ChristianaCare Council of Advisors Recognizes Community Impact of Two Leaders
LeRoi Hicks and Christine Sauers commended for exemplary service and commitment to the health of our neighbors
The ChristianaCare Council of Advisors recently honored two change agents for their service and leadership in building a system of care that is effective, affordable and valuable to everyone touched by it.
LeRoi Hicks: ‘Community pillar’
LeRoi Hicks, M.D., MPH, FACP, received the 2024 Charles J. Harrington Award for Distinguished Service to ChristianaCare.
The award honors visionary leaders dedicated to philanthropy and advocacy. Hicks, the campus executive director for ChristianaCare, Wilmington campus, is a “community pillar” who is “well-known in Wilmington as a clinician focused on healing, equity and transformation,” said Janice Nevin, M.D., MPH, president and CEO of ChristianaCare, in presenting the award.
“Dr. Hicks is a fierce supporter of breaking down silos to close health disparities, and he understands the need to meet people where they are.”
The Council of Advisors advances ChristianaCare’s mission through community ambassadorship.
Hicks, who specializes in internal medicine, strives to empower patients through education and foster a culture of inclusivity in health care, Nevin said. He also acts beyond the hospital walls to improve community well-being. Hicks actively engages with local organizations like the NAACP and Wilmington Alliance, and he mentors young men at Nativity Prep School of Wilmington.
Hicks is the recipient of many clinical and research awards and is nationally known for his research on health care disparities. His research focuses on understanding how racial and cultural backgrounds influence chronic disease care, and on breaking down barriers to ensure that high-quality medical services reach those who need them most.
“Dr. Hicks is a fierce supporter of breaking down silos to close health disparities.” – Janice Nevin, M.D., MPH
Hicks previously served as Chief Medical Officer of ChristianaCare’s Wilmington Hospital and as the Chair of ChristianaCare’s Department of Medicine. He is the immediate past president of the Society of General Internal Medicine.
He graduated from Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in 1991 and earned his M.D. at the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1995. After his residency and chief residency at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he completed a fellowship in general medicine and faculty development at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He earned a Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health in 2001.
The Harrington Award was introduced in 1996, honoring its namesake, the late director emeritus of the ChristianaCare Board of Directors and former advisor. Harrington was a dedicated advocate for service and a strong believer in the importance of philanthropy.
Christine Sauers: ‘A force of nature’
Christine Sauers, who has served as a member of ChristianaCare’s Health Services Board of Directors since 2021 and the Council of Advisors since 2016, received the 2024 Carroll M. Carpenter Impact Award. This award recognizes a member of the Council of Advisors who demonstrates leadership, selflessness, service, action and impact.
Sauers “has helped shape our direction with her insightful vision, strategic leadership and unwavering dedication,” said Julie Topkis Nason, immediate past chair of the ChristianaCare Council of Advisors and also a member of the Health Services Board, in presenting the award. “She approaches every challenge with a strategic mind, a compassionate heart and determination.
“She doesn’t seek recognition; she seeks results. She doesn’t crave the spotlight; she craves meaningful change.”
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Sauers has led the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Delaware as its president since 2002 and has also worked at community-based organizations like the World Trade Center Institute of Delaware and the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce.
Topkis Nason called Sauers a “force of nature,” noting her considerable community service beyond her professional responsibilities. She runs the BBB of Delaware Education Foundation and has served on numerous boards, including the Board of Directors of Easterseals, Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and the Corporate Committee for the Combined Campaign for Justice, which supports Delaware’s three civil legal aid organizations.
Fulfilling a lifelong goal, Sauers is also pursuing a law degree at Wilmington University.
The Carpenter Award was established in 2016 to commemorate its namesake’s distinguished service as chair of the Council of Advisors from 2010 to 2016. It is given annually to an advisor who closely emulates her vision and commitment to ChristianaCare.
