Community Healthcare System honored for corporate leadership by Calumet College

Community Healthcare System honored for corporate leadership by Calumet College

Community Healthcare System was presented with the 2019 Corporate Leadership Award at Calumet College of St. Joseph’s 54th Annual Trustees’ Scholarship Gala.

The gala, held on Saturday, April 27, raises scholarship funding students and recognizes community and business leaders for their spirit and commitment to Calumet College of Whiting.

College President Amy McCormick, PhD, and Chairman of the Board Larry Meyers said Community Healthcare System was chosen for its ongoing commitment to enhance the health and quality of life in Northwest Indiana.

“Many thanks to our friends at Calumet College for this honor that acknowledges our similar missions and goals,” said Donald P. Fesko, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana, Inc., parent company to Community Healthcare System. “We value the many opportunities that we have had through the years to partner with you and look forward to continuing to invest in the development of our future healthcare professionals.”

Community Healthcare System is comprised of three not-for-profit hospitals: Community Hospital, Munster, St. Catherine Hospital, East Chicago, St. Mary Medical Center, Hobart, and Hartsfield Village, a continuing care retirement community in Munster. Brought together in 2001, Community Healthcare System is the area’s largest integrated healthcare system in Northwest Indiana.

Calumet College’s role to help create healthcare career pathways dates back to the 1990s when a healthcare management program was developed for area hospitals, according to Ginger Rodriguez, vice president for academic affairs and associate professor in English and humanities at Calumet College.

The college currently offers an accelerated bachelor's degree program in Organization Management for individuals across a broader spectrum of careers, as well as a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science for students interested in becoming a doctor, pharmacist and those who choose to pursue a master’s degree in nursing.

Calumet College students also are presented with opportunities to attend free community outreach programs, special events, preventative screenings and support groups offered through Community Healthcare System, all contributing to better health and improved quality of life in Northwest Indiana.

Other awardees at the gala include:

  • Willis Glaros, St. Joseph the Worker award
  • Liz Guzman Arredondo, Brother Gerard Von Hagel Alumni Award

Past recipients of the St. Joseph the Worker Award include Joseph Costanza, board member of Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana and St. Catherine Hospital and Jo Ann Birdzell, 2012, retired CEO, St. Catherine Hospital. Past corporate leadership award winners include Burke Costanza & Carberry, LLP, American Precision Services, Inc., Van Til’s Supermarket; NIPSCO; and the cities of Hammond and Whiting.

To learn more about the hospitals of Community Healthcare System, visit COMHS.org