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News from the Grossmont Healthcare District
The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports many non-profit, health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, has honored five East County residents with a 2009 Healthcare Hero Award.
Now in its third year, GHD’s Healthcare Hero awards program recognizes and rewards front-line volunteers, caregivers and other individuals who help advance the delivery of health care and improve the quality of life for East County residents, said Jim Stieringer, GHD 2000 board president.
Recipients of a 2009 Healthcare Hero Award included:
-- Joanne Boyle has been a volunteer for many years with the Grossmont Hospital Foundation and a leader in fund-raising efforts for the hospital’s emergency critical care facilities and the Proposition G bond measure.
-- Allen Brown, an El Cajon attorney and a long-time board member with the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County, led capital campaigns as board president to build the Santee Clubhouse.
-- Jim Cate, a member of the Alpine Kiwanis Club, is also an ongoing volunteer with several community programs, including Special Olympics, San Diego Coalition for the Homeless, San Diego Blood Bank and Rady’s Children Hospital.
-- Augie Ghio, Chief of the San Miguel Fire Protection District, has served for the past 18 years as a board member with The Burn Institute and has led numerous local fire and public safety initiatives.
-- Doug Smith developed many outreach programs during his 30-year career as a social worker with Grossmont Hospital, and has continued to volunteer since his retirement from the hospital in 2003.
East County residents were invited to submit names of possible award recipients, according to Gloria Chadwick, GHD board member who serves as chair of GHD’s Public Relations and Outreach Committee, which coordinates the annual awards program. Recipients were honored at a luncheon held on May 6, 2009, at Sycuan Resort in Dehesa Valley.
The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a taxpayer-supported public healthcare district, was formed in 1952 to build and operate Grossmont Hospital. The District serves as landlord of the hospital, including ownership of the property and buildings on behalf of local taxpayers. The District is governed by a five-member board of directors, each elected to four-year terms, who represent more than 500,000 people residing within the District's 750 square miles in San Diego's East County. GHD also operates the Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, a public library specializing in health research information, located at 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa. For more information about GHD, visit www.grossmonthealthcare.org.
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