Organizational Awards
Baker Nurse and Nursing Assistant of Excellence Awards
The Baker Nurse of Excellence Award was established in 2014 through an endowed gift by Stephanie and Wil Bass of Clayton, NC. The Baker Nursing Assistant award was added in 2024. The awards are named in honor of Stephanie’s late grandparents, Dr. Horace Baker, Jr., a surgeon who was a member of the medical staff at Southeastern Regional Medical Center, and his wife Dorothy, a former Army nurse. Dr. Horace Baker Sr., Bass’ great-grandfather, was founder of the Baker Sanatorium in 1921 which later merged with Thompson Hospital to form what was known as the Baker-Thompson Memorial Hospital in Lumberton in 1946. These two older facilities were replaced by a new hospital known as Robeson County Memorial Hospital in 1953 which currently operations as UNC Health Southeastern.
Past Baker Nurse of Excellence winners are Melissa Britt, 2013; Elizabeth Moore, 2014; Tammy McDuffie, 2015; Cynthia Kinlaw, 2016; Sharon Smith, 2017; Deborah Peterson, 2018; Don “Jake” Jacobs, 2019; Tess McNeill, 2020; Samela "Dee" Prevatte, 2021; Christopher Minton, 2022; Iris Cashwell, 2023; Mary Caitlin Clark Campbell, 2024; and Sandra Smith, 2025.
Past Baker Nursing Assistant of Excellence winners are James Arnette, 2024; and Myra Strickland, 2025
Timothy L. Bell, P.A., Advanced Practice Provider (APP) of Excellence
The Timothy L. Bell, P.A., APP of Excellence Award was established this year in memory of Tim Bell, who practiced as a physician assistant in Robeson County for 28 years and was the Executive Director of Children's Health of Carolina.
The first winner was Physician Assistant Don Metzger, 2024.
W. Reid Caldwell, Jr., Distinguished Leadership Award
To qualify for the Caldwell award, which was established in June 2016 in honor of former Vice President and Government Affairs Officer Reid Caldwell, a UNC Health Southeastern leader must serve at the manager level or higher with five or more years of service and must exemplify the fulfillment of the mission, vision, values, and standards of behavior of the organization while serving as a mentor to other leaders, removing barriers and contributing to a learning and advancing organization.
Previous winners of the Caldwell award are: 2016, Elizabeth Kirschling; 2017, Cynthia George; 2018, Jonathan Everson; 2019, Steve Elgin; 2020, Suzanne Jackson; 2021, Eric Locklear; 2022, Amanda Crabtree; 2023, Karen Kay; and 2024, Henry Edwards.
John D. Drake Distinguished Service Award
The Drake Award was established by the Board of Trustees in 1988 to recognize exceptional service by employees. The award was named in honor of the late John D. Drake, who retired as head cook in 1984 after 38 years of service. To qualify for the Drake award, an employee must demonstrate high standards for personal performance on the job, loyalty and dedication to the organization, an excellent attendance record, respect by fellow workers, leadership skills, and a caring attitude to fellow employees and guests of the organization.
Previous winners of the Drake award are: 1988, Julia Harris; 1989, Addie Mae Caple; 1990, Beatrice Leggett and Vashti Pittman; 1991, Thelma Jean Reeves; 1992, Paula McLean; 1993, Shirley Thompson; 1994, Sonya Oxendine; 1995, Terry Carter; 1996, Vera McDowell; 1997, Jimmy Page; 1998, James E. Jones; 1999, JoAnn Falls and Myrtle Oxendine; 2000, Patricia Davis; 2001, Sherri Hayes; 2002, Doris Madden; 2003, Mary Catherine Buie; 2004, Noel Bounds; 2005, Cynthia George; 2006, Rhonda Carter; 2007, Anne Marie Hendren; 2008, Myrtle Wilcox; 2009, Audrey Cox; 2010, Bryan Hilbourn; 2011, Merry Hardin; 2012, Gerard McRae; 2014, Jeff Edge; 2015, Lisa A. Hunt; 2016, Lori Corbett; 2017, Jeanine Lawson; 2018, Phillip Knecht; 2019, Heather McQueen; 2020, Stephanie Smith; 2021, Sherry Edwards, 2022, Jeramie Crowder; 2023, Lucy Rozier; and 2024, Jennifer Altman.
D.E. Ward, Jr., M.D., Physician of Excellence
The D.E. Ward, Jr., M.D., Physician of Excellence Award is named in honor of Dr. Ward’s 58 years of service on the UNC Health Southeastern Medical Staff and for his tireless devotion to providing the highest quality of care to his patients, as well as his continuous efforts to improve the health system and the community. Previous winners include Drs. Sadanand Hegde, John Rozier, Robin Peace, Samuel Britt, Obiefuna Okoye, Thomas Walden and Dennis Stuart.
