Our own DFW Hospital Council (DFWHC) President/CEO Stephen Love was a surprise recipient of three community awards over the past month from D CEO, Children at Risk and ACHE of North Texas.

Love was announced as a nominee for the D CEO Lifetime Achievement in Healthcare Award on September 18. The award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated excellence and has had a meaningful impact over the course of a career in North Texas healthcare. Love will be recognized in a special feature in the December issue of D CEO, at dmagazine.com, D CEO Healthcare, and at an exclusive event before the end of the year.

Children at Risk announced in September that Love would be the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Healthcare Hero. He will be presented his award during a virtual ceremony on October 1 starting at 7:00 p.m., CDT.

The ACHE of North Texas also announced in September that Love would receive its 2020 Senior Leader of the Year Award. The award will be presented during a virtual event to be broadcast on November 4 starting at 6:00 p.m., CDT.

“It was such an unexpected surprise to receive these awards,” Love said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have witnessed our hospital healthcare heroes rise to the occasion during this moment of truth. I have never been prouder to work with our hospital employees and leaders. They are far more deserving of these awards, but I am thankful for the honor.”

Since the pandemic reached North Texas in March, Love has worked continuously at the DFWHC offices in support of the hospitals. Serving as a spokesperson, he was interviewed more than 175 times by the media over a four-month period. In addition:

• He has coordinated multiple meetings to ease the fear for residents when calling 9-1-1;
• Advocated with Governor Greg Abbott to request a “shelter in place” order, federal aid and the removal of licensing restrictions for nursing students to boost the workforce;
• Released a community video honoring North Texas healthcare heroes;
• Advocated continuously to the media to remind residents to wear cloth coverings over their mouths to decrease the spread of the virus;
• And hosted the radio program “The Human Side of Healthcare,” which provided weekly updates on the pandemic in North Texas.

“Our healthcare heroes have been working so diligently to conduct ‘business as usual’ under these unimaginable circumstances,” Love said. “I have simply been doing my part to assist our community in slowing the spread of COVID-19. We could not have done this if our hospital leaders were not supporting these community efforts on a daily basis. I offer my thanks to their work throughout this ongoing crisis.”