OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIST AWARD
The Outstanding Philanthropist award is given annually in recognition of an individual or institution that has provided outstanding support for the work of the Alameda County Health Care Foundation in its efforts to raise funds on behalf of the Alameda County Medical Center. The recipient is selected by the board and staff of the Foundation. Clyde Thompson, chair of the board of directors of the Foundation, shared the rationale for the decision: “This award is long overdue and so well-deserved. Over the years, Kaiser has been extraordinarily supportive of the Foundation and the Medical Center. Kaiser has been a generous, long-term and committed partner with the Foundation in its work to fund the Medical Center’s priority needs. Kaiser shares the Medical Center’s mission and focus on promoting a healthy community and helping reduce health disparities. Kaiser has made significant gifts for our two major capital campaigns, and has provided operational support and funds for program priorities. For our first capital campaign, Kaiser took a leadership role in hosting a breakfast for community leaders and funders. They encouraged others to support the campaign, and led the way through their example. Kaiser is a true community partner and a very generous one! We look forward to continuing this wonderful partnership.”
The award will be accepted on behalf of Kaiser Permanente by Yvette Radford. Yvette is Kaiser Permanente’s Vice President of External and Community Affairs in Northern California. In this capacity, she is accountable for Government Relations, Community Benefit Programs, Community Benefit Reporting and Compliance, Educational Theatre Programs, Institutional & Planned Giving, and Community Relations.
Additionally, Yvette provides leadership and consultation for some of Kaiser Permanente’s strategic projects and national initiatives.
Prior to this role, Yvette served as Community Relations Director for Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Public Affairs Director in the East Bay Service Area. Yvette came to Kaiser Permanente after working 12 years in the California State Legislature for Assembly member Tom Bates.
Yvette currently serves on the governing boards for numerous community organizations including the Partnership for Children and Youth, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), the Oakland Workforce Investment Board, Chabot Space and Science Center Corporate Advisory Board, the Oakland African American Chamber Foundation Board and the Legislative Summer and Intersession Enrichment Task Force.
OUTSTANDING PHYSICIAN AWARD
To say that Valerie Ng, PhD, MD, has an impressive resume is an understatement. Dr. Ng’s academic achievements are a lengthy list in and of themselves. Dr. Ng graduated from Oakland High School and received her AB degree in Physiology from UC Berkeley. She then went to Texas where she received her PhD from the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Houston. She then obtained her MD from the UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. Returning to the Bay Area, Dr. Ng completed a residency in Laboratory Medicine at UCSF and joined the UCSF Laboratory Medicine faculty in the late 1980s. Over her 15+ year career at UCSF she earned the rank of Professor with responsibilities as Director of the UCSF Clinical Laboratory at San Francisco General Hospital (1999-2005); Interim Chair, UCSF Department of Laboratory Medicine (2000-2005); and Chief of the Medical Staff, San Francisco General Hospital (2003-2005).
Upon retiring from UCSF in June 2005, Dr. Ng joined the Alameda County Medical Center in July 2005 to be Chair, ACMC Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; Director, ACMC Clinical Laboratory; and Director, ACMC Transfusion Service. She concurrently serves on the Board of Directors for the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and is a member of the external advisory board for the UGA College of Pharmacy. She also serves as Chair of the Laboratory Medicine Editorial Review Group for Doody Enterprises. She completed a seven-year stint on the national Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee in 2007 and remains a consultant to various FDA advisory committees (Microbiology Devices Panel, Hematology & Pathology Devices Panel, Molecular & Clinical Genetics Advisory Panel). She also lectures locally and nationally by invitation on various laboratory medicine topics, plays violin and piano in chamber ensembles, knits (a hobby she started in 2007 thanks to Mini Swift's encouragement to continue pursuing work-life balance), and tries (valiantly) to stay current with Kung-Fu movies.
To Dr. Ng the Outstanding Physician award recognizes someone who has made a positive difference in how ACMC provides the best possible care for its patients. The "someone" has to have done something so above and beyond the great things done everyday by all ACMC providers and staff to merit special recognition.
Because Laboratory Medicine specialists are often behind the scenes, Dr. Ng finds the award especially meaningful. As she expressed: “Whatever I did must have made a noticeable difference in everyone's life (providers, staff, and patients). And I’m glad. This award is a tremendous honor for me. I am most grateful to have been chosen by my colleagues. I am very humbled to have been selected when, from my perspective, so many others are so much more deserving. But, of course, the award belongs to many more than just me. The award also belongs to all the Laboratory and Pathology staff who gave their full support and were always available to help me get done what I wanted/needed to get done. I couldn't ask for a better team. The award also belongs to all the incomparable ACMC providers and staff whose constant support and direction allowed me to succeed. Thank you all.”
OUTSTANDING CAREGIVER AWARD
Denise Kirk , RN, CCM,has been in the nursing profession for more than 25 years and recently received her case management certification. From the beginning, Denise stood out in her field; upon receiving her degree in nursing, she was awarded highest honors. In her current role as an RN Emergency Room Case Manager, Denise draws on her many years of experience in critical care, medical/surgical, and orthopedic nursing.
In 2006, Denise was asked to implement an Emergency Room (ER) Case Management program at Alameda County Medical Center. This was at a time when this model of care was just beginning to be implemented in the US. While nursing is Denise’s life-calling, in ER case management Denise has found her greatest passion.
As ER Case Manager, Denise established the framework for the Malignancy Navigation Program (MNP), which coordinates medical services for patients who have recently been diagnosed with malignancy, as well as for those who are undergoing diagnostic testing for this. As one can imagine, these patients are typically engulfed by a profound sense of aloneness, isolation, hopelessness, and fear. This is where the MNP enters in. Case managers reach out to develop a connection with patients and to cultivate their trust. This relationship enables case managers to be able to support patients in navigating the complex health care system involved in accessing needed care and treatment.
In her role of ER Case Manager, Denise applies her top-notch skills in critical thinking, patient education, and inter-personal relationship-building. As a result of her remarkable ability to develop trusting relationships with her patients, Denise makes a significant impact on the quality of their lives, as well as those of their family members.
Asked how OakCare Medical Group selected Denise for this year’s Outstanding Caregiver award, Dr. Barry Simon, Chair, Emergency Medicine, summed it up well: “Denise makes a significant positive impact on our patients. She is just amazing; she is diligent, smart, savvy—patients just love her! Physicians depend on her to help patients navigate the system; they know that she will always follow through. She also trains and mentors other nurses to help ensure that all patients who need these services will have access to them.”
When not at the Medical Center, Denise volunteers in community programs including ones that support women and children who are in residential treatment programs. Not one to sit still, Denise is pursuing the study of essential oils, aromatherapy, and healing touch, and is planning to pursue a credential in this field; and, in her “spare time,” Denise designs and creates beautiful original jewelry using a variety of materials.
