Three from Duke named “Unsung Volunteer Heroes”

posted January 4th, 2010

JoAnn Garofalo, RN, CPSN, a nurse clinician in the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery, David K. Walmer, M.D., Ph.D., chief of reproductive endocrinology, and Robert Buchanan, M.D., a staff member of Durham Regional Hospital, were three of the co-winners in the non-physician category of the 2009 Jerry Nance Community Service Award.

Garofalo was recognized for her work as a Triangle Radio Reading Service volunteer reader since February 2004. She has spent several hours a month reading USA Today to about 20,000 people who can no longer read standard print.

Walmer is founder of the non-profit Family Health Ministries, which has been serving the people of Haiti for ten years, with a support staff of nine people based in Durham. FHM employs 61 Haitians in three communities to operate two medical clinics, one school and an orphanage. The Ministries recently received $100,000 from the Goldman Sachs Charitable Committee to further develop an innovative colposcope invented by Dr. Walner for use in the treatment of cervical cancer in low resource countries.

Buchanan is a cardiologist who has participated in two medical mission trips to the Amazon jungle with CERT, the Christian Emergency Relief Team, two medical missions to Haiti with HOM, Haiti Outreach Ministries, and one mission trip to Ecuador with the Christian Medical and Dental Association. He is a partner at Triangle Heart Associates.

The Durham-Orange County Medical Society has presented its annual Jerry Nance Community Service Award to three non-physicians and two physicians, recognizing them for their work in improving the health and well being of residents in Durham and Orange counties. The winners were presented certificates and checks for $250 during the Medical Society’s monthly meeting on December 9, 2009. The award categories includes students, medical residents, non-physicians and physicians and seeks to recognize unsung volunteer heroes of Durham and Orange counties who have not had prior recognition for their volunteer work.