BizTimes Milwaukee announces the winners of the 2010 Health Care Hero Awards.
The awards honor people and organizations who are making a difference on the front lines of health care in southeastern Wisconsin.
“These people are heroes in every sense of the word. They are adding to the quality of life for others in our region,” said BizTimes publisher Dan Meyer. “We look forward to telling their stories and shining the light on their accomplishments, and we salute them for their service.”
The winners will be featured in a special section in the BizTimes Milwaukee magazine in December. They also will receive the awards at a special breakfast on Thursday, Dec. 9, at Boerner Botanical Gardens.
The program will be emceed by WISN-Channel 12 news anchor Patrick Paolantonio.
The winners of the 2010 Health Care Hero Awards are:
Nurse
Elizabeth Hill-Karbowski, R.N., certified nurse midwife, Wheaton Franciscan-St. Joseph, Milwaukee. She is making a difference in preventing infant mortality.
Ellen Krueger, R.N., St. Ben’s Clinic for the Homeless, Milwaukee. She provides care for the homeless.
Jim Peters, R.N. case manager, Horizon Home Care & Hospice Inc., Brown Deer. He is a patient advocate.
Physician
Dr. Michael McCrea, director of the ProHealth Care Neuroscience Center & Research Institute, Waukesha. He leads a team of international experts in the treatment of concussions.
Dr. Traci Purath, neurologist, Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group, Franklin. She treats patients suffering from chronic headaches.
Advancements in Health Care
Mark Rakowski, executive director, Children’s Community Health Plan, Wauwatosa. He leads a team that is making advancements in preventing premature births.
Ilse Tikkanen, R.N., coordinator of the Bariatric Center of Excellence at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Elmbrook Memorial. She has been an innovator in the treatment of people undergoing bariatric care.
Community Service
Tricia Burkett, coordinator of the Safe Place for Newborns Program, Wheaton Franciscan-St. Joseph, Milwaukee. She helps babies be adopted into loving homes.
John Cary, executive director, MACC Fund, Milwaukee. He has guided the growth of the MACC Fund for the past 28 years.
Corporate Achievement
Acres of Hope & Aspirations LLC, Muskego. The agency uses experiences in nature to help heal patients with significant brain injury.
Dr. Channing Tassone, orthopedic surgeon, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Orthopedic Center, Wauwatosa. He has helped implement lean principles to reduce medical costs and patient waiting times.
Health Care Staff
Dan Baker, director of the Crisis Resource Center, Transitional Living Services Inc., an affiliate of the Milwaukee Center for Independence (MCFI). He is an advocate for patients with mental illness.
The Horizon Rehab Team of Lori Baeckman, Lisa Birch and Jan Mechanic, Horizon Home Care & Hospice Inc., Brown Deer. They provide care to patients in the comfort of their homes.
Volunteer
Dr. Basil Jackson, psychiatrist on staff at Community Memorial Hospital, Menomonee Falls. He was a volunteer for earthquake victims in Haiti.
Geny Kroll, 88-year-old volunteer at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Milwaukee. She has been giving her time and talent for 18 years.
Grand Achievement Award
Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, Milwaukee The hospital, which was founded as Wisconsin’s first private hospital in 1848, has a long tradition of community service and recently reopened with a new building along Milwaukee’s lakefront.
