RECIPIENTS
2013
Dr. Geetha Joseph, MD (Baptist Health)
The Award Presentation was held at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2013 Light the Night Walk at Slugger Field.
Dr. Joseph was unable to attend, but filmed an acceptance video that was shown at the walk. In-person presentation occurred at the Light the Night wrap-up event, several weeks after the walk.
2014
Dr. Roger H. Herzig, MD (James Graham Brown Cancer Center) (top)
Dr. Geoffrey P. Herzig, MD, posthumously (James Graham Brown Cancer Center)
Aimee McCaa, APRN (Norton Healthcare)
Michelle Perry, RN, BSN, OCN (KentuckyOne Health)
Judy Sisk (Baptist Health)
Dr. Roger Herzig filmed an acceptance video that was shown at the 2014 Light the Night Walk, as well as at the awards dinner.
Dr. Herzig and the three support staff recipients (noted above) were honored at the aforementioned dinner held at Vincenzo’s Restaurant on September 27th. Andrew Herzig, the son of Dr. Geoffrey Herzig, accepted the award on behalf of his father.
Attendance was approximately 55 people. Jerry Steinberg paid tribute to the Herzig brothers during the presentation portion of the evening.
2015
Dr. Salvatore J. Bertolone, MD (University of Louisville)
Rebecca Champion, PharmD, BCOP (Norton Healthcare)
Katherine Mitchell, APRN, AOCNP (Baptist Health)
Melissa Pritchett, BSN/OCN (KentuckyOne Health)
After concluding sponsorship the previous two years by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a formal 501(c)3 foundation was formed and provided primary sponsorship of the award event. Dr. Bertolone and the three support staff recipients were honored during a formal dinner at Vincemzo’s Restaurant on October 30th, with approximately 80 persons in attendance. An acceptance video for Dr. Bertolone was shown during the ceremony. Dr. Maurice Allgeier presented a moving tribute as apart of the ceremony.
Attendance was 85 guests.
2016
Dr. Manuel Grimaldi, MD (Family Community Clinic)
Charlotte Price, RN, OCN (Baptist Health)
Patricia Pulliam-Bell, CNA (KentuckyOne Health)
Sandy Stencavage, RN, OCN (Norton Healthcare)
Rev. Kelsey B. White, MDiv, BCC (Norton Healthcare)
Our 4th annual ceremony dinner was held on October 28th, 2016, at Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant, and had over 120 people in attendance. We welcomed Dr. John Huber and Michael Flynn (of Baptist Health and Norton Healthcare, respectively) as guest speakers, and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer spoke, as well. Dr. Grimaldi’s award was presented in an engaging dialogue, compliments of 2013 recipient, Dr. Geetha Joseph. For the first time, two non-nurse support staff members, a certified nursing assistant and a hospital chaplain, were honored, in addition to two nurse recipients and Dr. Manuel Grimadi as our physician recipient. Our sponsors grew to include Eli Lilly Oncology, The Humana Foundation, Flame Run Gallery, Duplicator Sales & Service, Norton Healthcare, Baptist Health, Baldwin CPAs, and the Perrone Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley.
2017
Dr. Terence Hadley, MD (Norton Cancer Institute)
Yvonne Davis, PCA (Hardin Memorial Health)
David Figge, APRN (Norton Cancer Institute)
Leslie Lauterwasser, RN, BSN, BMTCN, OCN (James Graham Brown Cancer Center)
Candida Williams, MAII (Baptist Health)
This year’s event was highlighted by keynote speakers from Regional (Helen Overfield) and National (Michael Copley) Leukemia & Lymphoma Society representatives. Our foundation, besides honoring caregivers from University Hospital, Baptist Health, and Norton Cancer Institute, was pleased to welcome Hardin Memorial Hospital and their nominee, Yvonne Davis, to our ceremony. 2013 recipient Dr. Geetha Joseph was again our heartfelt yet entertaining presenter. Norton Healthcare increased their support and became our largest sponsoring contributor.
