WATCH: Brevard Heart Foundation 2024 ‘Heart of a Hero’ Awards Honor Dedicated Medical Professionals

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — The Brevard Heart Foundation 2024 Heart of a Hero Awards Gala was held April 6 at the Crowne Plaza Oceanfront Melbourne, and was presented by Health First.

The annual gala, now in its third year, honored healthcare professionals from throughout the Space Coast.

These Heart of a Hero nominees represented various medical specialties including Cardiology, Emergency Medicine, Mental Health, Hospice, Pulmonology, Primary Care, and more:

■ Leigha Bartram: Health First Medical Plaza – Cape Canaveral Medical Assistant, Cardiology
■ Sarah Belmont: Palm Bay Hospital Critical Care Nurse, Palm Bay Hospital ICU
■ Bailey Bonnett: Cape Canaveral Hospital Technician, Cardiac Cath Lab
■ Lara Chicone: Parrish Medical Center Mental Health, Social Work
■ Dr. Kimberly Hartzell: Children’s Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists Pediatric Pulmonology
■ Dr. John Hoyle: Health First Medical Group Cardiology
■ Cameron Humes: Palm Bay Hospital Nursing, Critical Care Unit
■ Dr. Steven Karas: Gateway Cardiology Interventional Cardiology
■ Anthony Kelly: Brevard County Fire Rescue, NASA Fire Rescue Emergency Response
■ Katie Kennedy: Holmes Regional Medical Center Nursing, Emergency Dept. Pediatrics
■ AnneMarie Lake: Health First Home Health Care Nursing, Home Health
■ Paula Ludwig: Hospice of Health First Nursing, Home Health
■ Makayla Mccombs: Cape Canaveral Hospital Nursing, Labor & Delivery
■ Rebecca Morgan: VITAS Hospice Nurse
■ Charles Parker: Hospice of Health First Mental Health, Pastoral Counseling
■ Dr. Vishal Patel: Health First Medical Group, Holmes Regional Medical Center Electrophysiology
■ Jital Patel: Coastal Occupational Therapy Occupational Therapist
■ Michael Perry: Holmes Regional Medical Center Cardiac Cath Lab Coordinator
■ Andy Robinson: St. Francis Reflections in Melbourne Regional Hospital Nursing, Inpatient Unit
■ Shawn Sima: Veterans Administration and Who We Play For Physicians Assistant & Impact Director of Who We Play For
■ Alexis Sorrentino: VITAS Hospice Nurse
■ Dr. Bhavya Trivedi: Who We Play For ECG Interpretation Electrophysiology, Pediatrics & Adults
■ Stephanie Veibl: VITAS Hospice Nurse

Awardees were recognized at the gala for their service to our community, passion, and dedication in the care they provide, as well as excellence in leadership.

“As a patient here in Brevard County, I can truly say reading these amazing nominations has reinforced what I already knew, that we have outstanding healthcare right here in Brevard County,” said Brevard Heart Foundation Executive Director Stacy Cartechine. “The BHF board is excited to honor these professionals.”

Each year, nominations for the annual Heart of a Hero Awards are open to the public and accepted on the Foundation’s website in late fall where people can share stories of how healthcare professionals impacted their lives or the lives of others. The awardees chosen and recognized at past galas have included doctors, nurses, mental health providers, hospice professionals, and technicians. The event will also feature jazz vocalist Kristin Warren.

Dr. Kevin Campbell New President of Brevard Heart Foundation

In addition, the Foundation has very exciting news that Kevin R. Campbell, MD, FACC, a board member for the last three years, will be taking the lead as the new President of Brevard Heart Foundation.

For more than a decade, the foundation has been led by dedicated Brevard County leader Travis Proctor of Artemis IT, who recognized that it was time for BHF to return to its cardiology roots and Dr. Campbell seemed the perfect fit for the foundation and its mission.

Cartechine said Dr. Campbell is excited to begin his service as president and Dr. Campbell recently told the board that he is “truly humbled and honored for the opportunity to serve as board president. I want to assure you that I will be working with each of you to continue to grow and develop our foundation so that we are able to push our mission forward. We must continue to attract young talent to the medical profession(s) here in Brevard County and recognize exemplary service to others in our community”

Along with recognizing the work and dedication of local healthcare professionals, the Brevard Heart Foundation also supports healthcare initiatives on the Space Coast that meet identified community needs, as well as invest in the future of quality healthcare through their local scholarship program.

The 2024 scholarship applications will be available on their website beginning April 1 and are due by May 31st. To be eligible, students need to be a Brevard County resident or have graduated from a high school while living in Brevard County, and be enrolled or accepted to a healthcare degree program.

Brevard Heart Foundation Improves, Promotes Healthcare 

The mission of the Brevard Heart Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, is to improve and promote healthcare for Brevard County citizens through programs that target identified community needs. The foundation’s focus is to help ensure the community has quality healthcare by creating and supporting local healthcare initiatives, as well as investing in the future of quality healthcare by supporting healthcare professionals through their education.

In the last 50 years, Brevard Health Foundation has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in direct aid to individuals.

Donors can be proud knowing that they are not just helping those in need of quality healthcare and health services today but are also changing the lives of students working to serve in healthcare fields and ensuring the local community has access to outstanding care for years to come.

CLICK HERE to learn more or to support their mission.

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