Forrest General Hospital proudly announces the winners of the 19th annual Dr. Philip W. Rogers awards. These awards are presented to healthcare workers who exemplify commitment to the field of medicine and excellence in patient care. The award is given to individuals based on nominations received from their peers. Each winner represents one of Dr. Rogers’ most admirable characteristics – Innovator, Leader, Mentor, Humanitarian, and Advocate.
The award is named for Dr. Philip W. Rogers, a nephrologist with Hattiesburg Clinic, who dedicated 32 years of his life to serving the people of South Mississippi.
The Dr. Philip W. Rogers Innovator Award was presented to Dr. James York, MD, Radiology.
As medical director for Forrest Health Radiology, and Comprehensive Radiology Services, Dr. York’s outstanding leadership in implementing a new cryo-ablation service that has significantly enhanced the healthcare delivery to Forrest Health patients has earned him this year’s Innovator Award. His initiative not only introduced cutting-edge practices, but also improved patient outcomes, accessibility, and overall care experience.
Dr. York’s visionary approach has addressed critical healthcare needs, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and innovation. Through the new cryo-ablation service, patients now receive more effective, efficient, and compassionate care, further solidifying our community’s healthcare standards. Dr. York’s ability to inspire change and deliver tangible results make him highly deserving of this recognition.
An example of the new cryo-ablation’s impact involves a patient who had been wheelchair-bound for months due to a painful bone cancer mass. Through the specialized bone cryo-ablation performed by Dr. York, the patient received advanced physical mobility. Forrest General’s Oncology Department was shocked when the patient was able to walk into the next visit after receiving this specialized care. Thanks to the collaborative care model and innovative therapy, the patient was able to ultimately walk again. This remarkable recovery not only improved the patient’s physical health, but also restored their quality of life, showcasing the transformative power of Dr. York’s initiative.
The Dr. Philip W. Rogers Award for Leadership was given to Dr. Petra Schneider-Redden, MD, FACS, Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Schneider-Redden has been a member of the Forrest General Medical staff since October 1998. She has been a part of the medical staff credentialing committee for 24 years and has served as the medical staff credentialing committee chairman since 2005.
Dr. Schneider-Redden leads the committee and meticulously reviews every medical staff membership application and Allied Health application. Ensuring that every “t” is crossed and every “i” is dotted, she gives focused attention to the credentialing and privileging process.
She has assisted with new software implementation, updated specialty privilege lists, conducted educational sessions, and improved workflow for physicians and staff. As the chairperson, not only does she review every new medical staff and allied health application, but she also reviews every reappointment application. She can be heard many times asking for additional information on a candidate or questioning how to do something better.
Her attention to detail sets her apart. She has been on the American Board of Plastic Surgery, chairing several committees, and has also served on the Forrest General Hospital Cancer Committee and the FGH Institutional Review Committee.
Dr. Schneider-Redden is a natural leader who has given her time and dedication to ensure Forrest General patients receive the best care possible by providers who are thoroughly vetted before becoming a member of the Forrest General Hospital staff.
The recipient of the Dr. Philip W. Rogers Mentor Award is Zach Christ, PSPM, DABR, Cancer Center.
Zach, chief physicist at the Cancer Center, has demonstrated exceptional leadership through his pioneering work in developing a clinical protocol and securing special RAM licensing to administer Pluvicto, a life-saving prostate cancer drug used to treat select, advanced prostate cancer patients where the disease has metastasized to other parts of the body.
Pluvicto is a multi-disciplinary effort between radiation oncology and the radiology service line. Prior to the Cancer Center administering the drug, patients had to travel out of the area to receive treatment. Zach felt the Cancer Center had a commitment to provide advanced treatment modalities to the community and South Mississippi.
Zach is one of the youngest chief physicists in the nation. He has quickly inspired a multi-disciplinary team with his dedication and attention to detail. He has also mentored junior staff, ensuring the knowledge and practices he has developed will benefit future patients and healthcare providers.
Zach’s leadership led to the creation of the protocol that ensures safe and effective administering of Pluvicto. His work required not only scientific expertise, but also strategic collaboration with healthcare providers, regulatory agencies, and pharmaceutical partners. Through his leadership, six patients have already received treatment, improving both survival rates and quality of life.
