Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation Honors Several Annual Philanthropy Award Recipients Named

Leesburg, VA – (March 27, 2013) — At the annual appreciation banquet on March 21, the Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation honored three individuals for their commitment to philanthropy. The event was held at the National Conference Center with nearly 150 in attendance.

To demonstrate sincere appreciation, admiration and respect for those who go above and beyond to advance philanthropy at Inova Loudoun Hospital through gifts of time, talent and treasure, the Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation has established three awards. These awards recognize those whose spirit of mission and philanthropy guide the Foundation’s work and its relationships with donors.  Recipients are staunch supporters of the mission and they encourage the advancement of philanthropy to keep the mission alive.

Pam Maroulis, Executive Director of Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation, said, “It is critical to the success and growth of our programs to stop for a moment and acknowledge the resources that are contributed to the Hospital to make it a place of excellence for our patients, our employees, and our community.”

THE ROSE AWARD
The Rose Award is named in honor of Loudoun Hospital’s first patient – Pee Wee Rose.  Pee Wee Rose was a jockey who was thrown from his horse and rushed to the new Hospital for care.  This award is given to Inova Loudoun Hospital employees who exemplify the Hospital’s commitment to the community through excellence in care as well as a broader understanding of how we grow our Circle of Care through philanthropy.

This year’s Rose Award recipient is Ruth Sims.

Ruth Sims joined Inova Loudoun Hospital fifteen years ago in the Occupational Health Center and is now the Patient Relations Representative in Patient Access.  Providing service, resolve, and positive patient interaction are the foundation of Ruth’s work ethic and purpose.  During her tenure at Inova Loudoun Hospital, Ruth has been trained as a Master Facilitator, appointed as co-chair of the Studer Service Recovery Team, and as co-chair with Sarah Pavlik (director, Human Resources) of the 2007 and 2008 Employee Giving Campaigns where she helped create an atmosphere for teamwork and promoted giving by employees for causes close to the heart. Her efforts contributed to the 450% increase in giving to the employee campaign.  Ruth has spearheaded humanitarian projects including feeding people in Africa, sending doctors and medical supplies overseas, and many other projects with an emphasis of helping those in crisis. She has received commendations from over fourteen world leaders, including several U.S. Presidents and the United Nations.

THE CADUCEUS AWARD
The symbol of the Caduceus, two-serpents encircling a staff and flanked by wings, has been the symbol of the American medical profession for nearly a hundred years.  It is fitting that we incorporate this time-honored symbol of medicine and the healing arts to honor a physician who has gone above and beyond to advance the mission through philanthropy.

The Foundation is proud to present the Caduceus Award to Dr. Elisabeth Simms.

Dr. Simms came to her life work of medical oncology out of a sense of wonder at the created order of human biology, the power of the human spirit, and reverence for the complex work of healing.  She began her practice in Leesburg in 1979, not only treating patients with cancer and related diseases but also working in the palliative care setting of Hospice home care.  She was welcomed and mentored in both areas by local family physicians as well as many nurses, patients, and other caregivers from whom she continued to learn about caring for one’s community and about sharing one’s gifts….and what it means to love one’s work.

She retired from her active practice in 2008, continuing with some caregiving and support for the hospital community as we grow into new and challenging healing roles in the 21st century. Upon her retirement, she and her husband, Larry, chose to contribute $100,000 to Inova Loudoun Hospital to help with the creation of a family lounge in the 8-bed oncology unit that could serve as a place for retreat for those helping their family members day in and day out. It was a true testament to the generous nature of Dr. Simms to retire with a focus on the Hospital and not on herself.

THE GOLDEN HELIX
The inspiration for this award comes from the spirals that formed the staircase found in the original Hospital located on Market Street.  The DNA Helix, or spiral, is of course, also a well-known symbol of life – its uniqueness to each individual is also the common strain of humanity that binds us all together.  This award is given to volunteer who has dedicated their time and resources to impact philanthropy at the Hospital and in turn improve lives by making our community hospital the best it can be.

The 2013 recipient of the Golden Helix Award is Cindy Chambers.

Cindy has dedicated her time over the past 11 years to helping others.  She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local, national and international charities.  She donates personally to many charities and is a member of 100 Women Strong.  Cindy is a member of the Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation Board where she has been instrumental in bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to the hospital foundation in less than two years.

In 2012, Cindy launched “The Beamer Book Series” about a gentle therapy dog named Beamer who teaches children about challenging life events and helps reduce their fears when faced with them.  The net proceeds of the series will be donated to charities including Inova Loudoun Hospital.  From just the initial sales of the first book, Beamer Visits The Emergency Room, Cindy was able to donate $18,000 to Inova Loudoun Hospital for The Pediatric Emergency Department.  The first three books in the series are now available at Amazon.com and other book sellers.

Media Contact: Reneé Brohard, APR, 540-454-3493

Inova Loudoun Hospital, serving Loudoun County for over 100 years, is part of Inova, a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Visit us on the web at www.inova.org/ilh.
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