Northside Hospital & Tampa Bay Heart Institute Announces 2008 HCA Frist Award Winners

St. Petersburg, FL (August 5, 2009) - Northside Hospital & Tampa Bay Heart Institute is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 Frist Humanitarian Award. This annual award pays tribute to a staff member, volunteer and, for the first time, a physician at each HCA hospital facility. This is the highest honor offered to an HCA employee, based upon excellence in both the daily hospital setting as well as in the community.

The recipients of the 2008 award were Janice Carey, Steve Scheiner and M. Fernando Salazar, M.D., for employee, volunteer and physician, respectively. Recipients of the 2008 Frist Humanitarian Award are recommended by their peers for excellence in and out of the workplace.

Janice Carey is a nurse in the Cardiac Care Unit, who provides both selfless encouragement and medical knowledge to patients and fellow staff. In addition to working at the hospital, Janice is very active in the community and her faith.

A retired teacher from New York, Steve Scheiner has been a volunteer at Northside Hospital for over six years. Over that period, he has devoted three days every week of his time to assisting in various areas of the hospital. Steve is also active in his church and is an active participant in the volunteer program.

M. Fernando Salazar is a leading cardiologist at Northside Hospital who serves also as a great humanitarian off-duty. Previously the Chief of Staff, Dr. Salazar volunteers with various organizations, including but not limited to: American Heart Association, American Red Cross, St. Petersburg Free Clinic, Doctors Without Borders, and Habitat for Humanity.

Serving the community since 1976, Northside Hospital & Tampa Bay Heart Institute is a 288-bed hospital, specializing in cardiovascular care, stroke, orthopedics and colorectal and general surgery. Our technologically advanced facility, which includes a 64-slice CT scanner, allows our superior physicians and nursing staff to care for our growing community.