The 11th Annual Bernstein Dinner: Thanks to All Our Supporters
A big thank you to everyone who helped make the 11th Annual Jim Bernstein Health Leadership Fund Dinner a success! The event convened a record total of 338 of the state’s health and community leaders to celebrate the Bernstein Fellows and honor the legacy of the Foundation’s founder, Jim Bernstein.
We’re excited to report that this year’s dinner generated approximately $55,000 for the Fellows program. For a list of donors click here.
We would like to thank those who participated in our second annual pledge drive during the event. These donations helped us earn over $7,000 for the Fellows program. A special thanks to our pledge drive sponsor, Mission Health, for contributing an additional $2,500 match, for a total of $9,500. For a list of all our pledge drive donors click here.
[box] The Jim Bernstein Community Health Fellowship is a two-year leadership training program that supports emerging health advocates in rural and underserved areas in North Carolina. The purpose of the Fellows program is to foster strong leadership and enable collaboration. [/box]
Through the generosity of our sponsors who purchased mentor tickets, we were also able to include 40 students from UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, Campbell University and East Carolina University at this year’s event. The mentor tickets reflect our commitment to fostering young health leaders. For a list of sponsors click here.
Prior to the dinner, the Future Leaders Reception welcomed over 50 guests with the purpose of creating an intentional networking opportunity among our state’s established, rising, and future health leaders. Guests included: current and past Bernstein Fellows, current and past Dinner award recipients, mentor ticket recipients and donors, the members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, and additional special guests.
Following this, all guests were invited to our dinner reception, where they could mix and mingle with other guests while enjoying snacks and drinks prior to the dinner. Another special thanks to our Future Leaders Reception sponsor, UNC Healthcare, and our dinner reception sponsors: Access East, Vidant Health, and East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine.
After the reception, guests gathered into the dining room for the lecture & awards ceremony. This year, our guest speaker was Marcia K. Brand, Senior Advisor to the Dentaquest Foundation and the Executive Director of the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health. Marcia gave a great lecture on rural health improvements and the road ahead.
We also gave out two awards this year: the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation Community Achievement Award and the Jim Bernstein Community Health Career Achievement Award.
Robin Tutor Marcom, EdD, MPH, OTR/L, was awarded the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation Community Achievement Award, honoring her work as the Director of the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute, an inter-institutional partnership of East Carolina University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and North Carolina State University that promotes the health and safety of farmers, fishermen, foresters, their workers and their families.
Leah Devlin, DDS, MPH, a Visiting Professor at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and consultant for Research Triangle Institute, International, was awarded the Jim Bernstein Community Health Career Achievement Award, honoring her for more than 30 years of work in public health practice.
Overall, we are grateful for the continued support from our partners in making this event exceptional every year. Be on the lookout for the date for next year’s dinner soon!
Visionary Level Supporters ($2,500+)
- Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Community Care of North Carolina, Inc.
- Leah M. Devlin, DDS, MPH
- Sandra B. Greene, DrPH
Pioneer Level Supporter ($1,250-$2,499)
- Biologics, Inc.
- Center for Rural Health Innovation
- Duke Health
- First Citizens Bank
- Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
- NC AHEC Program
- NC Hospital Association
- NC Medical Society Foundation
- NC Office of Rural Health
- Piedmont Health Services
- Public Health Agencies of NC
- Pharmacy Partners
- Excelicare
- Med Advantage/ Moose Pharmacy
- Medication Management, LLC
- Mutual Drug
- NC Association of Pharmacists
Innovator Level Supporter ($500-$1,249)
- Anonymous Gift
- Allen & Lori Feezor
- Lloyd Michener
- NC Pediatric Society Foundation
- Helen Wilson
- UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
Developer Level Supporter ($250-$499)
- Mark T. Benton, The Paratum Group, LLC.
- Melissa Payne Fellner
- Ken & Julia Lerche
- Rolffs & Helga Pinkerton
- Rebecca Slifkin
- Tom Irons
- Rob & Kim Sullivan
- Peter J. Morris
Sustainer Level Supporter ($25-$249)
- Gordon Daughtry
- Sandra Payne Greene
- Gail Kelley
- Robert & Donna Newton
- Donald Pathman
- Frances “Butch” Patterson
- Praxis Partners for Health, LLP
- John & Cindy Price
- Denise Runde
- Carolyn Sexton
- Pam Silberman
- Tim & Kelly Smith
- Joyce Snapper
- John & Carol Stamm
- Stuart & Sari Teplin
- Charles Willson
- Susan Yaggy
- Masako Sakamachi
- Sarah Thach [/box]
- Sarah Greene & Ian Cundiff
- Tom & Ellen Bacon
- Dr. Lindsay & Mr. Henry Robbins in honor of Tom Speros, MD
- Patrick Woodie in honor of Dr. Tom Irons
- Anonymous in honor of Leah Devlin
- Anonymous in honor of William “Bill” Selridge
- Anonymous in honor of Jamie Cousins
- Anonymous in honor of John Frank
- Anonymous in honor of Jim Bernstein
- Anonymous in honor of Jim Bernstein
- Numerous additional anonymous donors [/box]
- Al Delia
- Care Share Health Alliance
- Leah M. Devlin
- Ken & Julia Lerche
- Gary Greenberg
- Tom Irons
- John & Cindy Price
- Thomas C. Ricketts
- Anne Thomas
- Charles Willson
- Christine Kushner [/box]