Dr. John S. Willens Memorial Endowed Scholarship Award Winner

(January 2008; Paoli, PA) In memory of her late husband, John S. Willens, M.D., Joyce Lamson-Scribner, Ph.D., R.N., established an endowment fund to support an educational scholarship that is awarded annually to a Paoli Hospital employee. Dr. Willens founded the Anesthesia Department at Paoli Hospital and was Chief of Anesthesia from 1973 to 1996.

One of his greatest pleasures was teaching. He committed himself to educating all health care professionals and encouraged them to provide the best possible care for all patients. It is because of his never- ending love of education that this scholarship was established. Granted every fall, the scholarship awards $2,500 to the selected candidate and is the only endowed scholarship awarded at Paoli Hospital.

This year's award winner is Janet Owens.Twenty-two years ago, while still in high school, Janet  started working at Paoli Hospital as a dietary aide. She realized she was destined for a career in health care. "I loved the interaction with the patients and from those early days I knew my place was in the hospital helping them," explains Janet.  After continuing to work as a dietary aide during nursing school, Janet graduated and found herself working as a nurse in Paoli's Operating Room. Along the way Janet raised her two young boys on one income, but through it all she says, "I never lost my desire to be the best and give it my all!" Janet believes in lifelong learning and is currently enrolled at Immaculata University to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. She is expected to graduate in 2009.

Dr. John S. Willens

Paoli Hospital employees who were recipients of this scholarship are:
2006-Jo Ann Coryell; 2005-Cynthia Wagner; 2004-Rosemary Wurster;
2003-Karen Byrne; 2001-Patricia Walton; 2000-Eileen Stevens; 1999-Deborah Murphy;
>and 1998-Carol Proctor

Published:1-17-2008