Easter Seals TN recently announced the selection of Monroe Carell, Jr. as the 2008 Nashvillian of the Year. Carell, who founded Central Parking and for whom Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital is named, will be honored at the 15th annual celebration on May 20th. He is a well-known philanthropist who has given time, money and energy to support education, healthcare and the arts.

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center has been selected as a “Blue Distinction Center for Complex and Rare CancersSM” by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, in collaboration with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. To be honored with the distinction, cancer centers must offer comprehensive inpatient cancer care programs for adults, delivered by multidisciplinary teams with subspecialty training and distinguished clinical expertise in treating complex and rare types of cancer. “BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is committed to identifying the highest medical value possible for our members,” said Dr. Ken Patric, vice president and chief medical officer for BCBST. “That process begins by identifying the highest quality providers. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center was the only provider in Tennessee to meet all of the quality criteria for rare adult cancers necessary to be a Blue Distinction Center.”

Michael Butler, division director of business operations for surgical services at Baptist Hospital, recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders. Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. Only 7,500 healthcare executives hold this distinction.

Recently, the nation’s leading autism advocacy organization announced funding Vanderbilt University Medical Center to become one of the new Autism Treatment Network (ATN) sites — an elite designation in the field of autism treatment and research. Autism Speaks approved $450,000 over three years for Vanderbilt as part of its expansion from five sites to 15 across the United States and Canada. “Being part of the national Autism Treatment Network will facilitate our naturally collaborative nature in the Medical Center to bring the highest level of care across medical disciplines for children with autism and their families,” said Pat Levitt, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development.

Yolanda Holmes, RN, CNS, a clinical nurse specialist at Baptist Hospital, has received the Oncology Nursing Excellence Award from the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society. The annual award recognizes an area nurse who demonstrates exceptional commitment to education, community work and the field of oncology.

In other news from Baptist Hospital, the American Diabetes Association recently presented its “Cure, Care, Commitment” Award to the hospital for its outstanding efforts in serving the diabetes community of Tennessee. “Baptist Hospital is doing some wonderful things in the treatment of diabetes in both the inpatient and outpatient settings from meeting rigorous standards in controlling patients’ blood sugar levels to education and counseling,” said Glenda Berry, Tennessee executive director of the American Diabetes Association. “Baptist Hospital is the first health care organization in Tennessee to be honored with this newly-created award.”

Laerdal Medical Corporation, a leading provider of healthcare solutions, recently recognized Belmont University’s School of Nursing as a Center of Educational Excellence. The designation will apply for three years and is awarded to centers that have consistently demonstrated excellence in educational philosophy and programs for the purpose of “helping save lives.”

KraftCPAs PLLC has been selected by Goldline Research as one of the 10 Most Dependable™ Accounting Professionals of the Southeast. Vic Alexander, chief manager of KraftCPAs said, “We were pleased to be the only CPA firm in Tennessee selected for recognition as one of the 10 most dependable. I give credit to our 140 team members who provide excellent service to our clients every day.”


April 2008