Before a near sold out audience yesterday at the Arlington Convention Center, the DFW Hospital Council (DFWHC) celebrated the 70th anniversary of its Annual Awards Luncheon before 700-plus attendees.

Recipients honored included Charlie Powell of Ciera Bank and JPS Health Network with the Distinguished Health Service Award; Jyric Sims of Medical City Fort Worth as the Young Healthcare Executive of the Year; and Jim L. Turner of Baylor Scott & White Health as the Kerney Laday, Sr. Trustee of the Year.

Scott Peek, chair of DFWHC and COO at Baylor University Medical Center, served as Master of Ceremonies. Michael Darrouzet, CEO of the Dallas County Medical Society, provided the invocation while Brian Swift, CEO of the Tarrant County Medical Society, provided the benediction.

Additional honorees included Young Healthcare Executive of the Year nominees Kyle Armstrong of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center McKinney, Brandie Meyer of Texas Health Resources and Nkem Okafor of Methodist Health System.

The event kicked off with the introduction of the chairs of the boards of trustees of all DFWHC-member hospitals, followed by the Dallas Street Choir, a group made up of the homeless and disadvantaged, performing the National Anthem.

They were followed by a video detailing the history of the Annual Awards Luncheon dating back to 1948. The film was created and produced by Agency Creative and will be posted to DFWHC’s website next week.

Keynote Speaker Alan Simpson, the former long-time senator of Wyoming, discussed his 30-plus years in politics in addition to a few “spicy” comments on U.S. fiscal responsibility.

DFWHC would like to thank this year’s top Platinum Sponsors Hall Render and CampbellWilson.

Additional sponsors included:
Gold – GroupOne Background Screening
Media – Denitech, Agency Creative
Silver – Accenture
Bronze – Cantey Hanger, Catapult Systems, Cigna, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Optum and ProPath.

Hospital Platinum – Texas Health Resources
Hospital Gold – Baylor Scott & White Health, Medical City Healthcare
Hospital Silver – Kindred Healthcare
Hospital Bronze – Children’s Health, Cook Children’s Health Care System, JPS Health Network, Methodist Health System and UT Southwestern.

Dignitaries in attendance included:
• Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins;
• Wylie Mayor Eric Hogue;
• Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter;
• Texas Hospital Association President/CEO Ted Shaw;
• David Pearson of the American Hospital Association;
• former Kerney Laday Award recipient Levi Davis;
• former Distinguished Health Service Award recipients Ruben Esquivel, Clinton Howard and Jerry Gilmore;
• former Boone Powell, Sr. Award recipients Doug Hawthorne and Ron Smith;
• Kerney Laday, Jr. and his wife Marcia;
• and former DFWHC President/CEO John Gavras.

DFWHC would like to thank all sponsors, attendees and trustees for participating and carrying on this tradition to honor quality healthcare in North Texas.