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Christian Hospital Foundation Honors Rance Thomas, Express Scripts, Antonio Penilla
The Christian Hospital Foundation will host the fifth annual Legacy Leaders Dinner on Wednesday, November 6.
Each year at the Legacy Leaders Dinner, the Christian Hospital Foundation formally recognizes those who devote their professional and/or personal work to bettering the lives of residents in North County. This year, two individuals and one business will be honored.
The Paul F. Detrick Legacy Leadership Award will be presented to Dr. Rance Thomas. Thomas is the cofounder and President of the North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice (NCCU). This organization consists of 22 churches of various denominations that promote racial understanding and harmony within North County.
Thomas’ outstanding leadership and work is reflected in the many honors he has already received as well as the different boards he serves on. He organized the annual North County Health Screening and Health Fair ten years ago and started the North County Youth Task Force eight years ago. From serving as a long time board member of North County, Inc. to serving as Vice-President and Healthcare taskforce chairman – Thomas’ hours of service to the North County Community are immeasurable.
The Community Vision Award will be presented to Express Scripts. Express Scripts is the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit manager with a mission to make the use of prescription drugs safer and more affordable. The company helps 100 million Americans make better decisions to achieve healthier outcomes.
Since its inception in 1986, Express Scripts’ leadership has reinvested in North County through its foundation, corporate giving and generous employee community volunteerism projects. Express Scripts’ commitment to North County has served as a catalyst for new jobs, economic growth and a strong vision for the future.
The Physician of the Year Award will be presented to Antonio Penilla, MD. Penilla began at Christian Hospital in 1975 as an internist on the medical staff. In 1979, he left private practice to pursue a fellowship in cardiology, and since 1981 has been active in providing cardiac care in North County and at Christian Hospital.
Several years ago, Penilla and his colleagues joined the BJC Medical Group, forming The Heart Care Group. The group is well known for providing excellent care and has become one of the most respected in the region. Penilla is a very familiar presence in the halls of Christian Hospital, as he always offers a welcoming smile, warm handshake and keen clinical insight. He has the well-earned respect of the medical staff, nursing staff and administration from his years of excellent service.
The Legacy Leaders Dinner will be held in the Atrium of the Paul F. Detrick Building at Christian Hospital. The evening will include a cocktail reception, sit-down dinner and awards celebration. Sponsorships and reservations can be obtained by contacting Kamille Pope at 314-653-4191 or kamille.pope@bjc.org. Individual reservations are $100 each. A portion of each sponsorship/reservation is a tax-deductible gift to the Christian Hospital Foundation.
