MORGANTOWN – At Saturday’s Mon Health Medical Center Auxiliary’s 60th Ball of the Year, the medical center community and its supporters celebrated the Auxiliary’s mission and spirit.
Attendees also enjoyed a surprise: the introduction of physician recognition awards recognizing the outstanding achievements of some of Mon Health’s leading physicians.
Mon Health System President and CEO David Goldberg opened the gala saying, “Without a doubt, tonight is truly wild, wonderful and whimsical,” commenting on the night’s theme – Wild, Wonderful & Whimsical. “We continue to grow services, expertise and advancement, and remote locations, to ensure that no community, no citizen goes without the care they need. Ever.”
Krystal Atkinson, Mon Health Medical Center chief administrative officer and system chief nursing executive, said, “Service is our hallmark. We have strong clinical leaders that are focused on quality care that Mon Health is know for, and they’re supported by amazing teams who work diligently to ensure that Mon Health delivers high-quality, cost-effective care, and with compassion.”
The first physician award was the Patrick R. Esposito and E. Caroline Esposito Physician Excellence in Patient Care Award, created by friends of the Espositos in their honor. It honors the years of leadership, service and contributions of longtime MHMC and former MHS board member Dr. Pat Esposito. The friends also created a fund to help support advances in pulmonary care.
Four physicians received the award.
Dr. Christopher Edwards is medical director of Emergency Services across Vandalia North (Mon Health and Davids Health). Goldberg noted that he’s worked in every Er in the system to see how they perform. He pioneered publicizing wait times and led the hospital in achieving the region’s only geriatric ER designation. He embodies the essence of “your emergency is our emergency.”
Dr. William McBee leads MHMC’s nationally recognized advanced gynecological oncology care that draws patients come from all over the region, state and country. MHMC is a Center of Excellence for minimally invasive gynecology and McBee and serves on the MHMC Board and chairs the MHMC quality committee.
Dr. Ihtishaam Qazi. Medical director of oncology, is leading the advancement of oncology services from MHMC across the region, is enhancing service at Stonewall Jackson, launching new service at Preston Memorial, starting to coordinate service programs at Davis Medical Center.
Unable to attend Saturday was Dr. Alan Hess. Goldberg termed him Morgantown’s acclaimed leading primary care physician. He is a former board member and community-recognized as “Best in Morgantown” primary care physician. “Dr. Hess selflessly puts patients before self and has for decades treated families with care, expertise, compassion and heart.”
The next award honors two Mon Health physicians who recently passed away: the Drs. Wade Stoughton and Roger King Physician Leadership Award. Stoughton, a urologist, and King, a general surgeon, served in leadership and patient care roles for decade.
Three physicians were honored their names read by Atkinson.
Dr. Mary Edwards is a previously recognized “Wonder Woman,” board certified emergency room physician. She was “ stalwart during the COVID pandemic, leading us through all the ebbs and flows to ensure we cared for our patients in the most trying times. Dr. Edwards gives selflessly to advance care and ensure the safest environment for our providers, patients, community and colleagues.
Dr. Susan Capelle is a community-based independent uro-gynecologist. She “has advanced care for decades right here in Morgantown is serving the region selflessly.” She serves on the Mon Health/Vandalia Health North Board of Directors, system quality committee. She retired from that board service and came back to stay active and a part of Mon Health’s patient-centered vision.
Dr. Mark Johnson, “whether doing care in a third-world country, training the next generation of doctors in clinic, operating room or on the patient care floor of the hospital, leads our surgical service line with grit, heart and a drive for excellence in patient care. … Dr. Johnson gives of what time he has in between family, community service and care delivery to train the future and be a voice of highest quality patient centered medicine in all ways possible.”
The final award was the Vandalia North Innovation Award, “created by a donor to ensure that advanced care, technologies and modalities to improve patient care, patient care quality and outcomes are recognized and celebrated and to reward innovative thinking and development of clinicians.”
Three physicians were honored.
Dr. Jaschar Shakuri-Rad – Goldberg calls him Dr. Robot – has led the advancement of robotic and minimally invasive surgery. “His development of medical devices and approaches, identifying technologies to advance care modalities and techniques have ensured the best leading care possible for our state, region and even training providers in Europe of advanced urological approaches to best care for patients.”
Dr. Tom McClellan – Goldberg calls him The Tinkerer – holds more than 60 patents and created West Virgnia’s first clinician-led medical device studio: Intermed Labs. “Dr. McClellan partnered with Mon Health, Marshall and now broader Vandalia Health to help clinicians have a channel to share ideas to produce ways to improve care through device development, tinker with the ideas for viability and work to develop them to benefit patients and providers.”
Dr. Wissam Gharib “has led efforts to develop the most advanced techniques for improving patients’ lives through the most advanced ways to treat structural heart illness, deformities and diagnosis.” He was an international leader in Watchman afib procedure, launched mitral clip in the region; and performed the first cases of renal denvervation (to help launch a new device to help with heart flow and blood pressure. “His cardiology program led us to new heights.”
This 60th Ball of the Year also celebrated the Auxiliary’s 80th anniversary. Ball chair Jess Maroulis said, “Tonight I stand before you to celebrate a group of individuals who embody the spirit of generosity and selflessness: our volunteers.”
The Auxiliary celebrated that spirit by honoring longtime member and immediate past President Chris Battin with an inaugural award named for her: the Chris Battin Community Service Award.
The is the Auxiliary’s last ball. The Foundation will take over a system-wide ball while the Auxiliary moves to a new fundraiser for Mon Health Medical Center. The Derby debuts May 3, 2025, in conjunction with the running of the Kentucky Derby.
New Auxiliary President Bethann Gamponia said, “The Derby brings fresh energy and enthusiasm for our mission, and I believe it will become a beloved tradition for our community.”
The ball raised funds for the operation and maintenance of the Caring Cottages project: furnished apartments to serve patients and their families coming in for care from out of town.
Goldberg said that while the first cottage is under construction, Mon Health will start by using vacant rooms at the Village at Heritage Point.