Zach is a trailblazer – a pioneer who is leading the way and breaking new ground at a young age.
The Dr. Philip W. Rogers Humanitarian Award was presented to Amanda Ladd, FNP, Hospitalist Services.
Amanda works with Hospitalist Services as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is described as the epitome of Forrest Health’s We CARE values and represents Forrest General in the best light every night she comes to work. Night after night she truly goes above and beyond for every patient she encounters. In addition, she is an excellent resource for staff and patients, alike. Whether she is called to calm an agitated patient or address a family after a loved one has passed, she is always kind and comforting.
Though there are many instances where her true personality has shown through, one night in particular really shows what she is made of. There was an extremely confused elderly patient who staff could not get calmed down. This patient seemed to respond well to Amanda once she made it to his bedside. To assist staff and ensure patient safety, Amanda stayed at the patient’s bedside, answering calls and pages, and placing orders to ensure the patient felt safe and didn’t have to be alone. She took time out of her extremely busy night to show this particular patient the utmost kindness.
This year, there are two recipients of the Dr. Philip W. Rogers Advocate Award. The first is Dr. Brian Rifkin, MD, Nephrology.
Dr. Brian Rifkin is being recognized for researching, writing, and lobbying support to get a bill signed into law by the Mississippi Legislature in April of this year. The law, HB1130 – The Living Donor Protection Act in Mississippi – protects living donors and their insurance rights.
Through a social media group Dr. Rifkin works with, an international group of physicians provide free, open-access medical education. At times, non-physicians also join in the talks. During a 2023 conversation, the group talked about transplantation. It was during one of these conversations Dr. Rifkin met John Maxcy from Fulton, MS. John had donated his kidney to a complete stranger in 2019 and was looking at being a living partial liver donor in 2023, thus becoming the state’s first altruistic dual organ donor. John spoke to Dr. Rifkin about the many obstacles he had faced, most recently, the refusal to renew his life insurance policy because of his kidney donation. This was the start of Dr. Rifkin’s journey to become an advocate for living donors.
Dr. Rifkin started by researching Mississippi’s existing laws, while finding existing laws from other states pertaining to living donation and insurance rights. He created his own bill by pulling different parts of other bills together until he had created his own law for Mississippi. He and John then started looking for a sponsor for the bill. Rep. Oscar Denton (District 55, Vicksburg) was willing to present the bill to the Insurance Committee. As time for presentation of the bill narrowed and the bill had not come up and was likely to die in committee, Dr. Rifkin contacted every member of the House and Senate Insurance Committees in an effort to advance the bill. Ultimately, the bill was introduced and was eventually passed by the House and Senate, without incident, and was signed into law in April of this year.
With the passage of Rifkin’s bill, Mississippi became the 34th state to provide such donor protections.
The second recipient of the Dr. Philip W. Rogers Advocate Award is Carolyn Woullard, Radiology.
As the scheduling supervisor for the Forrest General Radiology Department, Carolyn is exceptionally dedicated to patient care and support. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure patients and employees get timely access to the exams they need. In a role where efficiency and empathy are essential, Carolyn excels. She skillfully manages scheduling complexities, navigating any roadblocks with remarkable patience and persistence to accommodate patients.
For patients facing stressful health concerns, Carolyn serves as an advocate, easing their worries by securing appointments and keeping them informed every step of the way. By proactively collaborating with medical teams and maintaining a compassionate approach, Carolyn has significantly improved the patient experience and made a lasting, positive impact on the organization. Her dedication during the last 36 years to Forrest Health exemplifies the values of the healthcare team, making her highly deserving of this recognition.
Recently, a post-op patient urgently needed an exam to determine if post-op bleeding was occurring. The Bariatric Program coordinator sought Carolyn’s help. The barium swallow test could not be performed for more than 30 days. Carolyn quickly called the supervisor to find a spot ASAP. When the patient arrived the following day, Carolyn was notified the exam was not possible due to equipment limitations. She organized the surgery staff and physician to perform the exam using a non-traditional method.
Carolyn’s experience with how and when to schedule and perform exams helps meet patient needs every day. Carolyn is not clinical, but has experience and wisdom and thinks critically and with clinical knowledge.
She is a true monarch in her field.
For more information on services offered by Forrest General Hospital or to find a physician, visit www.forrestgeneral.org.
