More than 350 people turned out Saturday night for the 2015 Health Care Heroes awards event at Cape Fear Community College’s Union Station.
 
Winners in the awards were announced in 10 categories covering different parts of the local health care community. A panel of judges reviewed nominations from the public and decided the three finalists and winners. (For more about all the finalists, click here.)
 
The awards program, put on by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal, honors individuals and organizers that are making a significant impact on the quality of health care in the Wilmington area.
 
A special honor was given at the event to the late Bertram Williams Jr., who died Nov. 16 at the age of 95.
 
Anne Allen, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, next year’s president of the New Hanover-Pender Medical Society and friend of the Williams family, presented the Lifetime Achievement award.
 
Williams, who was a surgeon in the area and driving force behind the building of New Hanover Regional Medical Center, was informed ahead of the event that he had been chosen for this year’s Lifetime Achievement award. He was honored to have been nominated by members of the health care community for it, said Bert Williams III, who accepted the award on his father’s behalf.
 
Click here for more about Bertram Williams’ work in the region.
 
Here is a list of all the winners of the 2015 Health Care Heroes awards:
 
Community Achievement
Katrina Knight, director of the Good Shepard Center, and David Rice, executive director of the New Hanover County Health Department
 
Community Outreach
Stephanie Smith, director of community engagement and impact and director of the Center for Healthy Communities at University of North Carolina Wilmington’s  College of Health and Human Services
 
First Responder
Stacey Wright, EMS division chief for Pender EMS & Fire
 
Health Care Executive
Mary Ellen Bonczek, senior vice president and chief nurse executive for New Hanover Regional Medical Center
 
Health Care Professional
Carrie Menke, Specialty Court coordinator with the N.C. Courts
 
Innovation
Robert DiGiuseppee, neonatologist at Coastal Carolina Neonatology, and Brandi Page, neonatal nurse manger at New Hanover Regional
 
Nurse
Janet Perry, nurse for New Hanover County Health Department

Nurse Practioner/Physician Assistant
Sara Brown, family nurse practitioner at Novant Health
 
Physician
Neill Musselwhite, physician (recently retired) at New Hanover Medical Group-NHRMC Physician Group
 
Volunteer
Herb Gant, volunteer with New Hanover Regional