Every year the Dayton Business Journal honors those in health care in the Dayton area who have gone above and beyond with a Health Care Hero award. This year two of those being honored are with Wright State Physicians and support students at Wright State University, and the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine.
The Dayton Business Journal hosted the 2021 Health Care Hero recognition event Thursday, September 9, at the NCR Country Club, where our Health Care Heroes were presented with their awards, and all of the nominees from Wright State Physicians could be recognized !
Christine Huang, D.O.
Dr. Huang is medical director of the Wright State Physicians (WSP) family medicine clinic, and assistant professor of family medicine with Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine (BSOM), earned the Health Care Hero award in the provider category. Along with managing the WSP family medicine clinic protocols, and maintaining her own regular patient care schedule, she provides clinical and educational opportunities to BSOM students.
She is a leader in the area of managing systems and quality improvement, constantly reviewing processes to improve clinic operations that will benefit patients, staff and medical learners alike, fostering positive moral. She makes it a point to expose the medical students to the importance of the processes involved with successful quality improvement. Her staff commented, “Dr. Huang is a leader in systematic change and quality improvement, it is a blessing to work with her on a daily basis,” adding, “She genuinely cares about patients and coworkers, very thoughtful, timely in her responses, quick to say ‘hello’, and always appreciative of others.”
Along with BSOM medical students Dr. Huang also helps educate resident physicians at Five Rivers Health Center in Dayton, and at Premier Health’s Miami Valley Hospital family medicine in-patient clinic.
She is deeply concerned about physician well-being, developing a financial education program for family medicine residents, and volunteering with the group “Dr. MILK” (Mothers Interested in Lactation Knowledge). Dr. Huang assists this online community of physicians, that are new mothers and breastfeeding, by answering questions and providing resources.
If seeing patients, managing a clinic, educating students and supporting physicians wasn’t enough, during the initial weeks of the pandemic Dr. Huang made sure all WSP patient-facing staff were supplied with and adequately educated on the use of personal protective equipment. She made videos on proper mask usage and assumed the responsibility of “Employee Health Advisor” for WSP, guiding employees and human resources, in a dual-role, to develop processes for safely returning to work following a COVID-19 diagnosis. Dr. Huang also created a video for patients on how to use the WSP telehealth system.
“It’s not every day you get such a great person as your doctor!”
Dr. Huang served as clinical lead for the WSP COVID-19 Vaccine Committee, where she planned and managed the WSP COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics, where over 1,200 people in the community received the vaccine. One patient said, “Once again we are so happy with Wright State Physicians and their efficient operations in providing our second COVID-19 shot. Great people doing great things!”
S. Bruce Binder, M.D., chair of family medicine at BSOM had this to say, “Her leadership has been transformative. I greatly appreciate the expertise she has brought to the practice as well as her general attitude and positive outlook. She took over during an extremely challenging time, and has provided outstanding leadership, during the worst months of COVID-19, and now as we transition back toward our more traditional practice model.”
Dr. Huang provided support to WSP to operate a well-run COVID-19 mass vaccine clinic, and most importantly she provides quality care to patients, “I couldn’t ask for a better doctor, she is absolutely great. I would recommend her to others. I would like to thank her for her understanding and patience, it’s not every day you get such a great person as your doctor. Thank you, Dr. Huang!”
Joy Jackson, L.P.N.
Joy Jackson, clinical coordinator with WSP student health who provides care to students at Wright State University, earned the Health Care Hero award in the category of patient experience. Jackson truly embodies what it means to provide patients a positive experience by stepping outside her assigned role to assist patients, even helping other WSP clinics, in support of providing the best care.
Utilizing her public health background, Jackson created a “standing orders procedure book” of documentation and protocols for adult and pediatric vaccines, including what vaccines are needed and when, and guidelines around when a vaccine may not be necessary and why. This book is utilized by WSP student health and family medicine. Jackson has become the primary source of information regarding vaccines, particularly pediatric, and has trained many clinical staff at WSP on vaccine protocols and delivery.
Jackson once again utilized her background in public health to assist WSP with COVID-19 testing, and in getting the WSP COVID-19 mass vaccine clinics up and running. Jackson often served as clinical lead for the clinics. She applied these procedures to student health, creating a well-run vaccine distribution system for Wright State University students.
Supporting students, even beyond their health care needs, is also important to Jackson. She takes an interest in their classes, how they are from a mental health perspective, and even helps them find resources. During the pandemic lock-downs she located food pantries for students. She has created a resource binder for student health, and is part of a proposed plan to regularly visit Wright State University student housing to share resources helping promote good health and well-being.
“She always goes the extra mile to ensure our patients are
well taken care of and supported.”
Jackson has also helped BSOM students. She assisted with essential health screenings and completing documentation, even working late as needed, in preparation for their out-of-state away rotations. Jackson’s supervisor, Genessa Merritt, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, director of WSP student health said, “Joy Jackson has the true heart of a servant, and takes great pleasure in serving the student population. She always goes the extra mile to ensure our patients are well taken care of and supported. She takes an active interest in all her patients, it’s personal for her, that’s her heart.”Marissia Hayles, R.N., WSP clinic manager and Jackson’s supervisor, said,
“Patient safety and care are her highest priorities”. This was demonstrated when a patient, attempting to call WSP family medicine, accidentally called student health. Jackson answered the call, rather than transfer him, she assisted family medicine and helped the patient. Whenever this patient needed anything, he would call Jackson, and she would assist family medicine to take care of his needs. Unfortunately, during the early stages of the pandemic, he passed away, but his wife visited WSP getting her COVID-19 vaccine, she made it a point, with tears in her eyes, to come see Jackson and thank her for the special care she provided her husband.
