In mid-February I wrote a heartfelt blog congratulating Bliss Dodd for receiving the Perkins School of Theology Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award. In part I commented, “I cannot help but reflect that it was only a couple of weeks ago that I attended the Alumni Award Dinner at Perkins School of Theology to watch our own (Central Texas Conference’s) Rev. Karen Greenwaldt receive the Perkins Alumni Award. Now our own Bliss Dodd receives the Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award! Wow! To shamelessly borrow from the Olympics, this is like winning gold and silver. (I have no idea who is the gold or who is the silver medalist; more likely Karen and Bliss are double golds!) I can’t think of what would constitute winning the bronze as well to take the whole podium (ala the American slope-style skiers).”
Now I know what it means for representatives of the Central Texas Conference (CTC) to sweep the podium! One of our (CTC’s) hallmark relationships is with Texas Health Resources (THR) through the Harris Methodist Hospital system. A key leader over the years in providing quality faith-based health care in our region has been Barclay Berdan.
Early in the week I received news that Barclay has been honored in an extraordinary way by his peers. To quote only in part, “Barclay Berdan, FACHE, chief operating officer and senior executive vice president of Texas Health Resources, was recognized by the Texas Hospital Association (THA) as the 2013 recipient of the Earl M. Collier Award for Distinguished Health Care Administration. Established in 1965, the Collier Award is the highest honor bestowed by THA. Recipients of the award are recognized as being outstanding executives who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to the health care industry and their profession, who are leaders in providing quality health care services, and who are active in THA and other industry groups.”
In these times of change and challenge to our health care system, it is blessing to know that we have outstanding leadership in the field of faith-based medical care. Methodists have long been leaders in providing health care to all people. Every Conference of the United Methodist Church in Texas at some point or other in its past helped in establishing a major medical system in its area. The Harris Methodist Hospital system (and now the greater THR system) is an expression of this commitment by the Central Texas Conference.
I don’t know who got the gold, silver or bronze. To my way of thinking, three gold medals have been awarded to Karen Greenwaldt, Bliss Dodd, and now Barclay Berdan. I do know that each give evidence of our greater corporate faith commitment to live the prayer our Lord taught us – “on earth, as it is in heaven.”
Well done, Barclay, we are proud of you!
Early in the week I received news that Barclay has been honored in an extraordinary way by his peers. To quote only in part, “Barclay Berdan, FACHE, chief operating officer and senior executive vice president of Texas Health Resources, was recognized by the Texas Hospital Association (THA) as the 2013 recipient of the Earl M. Collier Award for Distinguished Health Care Administration. Established in 1965, the Collier Award is the highest honor bestowed by THA. Recipients of the award are recognized as being outstanding executives who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to the health care industry and their profession, who are leaders in providing quality health care services, and who are active in THA and other industry groups.”
In these times of change and challenge to our health care system, it is blessing to know that we have outstanding leadership in the field of faith-based medical care. Methodists have long been leaders in providing health care to all people. Every Conference of the United Methodist Church in Texas at some point or other in its past helped in establishing a major medical system in its area. The Harris Methodist Hospital system (and now the greater THR system) is an expression of this commitment by the Central Texas Conference.
I don’t know who got the gold, silver or bronze. To my way of thinking, three gold medals have been awarded to Karen Greenwaldt, Bliss Dodd, and now Barclay Berdan. I do know that each give evidence of our greater corporate faith commitment to live the prayer our Lord taught us – “on earth, as it is in heaven.”
Well done, Barclay, we are proud of you!