FREE CLINIC VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZED
Recently, the Free Clinic held its 2009 Annual Volunteer Recognition Event. Currently, over 450 regular volunteers provide health services at the Free Clinic or by referral to their private offices in the community.
This group includes almost 200 physicians, 60 dentists, and 30 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. It also includes hundreds of other medical/dental providers such as Nurses, Medical Assistants, Lab Technicians, Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants as well as many lay person volunteers. The Dr. Joseph A. Levine Award, named for the late 17 year dental volunteer, was awarded to Dr. Mike Sherwood. He is a 15 plus year volunteer dentist at the Kilmarnock Free Clinic, and he has now served for 18 months as the primary dentist at the Nelson Dental Clinic. During this time period he has had over 500 patients come in for over 900 visits! Previous winners of this prestigious award include Dr. Joseph Levine (posthumously); Dr. Augustus “Gus” Petticolas; Dr. Lewis Angelo Arthur, Dr. James Peery, Dr. William Riley, and Dr. David Kiger. It is given to dentists who demonstrate the caring attitude and devotion to
serve others practiced for many years by Dr. Levine.The Gabriel Lin Taliaferro Pharmacist Award was established this year. It was awarded to Lin Taliaferro for his dedicated service and leadership role as Pharmacist-in-Charge (PIC) for 16 years. Linn and his wife, Jackie, will travel during their retirement years.
Honored this year with Karen Goodwin Awards for their long and strong service as Medical/Dental providers were: Theresa Cheverton, Dental Assistant; Dorothy Carter, Dental Assistant; Mike Caulkins, MD; Pam Caulkins, MD; Peter Houck, MD, John Neiderer, Pharmacist, and Barbara Cutter, Pharmacist .
Presented with Libba Hughes Awards for their long and valued service as lay person volunteers were the following: John Falcone, 12 year Board Member and Legal Counsel; D.L. “Pete” Warren, Board Member and Fundraising Leader, Georgia Delbridge, former employee and a long time major volunteer. Alice Holcomb – Eligibility Screener,
and Anne Blair – Computer Volunteer.Lifesaver Awards to volunteers who “step up” beyond the call of duty to provide extra services for the clinic within the past year went to: Helen Lundeen – Accountant; Dr. Bobbi Oldham – Dentist, Dr. Ronald Hendricksen – Dentist; Dr. Charles Ashworth – Physician; Roy Lee Garrett – Pharmacist; Russell Krantz – Pharmacist; Thurman Woodson – Cleaning and Painting; Dr. David Gregory – Physician; and Dr. Patrick Wynnick – Physician.
Twenty Year Service Pins and blankets were given to Carol Birce, Dental Assistant, and Dr. James Vandewater – General Practitioner.
Dr. Lewis Angelo Arthur was recognized for winning the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s (VHCF) 2009 unsung donor award. This award and a check for $2,000 for the Free Clinic were formally presented to “Angie” at a ceremony and reception in Richmond back on April 30.
Carol Marcum Catering, Anne Barlow, Jane Ayers, Carol Birce, and Nancy Neighbors provided wonderful food for the event. The latter four helped so as to “keep Free Clinic costs” down this year.