GAINESVILLE – The healthcare industry in Gainesville and Hall County is massive, and growing.
Sometimes, however, examples of excellence can get overlooked in the expanding and diverse nature of the burgeoning industry so the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce called a brief time-out to recognize some of the men and women who are making healthcare in northeast Georgia second to none.
Wednesday at the Brenau Downtown Center the GHCC recognized fourteen with the first “Healthy Hall Awards of Excellence Program” designation. Two hundred guests were on hand to witness the honor presentation.
Award winners are as follows:
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Outstanding Allied Health Professional Award to Gainesville Physical Therapy.
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Outstanding Healthcare Professional Award to Dr. Jack M. Chapman Jr., Gainesville Eye Associates
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Outstanding Healthcare Administrator to Carol Burrell, CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System
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Visionary Leader Award to Mimi Collins of The Longstreet Clinic
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Community Impact Award to Dallas Gay of public education campaign “Think About It” and their effort to spotlight opioid abuse
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Senior Impact Award to Legacy Link
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Healthcare Education Award to Dr. Gale Hansen Starich of Brenau University’s Sidney O. Smith Graduate School
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Outstanding Achievement in Behavioral Health to Cindy Levi of Avita Community Partners
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LPN Nurse of the Year to Robin Taylor of the Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Center
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RN Nurse of the Year to Aprill Exley of the Northeast Georgia Medical Center
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Dentist of the Year to Dr. Cindy Greene of BGW Dental Group
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Physician Specialist of the Year to Dr. Jeffrey Marshall of the Heart Center of NGMC
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Primary Care Physician of the Year to Dr. Antonio Rios of the Northeast Georgia Physicians Group
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Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumous) to Dr. Henry S. Jennings
Keynote speaker at the event was Louis G. Smith, Jr. President and CEO of NGMC. Smith told the audience, “I see not only what exists but the potential – that’s what’s staggering, no matter what’s been achieved… when you look at the talent in this room…is what is the potential of tomorrow.”
“I salute all of you,” Smith said, “because I know that in the day-to-day a lot of things can get lost. Your efforts are noticed.”
