Dr. Susan Curling with Memorial Hermann Northeaset was named 2014 Health Care Professional of the Year and Peggy Aalund, RN with Lone Star College � Kingwood was named 2014 Nurse of the Year at Lake Houston Area Chamber�s fourth annual Salute To Health Care Luncheon on July 15 at The Overlook in Atascocita. The Luncheon was presented by Kingwood Medical Center.
The Salute To Health Care Luncheon honors the
health care community and recognizes the great impact the industry has
in the Lake Houston Area. Peggy Aalund has 21 years of experience as a
nurse practitioner, 14 years of teaching experience at the college level
and 13 years of experience as a college nursing program director. She
serves as a Remediation Specialist for Nursing and is the Chair of the
Lone Star College � Kingwood Nursing Evaluation Committee. She serves on
the Lone Star College System Workload Committee, Curriculum Committee,
Mentorship Committee, Simulation Committee, and Faculty Senate. She is
an Interdisciplinary Healthcare Honors Program Faculty Mentor and also
responsible for developing the overseas Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor
Society on campus. When Peggy is not serving or leading a committee,
she�s teaching to her students about obstetrics and pediatrics in the
classroom.
Dr. Susan Curling holds the positions of Chief Medical
Officer for Memorial Hermann Northeast, President of North Houston
Anesthesiologists and staff Anesthesiologist for Memorial Hermann
Northeast, Memorial Hermann Specialty Hospital Kingwood and Kingwood
Medical Center. Under her direction, Memorial Hermann Northeast has
advanced dramatically in patient safety and quality. The hospital was
named the Quality Gold Circle award winner in 2009 and the Press Ganey
Top Improver winner in 2010. Dr. Curling spreads her time widely through
various community involvement programs. She takes part in the Kingwood
and Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce, is an elder and Chair of the
Missions Committee for First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood, she is on
the Board of Health Museum and actively participates in Blood Donor
Centers around the Houston area.
Finalists for Nurse of the Year
included: Peggy Aalund, Nursing Professor at Lone Star College-Kingwood;
Janice Pfitzer, Staff Nurse at Memorial Hermann Northeast and Dianne
Price, Stroke Coordinator Kingwood Medical Center. Finalists for Health
Care Professional of the Year included: Dr. Bernard Gallacher,
Anesthesiologist at Kingwood Medical Center/ North Houston
Anesthesiologists; Dr. Doan Do, Family Medicine Physician at Memorial
Herman Convenient Care Center and Dr. Susan Curling, Chief Medical
Officer at Memorial Hermann Northeast.
Nominations for the awards
were received from across the Lake Houston Area representing
individuals whose acts of service represent a display of dedication to
excellence in their area of expertise beyond the scope of their jobs.
The winner, selected by a committee of volunteers, will have displayed a
commitment to their profession and community, serving as an inspiration
to others in an effort to improve the quality of healthcare and
discover new ways to assist those in need.
Presenting Sponsor for
the Salute To Health Care Luncheon is Kingwood Medical Center. Platinum
Sponsor is Texas Emergency Care Center; Awards Sponsor is Independent
Bank and Gold Sponsors are Humble Dreams Sleep Center, Kingwood Pines
Hospital and Memorial Hermann Northeast.
