Around Columbia
Lexington Medical Center Foundation Hosts Ambassador David Wilkins
WEST COLUMBIA, SC - February 24, 2010 - Explaining how he used boiled peanuts and the words “Bonjour, Ya’ll!” to enhance diplomacy and strengthen the world’s largest trade relationship, David Wilkins will speak with humor and honesty about his work as United States Ambassador to Canada during a dinner hosted by the Lexington Medical Center Foundation on March 4, 2010.
When President George Bush appointed Wilkins to serve as Canadian ambassador in 2005, the southern Republican from Greenville was tasked with restoring the relationship between the United States and Canada. The new job took Wilkins to each Canadian province and territory. Wilkins will recount many of his experiences along the way – from ice skating, petting polar bears and trouble learning French, to helping resolve high-profile trade disputes and visiting soldiers in Afghanistan. He explains that diplomacy, like life, is about building relationships.
Wilkins is a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and chairs the Public Policy and International Law practice group, which focuses primarily on representing businesses on both sides of the US-Canadian border and offers experience on a wide range of strategic bilateral issues. He served as United States Ambassador to Canada until 2009. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, Mr. Wilkins practiced law for 34 years in Greenville, South Carolina, and has extensive experience in civil litigation and appellate practice.
The dinner with Ambassador Wilkins is at the Embassy Suites at 200 Stoneridge Drive in Columbia at 6:30 p.m. He will begin speaking at approximately 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50.00 per person. You can register on-line and find more information at www.lmcfoundation.com.
Wilkins will tour Lexington Medical Center beginning at 10:00 a.m. on March 4th. News reporters are welcome to join the tour and conduct interviews. He will also be available for interviews at the Embassy Suites from 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. on March 4th. Reporters who will be attending should contact Jennifer Wilson, Lexington Medical Center public relations manager. Wilkins will also meet privately with Lexington Medical Center physicians to talk about topics including his observations of the Canadian health care system.
About Lexington Medical Center
Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a county-wide health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 5,100 health care professionals. The network also includes the largest extended care facility in the state, an occupational health center and physician practices. At its heart is the 384-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center won “Best Hospital” by readers of The State for ten years in a row, “Best Hospital” by readers of the Free Times, “Best Place to Have a Baby” by readers of Palmetto Parent and the “Consumer Choice Award” from the National Research Corporation. Visit www.lexmed.com.
About the Lexington Medical Center Foundation
The mission of the Lexington Medical Center Foundation is to ensure that quality health services and patient-centered care are available for the people of the Midlands through the development of philanthropic resources on a sustaining basis and endowment basis to support Lexington Medical Center. Here are some examples of Lexington Medical Center Foundation funded projects.
Women’s Mobile Imaging Unit Thanks to a commitment of more than $100,000 from The Lexington Medical Center Foundation, a 41-foot mobile mammography van travels across Lexington County providing on-site mammograms and bone density scans. Early detection is important. The van is an important tool in the fight against breast cancer and osteoporosis.
Becky’s Place Becky’s Place is a boutique specializing in products and services for women with cancer. Becky’s Place helps women minimize and manage the changes in their appearance resulting from cancer treatment. Specially trained, caring staff provide assistance to help patients look and feel their best.
Extended Care Memorial Garden The foundation provided funding for the design and construction of a memorial garden called “Mama Sue’s Garden” at Carroll Campbell Place, Lexington Medical Center’s facility for people with Alzheimer’s disease. The garden’s brick walkways, benches, fountain and foliage provide a beautiful place of respite and reflection.
Nursing Scholarships The foundation provides more than $100,000 annually in nursing scholarships for outstanding local nursing students. After graduation, most of the scholarship recipients join the nursing staff at Lexington Medical Center. It’s one way to ensure quality care for patients now and in the future.
Partners Program The Lexington Medical Center Foundation also reaches out to community young people by funding the Partners Program. Each summer, Lexington County’s brightest high school students attend a 5-week internship at Lexington Medical Center that covers every aspect of hospital life. The success of this program shows; 80% of the students who participate choose health care majors in college and 40% of the students return to Lexington Medical Center as employees.
Doula Program The Lexington Medical Center Foundation funds this nationally recognized program that assists mothers in the delivery process. A Doula is a birth coach who provides comfort and reassurance during labor. The program also includes a “Beyond Birth” component, offering mothers assistance in making the first weeks at home with baby less stressful and more the special event it is supposed to be. Lexington Medical Center’s doula program is the first-of-its-kind in the Southeast.
