Darrin Privett, MD, an emergency room physician at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, was recognized as the 100th Healthcare Hero during a surprise announcement on April 23, 2009.
Launched in 2008, the fundraising program offers the community an opportunity to recognize their favorite Henry Mayo physician, clinician, staff member, or volunteer for outstanding service with an acknowledgement and/or donation. Since its inception, Healthcare Heroes has raised more than $13,000 for the hospital.
Dr. Privett’s nomination came from a patient who commended his “full understanding of our situation” and stated that Dr. Privett “exceeded our expectations of any ER doctor.” He received a pin and certificate from Henry Mayo president and CEO Roger Seaver.
“Our experience at Henry Mayo is very unique in that we are sought by the ‘best and brightest’ newly trained ER doctors,” said Seaver. “Dr. Privett is certainly one of those elite. The other unique characteristic of his desire to provide his expertise in his ‘hometown’ gives us further inspiration to pursue and live our vision “to create the ideal healthcare environment to surpass expectations.”
A Santa Clarita native, Dr. Privett began his career at Henry Mayo as an Emergency Department technician while still attending college. After completing his residency in emergency room medicine at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Privett returned to Santa Clarita with his wife and two children. He has worked in Henry Mayo’s emergency room for two years.
“It is such an honor to be recognized by patients,” responded Dr. Privett. “A greater honor is being able to serve my hometown community in this professional capacity. Living here, working here, is a true blessing.”
David Henry, MD, medical director of Henry Mayo’s emergency services, wasn’t surprised by Privett’s newfound “Healthcare Hero” status.
“This is a full circle for Dr. Privett. He won a Service Excellence award as an ED tech and now is a Healthcare Hero. He is a very personable individual who spends a lot of time with patients. He sits down and describes the background of their illness, as well as a plan for treatment,” Henry said. “He’s dedicated to going beyond what’s expected of a physician, he has interest in treating everyone as a family member.”
Dr. Privett added that, where once the ED physicians he now works with side-by-side served as his mentors and inspired him to pursue a career as an emergency room physician, he now mentors ED techs at Henry Mayo.
Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital is a 221 bed not-for-profit acute care hospital serving the Santa Clarita Valley since 1975. Services include trauma, emergency, intensive care, maternity, surgery, nursing, wound care, behavioral health, and acute rehab, as well as cancer, cardiology, imaging, lab, digestive, respiratory services and physical and occupational therapies. Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital is located at 23845 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355-2083.
For more information, visit www.henrymayo.com or call 661-253-8000.