Orme Lewis and Ed Van Brunt Win Volunteer Health Care Heroes Award
Two founding members of Phoenix Children's Board of Directors, Orme Lewis and Ed Van Brunt, were honored for their lifetime of service to the Hospital with the Volunteer Award at the Phoenix Business Journal's annual Health Care Heroes event
on Aug. 19, 2010. Stuart Lacey, MD, a pediatric surgeon who most recently led the successful separation of conjoined twins at Phoenix Children's, was also recognized at the awards program as a finalist in the Physician Award category.
More than 600 healthcare providers and community members attended to honor this year's heroes in the Valley's healthcare community.
Van Brunt and Lewis, who have served the Hospital a collective 52 years, have both contributed far more than anyone would expect of a volunteer. Their passion for Phoenix Children's never waned, and their expertise and hard work was crucial to the founding of the Hospital, helping Phoenix Children's become a freestanding hospital, and planning the Hospital's expansion.
Lewis was first to speak in accepting the Volunteer Award, saying, "Healthcare across the board is a key asset of our community. Without the untold thousands of hours our healthcare volunteers give, our community couldn't be what we are today."
Van Brunt, who led the search committee that ultimately hired Bob Meyer as president and CEO, continued, "I have to say this is a great honor. I've had a lot of honors, but this is probably the greatest.
Through the years, Van Brunt has served as board secretary, vice chair and chair, and held active leadership roles on the Finance and Audit, Patient Care and Quality, and Facilities committees. Most recently, Van Brunt contributed a major gift and designated it for what is now known as the Edwin and Nancy Van Brunt Central Energy Plant, a facility that will power the new Hospital with optimal efficiency.Lewis has served as vice chair, chair and on the Finance and Audit, Patient Care and Quality, Facilities and Governance committees. Both have remained active throughout their board terms and championed the new expansion needed to meet the needs of our growing community. This year, both are retiring from active board service. But not before seeing through the completion of the planning and design phases of Phoenix Children's latest expansion.
Lacey was named a finalist in the Physician category for his outstanding teaching expertise, dedication to his patients, and as a mentor and role model to his colleagues at the Valley's teaching hospitals. He's active on several boards, has received teaching awards from several universities and Mayo Clinic, and serves as a clinical Professor of Surgery for the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He has been included in "Best Doctors of America" since 1996.
One of Lacey's most impressive surgical achievements drew world-wide attention -- the 2009 separation of conjoined twins. The surgery would be extremely complex – their bodies were fused from chest to pelvis with several shared organs. Lacey assembled the medical team that examined their unique physiology, planned every step toward separation, serving as the lead for their care. Along the way, he developed a warm relationship with these special babies. After months of preparation and more than 12 hours in the operating room, Lacey and his team of 60 pediatric specialists made history on Jan. 20, 2009, and gave the twins lives of their own.
