Bertram H. Eckmann, MD, Awards

In 2000, the medical staff of Riverside County Regional Medical Center desired to honor the memory of our former Chief of Medical Staff—Dr.  Bertram H. Eckmann—and to recognize and perpetuate ideals he embodied.  Therefore in October 2000, the Medical Executive Committee (MEC) adopted the Bertram H. Eckmann, MD, Awards:  the Visionary Leadership Award and the Emerging Leadership Award.  The medical staff and hospital administration may nominate physicians for these awards in the form of a letter to the MEC.  All nomination letters should cite in detail how the service of the proposed recipient meets award criteria. The MEC shall serve as the Award Committee.  Presentation of the awards will be at the Annual June Meeting of the medical staff and members of the Eckmann family will be invited to attend and assist in the presentation.     

To further honor Dr. Eckmann, the RCRMC medical library was dedicated to him in December 2000.           

Visionary Leadership Award

This award is the highest award that the RCRMC medical staff may bestow on one of its members who has made remarkable and sustained contributions to the medical staff of Riverside County Regional Medical Center.  This award recognizes Dr. Eckmann’s monumental contributions to the medical staff and administration, his ability to represent the interests of the medical staff, and to facilitate a close relationship to hospital administration and the governing board.  It honors Dr. Eckmann as a man of integrity and professional ethics, who put the interest of patients first while serving family and community in active and innovative ways.   

On June 22, 2006, the RCRMC medical staff proudly bestowed the Eckmann Visionary Award to Eskild Reinhold, M.D., for his:       

• Service as a skilled surgeon to the RCRMC medical staff and the community with remarkable distinction since 1973.
• Building the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and steadied it when the LLU Orthopaedic Residency consolidated to the Loma Linda campus.
• Leadership to our medical staff, serving as President of Medical Staff, 1984-1985; Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery Department, 2001-2002; and Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery Department, 1978-2001. 
• Faithful service to numerous medical staff committees, including presiding officer of the Credentials Committee, 2000-2001; Hospital-Based Physicians Committee, 1978-1994; and member of the Medical Executive Committee, 1978-2002; and the Joint Conference Committee, 1978-1994.
• Strong leadership to the hospital-based physicians, which coordinated supportive private practice at the County Hospital, 1978-1994.
• Clinical excellence and commitment to the Mission of Riverside County Medical Center.  
• Dedication to the local community, working a half-day clinic each week at one of the CCS Medical Therapy Units for genetically handicapped children.   
• Steady influence and role model to younger physicians.

Emerging Leadership Award

This award recognizes leadership and leadership potential of physicians who have been members of the RCRMC medical staff less than five years.  It lauds Dr. Eckmann’s wisdom as a mentor for trainees and junior medical staff and his contributions to the body of medical knowledge.  It honors his recognition that health care is a complex enterprise requiring collaboration among many stakeholders, and recognizes the genuine interest and humor he brought to patient encounters.    

The medical staff recognized the following three physicians for their monumental contributions:

Roger Corey Garrison, D.O., has exemplified the criteria of the Eckmann Emerging Leadership Award by his faithful stewardship of programs entrusted to his care and the needs of his colleagues, and by his:   

• Superb performance as the Chief Medicine Resident, 2002-2003, and subsequent appointment to a full-time faculty position in the Department of Medicine.
• Professionalism and teaching of students and residents assigned to the Internal Medicine Service.
• Expertise as a physician, skilled educator, and organizational skills.
• Appointment in March 2004, to the position of Osteopathic Director of Medical Education (ODME), established the OGME Committee, developed the Institution Core Competency Plan, monthly lectures, and faithful commitment to assist all programs in meeting the requirements of the osteopathic training programs.
• Collaboration with colleagues in the Orthopaedic and Anesthesia departments and setting a standard of excellence.
• Work with colleagues, administration, and accreditors to birth programs that are educating young people from our communities.

           
    Ramiz Fargo, M.D., has exemplified the RCRMC mission to provide service to all in need and to educate the next generation of caregivers.  He has also exemplified the criteria of the Eckmann Award for Emerging Leadership by his:   

• Service as a pulmonologist, intensivist, somnologist, and internist since July 2002.
• Steadfast determination which has resulted in organizational improvements to the Pulmonary Service.
• Collaborative efforts that included Emergency Department staff, Quality Management, Administration, Critical Care Nursing leadership, Housekeeping, and others to analyze patient flow through the organization. Effectively using resources in the Utilization Review Department and identifying improvement in a complex process.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams and the resident staff to improve outcome of Code Blue—survival of code blues at RCRMC now surpass benchmark.
• Collaboration with administration, nursing, and other stakeholders to establish the need for standardization of crash carts and updating of hospital defibrillators.
• Faithful care of his patients, regardless of the call schedule – often seen on weekends doing bronchoscopies or making ventilator adjustments or consultations.
• Enthusiastic participation in the RCRMC educational programs.    

Webster Wong, M.D., has exemplified the criteria of the Eckmann Emerging Leadership Award by his:

• Service to the Pediatric Department since 2003, serving as department chair and vice chair, 2003-2006, and current appointment of department vice chair.
• Membership and active participation in numerous RCRMC medical staff committees.
• Active participation in hospitalist program; California Childrens’ Services, hospital compliance and accreditation process; and the Child Abuse and Neglect Team program.   
• Enthusiasm and energy that is contagious to all.
• Ability to work with others, create a consensus, and move forward.
• Problem-solving skills while integrating all ideas.
• Devotion to patient care and community outreach programs.
• Commitment to the education of family medicine residents, medical students, and physician assistant students.      

 
File: Eckmann Awards.2006

— 06-0808a