Nathaniel H. Murdock, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist, and Georgia Anderson, RN, a retired operating room nurse manager at the legendary former Homer G. Phillips and City hospitals, will each receive a 2008 Lifetime Achiever in Health Care award from the St. Louis American Foundation at the eighth annual Salute to Excellence in Health Care Awards Luncheon. Both medical professionals are highly respected and admired in the community for their expertise, commitment and dedication.
The recognition program will be held Saturday, May 3 at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront Hotel (formerly the Adam’s Mark), beginning with a reception at 11 a.m. followed by the awards luncheon at noon.
Nathaniel H. Murdock, MD, estimates he has delivered more than 7,000 babies throughout his 38-year career. He worked 35 years in private practice and for the past three years has served at Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Centers.
Murdock came to St. Louis as a research assistant in pathology at Washington University School of Medicine, where he has been on the faculty since 1969. His internship and residency training took place at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis. Murdock is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C. and Meharry Medical College in Nashville.
His numerous awards and honors include Practitioner of the Year from the National Medical Association. Murdock has served as president of the Mound City Medical Forum, the local trade association for African-American medical professionals, as well as in several leadership positions in other professional medical organizations and societies.
Among the health care issues of concern to Murdock are universal health care and health insurance coverage.
Georgia Anderson, RN, moved from Moro, Arkansas to St. Louis in 1952 to attend Homer G. Phillips School of Nursing, where she graduated three years later. She worked as a nurse or an operating room nurse manager at Homer G. until it closed in 1979 and merged with the former City Hospital. Anderson continued service at City Hospital until it closed in the mid-1980s.
She retired from nursing after St. Louis Regional Hospital shut its doors in 1997. She continues working in the health field as a volunteer at health fairs for ConnectCare.
Anderson said she has witnessed many major changes while working at health fairs. One important, troubling trend is the increasing number of young African-American children with high blood pressure.
She is a member of the Monsanto YMCA Senior Advisory Council and the Eta Phi Beta women’s business sorority and has received awards for her work in the community. Anderson also served on a nursing advisory board for then Forest Park Junior College.
In addition to Murdock and Anderson, 10 outstanding health care professionals will be honored as Excellence in Health Care Awardees at the May 3 event. The St. Louis American Foundation’s annual Salute to Excellence in Health Care Awards Luncheon is the premiere networking and social event for the area’s African-American health care community.
Tickets for the luncheon are $75 each for VIP tickets, $50 for individual tickets and $40 for general seating. Tables of 10 are available in each category. For tickets and information, call 314-533-8000, ext 305.