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Tuesday, October 7, 2014 San Juan Regional Medical Center Announces 2014 Hall of Fame Inductees

San Juan Regional Medical Center's Hall of Fame has five new inductees. The hospital's Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at San Juan College’s Little Theatre at 7:00 p.m. The community is welcome to attend. Since 2004, San Juan Regional Medical Center has inducted 47 members, not including these five.

The new Hall of Fame inductees are Dr. John Brown (pioneer era), Dr. Bill Cumberworth and Daphne Morrison (developing era), and Steve Altmiller and Deb Gerber (current era). These individuals were selected by the Hall of Fame Committee for their contributions to the hospital and the health of the people of the Four Corners.

Dr. John Brown came to Farmington in 1878 and was the area’s first practicing physician. He was fluent in Spanish and Navajo and had a reputation for being fair-minded and respectful which prompted the community to also seek him out as town arbitrator.

Dr. Bill Cumberworth served on the hospital’s board of directors three separate times as vice chief of staff and chief of staff in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Starting in 1973, he had an internal medicine practice in Farmington until retiring from patient care in 2008. He is currently part time medical director for the San Juan Independent Practice Association. 

Daphne Morrison has generously served on San Juan Regional Medical Center’s Auxiliary since 1973 and has served nearly 14,000 hours. She has volunteered in the cancer center, mentored teen volunteers, made numerous craft items for patients, and much more. She is a Life Member of the Auxiliary and was selected as Volunteer of the Year in 2007.

Steve Altmiller was hospital president and CEO from 1999 to 2009. During this time, he was a visionary healthcare executive who humbly lead San Juan Regional Medical Center into the future through multiple growth and expansion projects including the new east tower which opened in 2006.

Deb Gerber is the hospital’s former nursing chief. She received local, state, and national recognition including being named Nurse Executive of the Year by the New Mexico March of Dimes in 2004, after being nominated by her own staff. Gerber regularly scheduled herself to work on nursing units alongside staff as she was staunchly dedicated to patient care and her fellow nurses. 

The public is invited to attend San Juan Regional Medical Center’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony; refreshments will follow.

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