Mission and MAHEC hold tenth annual celebration
Sallie McCall, RN, BSN, manager of Clinical Operations at Mission Children Clinic, was named this year's recipient of the Spirit of Martin Luther King Award at an annual celebration of the life of the civil rights leader held at MAHEC on January 14.
One of McCall's roles at Mission, is to facilitate education and staff development for clinical staff. She says she promotes diversity education for her staff because she recognizes that this is simply the right thing to do, not only for the good of the children, but for staff cohesiveness.
"Her classes are well attended and very informative," says Michael Carter, Mission's Diversity Officer. "Sallie is a pioneer in this area as she has promoted this on her own. We have covered topics ranging from basic diversity self-awareness to dealing with institutional racism, sexism, and homophobia."
"I truly believe that Mission Hospitals, as a leader in the community, has an important role, perhaps even an obligation in the promotion of diversity education, and I am proud to be a part of these efforts," said McCall.
McCall added that great things related to diversity education are happening at Mission Children's Specialists and she thanked the leadership there for their support.
"Just as my mother taught me, I have always voiced a belief to both of my children that race and differences should not matter. My 20-year-old daughter, a student at UNC, has always embraced people for their differences and simply does not see color, nationality, sexual orientation, etc. She spent this past summer teaching in an orphanage in Uganda. She teaches me daily that diversity is not merely recognizing the differences of others; it is applauding their unique qualities. I can be no prouder of this success!"
Other nominees for this year's award from Mission were: Lynn Scarbrough, FNP, Community Health Enhancement, Emma Clinic; Clair Scobie, 8N Neuro, Diabetes, Adult Medicine; Gail Gordon, Pediatrics; Linda Hemstreet, Community Health Enhancement; Kathy Hefner, Heart Administration; Kim Gilliam, Radiology; Marion Imes, Invasive Cardiology; Lawrence Robinson, Asheville Surgery Center; Carlton Battle, Environmental Services; Makeca Gilliland, 6N Adult Medicine; Veronica Sartor, RN, L&D; Burdine Smith, Endoscopy MEM; Andrea Beeks, Copestone Adolescent Unit; Michael Carter, Diversity Officer; Frank Castelblanco, RACE /Cardiac Emergencies; Cheryl Gibson, PEAR coordinator; Veronica Sanchez, Environmental Services; Leslie Council, Asheville Cardiology; Velinda Fisher, Administration; Sandra Green, NICU, (posthumously); Ralph Garcia, Interpreter Services; David Telford, PACU/Preop; Mary Harmon, Perianesthesia; Mildred Carson, Legal Services; Angela Jones, Corporate Safety; Tamara Petty, PASU; Maria Roloff, Human Resources; and Tarik Glenn, Human Resources.
The award for MAHEC was presented to Marilyn Higgins of the MAHEC Dental Health Center.
This year's master of ceremonies was Michael J.S. Carter, Mission's Diversity Officer, and the Spirit of MLK choir was led by Fernando G. Little of Mission Human Resources.
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