Health Care Champion Awards

This year marks the inaugural Health Care Champions Awards, presented by Integrated Media Publishing. These awards celebrate and honor the extraordinary individuals, teams, and organizations making a profound impact on patient care, innovation, and community health. These prestigious awards recognize unsung heroes – from frontline clinicians and nurses to researchers, administrators, and volunteers – whose dedication, compassion, and groundbreaking contributions advance healthcare excellence and improve lives every day. Now presented annually, the awards highlight inspiring stories of resilience, leadership, and transformative change in the healthcare sector. We are thrilled to honor these Health Care Champions for their life-saving work serving our South Carolina community.

Category Name Healthcare Champion Recipient

Acupuncturist East Acupuncture Wellness Greenville
Allergy and Immunology Apex Allergy
Behavioral Health Crisis Centers iTrust Wellness
Cancer Rehabilitation Prisma Health Upstate
Cardiac Rehabilitation Prisma Health Upstate
Chiropractor Dr. Scott Lawson, Lawson Chiropractic
Chiropractor Dr. Brandon Morris, North Myrtle Beach Chiropractic
Clinical Social Workers Kwanis Carlos, LCSW, Healing Beyond Imperfections
Community Health Champion Matt Dilleshaw, Proactive MD
Compassion in Care Ashley Wooten, Proactive MD
Cosmetic Surgeons O'Neill Plastic Surgery
Dentists, Endodontists, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons,

Orthodontists, Pediatric Dentists, Periodontists, Prosthodontists Dr. Plunkett, Kiawah Village Dentistry

Diabetes ManagementPrisma Health Upstate
Dietitians / Registered Dietitians (RD, RDN) Mrs. Lori Huang
Drug & Alcohol Detox / Rehab Facilities Recovery Centers of America at Greenville
Endocrinology (Diabetes & Hormones) Gabriel Fernandez - MUSC
ENT-Otolaryngologists Dr. Edward B. Penn, Jr., MD - Prisma ENT
Exercise & Fitness Centers YMCA of Greenville Association Services
Family Medicine / Family Practice Dr. Geevan George, Spartanburg Regional
Frontline Excellence Dr. Martin R. Jones, MD, Conway Medical Center
Funeral Homes & Medical Transport for Deceased Living Waters Funeral Home & Crematory
Geriatrics (Elderly Care) Prisma Health Center for Success in Aging - Greenville
Guardian of Wellness Mary Kay Heffernan, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, Elite Integrated Therapy Centers
Healing Hands Mary Kay Heffernan, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, Elite Integrated Therapy Centers
Healing Hands Matthew Dillashaw, FNP, Proactive MD
Innovation in Healthcare Dr. Jerome Aya-ay, Palmetto Proactive Healthcare
Large Health Care Organization (500+ employees) CareSouth Carolina
Large Health Care Organization (500+ employees) Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital
Legacy of Care Chris Daughtry, Occupational Therapy, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Greenville
Legacy of Care Debra Gibbs, FNP, Proactive MD
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists Amphora Counseling LLC
Licensed Professional Counselors iTrust Wellness
Lifesaver Recognition Martha Parker Hester, MD, Prisma Health
Medical Spas O'Neill Plastic Surgery
Mid-Size Health Care Organization (100-499 employees) Proactive Md
Mobile Mammography Units Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
Naturopathic Physicians Nirvana Women's Holistic Health & Wellness Center
Neurology Dr. George M. Sandoz, MD, Conway Medical Center
Neurosurgeons Charles Christopher Kanos, MD, Prisma Health
Nurse Practitioners Ngozi Eke, FNP-BC, Proactive MD
Obstetrician-Gynecologists (Surgical focus on women's reproductive health) Dr Gerald Bernard Taylor, Roper St. Francis
Obstetrics and Gynecology Dr. Gerald Bernard Taylor, Roper St. Francis Urogynecology and Pelvic Surgery
Obstetrics and Gynecology Stella Marie Walvoord, MD, Prisma Health
Ophthalmology Dr. William H. Ballinger III, OD, Jervey Eye Group
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Ashraf Heram, MD, Grand Strand Health
Orthopedic Surgeons Peter Ramsey, MD, OrthoSC
Orthotists & Prosthetists Allied Arms
Pain Management Clinics Kevin Burton Walker, MD, Prisma Health
Patient Advocate Deandra Childs, Proactive MD
Pediatrics Robert Blake Windsor, MD, Prisma Health
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Mary Kay Heffernan, Physical Therapist
Physical Rehabilitation Centers Elite Integrated Therapy Centers
Physical Therapists (PT, DPT) Mary Kay Heffernan, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT
Physician Assistants (PA-C) Caitlin Reveal, PAC Urology Charleston - Roper St. Francis
Psychiatry (Mental Health) iTrust Wellness
Resilient Caregiver Debra Gibbs, FNP, Proactive MD
Resilient Caregiver Matthew Dillashaw, FNP, Proactive MD
Small Health Care Organization (1-99 employees) North Myrtle Beach Chiropractic