All 2009 nominees
Phillip Ajayi, MD
Calin Badea, MD
Sanford Berens, MD
Evetta Borden, DPM
Seth Borquaye, MD
Nizar Eskandar, MD
Bobby Herrington, MD
Adewumi Oguntunmibi, MD
Zorana Sifford, MD
Stephen Weiss, MD
Cheers, whistles and applause rang out as a misty-eyed Dr. Seth Borquaye accepted Liberty Regional Medical Center’s first Dr. Whitman Fraser award Thursday night.
“I’m speechless,” the physician said. “I accept this award very humbled, very humbled.”
He was glad to be connected to such Fraser, but “can’t even begin to fill the shoes.”
“I found a great law…to be one another’s keeper and with a passion to leave this world a better place and this county a better county,” Borquaye said.
The eight-year county resident thanked his wife, Adeline, “the wind beneath his wings,” for her support.
“Nights I’m gone, days I’m gone and I tell her ‘This is what God wants me to do’,” Borquaye said.
As part of a “cohesive unit,” Borquaye felt he shared the award with the nurses, hospital authority members and entire medical staff.
“We are more united today because of the great work you’ve done,” Borquaye said of the medical staff.
LRMC CEO Scott Kroell agreed.
“Successful communities capitalize and take advantage of their assets and strengths,” Kroell said. “One of the real strengths are the people in this area.”
Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas commended the entire team of LRMC doctors, but agreed Borquaye exemplified excellence.
“We couldn’t have found a person that better personifies the first Whitman Fraser award,” Thomas told the audience, comparing the two doctors. “[Borquaye] is also one of those persons that you can always count on to do something great for the community.”
Borquaye addressed Sherry Somerville, Dr. Fraser’s daughter.
“I never, never in my greatest [aspirations] thought about winning an award in honor of your great dad,” he told her.
Somerville said her father “truly loved Hinesville and the citizens of Hinesville.”
“My father not only left a legacy of service to the community of Hinesville, he also left a legacy of support,” Somerville said, citing the YMCA and the Fraser Counseling Center. “My dad poured his energy into making their dream a reality.”
Borquaye also mentioned how the hospital delivered “boxes upon boxes of food,” earlier that day to the Manna House.
Moved by President Obama’s inaugural speech, Borquaye came up with the idea for a LRMC food drive.
“He said, ‘Each and every one of us needs to do something for the community’,” Borquaye said. “Today, as a hospital, we’ve been able to help our community, not by only taking care, but helping the less fortunate.”
Melody Todd, patient access director, attended the award ceremony to see if the doctor she nominated won.
“I worked in hospitals a long time and there are some really good doctors in this community,” she said.
“We got a real good thing going.”
The Friends of Fraser will host a fundraising luncheon at noon April 22 at the EconoLodge. The event is free and open to the public.
“I’m speechless,” the physician said. “I accept this award very humbled, very humbled.”
He was glad to be connected to such Fraser, but “can’t even begin to fill the shoes.”
“I found a great law…to be one another’s keeper and with a passion to leave this world a better place and this county a better county,” Borquaye said.
The eight-year county resident thanked his wife, Adeline, “the wind beneath his wings,” for her support.
“Nights I’m gone, days I’m gone and I tell her ‘This is what God wants me to do’,” Borquaye said.
As part of a “cohesive unit,” Borquaye felt he shared the award with the nurses, hospital authority members and entire medical staff.
“We are more united today because of the great work you’ve done,” Borquaye said of the medical staff.
LRMC CEO Scott Kroell agreed.
“Successful communities capitalize and take advantage of their assets and strengths,” Kroell said. “One of the real strengths are the people in this area.”
Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas commended the entire team of LRMC doctors, but agreed Borquaye exemplified excellence.
“We couldn’t have found a person that better personifies the first Whitman Fraser award,” Thomas told the audience, comparing the two doctors. “[Borquaye] is also one of those persons that you can always count on to do something great for the community.”
Borquaye addressed Sherry Somerville, Dr. Fraser’s daughter.
“I never, never in my greatest [aspirations] thought about winning an award in honor of your great dad,” he told her.
Somerville said her father “truly loved Hinesville and the citizens of Hinesville.”
“My father not only left a legacy of service to the community of Hinesville, he also left a legacy of support,” Somerville said, citing the YMCA and the Fraser Counseling Center. “My dad poured his energy into making their dream a reality.”
Borquaye also mentioned how the hospital delivered “boxes upon boxes of food,” earlier that day to the Manna House.
Moved by President Obama’s inaugural speech, Borquaye came up with the idea for a LRMC food drive.
“He said, ‘Each and every one of us needs to do something for the community’,” Borquaye said. “Today, as a hospital, we’ve been able to help our community, not by only taking care, but helping the less fortunate.”
Melody Todd, patient access director, attended the award ceremony to see if the doctor she nominated won.
“I worked in hospitals a long time and there are some really good doctors in this community,” she said.
“We got a real good thing going.”
The Friends of Fraser will host a fundraising luncheon at noon April 22 at the EconoLodge. The event is free and open to the public.