Queen Of Peace's Mary Klimp Wins Spirit Of Advocacy Award
(NEW PRAGUE, MN - May 11, 2009) – The Minnesota Hospital Association announced it has named Mary Klimp, CEO of Queen of Peace Hospital, the winner of its 2009 Spirit of Advocacy Award.
Klimp was recognized for developing sound relationships with business leaders, city officials and state senators and representatives. At the state level, she has effectively championed the hospital perspective before legislative committees. Additionally, she has served, or is serving, on numerous MHA and AHA committees. She also represents hospital interests on the Minnesota Department of Health's Health Care Reform Task Force. Klimp also supported the Fitness Center's development of a New Prague community weight loss program modeled after TV's "The Biggest Loser" that saw community participants lose a total of nearly 2,500 pounds in 2008.
The honor was one of 18 individual and group awards bestowed by the St. Paul-based association Friday.
The MHA Spirit of Advocacy Award honors a member who has provided leadership within his/her organization and served in key roles with the MHA governance structure, committees or work groups during the year. The recipient is also chosen for their grassroots advocacy efforts in his/her facility and community to benefit Minnesota's hospitals and health systems and demonstrated leadership at the community level in the promotion of health care issues.
The program recognizes volunteers, medical professionals and others whose contributions bettered health care at Minnesota hospitals. Other awards, for example, were "Caregiver of the Year," "Best Minnesota Hospital Work Place" and "Health Care Career Promotion." For more information, visit www.mnhospitals.org.