Rosemary Lewis works behind the scenes at CoxHealth to spearhead the health system’s community efforts.
Lewis, an 18-year employee of CoxHealth and its community liaison since August 2005, works to encourage the Springfield health system’s employees to get involved in community endeavors, and she fields nonprofit requests for sponsorships and volunteers.
“The reason why I feel community involvement at work is a priority is not just because it is a component of my job, but I sincerely believe in giving back to the community we serve,” Lewis says. “I believe strongly in our CoxHealth mission – to improve the health of the communities we serve through quality health care, education and research.
“The organizations chosen to be supported by us are amazing community partners that are trying to help people directly, provide preventative education, research for a cure, advocate for those in need, or improve quality of life and make our region a better place to live.”
Lewis says CoxHealth supports more than 50 nonprofit organizations annually, including the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, The Kitchen Inc., Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Missouri, Lost and Found Grief Center and the Price Cutter Charity Championship.
For the past few years, Lewis has rallied CoxHealth employees to help plan or organize and participate in the American Heart Association’s annual April walk for the fight against heart disease.
Noting a team effort, Lewis says CoxHealth was recognized as the top fundraiser of the 2012 Heart Walk with $27,681 raised by the health system’s employee efforts.
“My role changes constantly in order to accommodate the organizations’ needs to make their events successful,” Lewis says.
“My job is truly rewarding to know that I, in a very small way, may have helped someone.”
Lewis may be downplaying her role in making CoxHealth a good community partner.
“As amazing as she is, Rosemary is never in the spotlight. She is much more inclined to stand in the wings while credit is given to a chairperson or CEO or VIP,” says June Johnson, administrative director of CoxHealth’s Hulston Cancer Center.
“But those of us involved in the events know that it was Rosemary who was the driving force in the success. She is the consummate team player, and is driven not by accolades but by the outcome of the effort and good that results.”
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