Mission Health and MAHEC Honor Employees for Diversity
At 2013 Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award Program
Dr. Maya Angelou Delivers Keynote Address
(Feb. 1, 2013) – Mission Health and Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) hosted the 13th Annual 2013 Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award Program at the Biltmore Estate last week. One employee from each organization received the award in recognition of their efforts to promote diversity and foster a welcome and inclusive environment.
“At Mission Health, we have a long-standing tradition of promoting diversity throughout our health system. It brings us great pride and momentum to see the culmination of these efforts genuinely reflected in those of our employees,” said Ronald A. Paulus, MD, President and CEO of Mission Health. “Each of the deserving nominees of the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award embodies our collective vision and – on a grander scale – Dr. King’s dream through the work they are doing at Mission Health and MAHEC every day.”
Mission Health presented the award to Brandy Mills, RN, and Nurse Educator with Nursing Practice, Education and Research (NPER) at Mission Hospital, flagship hospital of Mission Health. “I am so humbled to have received this award and to be put in the same category as Dr. King himself. I would like to thank my colleagues for nominating me for this great achievement,” said Mills. “I love that I work in a system that allows me to be who I am.”
William Maples, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer for Mission Health, presented the award to Mills.
“I am reminded of a quote from Dr. King that I believe exemplifies the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award. He said ‘The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood,’” noted Dr. Maples, who also serves as Executive Sponsor for the hospital’s Diversity Committee. “Brandy truly embodies these characteristics and the values of Dr. King’s legacy through dedication to justice, peace and brotherhood among patients, colleagues and the community.
“She constantly astonishes her coworkers with the level of care and compassion she exhibits towards others,” continued Dr. Maples. “Her example leads everyone at Mission Health to more fully contribute to our BIG(GER) Aim: to get each patient to the desired outcome, first without harm, also without waste and with an exceptional experience for the patient and family.”
William T. Ryals, Jr., DMD, Division Director of General Dentistry for MAHEC presented the award to Daniel Frayne, MD, Assistant Clinical Director for MAHEC’s Family Health Center. “I try to treat all of my patients the same, and show them respect in every way,” said Dr. Frayne. “It’s a wonderful feeling to be recognized for something I believe is not necessarily an achievement but an obligation we have as caregivers, and a genuine part of who I am.”
Dr. Maya Angelou presented the keynote address, sharing her experiences about trying to be a better person by following the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
While addressing the audience, Dr. Angelou thanked Mission Health and MAHEC employees for being “courageous and passionate in all you do.” In response to the rescheduling of the event due to inclement weather the week prior, Dr. Angelou said, “Had the bad weather made it impossible another time, I’d come back again to say thank you for all that you do.” Her speech centered on encouraging others to be optimistic and positive. She closed by saying, “This particular hospital, this particular organization – you are all a rainbow in somebody’s cloud.”
Dr. Angelou is a celebrated poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker and civil rights activist.
About Mission Health
Mission Health, based in Asheville, N.C., is the state’s sixth-largest health system and the region’s only not-for-profit, independent community hospital system governed and managed exclusively in western North Carolina. In 2012 Mission Health was named one of the nation’s Top 15 Health Systems by Thomson Reuters – the only health system in North Carolina to receive this recognition.
Mission Health, which traces its roots in the region back to 1885, operates five hospitals, numerous outpatient and surgery centers, and the region’s only dedicated Level II trauma center. Its medical staff consists of more than 1,000 physicians and is certified in over 50 medical specialties and sub-specialties. Mission Health has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Children’s Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma and Women’s Health. Mission Hospital, located in Asheville, is the system’s flagship hospital and is licensed for 730 beds. It is the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care and is the busiest surgical hospital in North Carolina. It also includes Mission Children’s Hospital– the region’s only children’s hospital. Other Mission Health member hospitals include Angel Medical Center in Franklin, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, McDowell Hospital in Marion and Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard. With approximately 8,800 employees and 700 volunteers, Mission Health is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina. For more information, please visit mission-health.org.