Another new sponsor of note included Jim Beam Brands of Clermont, KY.
2018
Dr. Kelly McMasters, MD (UofL Surgical Associates)
Laura Jones, LCSW (Brown Cancer Center)
Abby Parish, CMF (Norton Healthcare)
Mary Ann Squires, RT (R) (T) (Hardin Memorial Health)
Wanda Wallace, CNA (Baptist Health)
The 2018 award banquet honored support staff from the Brown Cancer Center, Baptist Health, Norton Cancer Center, and Hardin Memorial Health. The physician honoree was Dr. Kelly McMasters, Chief Oncology Surgeon at the University of Louisville Physicians group.
Dr. Jason Chesney, Director of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, was the featured speaker, and Dr. Charles Moyer, Dean Emeritus of the UofL College of Business, was a special recognized guest. Our banquet facility at Vincenzo’s was filled to capacity, with 135 attendees.
Finally, the foundation presented our inaugural "INSPIRATION AWARD" to our ongoing event host Vincenzo Gabriele for his years-long, exemplary service to numerous charitable initiatives in our greater Louisville community.
2019
Dr. Baby Jose, M.D.
Kristina Kopp, MSW, LCSW (Hardin Memorial Health)
Mary Thompson, RN, BSN, OCN, BMTCN (Brown Cancer Center)
Tracy Wortham, RN (Norton Healthcare)
Carol Holland, LCSW (Baptist Health)
In this, our 7th consecutive presentation event year, our foundations hosted the above honorees at Vincenzo's Italian Restaurant on Friday, October 25th.
Our Featured Speaker was Coach Scott Davenport of Bellarmine University. In addition, we also hosted the Zionluegion Male Chorus, who contributed a rousing performance in support of our deserving awardees. Participation was at full capacity, seating more than 160 attendees.
2020/2021
Baptist Health Systems Oncology & Chemotherapy Recognized
for Selfless Sacrifices during COVID-19
Brown Cancer Center Team Recognized by Spirit of Service Award Foundation
Since 2013, the Marc Lehmann Spirit of Service Award Foundation has named, recognized, and honored over 30 caregivers, nurses, and physicians in the field of oncology in Louisville and the surrounding communities. In concert with the area’s leading medical and cancer treatment facilities, the foundation identifies exceptionally proficient, patient-centered, and empathetic practitioners for well-deserved acclaim. The award process has historically consisted of an annual semi-formal banquet with over 150 family and professional support staff in attendance and included art glass award pieces custom-made by Flame Run.
As a result of COVID precautions and restrictions over the past 20 months, the foundation's advisory board elected to alter that process during this exceptional time. Rather than conduct the usual award dinner banquets, the foundation commissioned the creation of three intricate artist-designed frames surrounding canvas acknowledgments. They recognize the exceptional service and sacrifice of ecology professionals at Baptist, Norton's, and Brown Cancer Centers during the 2021/2022 Covid pandemic. These creations were subsequently presented publicly in caregiver attended events between November of 2021, and March 2022.
The 30" by 40" highly detailed frame incorporates some 487 inlay pieces of various wood species and composite materials sourced from all over the world in an art process known as marquetry. Commissioned by the foundation, it was produced over a six-month process by Hudson Valley Inlays of Windsor, New York.
Over the years, the Marc Lehmann Spirit of Service Award Foundation has enjoyed increasing recognition for its initiatives within our medical community, highlighted by a four-page article and profile in the October 2019 issue of Voice Magazine, as well as through sponsoring support from the local individual and corporate citizenry.
The foundation's mission statement is as follows:
To identify and recognize physicians, caregivers, and support staff whose careers encompass long-standing service to patients and their families in the area of hematology & oncology. Recipients would have a clear reputation for proficiency combined with a consistent record of administering that proficiency with dedication, empathy, and understanding for their patients.
Furthermore, to craft this award as a perpetual, ongoing ceremony designed to uplift the deserving awardees, and to provide our related medical community with examples of ideal models deserving of their emulation.