Dr. Leslie Polland from Good News Care Center Named
“Volunteer Physician of the Year 2008”
MIAMI, FL – Good News Care Center volunteer physician, Dr. Leslie Polland was honored by the Miami-Dade County Health Department as “Volunteer Physician of the Year” at its awards ceremony at South Miami Hospital.
Dr. Polland helped to open the Good News Care Center, a free healthcare facility for Dade County’s uninsured population, while serving on the Physician’s Community Service Committee at Baptist Hospital. Since its opening in 1996, she has served as a volunteer physician at the clinic.
“After Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida in 1992, I saw such a tremendous need in our community,” said Dr. Polland. “I had to respond.”
More than twelve years as a volunteer physician has given Dr. Polland a heart for our community. For Dr. Polland, the most important factor about being a volunteer at the Good News Center is that she finds herself helping people every day. “I don’t only help people with their health issues; I also help them with emotional issues. I’ve seen people that come into the center abused, with mental traumas and depression, and come out revitalized, not only physically but mentally.”
The Volunteer Physician of the Year Award is given each year to the doctor who has gone above and beyond their regular volunteer duties. It is based on the number of years they have served as a volunteer physician at a particular clinic as well as the number of hours served. For more than 10 years, the Miami-Dade County Health Department has been encouraging, recognizing and honoring volunteer healthcare professionals in our community.
The Good News Care Center provides free healthcare to Dade County’s uninsured population. According to the Miami-Dade Health Department, there are more than 600,000 persons without health insurance currently residing in Miami-Dade County. In 2007, the Good News Care Center treated 4,300 patients through 11,200 physician visits, which produced over $12,000,000 in value of free care.
Open continuously since 1996, the Good News Care Center is a clinic ministry owned by the Miami Baptist Association that provides free access to primary care to those most in need. The clinic operates through the collaborative efforts of Baptist Health South Florida, First Baptist Church of Florida City, the University of Miami Pediatric Mobile Clinic, Nova Southeastern University Health Professions Division, and a host of medical groups, specialists and private donors. Since its inception, the Good News Care Center has received more than $3 million in grants from various foundations and organizations.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
GOOD NEWS CARE CENTER
Beth Nelson
PPR Communications
Ph: 305-445-4944 x202
Dr. Leslie Polland
Volunteer Physician
of the year
2008
Health Fair
