Guests from throughout Kentuckiana joined together on Saturday, October 17, for the 20th annual Doctors’ Ball, benefitting the Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation. More than 650 guests attended the event, which raised nearly $380,000. The proceeds of the event will help purchase a new mobile cancer screening van for the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, part of KentuckyOne Health.
The screening van will provide access to screenings for breast, prostate, head and neck, skin and colon cancers and will bring the service to areas of great need throughout the Commonwealth. This project is championed by Jane Beshear, first lady of Kentucky, who spoke at the event and announced the project.
“This year’s program honored deserving individuals in our community who are improving lives through philanthropic support, education, research, service and leadership,” said Leslie Buddeke Smart, vice president of development for KentuckyOne Health. “Their good works inspire our efforts to continue investing in our medical future.”
The event recognized some of the area’s most innovative and caring doctors and community leaders including Morris Weiss, MD, Ephraim McDowell Physician of the Year; Debbie Scoppechio, Community Leader of the Year; Melissa Currie, MD, Excellence in Community Service; Jesse Wright, MD, Excellence in Mental Health; John Shaw, MD, Excellence in International Humanitarian Service; Eugene Shively, MD, Compassionate Physician Award and Michelle Perry, RN, Nursing Excellence award. The special honor of the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Lelan Woodmansee, executive director of the Greater Louisville Medical Society.