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Health chief receives award
The winner began her career with the North East Health Systems as a nurse.
YOUNGSTOWN — Elizabeth Haddle, chief operating officer for North East Health Systems, has received the 2008 Health Center Hero Award.
Haddle was nominated by fellow staff members at Ohio North East Health Systems, which operates the Youngstown Community Health Center, the Warren Community Health Center and Good Samaritan Community Health Center in Alliance.
The winner was chosen by the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers Executive Committee from among 26 nominated for the award, said Shawn Frick, OACHC executive director.
“I am honored to be awarded the 2008 Health Center Hero Award. I truly believe in community health centers and our mission to provide health care to the medically underserved. Our most recent collaboration with the Ohio National Guard to provide free health care to the community during National Health Center Week has been one of the most gratifying projects I have ever worked on. Community support and turnout has been awesome; more proof that Youngstown is not a dying city,” she said.
A licensed practical nurse, Haddle began her community health center career with the Ohio North East Health Systems, formerly known as the Youngstown Community Health Center, 10 years ago as a member of the nursing staff.
Haddle has demonstrated considerable talents, devoting all her energies and creativity to improving patients’ lives through providing better health-care delivery, and has worked in every department of the organization. There were times when she drove patients to and from their medical or dental appointments because they had no other means of transportation. She became so ingrained with the philosophical ideals of community health that she went back to school to earn a bachelor’s degree in community health education, according to her nomination.
In the past year, she worked 12- to 14-hour days overseeing a 6,000-square-foot expansion of the Youngstown center. Her most recent project was spearheading a community health fair, called GuardCare, which involves the Ohio National Guard and the Free Prescription Assistance program, during National Community Health Center Week Aug. 10-16.
“Truly, Beth Haddle, who has risen through the ranks to chief operations officer, is a compassionate and dedicated human being. She is spiritually in tune with the community health center movement and exemplifies all the qualities of a real Health Center Hero. I strongly urge the OACHC Executive Committee to favorably consider this nominee for the Health Center Hero Award,” Dr. Ronald Dwinnells, chief executive officer of Ohio North East Health Systems, said in her nomination.
“We are delighted she won the award and believe she deserves it,” Dr. Dwinnells said.
OACHC is a not-for-profit professional trade association representing Ohio’s federally qualified health centers or community health centers.
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