Hope Medical Outreach Coalition honors professionals

Susanna Von Essen, M.D., UNMC physician and volunteer for the Hope Medical Outreach Coalition, poses with keynote speaker, Eric Crouch, former Nebraska Cornhusker quarterback and 2001 Heisman Memorial Trophy winner.

The Hope Medical Outreach Coalition recently honored the coalition’s network of volunteer health care providers. Members of the network include health professionals from UNMC and The Nebraska Medical Center.

The May 13 event at the Holiday Inn Convention Center included a dinner, silent auction, awards program and keynote address by Eric Crouch, former Nebraska Cornhusker quarterback and 2001 Heisman Memorial Trophy winner.

During the past year, the coalition helped coordinate more than $3 million in donated health care services with the help of a network of 500 health providers and 12 health facilities in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. The coalition is the only organization of its kind in Omaha/Council Bluffs where the uninsured and underinsured can turn for volunteer health care.

Tim Durham, D.D.S., far right, UNMC College of Dentistry faculty member and board member of Hope Medical Outreach Coalition, poses with service honorees, Fred Tafoya, D.D.S., center, and Rick Martin, D.D.S..

Fifteen area physicians, dentists, health center directors and other volunteers were honored for their service. They are:

• Noelle Gillette Cloven, M.D., & Peter Morris M.D., and staff;
  
• Michael Gross, M.D., & Kathy Gross;
  
• Rick Martin, D.D.S.;
  
• Fred Tafoya, D.D.S.;
  
• Charles Marr, chief executive officer, Alegent Health Systems;
  
• Mary Lee Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., executive director, One World Community Health Centers;
  
• Kerri Peterson, executive director, Our Healthy Community Partnership;
  
• Adi Pour, Ph.D., director, Douglas County Health Department;
  
• Kathleen Kelley, chief administrative officer, Douglas County Health Department;
  
• Jan Pelletier, director, Douglas County General Assistance Primary Health Care Network;
  
• Marian Standeven, Operations Leader Mission Services, Alegent Health Systems;
  
• Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County Board of Commissioners; and
  
• Mary Balluff, chief of nutrition and community services, Douglas County Health Department.