Boca Raton, FL – With over 400 people in attendance at the Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion, the Palm Beach County Medical Society Services honored 39 extraordinary men, women and organizations at the 16th Annual Heroes in Medicine luncheon on Friday, May 17. Individuals and organizations in health care that provide outstanding service to meet needs of people in local, national and/or global communities were recognized. Shawn Baca, MD, Rheumatology Associates of South Florida and Colleen Haley, ARNP, Team Health received the Hero in Medicine of the Year awards.
The 2019 Heroes in Medicine were:
Bruce Rendina Professional Hero: Madelyn Christopher; Darcy Davis, CEO; Lisa Rocheleau; Michelle Lizotte Waniewski, PhD
College/Medical Student Hero: Jordyn Cohen, MD Candidate; Leah Hellerstein, MD/MPH Candidate; Rachael Silverberg, MD/MPH Candidate
Community Organization Hero: Kaye Communications, Inc.; Kayla Cares 4 Kids; Pediatric Interest Group; Quantum House; Smith Smiles Toy Donations/Smith Smiles, Inc.
Health Care Educator Hero: Susan MacLeod Dyess, PhD; Rhonda Goodman, PhD; Mary Labanowski, MD; Stephanie Stiepleman
Health Care Innovation Hero: Business Development Board- Palm Beach Life Sciences Cluster
Health Care Provider Hero: Colleen Haley, NP; Diane Schofield, RN; Raymond Zelhof, PharmD
High School Student Hero: Rachel Bailey; Gabriela Carrazana; Joshua Alexander Timmer
Outreach Wellness Prevention Hero: Maureen Budjinski; Barbara Golden, PhD; Mario Jacomino, MD; Rob Moreland; Student Nurses Association
Physician Hero: Belma Andric, MD; Shawn Baca, MD; Jose Castaneda, MD; Robert Chait, MD; Leonard Hock, Jr., DO; Ruel Stoessel, MD
Project Access Hero: Palm Beach Radiology Group: Donald Goodwin, MD Walter Forman, MD; Fred Muhletaler-Maggiolo, MD; West Boca Medical Center; DCA for Health, Inc.
Lifetime Achievement: Jack Zeltzer, MD (photo attached )
John Dalton of Optimum RTS served as Chair and Gregory Cotes of St. Mary’s Medical Center and Judy Dunn of CareerSource of PBC served as Co-Chairs for the 2019 Heroes in Medicine Awards, Dr. Alan Pillersdorf served as honorary chair and Rendina Healthcare Real Estate were the founding and presenting sponsors.
Proceeds from Heroes in Medicine 2019 support Project Access of the Palm Beach County Medical Society which provides pro bono care to uninsured children and adults of Palm Beach County.
To read and view a video on the Heroes please go to PBCMS.org