Dr. Sharon Townsend- Appointed Examiner

By Dr. Gilbert Drozdow, M.D.

On behalf of the company, I would like to congratulate Dr. Sharon Townsend, Physician Coordinator for Risk Management and Quality in our anesthesiology division, for her appointment by Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Director of the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to the 2010 board of Examiners for the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award. The Award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive.

As an Examiner, Dr. Townsend is responsible for reviewing and evaluation applications submitted for the Award. The board is composed of approximately 500 leading experts selected from industry, professional and trade organizations, education and health care organizations, and nonprofits (including government).

Those selected meet the highest standards of qualification and peer recognition. All members of the board must take part in a preparation course based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and the scoring and evaluation for the Baldrige Award.

The Baldrige Award may be given annually in each of six categories: Manufacturing, Service, Small Business, Education, Health Care, and Nonprofit. Awards have been presented to over 80 organizations nationwide.

Dr. Townsend joined Sheridan Healthcorp Inc. in 1996. She has served as Vice Chair as well as Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at University Hospital and Medical Center in Tamarac, Fl. In addition, Dr. Townsend is the physician Coordinator for Risk Management and Quality, working extensively with our Anesthesiology Core Team reviewing quality and occurrence data seeking trends and opportunities for quality improvement.

Dr. Townsend completed her anesthesiology residency in 1979 at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fl. The following year, she completed a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at the National Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C. Subsequent to her training she was appointed Clinical Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, serving as Chief of the Pediatric Anesthesiology Cardiovascular Team and as well as Director of Ambulatory Surgery. During her tenure she initiated the University of Miami's anesthesiology service at Cedars Medical Center in Miami, Fl and served as the University's on site Chief of the Department. Dr. Townsend completed her Masters in Business Administration in 1990 at the University of Miami.

All of us in the company familiar with the prestigious Baldrige Award appreciate the enormous effort in time and talent Dr. Townsend invested to achieve this remarkable position on the Board of Examiners. It is entirely consistent with her professional commitment to quality patient care over many years of dedicated service to our practice.