King, BSN, RN/Chronic Care Manager, Wilmington Health
- Sarah Mylott, BSN, RN/Clinical Manager, Well Care Home 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.
- Lekeshia Jarrett, Family Medicine Physician, Wilmington Health
- Kateryna Kotlyarevska, Pediatric Endocrinologist/Clinical Assistant Professor, Novant Health Nunnelee Pediatric Multispecialty Clinic/UNC Health Children’s Wilmington
- Deric Weiss, Chief Medical Officer, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
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.
- Karen Monroe, Device Clinic Coordinator, Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute
- Nicholas Powers, Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), Well Care Health
- Maria Rodriguez, Volunteer Interpreter, Red Cross & Christ Community Clinic
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.
- Mary Jo Conlogue Volunteer, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
- Tony Dunn Volunteer, Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center
- Harry Thranhardt, Volunteer Veteran Advocate, Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center
