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South Florida's Health Care Heroes Honored

Posted on: Thursday, 9 March 2006, 21:00 CST

By John Dorschner, The Miami Herald

Mar. 9--John G. Clarkson, leaving as dean of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, was named winner of the chamber's Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday at its annual luncheon honoring South Florida's Health Care Heroes.

"I've been told that the only two things wrong with America's healthcare is the way it's delivered and the way it's paid for," Clarkson said in accepting the AXA Advisors-sponsored award from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

Clarkson is stepping down as dean to become executive director of the American Board of Ophthalmology.

In a video-taped tribute, car dealer and philanthropist Norman Braman talked about Clarkson's fund-raising prowess while continuing to treat patients. Braman mentioned Clarkson still finds time for trips to Haiti to treat the poor there.

In other categories:

Bio-Medical: Winner was Camillo Ricordi, a physician-researcher at UM. Finalists: Rick Anderson, worldwide president of Cordis Cardiology, and Mel Rothberg, chief executive of Rothberg Associates.

Healthcare Professionals: Winner was Daniella David, physician and director of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Programs at the Miami Veterans Administration Health Care System. Finalists: Cheryl L. Holder, medical director of the North Dade Health Center, and Nilda Soto, medical director of the Open Door Health Center.

Individuals of Merit: Winner was Steven Leifman, associate administrative judge in Miami-Dade circuit courts, for his work in advocating the need for mental health care. Finalists: Larry R. Handfield, chairman of the Public Health Trust, and John W. Walsh, president of Alpha-1 Foundation.

Institutions/Programs: Winner was JHS Primary Care Initiative of the Jackson Health System. Finalists: Florida/Miami Heart Research Institute and LifeFlight Critical Care Transport Team, Miami Children's Hospital.

Nurses: Winner was Nilda P. Peragallo, dean of the UM School of Nursing. Finalists: Bonnie Hammack, professor, Miami Dade College, and Mimi Watson Sutherland, neurological coordinator, Trauma Prevention, Jackson Health System.

The Young Volunteer Recipient award was presented to Sara S. Shafi, a student at Miami Beach High.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Miami Herald

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Source: The Miami Herald

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