Health care excellence in hospitals, mental health, academia, nonprofit organizations and community service was honored at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 14th Annual Salute to Excellence in Health Care Awards luncheon, held Friday, April 25 at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac.
“We recognize dedicated African American health care professionals for their exemplary performance and their invaluable work,” said Donald M. Suggs, president of the St. Louis American Foundation and publisher of the St. Louis American newspaper. “Their achievements are an inspiration to encourage better health behavior as well as promote a greater interest in pursuing health care careers.”
The St. Louis American Foundation presented two Lifetime Achiever awards. Pediatric nurse Sherrill Jackson, RN, MHSA, CPNP, received the Lifetime Achiever in Health Care for her work on behalf of breast cancer survivors as founder and president of The Breakfast Club, Inc. She is also manager of school-based programs at Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers.
The cofounder of Community Women Against Hardship, Gloria Taylor, received the Lifetime Achiever in Caring for the Community award.
Stellar Performer in Health Care honors were presented to Michael Railey, MD, associate dean of multicultural affairs at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
Laurent Javois, regional executive director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health received the St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund Dr. John M. Anderson Excellence in Mental Health Award.
“We possess courage and strength that surpass understanding, and these are the kind of individuals we are celebrating here today,” said Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson, assistant professor of health and family medicine for Saint Louis University and health editor of St. Louis American’s Your Health Matters bi-monthly insert. “We celebrate a remarkable nurse, who took her personal battle with breast cancer and transformed it into a movement called ‘The Breakfast Club’.” We celebrate a man who believes our future doctors should like the communities in which they serve – and reaches out to our young black men and encourages them to aspire to careers other than those that involve catching footballs and shooting basketballs. We also honor a powerhouse of a woman who simply believes that all people deserve quality housing, the ability to earn a living for their families and access to healthcare.”
Awardees for Excellence in Health Care were Kimberly Brown, MPPA, LNHA, administrator at Doorways; Richelle S. Clark, BSN, MHA, MBA, co-director of the Center for Community Health and Partnerships at the Washington University Institute of Public Health; Jameca Falconer, PhD, a counseling psychologist at Logan University College of Chiropractic; Louis Gary, MD, medical director at Unity Hospice and physician at Touchette Regional Hospital; Taressa Hockaday, director of behavioral health youth services at SSM Health Care; Valencia M. McLaurin, LCSW, lead social worker at SSM Behavioral Health Services; CoKeisha Van Hook, RN, BSN, OCN, a nurse navigator and clinician at Christian Hospital; and Kel Ward, manager of community relations at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and manager of community engagement for BJC Healthcare.
“We celebrate other remarkable individuals who are making quite an impression on their patients, their clients and the community at large,” Hooks-Anderson said. “I honestly believe that each of these special people we are recognizing did not begin their journeys attempting to gain recognition or to be a leader. They simply wanted to serve.”
Attendees at the Salute included health care executives, colleagues, family, friends, patients and supporters. The awards were presented by Centene Corporation and Home State Health Plan.