Brevard Heart Foundation Heart of a Hero Awards Gala Honors 16 Brevard Healthcare Professionals

By  //  April 23, 2022

The Brevard Heart Foundation 2022 Heart of a Hero awardees included Leann Cottrell, Gina Crane, Sharona Dunbar, Darby Janz, Audrey Joiner, David Jones, Cassandra Kelly, Lynn Kiefer, Lauren Loftis, Brittany Marshall, Kat Martino, Kristie Meade, Jose Montalvo-Fitzpatrick, Denis Perez, Teresa Sereby and Debbie Shepherd.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — Brevard Heart Foundation honored 16 awardees from across the county at their Heart of a Hero Awards Gala at the Hilton Rialto on April 7 in recognition of their service, compassion and dedication.

“The past two years have brought healthcare to the forefront of many conversations, and we wanted to recognize those serving our community in key healthcare roles,” said Diana Adams, Executive Director of Brevard Heart Foundation.

The 2022 Heart of a Hero awardees included Leann Cottrell, Gina Crane, Sharona Dunbar, Darby Janz, Audrey Joiner, David Jones, Cassandra Kelly, Lynn Kiefer, Lauren Loftis, Brittany Marshall, Kat Martino, Kristie Meade, Jose Montalvo-Fitzpatrick, Denis Perez, Teresa Sereby and Debbie Shepherd.

“Each of these individuals are addressing the healthcare needs in Brevard County and working to improve the lives of the people they serve. It was heartwarming to see our community come together to celebrate these beacons of hope and light in our community,” said Adams.

“The past two years have brought healthcare to the forefront of many conversations, and we wanted to recognize those serving our community in key healthcare roles,” said Diana Adams, Executive Director of Brevard Heart Foundation.

Nominations for the Heart of a Hero Awards were open to the public and people were invited to share the stories of how local healthcare professionals made a difference in their lives or the lives of friends, family, or community members.

The awardees chosen and recognized at the gala included doctors, nurses, mental health providers, hospice professionals, and program directors and a piece of each nomination story was shared as the awardee was called to the stage to receive their award.

In addition to the Heart of a Hero award given to each awardee, the Foundation gave awards to three honorees who exemplified leadership, volunteerism, and going above and beyond to serve patients.

The Excellence in Leadership Award presented by Health First was given to Dr. Lauren Loftis of St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care for her willingness to mentor others while conducting medical research.

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Nationwide Medical Licensing presented Audrey Joiner, APRN  for Space Coast Volunteers in Medicine, with the Volunteer of the Year for her countless hours of volunteer service and unwavering dedication to standing in the gap for the uninsured.

Travis Proctor, Brevard Heart Foundation board president, presented Superhero of the Year recognition to Teresa Sereby of Cape Canaveral Hospital for her dedication and ability to rise above challenges to provide patients with the best quality care.

Health First cardiologist Dr. Kevin Campbell shared the importance of quality healthcare and heart health in Brevard, thanking the awardees for their service during the awards presentation.

“Selfless service, simply put, is putting the needs of others — both those we know and those we do not know — ahead of our own,” said Dr. Campbell.

Health First cardiologist Dr. Kevin Campbell shared the importance of quality healthcare and heart health in Brevard, thanking the awardees for their service during the awards presentation. “Selfless service, simply put, is putting the needs of others — both those we know and those we do not know — ahead of our own,” said Dr. Campbell.

Adams said many of the attendees and sponsors echoed Dr. Campbell’s sentiments and appreciation for these local heroes and the work they do in Brevard County.

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

Brevard Heart Foundation’s scholarship applications are available now on their website and are due by May 31.

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.

More information about the work and mission of Brevard Heart Foundation can be found HERE.

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