July 15, 2019

Spirit of Winship Award Recipients Named

Photo of Spirit of Winship Award Recipients Named

Dr. Wally Curran, David Hauenstein, Dell Rearden, Dr. Elliott Winton, Robert Rearden, III, and Allison Rearden Murrah

A longtime Winship Cancer Institute hematologic oncologist and an active volunteer advisor are being honored with the 2019 Robert L. "Bobby" Rearden Spirit of Winship Award. Elliott F. (Lee) Winton, MD, professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, is the faculty winner of the annual award. David Hauenstein, a Winship Patient & Family Advisor (PFA) and a steering committee member for the new Winship cancer hospital project located at Emory University Hospital Midtown, is the volunteer recipient.

"Lee and Dave exemplify the qualities and characteristics that were demonstrated by Bobby Rearden and previous Spirit of Winship Award recipients," says Walter J. Curran, Jr., MD, executive director of Winship. "We are pleased to honor them for their commitment to supporting Winship's mission and values."

Rearden served as a patient advocate on Winship's External Advisory Board which is comprised of national leaders at other NCI designated cancer centers. He also served as honorary chair of Friends of Winship and was a founding member of Winship's Community Advisory Board. Winton was one of the doctors who cared for Rearden before he passed away in 2015 while undergoing treatment for leukemia.

Winton specializes in the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myeloproliferative disorders. He co-founded the bone marrow transplant program at Winship and conducted the first bone marrow transplant at Emory University Hospital in 1979.

"Dr. Winton goes to great lengths to make sure that our patients feel like they are part of the team and more than just a number," says Jessica Neely, PA, an inaugural 2016 Spirit of Winship Award winner and Winship physician assistant who has worked with Winton for 17 years. "Dr. Winton takes care of the whole person, spending up to two hours with each new patient we see to make sure they understand their illness and what needs to be done to treat it."

Hauenstein, an IT professional, joined the Winship PFA council in January 2018 following the death of his wife Julie from cancer. He has performed over 400 volunteer hours at Winship in the past 18 months.

"Dave is a true steward of service and believes in our values and our mission to be patient-family centered," says DaVida Lee-Williams, director of Guest and Volunteer Services at Winship. "He has jumped feet first into committees and projects that focus on improvements to our processes and the overall patient and family experience."

A monetary award will be made in the name of the award recipients to an area of their choosing within Winship.

Cascade Link  TOP