rush hall of famers

    The hearty rounds of applause that reverberated throughout the Private Dining Room of Rush Foundation Hospital Cafeteria Wednesday was not in praise of food served, but the service of the hospital’s employees.

    As part of Rush Health Systems observance of National Hospital Week, a special reception was held to recognize four new inductees into the Rush Hall of Fame: Dr. Edward Scott, Herman Stegall, Charles Alderman and the late Janie Smith.

    “These are people who have been providing longtime service to the Rush organization, and who have contributed in a significant way to the Rush organization through the years,” said Chuck Reece, chief operating officer.

    • Dr. Edward Scott – A native of Butler, Ala., Scott joined the Air Force at an early age and was a jet pilot during the Korean War.

    After his military tenure, Scott returned to college and medical school, training in internal medicine and cardiology. He joined the Rush organization in 1969 and has the distinction of being the first physician in East Mississippi and West Alabama to put in a permanent pacemaker.

    In addition to the caring way he treated his patients and families, Scott was remembered for often spending the night in the hospital with critically ill patients.

    • Herman Stegall – A native of Emelle, Ala., Stegall joined the Rush organization in 1967 as an X-ray technician. Stegall was remembered for his drive as a young technician to learn to do his job correctly and making quality films. It was noted that Dr. Leslie Rush once commented that when he had a complicated bone case in surgery, he always wanted Stegall in surgery with him to do the X-ray.

    Stegall is currently director of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and senior advisor to Rush Health Systems.

    • Charles Alderman – Originally from Brookhaven, Alderman joined the Rush organization in 1967. He received his training in Int Therapy and was the first registered inhalation therapist in East Mississippi and West Alabama.

    As chief of the Int Therapy Department, Alderman spent quality time with patients in the hospital and ICU. Because of his dedication, commitment and hard work, Alderman’s duties were expanded to other areas with the Rush Group, including clinic manager, physician recruiter and administrator of the Specialty Hospital.

    • Janie Smith (posthumous inductee) – Employed by Rush in 1947, Smith retired in 1985 after 38 years of service, which included serving as chief lab technician.

    Smith was remembered as a kind and pleasant employee who took her work seriously. Much time and effort was put into making sure all of her lab reporting was correct and back on the charts in a timely basis. This was before the time of modern lab equipment and computer reporting, when all was done by hand.

    In addition to the Hall of Fame induction, several other recognitions were presented:

Employees of the Quarter

    • Rush Hospital – Debbie Lane

    • Specialty Hospital – Sara Herrington

    • Rush Medical Group – Amy Perriman

    • Specialty Hospital Clinics – Pam Donald

    • MFI (Medical Foundation Inc.) – Donna Herrin

   

Customer Service Star of the Quarter

    • Dixie Norwood