Each year, the Methodist Healthcare Foundation Living Awards recognize individuals or organizations who have distinguished themselves by their leadership and commitment to the healing mission of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and to those whose faith-based initiatives have had a profound impact on healthcare locally, nationally, and globally.

This year the Methodist Healthcare Foundation will honor five recipients during the 2009 Living Awards Benefit. The event will be held Thursday, August 20, at 6:00 p.m. in the Tennessee Ballroom at the Hilton Memphis. Individual tickets for the Living Awards are $100 and tables of ten are $1,000. To purchase tickets, call the Methodist Foundation at 901.516.0500. All proceeds benefit the Methodist Healthcare Foundation.

The 2009 honorees are:

Charles R. Handorf, M.D. – Physician Inspiration in Faith & Health Physician

During his medical career, Dr. Handorf has distinguished himself by his devotion to his patients, his passion for his profession and his commitment to the mission of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. Having served in numerous capacities at Methodist Healthcare and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Dr. Handorf has been a driving force in building the relationship between the two organizations.

He is a true physician leader, having served as Associate Chief of Staff/chair, Senior Leadership Council at Methodist University Hospital, President of the Medical Staff and Chief of Staff at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. He continues to serve on the Quality Management Committee at Methodist University Hospital, is a member of Methodist’s Credentialing Committee and is the department chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine.

Dr. Handorf joined Duckworth Pathology Group, Inc. as an associate pathologist in 1982 and has served as its president since 2001. Certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, he is a fellow of both the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and the College of American Pathologists.

Dr. Handorf is a past recipient of the Lange Award for Outstanding Scholarship from the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He received the Sherard Physician of the Year Award from Methodist Healthcare in 2003 and was a Memphis Business Journal “Health Care Heroes” nominee in 2007.

Hershel P. Wall, M.D. - Physician Inspiration in Faith & Health

By training, Dr. Hershel Wall is a pediatrician. He is known for his compassionate and caring nature and has long exemplified the best of this specialty. Virtually his entire career spanning over 40 years has been at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center.

Dr. Wall has been intricately involved with the Church Health Center. He has served more than once on the board, has played a critical role in developing both the services and staffing patterns for the pediatric component for the Church Health Center, and for years he has taken responsibility for ensuring that volunteering pediatricians were available every night the Church Health Center clinics were open. He often found himself filling in at the last minute if a doctor could not make his shift at the clinic.

Recognized as a superlative teacher at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Dr. Wall has won numerous teaching awards. When asked to take on the position of Dean of the College of Medicine, Dr. Wall agreed, not for personal ambition, but because he recognized that UTHSC was at a critical place in its history. When Dr. Owen left UT, Dr. Wall was the obvious choice to succeed him, first as interim Chancellor and then in the permanent role as Chancellor. As Chancellor, Dr. Wall has acted as a stabilizing force for UTHSC. He is committed to strengthening the partnership between the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Methodist University Hospital and continues to support the leadership at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center and its place in the Mid-South.

Dr. Wall received the Health Care Heroes Award for Administrative Excellence from the Memphis Business Journal in 2008 during the 10th Annual Health Care Heroes Awards banquet.

Rev. Frank Lewis McRae, St. John’s United Methodist Church – Community Inspiration in Faith & Health

Throughout his life, Rev. Frank McRae has been a champion, a pioneer, and a visionary of diversity as well as an outspoken promoter of equality for both individuals and ideals. His unassuming strong leadership has contributed to the well-being, growth, and current success of the Church Health Center and Methodist Healthcare.

Rev. McRae was a key confident and sounding board for John Laverty, executive director of Methodist in the 1970’s, when Methodist leadership, especially Laverty, began envisioning a far-reaching healthcare system. From this vision and effort Methodist Healthcare grew into a community wide hospital system serving patients in all areas of Memphis and neighboring regions.

Rev. McRae also jumped on board with Dr. Scott Morris who had contacted him about creating a church-based health center for the working poor. Rev. McRae agreed this was the right thing to do and set out to get the Church Health Center off the ground and in business. He was a tireless inspirational leader in this innovative healthcare success that provides affordable healthcare to working uninsured people and their families which is now supported by numerous churches, medical professionals, and organizations. Today, the Church Health Center positively impacts the health of hundreds of thousands of people in our community and is recognized nationally for the service it provides.

Another endeavor of Rev. McRae’s is being Director of Community Outreach for Open Arms, the corporate charity of Mid-America Apartment Communities. Open Arms provides free housing to patients obtaining medical treatment away from their homes.

People have often heard Rev. McRae say, “I was born at Methodist Hospital and my heart has never been more than a few blocks from it.” He has lived true to his words as he has dedicated so much of his life to making quality healthcare affordable to everyone, regardless of race, sex, religion, and economic status through his work with Methodist Healthcare, the Church Health Center, and leading Open Arms.

Alice Warren – Individual Inspiration in Faith & Health

Throughout her life, Alice Warren has demonstrated a strong sense of service and commitment to helping others.

After retiring from Methodist University at age 70, Alice began her second career at Methodist as a volunteer. She served as a Methodist Healthcare Auxiliary “Pink Lady” for 36 years until retiring in 2009 at the age of 97.

As a volunteer, every week Alice assisted Methodist staff and comforted patients and families with her candy cart, sweet smile and loving reassurance. As a testament to the contributions she made during three decades of caring for others, when Alice retired as a volunteer, Methodist Auxiliary also retired her candy cart and placed it in the Auxiliary gift shop where it now displays items for sale to help Methodist continue the caring service and dedication to others to which Alice devoted her life.

The Carter Center Mental Health Program, Atlanta, Ga. – National/International Inspiration in Faith & Health

Founded in 1991, the Carter Center Mental Health Program is the result of more than 30 years of advocacy efforts and leadership by former First Lady Rosaylnn Carter and her desire to bring mental health to national prominence as a vital component of overall health and wellness.

The program works toward two primary goals: to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses and to influence mental health policy in the United States and around the world.

The Carter Center hosts two public-policy forums each year for those in the mental health field: the Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum, which focuses on issues within the state of Georgia, and the Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy, which tackles major challenges in the mental health field. The Mental Health Program also hosts public outreach programs as part of the annual series “Conversations at The Carter Center.” Because reporters and the media are often the best communicators to the general public, the Center sponsors fellowships for journalists in the United States and abroad who are writing or producing works on mental health issues.

The Center’s ultimate goal is to help create a world where every man, woman, and child has the opportunity to enjoy good health and live in peace.