Wanted: Beard Award nominees
The Academic Council is seeking nominations of outstanding students for the John F. Beard Award.
The $25,000 award is presented annually by William Porter “Billy” Payne and his wife, Martha, to a graduating Medical College of Georgia student in the Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Medicine or Nursing who exemplifies caring and compassion in health care.
Mr. Payne established the award in 1998 to memorialize his father-in-law, who died in 1997.
The award honors MCG President Emeritus Francis J. Tedesco and Mr. Beard’s physician, Dr. Mark F. Williams, a 1988 graduate of MCG School of Medicine. While on the MCG faculty, Dr. Williams treated Mr. Beard, who had a malignant tumor. Dr. Tedesco visited Mr. Beard twice daily during his lengthy stay at MCG Medical Center, and Dr. Williams phoned for daily updates even after he moved from MCG to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
Students, faculty and academic or hospital departments may nominate graduating students who embody the highest ideals and achievements in compassionate health care service to MCG and have unselfishly given to patients and their families. A nominee’s academic record will not be considered. Considerations will include whether the nominee:
- Identified with patients and worked to resolve their non-medical concerns.
- Devoted a significant amount of time to patients.
- Helped patients overcome unusual challenges.
- Took an active role in patient care rather than serving as a figurehead.
- Worked to create positive change for patients.
The award recipient will be selected by a faculty committee of the Academic Council appointed MCG President Daniel W. Rahn. Nomination forms are available at www.mcg.edu/faculty/BeardAward/Index.html, or by contacting Annette Waters, administrative assistant for the Academic Council, at ext. 1-2334. Nominators are encouraged to provide supplemental materials. Forms and support materials should be sent to Ms. Waters at AB-149A by March 6.