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PrintMoultrie RN Wins State Hospital Hero Award
Brian Elliott, RN, director of Colquitt Regional Oncology Services, has been awarded the Georgia Hospital Association’s Hero award for extraordinary care above and beyond the call of duty.
Each year, GHA selects 10 Heroes from hospitals throughout the state. Elliott is the second person to be selected from Colquitt Regional. Dr. D.W. Adcock was named a GHA Hero last year.
This is the second major healthcare award Elliott has won in recent years. In 2007 Care Magazine, a national publication for cancer patients and their families, named him Extraordinary Healer of the Year for Oncology based on the written testimony of patients and their families. He was selected from entries nationwide and presented the award in ceremonies in Las Vegas, NV.
Elliott, who was nominated for the GHA award by Greg Johnson, vice president of Colquitt Regional’s professional services, was described as a person whose “caring attitude extends beyond the oncology unit at Colquitt Regional.”
Elliott has been an active participant on the American Cancer Society board and the annual Relay for Life fund-raising campaign. He is also active in his church where he is a Sunday school teacher, leads a youth group, leads the choir, plays piano and even fills in for the preacher when needed. He also volunteers at Golden Apple Senior Home doing their Medicaid assessments and usually stays long enough afterward to play some music for the residents. He plays stand-up base and banjo in a six-member bluegrass band from the church and often gives musical programs at Golden Apple, Dogwood Plaza and Brownwood Nursing Home.
Elliott’s nomination for GHA Hero included letters from a former patient, Steve Allegood, and Elliott’s preacher, Winston L. Baker, pastor of the First Assembly of God Church in Moultrie.
Allegood described Elliott as a compassionate and caring health professional who carries each patient into his own personal life.
“Brian has a life away from the job just like the rest of us,” Allegood said. “but he carries each patient into his own life as well. I know that his father was pretty sick during part of my treatment and Brian spent every minute he could with him and yet he still took my calls whenever I needed help. He never forgets that his patients are all afraid, even if they hide it. As a person who takes his job as a calling and who tries to heal every patient’s heart as well as their body, he is a hero.”
Elliott worked in home care services for 12 years before moving to oncology services in 2005. Rev. Baker said Elliott continues to this day to call on one of his former home care patients who can no longer afford the services.
“When this man’s financial resources ran out, Brian continued to care for him on his own time, free of charge – and continues to do so at the present,” Rev. Baker said. “This is the true nature and character of a man that I am blessed to call “my spiritual son.” In scripture, God gave Moses a “Joshua,” Elijah an “Elisha,” Paul a “Timothy,” and I truly believe God gave me Brian!”