Dr. Stephen Threlkeld, an infectious disease physician who has been on the frontline of the battle to defeat COVID-19, won Baptist Memphis’ second Physician Foxhole Award. Doctors receive the award for the way in which they support the team, even in the midst of the toughest patient care situations.
Dr. Threlkeld’s nominator praised his willingness to educate team members to help shape the team’s battle strategies and mitigation efforts and noted his unyielding compassion and persistence through wins and losses.
“During our most trying moments, through our fears and anxieties, I have often seen Dr. Threlkeld listening to and consoling our team and family members,” his nominator wrote. “I have seen him patiently answer our questions, many of them repeated daily, as we searched for hope.”
The nominator also wrote about Dr. Threlkeld’s patience and availability in person or by text, even though he has typically worked 18 hours a day, seven days a week since the pandemic began last March.
“Over the last year and almost daily, he has entered this building with a smile and pleasant attitude and served hours unimaginable to most of us,” his nominator wrote. “He has physically treated our patients and many of us and has kept us all informed of the most current guidelines and recommendations.”
In addition to treating patients in the hospital and in his clinic, he provided Baptist leadership, physicians, businesses and the general public with timely COVID-19 guidance and counsel. A favorite source for reporters, Dr. Threlkeld has given hundreds of interviews about COVID, and millions of viewers have watched his news conferences.
“Dr. Steve Threlkeld has been a humble servant leader to our community,” his nominator wrote. “Without a doubt, this physician would always be chosen for my foxhole.”
Dr. Threlkeld received a plaque; a fox lapel pin; an arm patch for his white coat that says, “BMH-MEMPHIS FOXHOLE PHYSICIAN”; and a rucksack full of goodies to share.
Baptist Memphis’ Service First Council accepts nominations from hospital team members and chooses a winner using a blinded review/ranking process. They do not know who has been nominated or who submitted the nomination.
The Physician Foxhole Award nomination form is on Baptist Memphis’ MyBaptist homepage, and any team member can submit one.
