MORA Recognizes Hospital and Community Partners with Annual Spero Awards

August 11, 2020

The Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency’s Spero Awards recognize community and hospital partners that make organ, eye, and tissue donation a reality for those in need of life-saving and healing transplants. The word Spero is Latin for “hope,” chosen to reflect the hope made possible through the Gift of Life.

“We are so very thankful for your dedicated work in honoring the wishes of donors and donor families that want to make a difference by giving life, says Kevin Stump, MORA CEO. “This amazing work translates into personal miracles for patients and their loved ones waiting on a second chance at life. On behalf of MORA and the Donate Life community, we say, ‘Thank you, healthcare heroes’.”

Spero Awards Video

2020 Spero Award recipients:

• Advanced Practice Nurse/Nurse Manager- Angie Fagan, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Community Faith Leader—Gwendolyn Sutton, Pearl
• Donation Advocate—Bill and Leslie Carruth, Meridian
• Hospital Leadership—Singing River Health System
• Most Supportive Ancillary or Healthcare Staff – Critical Care Transport Team, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Most Supportive Care Team—PICU, Children’s of Mississippi
• Most Supportive Coroner—Clayton Cobler, Lauderdale Co.
• Most Supportive Mortuary Services—Mississippi Mortuary
• Most Supportive Organ & Tissue Hospital—Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
• Most Supportive Tissue Hospital—Ocean Springs Hospital
• Nurse Champion- Miranda Lewis, Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
• Physician Champion—Dr. Jennifer Hong, Children’s of Mississippi
• Storyteller Award—Mike Lacy, WLOX-TV  
• Volunteer—Linda Amos, Florence

2020 Spero Award nominees:

Advanced Practice Nurse or Nurse Manager of the Year

• ACNP Group, Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
• Misty Atkins, North Mississippi Medical Center
• Lee Dawkins, Jackson Pulmonary Associates
• Lindsay Tatum, University of Mississippi Medical Center

Community Faith Leader of the Year

• Pastor Tom Belcher, Calvary Baptist Church
• Pastor Calvin Day, St. John Missionary Baptist Church

Donation Advocate

• Kimberly Cooley
• Rachel Roberts

Most Supportive Ancillary or Healthcare Staff

• Ronnie Bagwell, Marty’s Pharmacy
• Michelle Crawford, UMMC Grenada
• Mary Davis, North Mississippi Medical Center
• Tarka Field, North Mississippi Medical Center
• River Oaks Lab
• Britney Ruelet, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• UMMC Critical Care Transport Team

Most Supportive Care Team

• Children’s of MS Child Life, UMMC
• Intensive Care Unit, Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
• Emergency Department, South Central Regional Medical Center

Most Supportive Coroner

• Judy Evans, Copiah Co.
• Wayne Flurry, Stone Co.
• Bryant Jones, Pike Co.
• Clay McMorris, Lincoln Co.
• Sharon Stewart, Hinds Co.

Most Supportive Hospital Leadership

• John Anderson, Anderson Regional Medical Center
• Wendy Barrilleaux, St. Dominic Hospital
• Brad Polk, Merit Health Central

Most Supportive Mortuary Services

• Greater Jackson Funeral Home
• Moore Funeral Home
• Jimmy Roberts, Mississippi Mortuary
• Mose Thompson, Family Memorial Funeral Service

Most Supportive Organ and Tissue Hospital

• North Mississippi Medical Center
• University of Mississippi Medical Center

Most Supportive Tissue Hospital

• Field Health Systems
• North Mississippi Medical Center- Iuka

Nurse Champion

• Morgan Birmingham, North Mississippi Medical Center
• James Burghardt, Merit Health Central
• Amber Dean, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Jacob Frasher, North Mississippi Medical Center
• Bentley Harrison, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Paula Haynes, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Kim Hodges, St. Dominic Hospital
• Larue Lambert, King’s Daughters Hospital
• Paul Munn, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Anna Murrell, North Mississippi Medical Center
• Kelly Patrick, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Matt Pulliam, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Kathryn Purwin, St. Dominic Hospital
• Jason Scott, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Amanda Sharp, Merit Health Rankin

Physician Champion

• Dr. Joseph Borsage, Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
• Dr. Ruth Fredericks, St. Dominic Hospital
• Dr. Christa Nobleza, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Dr. Jaime Ungo, North Mississippi Medical Center
• Dr. Georgia Wahl, Forrest General Hospital
• Dr. Kara Ward, Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
• Dr. Patrick Weldon, Merit Health Central

Storyteller of the Year

• Jasmine Ellis, MPB
• David Kenney, WLBT-TV
• David Pannell, NE Daily Journal
• Maggie Wade, WLBT-TV

Volunteer of the Year

• Jennifer Holmes
• Gwendolyn Sutton

Congratulations to all of the 2020 Spero Award recipients and nominees!