North Carolina moves pig pickin’ to Pinehurst; Imaging exec tolead Hill-Rom out of homes; Kodak Health Imaging acquires Lumisys
No. Carolina moves Pig Pickin’ to Pinehurst
Brittany Widner’s eyes were shining with wonder as she marveled at the sights and sounds of her first North Carolina Biomedical Association Symposium. She stood in the exhibit hall at the Pinehurst Resort clutching a shopping bag in her left hand and only occasionally sucking her right thumb.
Sucking her thumb?
Brittany is the daughter of DITEC’s Brenda and Joe Widner, and at two years old, is a little young to work on medical equipment. But she wasn’t the only person viewing the 22nd annual NCBA symposium with fresh eyes. The NCBA moved to the venerable Pinehurst Resort in historic Pinehurst, N.C., this year. Yet amid aristocratic surroundings, the Pig Picken’ spirit of the gathering — and the NCBA’s barbecue — remained intact.
With 425 paid registrations, the NCBA is one of the oldest and busiest meetings in the industry. Education sessions included hands-on manufacturer’s training, management concepts and important lessons on humor in the workplace.
Association business was conducted during the symposium’s luncheons, and several awards were presented.
The Eddy G. Whisnant Scholarship was given to June Osborne, a student at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (Hudson, N.C.). Osborne’s nomination cited her leadership skills, her ability to manage personal responsibilities and her 3.82 grade point average.
The Norm “Red” Reeves Scholarship went to Larry Scott Riley III, a Stanly Community College (Albemarle, N.C.) student with a 3.79 grade point average. Said John Page, Program Head of Stanly’s Electronics Engineering Program, “It takes someone special to do a great job each and every day. Mr. Riley is this type of individual.”
Hill-Rom doubled it’s contribution to the Professional of the Year award. It’s now worth $1,000 and this year’s check was presented to Steven E. Guerrant, CBET, (left) of the Duke Health System. Department director Ray Laxton commented on Guerrant’s reputation for handling tough assignments and his activities in support of local schools. Said Laxton, “Steve is clearly an exceptional role model for all BMETs.”
New this year was the Spacelabs-sponsored Manager of the Year award. The first winner of a $1,000 check and North Carolina-shaped plaque was Erv Kelman, CBET, (left) of the Moses Cone Healthcare System. Brian Poplin, CBET, chairman of the award committee, said Kelman was nominated unanimously and vigorously by the members of his biomed department.
In his last act before passing the gavel, outgoing NCBA president Glen Scales, CBET, announced the recipient of the President’s Award. “I had a difficult choice,” said Scales. “But I can’t think of anyone I’d rather give this award to than Helen Jones.”
Jones, a biomed at North Carolina Baptist Hospital (Winston-Salem, N.C.) is the hotel coordinator for the NCBA and oversaw the symposium’s successful move to Pinehurst.
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