2008 Annual Outstanding Physician, Citizen, and Presidential Awards
Awards and Recipients
Nicholas P. Krikes, M.D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Medical Society
This award is given for sustained interest and participation in one or more activities of the Society over and above that expected by the membership at large.William L. Cover, M.D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to Medicine
This award is bestowed upon a physician member who has displayed forward-looking, pioneering ideas, enterprise, enthusiasm and prolonged professional stature and abilities.Merlin A. Hendrickson, M.D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community
This award is given to the outstanding member who has displayed sustained interest and participation in one or more community activities over and above that expected of the membership at large.Outstanding Citizen Award
This award is presented to a lay person who has:
- exhibited sustained interest and participation in one or more medically related activities which has benefited the members of the community, and/or
- who has demonstrated outstanding devotion to community work, and/or
- who has devoted a career of service to the Inland Empire.
SBCMS Presidential Award
The Presidential Award is granted to an individual selected by the president, who exhibits exemplary character and commitment to the mission and purpose of the Medical Society, with unique abilities to transition impossible ideas into reality, while rising to new levels of creativity and innovation.Rodney Willard, M.D. was presented the SBCMS Presidential Award on June 26, 2008. He is described as a gentle man who for 40 years has quitely displayed outstanding dedication, participation and leadership in the SBCMS and in organized medicine. He has been instrumental in influencing physicians outside of private practice to join organized medicine, and his influence led the SBCMS to serve a much broader spectrum of physicians. He played an active role in taking the message of organized medicine to his colleagues at Loma Linda University, where he works as a pathologist and laboratory director.
A dedicated member of the District II Delegation to the CMA, he regularly attends CMA's Legislative Leadership Day in Sacramento. When AIDS first came on the scene, Dr. Willard worked tirelessly gathering information that he shared with SBCMS leaders so they could converse with the media, testify on the floor of the CMA House of Delegates, and also educate our legislators. He is currently an active member of the San Bernardino County Sheriff Medical Reserve Corps.
