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Otto F. Rogers, M.D. |
PINEHURST – A physician who spent 35 years in emergency services before moving into hospice medicine has been named the 2014 Physician of the Year at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.
The posthumous selection of Otto F. Rogers, M.D., by the hospital's nursing staff was a first for the awards program and was made unanimously. Dr. Rogers died in an automobile accident on March 14. His wife, Kathryn, was recognized when his name was announced during the May 5 meeting of the hospital's medical staff.
Moore Regional's Chief Nursing Officer Karen Robeano, DNP, R.N., made the announcement, saying that Dr. Rogers exemplified all of the characteristics in the selection criteria: demonstrates compassionate patient and family care, recognizes all health care disciplines as partners in care, helps educate and develop patient care providers, and recognizes and supports team efforts within the patient care setting.
“Dr. Rogers was highly respected and loved by all,” Robeano said. “He demonstrated exemplary bedside manner, was a model of ultimate professionalism, and advocated for the best care and care environment for his patients. His sense of humor and kind nature were beyond reproach.”
The letter nominating Dr. Rogers for the award pointed out how he had helped orient new physicians to the emergency department at Moore Regional and noted his support of nursing and patient advocacy.
“He will be terribly missed,” the letter concluded.
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A graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Rogers spent 15 of his 35 years in emergency medicine with Sandhills Emergency Physicians, the specialty practice that provides emergency department coverage for all four of the FirstHealth hospitals. After retiring in 2012, he earned his board certification in hospice and palliative medicine and worked several days each month with FirstHealth Hospice & Palliative Care. “Dr. Rogers had an exceptional balance of medical skills along with a genuine presence and concern for patients and families,” said Tina Gibbs, director, FirstHealth Hospice & Palliative Care. “He never hesitated to hold a patient's hand or just sit with them in silence. He also captured the hearts and respect of all of our staff. He was an outstanding physician and a caring and compassionate person. We are proud to have had him on our hospice team and will always remember him.” Moore Regional's nursing staff started the Physician of the Year recognition program in 2002. Since that time, 13 physicians representing cardiology, radiation oncology, hospitalist medicine, infectious diseases, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, internal medicine, neonatology, gastroenterology and medical oncology have received the award. |
| Chief Nursing Officer Karen Robeano, DNP, R.N., (left) visits with Kathryn Rogers before the May 5 medical staff meeting when Rogers' late husband was named the 2014 Physician of the Year for FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. Otto F. Rogers, M.D., was an emergency department physician for 35 years before moving into hospice medicine with FirstHealth Hospice & Palliative Care. He died in a March 14 automobile accident. |
