News

Pardee names physician, philanthropist of the year

Friends and supporters of Pardee Hospital enjoyed the second annual black-tie gala on Saturday, June 21.

By Bill Moss, Published: June 23, 2014

Friends and supporters of Pardee Hospital on Saturday honored the 2014 Philanthropist of the Year and 2014 Physician of the Year during the second annual Gala fundraiser sponsored by the Pardee Hospital Foundation.

Dr. William Medina received the award for philanthropy and Dr. James Caserio was named the physician of the year. The awards were presented at the foundation's fundraising event, this year dubbed "A Black Tie Affair," and themed for an African Safari, the prize in a $100-a-ticket raffle.
At Pardee Medina served the hospital as Chief of Staff, Chairman of the Department of Medicine, member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Executive Committee and continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. He has also worked with the Rotary Club of Hendersonville, Board of Directors for Carolina Village, served as a Cabinet Member of St. James Episcopal Church and was on the Board of Directors for the Henderson County Cancer Services.
Pardee Hospital Foundation's board of directors presents the award each year to a member of the community that has made an outstanding contribution to Pardee Hospital, the Pardee Hospital Foundation and for the improvement of the community's health care. The recipient acts as an advocate for philanthropy and perpetuates giving within the community. Past winners include Bob and Doris Eklund, Dr. Colin Thomas, Grace Vineyard, Dr. Phillip Sellers, Dot Marlow, Kenneth Youngblood, Eleanora Meloun and Don Holder.
Medina was named one of the three best doctors in North Carolina three years in a row (2009-2011) and featured in Business North Carolina magazine. Medina has a desire to help patients, and says he chose to practice medicine in order to work in a field that allowed him to apply science to help others. Since moving here in 1995, he was a vital part of the cancer program, and worked tirelessly with the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Pardee to ensure patients received the very best treatment possible.
Last year, the inaugural award winner as Physician of the Year was Dr. Ken Shelton. Caserio has been described as a constant student, with a thirst for learning. Caserio will frequently spearhead educational programs on high interest medical topics, focused on honing his own skills along with the skills of every level of caregiver at the hospital. He has served as Chairman of the Internal Medicine Executive Committee, chaired the Congestive Heart Failure Committee and provided oversight of the Pavilion Adult Day Care Center.
Nominations from the public are evaluated based on qualities in clinical care, teaching and education, research and scholarship, medical society service, health promotion and disease prevention, services to allied health professions, community service and philanthropic activity. The selection committee is comprised of the Pardee's Chief Medical Officer, Chief of Staff, physician member of the Pardee Foundation Board, First Citizens Bank representative and the Executive Director of the Pardee Hospital Foundation.