SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children program today announced a school nurse and a community volunteer as two of the recipients of this year's Ron W. Lee, M.D., Excellence in Pediatric Care Awards.

The awards are given in recognition of excellence to those dedicated to pediatric emergency care and childhood injury prevention initiatives. Individuals or organizations can be nominated for one of the following three award categories – Lifetime Achievement, Clinical Excellence and Community Services. Nominations for the awards were received from throughout the state.

Those being presented awards today are –

Lifetime Achievement – Jeanne Meyer, head nurse, Highland School District No. 5, Highland.

Community Service – Ford Green, Telephone Pioneers of America, Alton. – more – add 1

Besides her role as head nurse for the Highland School District, Meyer has been instrumental in developing a number of programs, including "Banana Splits," a group that brings together students struggling with divorce issues and provides support and coping skills, and "Have A Heart," a program in which dentists donate their services to provide free dental care to economically disadvantaged children. Twenty years ago, she established an "Adopt-A-Family" program that collects clothing, appliances, food and toys for needy children and families during the Christmas season.

Green has been involved in the Telephone Pioneers of America organization for the past 25 years. During that time, he has helped more than 7,000 children receive new shoes. Green also volunteers for the Khoury League in Godfrey, Alton Memorial Hospital and the local Head Start program.

At a ceremony on May 8, Charles Nozicka, D.O., of Hoffmann Estates, was recognized for clinical excellence and John Manasse, of Arlington Heights, was recognized for community service.

The Ron W. Lee, M.D., Excellence in Pediatric Care Awards are presented annually each May by the Department and the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program as part of Emergency Medical Services Week (May 19-25). Dr. Lee, who died in 1998, was the director of emergency medicine at Loyola University Medical Center and was instrumental in establishing and fostering the EMSC program in Illinois.

The EMSC program, a collaborative effort of the Department and Loyola University Medical Center of Chicago, was established in 1994 to ensure that the emergency medical care needs of children are adequately addressed.