SUMMIT MEDICAL CENTER ANNOUNCES 2009 FRIST HUMANITARIAN AWARD WINNERS

March 16, 2010 – The Frist Humanitarian Awards were created to recognize one employee, one volunteer and one physician at each HCA facility across the country who demonstrate extraordinary concern for the welfare and happiness of patients and their community. On Tuesday, February 23, the winners of the 2009 Frist Humanitarian Awards were announced and honored at a reception at Summit Medical Center. The winners are:

• Warren & Earlene Hinkle - Volunteers
• Toshya Savell - Employee
• Dr. Michael Lynch - Physician

This honor places Mr. and Mrs. Hinkle, Ms. Savell and Dr. Lynch in nomination for the national 2009 Frist Humanitarian Award, the highest honor an employee, volunteer or physician can earn within HCA, the parent company of Summit Medical Center.

These are four extraordinary people have touched so many lives through their service at the hospital and beyond. Warren and Earlene Hinkle have served as volunteers for a combined 17 years at Summit Medical Center in a variety of areas including the emergency department.  Their friends and family say that the Hinkle’s “lead by example” through their service to their community. They are committed to their work at Summit, but their service is not limited to the hospital. Warren and Earlene have been active in disaster relief efforts, a women missionary program, Room In The Inn, and outreach efforts at their church. Rebecca Wagner, Volunteer Coordinator at Summit Medical Center notes that, “The Hinkle’s genuine concern for others and limitless compassion makes them extraordinary volunteers and worthy of this recognition.”    

Likewise, the employee award was given to a compassionate good Samaritan, Toshya Savell.  Toshya has traveled twice to Venezuela on mission trips with her church. For the past 2 years she has served as coordinator at the Women’s Shelter in downtown Nashville coordinating food and volunteers in addition to preparing and serving meals. She also participates in quarterly trips to the Brooks House, which provides temporary housing for families in need.

Dr. Lynch serves Summit Medical Center as an emergency medicine physician. He is involved in providing foster care and has taken care of 15 children over the years. His charity of choice is Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home where he adopted his son, David. He and his wife have 5 children, 3 of whom they adopted.

 “These four individuals have touched many lives with their commitment to our patients and the community at large,” said Jeff Whitehorn, Chief Executive Officer of Summit Medical Center.  “I would also like to recognize and thank our other employee and volunteer nominees who consistently demonstrate the humanitarian characteristics of Thomas F. Frist, Sr. As employees, Ruth Harkreader, Cherrie Holt, Flora Pattawi, Ruth Ann Stevens, Alice Waters, Lois Smith, Yvonne Almassi, and Diane Twilley have all inspired others with their dedication to their work and their compassion for others. Likewise, volunteer nominees Sharon Farrall and Dick Poirier not only give selflessly of their time, but also go above and beyond their volunteer duties to make a significant impact on others.”

The Frist Humanitarian Awards are given annually in recognition of the humanitarian spirit and philanthropic work of the late Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr., a founder of Hospital Corporation of America.
Summit Medical Center is a 188-bed regional medical center serving the residents of Davidson, Wilson and surrounding counties. Summit offers a full range of services including emergency, medical, surgical, obstetric, oncology, psychiatric and diagnostic services. The hospital also offers the latest advances in imaging services, including the area’s first hospital based 64-slice CT scanner. For more information, call TriStar MedLine at 615-342-1919 or visit www.TriStarHealth.com and click on Summit Medical Center.