Health Care Heroes 2009

Our first annual Leaders in Health Care 2009 awards spotlight seven individuals and one institution that are improving health care in Washington and, in some cases, around the world.

By Dean Paton | March 2009 | FROM THE PRINT EDITION

Washington state has long ranked among the nation’s leaders when it comes to state-of-the-art health care. But who are the dedicated professionals helping to make this state such a unique place for the health care industry and life sciences to flourish? And more to the point, who are the best of the best?

Identifying those worthy few who improve coverage and create medical miracles—not only for people in this state, but also in some cases around the world—is the reason that Seattle Business developed this award program.

In the fall of 2008, a panel of judges from across Washington, representing different areas of emphasis in health care, began the nearly impossible task of picking the winners of our first annual Leaders in Health Care award.

Because there were so many talented professionals and organizations that deserved honors, the experts divided the award into eight categories, recognizing top health care executives from metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions, the state’s outstanding health care volunteer and a lifetime achievement award, to name just a few.

Health care professionals, hospital administrators and business leaders from across the state submitted nearly 100 nominations. And the truth is: Virtually all candidates were worthy of the awards and deemed “impressive” by the panel. The judges spent many hours combing through worthy applications. But rules are rules and only one winner was allowed for each category. In some cases (though not all), the panel even chose to name two runners up.

Here are the winners of the Leaders in Health Care and Life Sciences 2009.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Michael Copass, Former Director of Emergency Services, Harborview Medical Center

Harborview Medical center is a known as a magnet for dedicated physicians, nurses and other health-care providers.

During the last three decades, dozens of medical luminaries have spent their careers delivering health care here and, in the bargain, turning Harborview into a legendary institution.

Yet of all the physicians, past and present, who have helped Harborview shine, a neurologist named Michael Copass may have done the most to help the hospital develop its world-renowned reputation.

Dr. Copass took over the emergency department in 1973. For 35 years, he presided over its evolution into the place to which patients want to be taken when an urgent crisis threatens their lives. Not only does Copass direct