WANTED: HEALTHCARE HERO NOMINEES

January 5, 2009 (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking nominations for its 2010 Healthcare Hero Awards, an annual program that honors East County residents whose volunteer efforts help advance delivery of quality healthcare in the East County region. Nomination forms in both English and Spanish are available at www.grossmonthealthcare.org. Deadline for submission of entries is 3 p.m. on Friday, February 26, 2010, at the GHD offices, 9001 Wakarusa St., in La Mesa.

Nominees for a 2010 Healthcare Hero Award can include front-line volunteer caregivers, including volunteers at community clinics, junior volunteers, auxiliary members, healthcare educators and pastoral care providers, as well as members of service clubs, community groups and advocacy or policy organizations. Nominees also can include first-responders and other employees of healthcare organizations who volunteer their time beyond their regular scope of job responsibilities, according to Gloria Chadwick, GHD 2010 board president.

“We solicit the assistance of all East County residents because we want to recognize those unsung heroes of healthcare whose work might not otherwise be recognized,” said Chadwick. “We want to honor those volunteers whose extraordinary care and selfless dedication inspires others to produce measurable outcomes that provide for a healthier East County community.”

For more information about the 2010 Healthcare Hero Awards, phone the GHD offices at (619) 825-5050. GHD will present its fourth annual Healthcare Hero Awards at a luncheon to be held on Thursday, May 6, 2010, at Sycuan Resort.

Grossmont Healthcare District, a public agency, supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, and serves as landlord of Sharp Grossmont Hospital, including ownership of the property and buildings on behalf of East County taxpayers. The District, formed in 1952 to build and operate Grossmont Hospital, is governed by a five-member board of directors, each elected to four-year terms, who represent more than 500,000 people residing within the District's 750 square miles in San Diego's East County. For more information about GHD, visit www.grossmonthealthcare.org.