Zach McCluskey : Chief Executive Officer : Johnston-Willis Hospital : HCA Healthcare
It is my honor and pleasure to announce that Robin Yoder is the national Frist Humanitarian Award Employee Winner for this year.
The Frist Humanitarian Awards, created in 1971, are a tribute to his lifelong dedication to improving the lives of others. Each year, these awards recognize individuals at HCA Healthcare who demonstrate a level of commitment and caring that goes beyond everyday kindness. Their generosity, dedication and heart reflect the HCA Healthcare mission to care for and improve human life. Their selflessness serves as both challenge and inspiration to others to find a way to do good in this world. “The Frist Humanitarian Award recipients work selflessly to improve the lives of people in need, in their communities and around the world,” says Milton Johnson, Chairman and CEO. “Their commitment to the care and improvement of human life inspires all of us to continue the philanthropic work of HCA Healthcare’s founders.” HCA Healthcare recognizes the exceptional compassion and caring of colleagues in three categories: Physician, Employee and Volunteer.
Robin Yoder, our oncology social worker, embodies the spirit and character of the Frist Humanitarian Award. Her compassion, paired with her vigilant support of the fight against cancer, is well known among her peers, physicians, and cancer community. The Frist Award committee outlined the reasons below as to why she has earned this honor:
Robin Yoder has made caring for the welfare of others her life’s work for more than three decades. While helping others is a part her job as a social worker, it’s evident to anyone she meets that caring for others is not work, but rather who she is at her core.
She is an advocate, champion, mentor, friend, triathlete, two-time cancer survivor and amputee who has impacted countless lives in Central Virginia and around the world.
In 2019, she was part of the U.S. delegation to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to assist the country in developing adaptive sports programs for the amputee community. While in Ashgabat, she was recognized as a “Woman of Inspiration” by the Turkmenistan news.
She’s an active board member for Mission Gait and developed a program called Discover Your Possible, which helps other amputees improve their capabilities and confidence.
As part of her work with Mission Gait, Robin educates students on living with cancer and limb loss.
She helped launch the Richmond Amputee Support Group which provides support to its members in reaching their full potential.
She led her breast cancer support group to compete in the Richmond Triathlon, which has raised thousands of dollars for Sportable – an organization that supports those with disabilities.
Additionally, she has served as the chairperson for the American Cancer Society’s Chesterfield County Relay for Life for 10 years. She founded the “Say it in a Song” concert that was held for 11 years and has been the top Virginia fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
These are just a few of the multitude of accomplishments Robin has made not only for herself but the cancer and amputee communities and doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of her passion for helping others. She is an inspiration to us all. We will honor her with the rest of HCA Healthcare when Sam Hazen holds the Awards Ceremony on September 23 in a live streamed event.
I could not be prouder of Robin. Please join me in congratulating her on this well-deserved recognition.
Zach McCluskey Chief Executive Officer
Johnston-Willis Hospital
Johnston-Willis Hospital
1401 Johnston Willis Dr Richmond, VA 23235