Saint Joseph London Employee Recognized With National Health Care Award

LONDON, Ky. (Sept. 27, 2024) – The Lloyd H. Dean Institute for Humankindness and Health Justice (LHDI) at CommonSpirit Health announced on Sept. 19 that Mollie Harris, Violence Prevention Program manager at Saint Joseph London, is a winner in the inaugural Humankindness and Health Justice Awards. The awards were presented during the first-ever Humankindness and Health Justice Virtual Summit, held on Sept. 19.

The Humankindness and Health Justice Awards celebrate individuals and community partners who demonstrate a deep commitment to health equity, social justice and compassionate care. Harris was selected from a pool of nominees from across the country, all of whom embody LHDI’s core values of kindness, empathy and leadership in driving health justice.

Harris was nominated for this award by John Yanes, president of Saint Joseph London, for her exemplary work as a health justice advocate who consistently demonstrates humankindness and brings together thought leaders, health care professionals and community advocates.

“Mollie is truly deserving of this award for the incredible impact she has made in rural Kentucky through her leadership of Saint Joseph London's Nurturing Children Program,” Yanes said. “Her commitment to preventing violence is not just about improving health outcomes; it’s about achieving true health equity and social justice in our community. Mollie’s work – whether it’s reducing child abuse and fatalities or advocating for firearm safety – demonstrates her deep compassion and unwavering dedication to making our region a safer, healthier place. She embodies humankindness in every aspect of her work, supports her community, and leads as a health caregiver to ensure health justice is commonplace in rural Kentucky. We are proud to have her as part of our team.”

“I am honored to receive the Humankindness and Health Justice award and bring recognition to the great work in Kentucky,” Harris said. “I extend my heartfelt thanks to our local leaders whose unwavering support has been instrumental. Together, we can create safer, healthier communities where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Let us continue to stand against violence and uplift one another with kindness and understanding.”

In addition to recognizing standout employees, the summit will serve as a platform to share innovative ideas, best practices and successful programs that drive meaningful change in the health care industry. The event will offer opportunities for collaboration as participants explore new ways to integrate humankindness into the pursuit of health justice.

For more information about the Humankindness and Health Justice Awards and the winners, please contact [email protected]. To learn more about the summit, visit www.commonspirit.org/lloyd-dean-institute/summit-2024.

CHI Saint Joseph Health and Saint Joseph London are part of CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people.

About CHI Saint Joseph Health

CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in CHI Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services toward a goal of building a healthier future for all. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Saint Joseph London

Saint Joseph London is a 150-bed full-service hospital located in London, Kentucky. Established in 1926, the facility serves patients from southeastern Kentucky, including those from Clay, Laurel, Jackson, Whitley, Knox and Pulaski counties. The current $152 million regional hospital opened in 2010, and offers all private patient rooms, with most overlooking a small lake and garden on the 52-acre healing environment.

About the Humankindness and Health Justice Awards
The Humankindness and Health Justice Awards were created to recognize individuals and organizations within the CommonSpirit Health community that are leading efforts to advance health equity and embody the spirit of humankindness. The awards are part of the Lloyd H. Dean Institute for Humankindness and Health Justice’s broader mission to promote compassionate care and health justice across the healthcare system.

About LHDI

The Lloyd H. Dean Institute of Humankindness and Health Justice was founded in 2022 to celebrate and advance CommonSpirit Health’s Chief Executive Emeritus Lloyd H. Dean’s long-standing commitment to health equity and the power of humankindness. The Institute is a convener and catalyst for evidence-based humankindness and health justice initiatives across CommonSpirit Health and serves as a resource for not only the health care sector but all industries. Learn more at www.commonspirit.org/lloyd-dean-institute.

###