BHF Impact Local Healthcare Awards celebrated Dr. William Anderson, Dr. John Miller, and Volunteers in Medicine for their contributions to local health
To view more photos from the awards click here.
To watch the awards program, click here.
The second Impact Local Healthcare Awards was held at Monroe Convention Center on July 23 welcoming over 200 guests and celebrating the medical achievements of two men and one organization. Dr. William Anderson, the late Dr. John Miller, and Volunteers in Medicine were recognized for their significant, lifelong contributions of service to local healthcare. Criteria for selection include excellence in professionalism, community leadership, and service, and exemplary contributions to the enhancement of local healthcare.
The inaugural awards were held in 2017 when Bloomington Health Foundation (BHF), then the-Bloomington Hospital Foundation, celebrated its 50th year by recognizing four honorees: Dr. Jean Creek, Mr. William Cook, Dr. Frank Hrisomalos, and Dr. Anthony Pizzo.
BHF Board Chair Angela Parker opened the program by highlighting BHF’s recent successes including over $1 million in gifts BHF made to various local organizations in 2018 that address some of the community’s most pressing health needs. “The Foundation has allocated over $1 million to impact health right here in Bloomington,” Ms. Parker said. “Our grants in support of enhancements to local healthcare are making a daily impact on the lives of those in our community. We still have a long way to go – but together we move forward towards a healthier tomorrow.”
BHF President & CEO Jonathan Barada then took the stage thanking guests and honorees and recapping the recent transition from Bloomington Hospital Foundation to Bloomington Health Foundation. “After 50 years of operating as the sole philanthropic agent of Bloomington Hospital, in late 2017 the BHF Board of Directors voted to focus more specifically on the community health aspect of its mission,” Mr. Barada said. “As part of this vote, the board both affirmed its independence as a locally controlled, independent non-profit in our community and acknowledged the significant work that is before us regarding the health of our community. Our expanded community health focus affords opportunity for the Foundation to provide cross-sector leadership, collaboration and coordination in addressing our community’s most pressing health needs.”
Dr. William R. Anderson was the first awardee of the evening. Anderson was raised primarily in Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa School of Medicine in 1958. After completing fellowships and internships around the country, he returned to the University of Iowa to teach for five years before becoming a captain in the US Army. He finally settled in Bloomington in 1970 and began his medical practice with Dr. Walt Owens, Owens and Anderson OBGYN, now known as AEGIS Women’s Healthcare.
Anderson delivered over 3,000 babies in his career, authored several publications on neonatal health, established the Janet and Bill Anderson OB Nursing Education Endowment Fund, was named a Herald-Times Volunteer of the Year, and continues to donate his time to local organizations such as The Shalom Center, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Volunteers in Medicine, and Bloomington Health Foundation, among others.
Video testimony from his friend and colleague Dr. Brandt Ludlow.
During his acceptance speech Dr. Anderson acknowledged two people in particular; The first was his colleague Dr. Walter Owens: “Walt taught me all the ins and outs of private practice. In addition to mentoring and teaching he was probably my best friend. I’ve always had very fond memories of Walter and his family and our group of Bloomington OB/GYN.”
“The other and most important person I want to recognize is my wife,” continued Dr. Anderson. “Sixty-one years of marriage. When I was doing my thing outside of the house, Janet did all the family work: she ran the house, raised three great children, and she was a silent volunteer. While she did all these things she stood by my side. For that I’ll always be appreciative. Her presence in my life made me who I am today and frankly why I’m up here. This award — I want to share it with Janet.”
Dr. John M. Miller was recognized next. A native of Iowa City, Iowa, Miller received his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Iowa. He moved to Bloomington in 1954, leaving for three years during his service in the US Navy. He returned to Indiana University in 1957 where he held various positions including university physician, assistant director and director for student health services, director of sports medicine and professor of kinesiology.
Dr. Miller has worked diligently to improve safety in sports, a passion for which he was recognized with the President’s Challenge Cup Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Sports Medicine from the National Athletic Trainers Association. Other awards and accolades include the Higham, Neilson, Whitridge and Reid Research Award, presented by the American College Health Association; the Junior Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award; and the Ruth E. Boynton Award from the American College Health Association.
Before Dr. Miller’s passing in 2018, he authored several publications and papers, served 35 years on the board of the Salvation Army, and volunteered with many local organizations.
Video testimony from his friend and colleague Mark Deal.
Dr. Miller’s wife, Geraldine Milller, accepted the award on behalf of her late husband, “Among John’s files is a folder with a saying inside that reflects his philosophy of life: ‘A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.’”
“This past year I have been reading two notebooks of letters: one notebook is written by athletic trainers and the other contains letters from athletes he worked with,” Mrs. Miller continued. “So many of these letters include the same words over and over: he’s a good listener, he’s compassionate, he is caring, he is kind, he is loyal to his professional ethics and beliefs, he is quiet, he’s reserved, he’s reliable, and he’s certainly generous with his time and financial resources to help those in need in this community and beyond.”
Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) was the final awardee of the evening. The organization fills an essential gap in the community’s continuum of medical services for people who need healthcare support and are living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. In cooperation with others in the community, Volunteers in Medicine provides quality primary and preventive healthcare without cost to the medically underserved in Monroe and Owen counties. VIM partners with others to close the health equity gap by providing a place where need and resources come together with compassion and dignity to promote healing, to enhance health, and to create hope.
Dr. Rajih Haddawi founded Volunteers in Medicine in 2007 after a stellar 35-year career as an orthopedic surgeon. He was the first hand surgeon in Monroe County and the first to perform arthroscopic knee surgery and joint replacement surgery of the knee, hip, and hand. Dr. Haddawi served as both the physician volunteer for VIM and as chair of the VIM board.
Video testimony from VIM Executive Director Nancy Richman.
Dr. Haddawi, who returned to Bloomington for the first time since relocating to North Carolina, and VIM Executive Director Nancy Richman accepted the award. In accepting the award, Dr. Haddawi said, “It is a cause of passion. You have to feel for your fellow person who never had the chance to grow up in your environment, in your home.”
Haddawi also shared that before he started VIM, he surveyed over 50 community members to ensure the program would be sustainable. The response was overwhelming, with many suggesting he reach out directly to Bill Cook, founder of Cook Medical and a local philanthropist. Dr. Haddawi first called his fellow IU Foundation committee member, Gayle Cook, who connected the doctor to her husband. Dr. Haddawi was able to see him later that same day to pitch his idea.
“Rajih, this is a great project. I’ve been waiting years for someone to come to me with this,” Mr. Cook said to Dr. Haddawi. He also stated he would write a check as soon as Dr. Haddawi was ready to launch the organization.
Dr. Haddawi attributed VIM’s success to the community. “Truly everybody contributed,” he said. “They heard there was a cause to serve the need.”
Ms. Richman asked past and present VIM employees, board members, and volunteers to stand. About half of the 200 guests in the room stood. She then asked VIM donors to stand. Nearly the whole room was standing.
“You are Volunteers in Medicine. We exist because the community wanted us to exist. Volunteers in Medicine is truly community-owned, community-operated, and community-financed.”
In closing the program, Mr. Barada said, “at the end of the day it is these leaders, the people, and organizations that we celebrate tonight, who are on the front-lines of making our community healthier. They have touched thousands of lives in our community with compassion and dedication and often outside of the spotlight. It is these leaders, and many more like then, that make our community successful by making it healthy.”
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