Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services | Gibson gets it! | Spring/Summer 2018

GibsonHospital.org 4 Making a difference in rural health care Two GAH physicians honored with state awards A special reception held last November honored Gibson Area Hospital (GAH) orthopaedic surgeon Chris Dangles, MD, and the late George Bark, MD, a family practitioner at Gibson’s Paxton Clinic, for receiving the 2017 Physician of Excellence Award from the Illinois Rural Health Association (IRHA). “One of the biggest health care challenges across our nation is the shortage of physicians who practice in rural settings,” says IRHA Executive Director Margaret Vaughn. “IRHA feels it is important to recognize those who have accepted this calling and gone out of their way to make a difference.” Going the extra mile Dr. Bark, who passed away suddenly in July, worked for many years as a family practice physician at the Paxton Clinic and also taught medical students at his alma mater, the University of Illinois. “Dr. Bark made a huge impact on improving the rural health care environment through the many patients whose lives he touched as well as the medical students he inspired by his vast knowledge,” says State Representative Tom Bennett (R-106, Gibson City). Bennett introduced House Resolution 657 in Springfield in honor of Dr. Bark. Dr. Dangles is a renowned orthopaedic surgeon who has done a phenomenal job since 2010 of growing the orthopaedic department at GAH, attracting not only patients from other states but also doctors from across the country to become part of the GAH medical team. Over the past seven years, Dr. Dangles has greatly enhanced the practice environment in east central Illinois for rural residents. Dr. Dangles was honored with House Congratulatory Resolution 677, introduced by State Representative Carol Ammons (D-103, Urbana). In the orange shirts: The staff of the Paxton Clinic Front row center, from left: Dr. George Bark’s fiancée, Denice A. Wells, and Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services (GAHHS) Chief Operating Officer, Chief Clinical Officer Robin Rose Middle row: State Representative Tom Bennett (R-106, Gibson City), at left, and IRHA Executive Director Margaret Vaughn, at right Back row: IRHA Executive Board Member Ken Ryan and GAHHS CEO Rob Schmitt Gibson news Chris Dangles, MD George Bark, MD