Hospital honors 2 for medical contributions

The Southeast Missouri Hospital Association honored two community leaders who have "worked diligently to bring quality and medical services to the region" at its annual dinner Thursday night.

More than 800 association members and guests attended the dinner at the Show Me Center.

Cape Girardeau orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Raymond Ritter Jr. received the Special Service Award, and retired Southeast Missouri Hospital administrator O. David Niswonger received the Outstanding Service Award.

The awards are not given every year, but only when worthy recipients have been identified, said David Hahs, a past chairman of the board of trustees, adding that Ritter and Niswonger have made major contributions to the medical community.

Ritter joined the Cape Girardeau medical community in 1970 in the group practice Orthopaedic Associates. At Southeast, Ritter has served as chief of orthopaedics, chief of the department of surgery, secretary to the hospital's executive committee, and as vice president and president of the medical staff.

As a medical staff officer and longtime member of the Southeast Missouri Hospital Association, he served six years on the Southeast Missouri Hospital Board of Trustees.

"I'm happy to have served Southeast Missouri Hospital for the last 37 years," he said upon receiving his plaque from Southeast CEO and president Jim Wente.

Niswonger's career in health care began in 1948. He joined the Southeast staff in 1961, becoming administrator 15 years later, a position he held until he retired in 1990.

After retiring, Niswonger's contributions to the Missouri Hospital Association were recognized when he received MHA's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award.

"I'd put Southeast's physicians up against anyone in the U.S.," Niswonger said upon receiving the award Thursday. "Our community service area has produced some of the finest people in the world."

After the awards were presented, outgoing chairman Michael Kohlfeld announced Jim Rust as the new board of trustees chairman. "As a businessman, I don't know his equal," Kohlfeld said.

In return, Rust presented Kohlfeld with a plaque, in appreciation of his service. "This is a hard act to follow," Rust said.

Also recognized were this year's Spirit Award winners: Gary Brucker, a painter in the maintenance department; Lori Bronenkant, quality management secretary; Evelyn Mills, nurse manager of surgical progressive care; and Sharon Stinson, director of patient care services.

The ceremony opened with fitness manager of Main Street Fitness Center in Jackson, Scott Givens, dressed as Superman as he demonstrated some exercise programs of Southeast Missouri Hospital with help from class participants.

tkrakowiak@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137