2010 Salute to Health Care Posthumous Honor: Gertrude "Trudi" Scott

In nearly 40 years in health care, Gertrude “Trudi” Scott treated plenty of patients, but it’s no secret that her heart belonged to children.

“When she saw a child, it was just almost breathtaking,” says Dr. John Bentley, a physician at Jordan Valley Community Health Center, where Scott worked as director of pediatrics. “If it was time for her to start serving kids she would just light up,” Bentley says.

Though Scott died in a car accident in March, her efforts to help children and improve access to health care have left a lasting legacy. Her clinic colleagues and husband, Ted, nominated her for Salute to Health Care.

As a nurse practitioner at CoxHealth, Trudi  Scott initiated a mobile care unit to administer free or affordable care to underprivileged schoolchildren. Scott later brought the unit to Jordan Valley Community Health Center, and it was dedicated as part of the Trudi’s Kids program in September.

“She realized how many people were in need of care and don’t have a regular doctor (or) insurance and if something happened, their resource was to go to the emergency room,” Ted Scott says. “I think it fit perfectly with her need to take care of people who are disadvantaged or disenfranchised.”

Bentley still sees the impact of Trudi Scott’s passion in her Jordan Valley colleagues, many of whom she trained.

“Several nurse practitioners joined us because of her presence,” he says.

Scott’s vacation time was often spent on mission trips to treat children in indigent locations, such as a small Guatemalan village in the Ixil Triangle.

Bentley says Scott’s advocacy efforts extended to the state capital. “She was up there in Jeff City all the time fighting with those guys trying to get them to get money to clinics and children’s health organizations,” Bentley says.

Ted Scott says his wife filled their garage with medical instruments, hospital linens and thousands of shoes to help the needy – something that she thought everybody ought to do.

“I hope it’s a challenge … even for people who didn’t know her, to see that life is more than just being busy,” he says.[[In-content Ad]]