Opinion: Honoring the passionate advocates

While some may consider 13 an unlucky number, those of us who are privileged to acknowledge the efforts of the 13th class of Springfield Business Journal’s Health Care Champions know better. A champion is someone thought of as the best and brightest in their field of expertise. This year’s class of Health Care Champions is no exception. However, the other definition of a champion is what truly sets them apart.

To be a champion is to advocate passionately on behalf of another’s interests. This year’s champions advocate for the health and well-being of all the patients in our community. This includes the physical, emotional, psychological and social components of well-being. Living in a world recovering from the global pandemic has only emphasized that we as humans need health care in more ways than just what can be given from a prescription pad or a procedure. We need to connect with each other and have all our needs met in meaningful, often intangible, ways. These champions work tirelessly to advocate for all members of our community in their work and their actions. They ensure that our community is advocated for fiercely, compassionately and completely.

Thank you to the Springfield Business Journal for continuing to acknowledge the efforts of our health care community providers. More importantly, thank you to the 13th class of Health Care Champions for being champions in every sense of the word.

Dr. Christina Capps is a geriatrics, hospice and palliative care physician at Citizens Memorial Hospital and a 2021 Health Care Champions Top Doctor. She can be reached at christina.capps@citizensmemorial.com.