Dr. Ivan Allen and Dr. Paul Jones Receive Prestigious Georgia Hospital Association Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Ivan Allen, president of Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) in Macon, chairman for the Board of Trustees for Houston Healthcare and a Navicent Health Foundation trustee, and Dr. Paul Jones, president of Fort Valley State (FVSU) in Fort Valley and trustee at Atrium Health Navicent Peach, are joint recipients of one of the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) highest honors, the Distinguished Service Award. The award was presented at the association’s annual Trustee Meeting on Saturday, Jan. 6, and recognized Dr. Allen and Dr. Jones each for spearheading initiatives that resulted in increased access to care in their communities and on their campuses.
Dr. Allen has served as president of CGTC since 2005, and, during his tenure, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving students’ wellbeing. He helped establish a groundbreaking partnership with Atrium Health Navicent to provide on-campus student health clinics at CGTC, the first at any Georgia technical college. The clinics have helped expand access to care for students, faculty, and staff at CGTC’s campuses in Macon, Milledgeville, and Warner Robins. Through his leadership and planning health services are provided at no additional out-of-pocket expense for students.
Dr. Allen has also helped address the workforce shortage by supporting degree program partnerships with Atrium Health Navicent. The partnerships help train health care workers of the future while providing hands-on experience in clinical rotations. Dr. Allen also supported a tuition assistance program which offers students who are accepted into the program the opportunity to work part-time at Atrium Health Navicent while earning an associate degree in a health-related field of study.
As the president of FVSU, Dr. Paul Jones has worked to ensure the student experience is inclusive and supportive of student needs, including health care needs, which has resulted in increased retention and graduation rates. Like Dr. Allen, Dr. Jones partnered with Atrium Health Navicent to establish health clinics on campus for students, faculty and staff. Given that FVSU is in a rural area with limited transportation available, the clinics allow individuals more readily available access to health care and are a significant part of improving health equity. Importantly, the clinics also provided mental health services and support.
Also like Dr. Allen, Dr. Jones has helped address the workforce shortage, paving the way for a new nursing degree at the college offered in partnership with Atrium Health Navicent. Thanks to Dr. Jones’ efforts, FVSU will be able to train and produce qualified nurses to expand the nursing pipeline. In thinking beyond traditional health care delivery and focusing on the overall well-being of the community, Dr. Allen and Dr. Jones have pursued a vision for a healthier and more inclusive community that will benefit students and the broader community for years to come.
“The work and dedication of Dr. Allen and Dr. Jones has positively impacted the lives of countless students and community individuals,” said GHA President and CEO Caylee Noggle. “From addressing the health care needs of university students, staff, and faculty to implementing solutions aimed at solving Georgia’s acute health care workforce shortage, they are positively impacting access to quality healthcare for Georgians. Their service to their respective institutions, communities, and hospitals is worth hon oring and they are most-deserving recipients of this award.”
The Distinguished Service Award is given annually to hospital trustees or community leaders who have made significant contributions to improving health care in Georgia.
“Atrium Health Navicent is thankful for the partnership of Dr. Allen and Dr. Jones in helping to meet not just today’s health care needs, but in preparing our communities for the future,” said Atrium Health Navicent President Delvecchio Finley. “These college presidents are truly helping lead the way, and are very deserving of GHA’s Distinguished Service Award.”
About GHA
Founded in 1929, GHA serves nearly 150 hospitals in Georgia and promotes the health and welfare of the public through the development of better hospital care for all Georgia’s citizens. The mission of GHA is to advance the health of individuals and communities by serving as the leading advocate for all Georgia hospitals and health care systems. GHA represents its members before the General Assembly and Congress, as well as state and federal regulatory agencies, and is an allied member of the American Hospital Association. For more information, please call 770-249-4500 or visit gha.org.
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and well-being through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region.
As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health serves nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs nearly 155,000 team members across 68 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $6 billion in annual community benefits