The annual Health Care Heroes awards luncheon, held Nov. 16 in Little Rock, honored people and organizations for work in improving care in Arkansas.
Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award was Dr. Laura Hutchins, a hematologist and medical oncologist at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. She is also a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology Oncology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
The event, which took place at the Embassy Suites, was hosted by Arkansas Business Publishing Group of Little Rock and presented by Complete Care Inc.
Hutchins has devoted her 33-year medical career to fighting breast cancer, melanoma and brain cancer, and her research has focused primarily on breast cancer and melanoma. She is nationally recognized for developing technology to support physicians, scientists and patients in clinical trials research.
Others recognized:
- Small Hospital — Drew Memorial Hospital of Monticello,
- Large Hospital — Unity Medical Center of Searcy,
- Innovation Hero — Dr. John Dornhoffer of UAMS,
- Workplace Wellness Hero — FutureFuel Chemical Co. of Batesville,
- Health Care Professional of the Year — Teresa Conner of Baptist Health Community Outreach,
- Women’s Health & Wellness Hero — Jessica Donahue of Baptist Health,
- Nurse of the Year — Trenda Cottrell of Presbyterian Village,
- Physician of the Year — Dr. James Suen of UAMS and
- Health Care Administrator of the Year — Leslie “Bubba” Arnold of CHI St. Vincent Morrilton.
ABPG solicited nominations from health professionals across the state. An independent panel of health care experts served as award judges. See more at the Special Report page for Health Care Heroes.