More than 450 people gathered for AdventHealth’s companywide 33rd annual Conference on Mission, recognizing the work, service and dedication of key individuals.
During this special event, Pat Northey, a long-time Volusia County resident, received the organization’s “Trustee of the Year” accolade.
After more than 30 years of service, Northey holds the distinction as the longest-serving member of the AdventHealth Fish Memorial board and has been instrumental in fostering strong connections between the local hospital and the West Volusia community.
“From the moment I met Pat, her unwavering dedication to AdventHealth was apparent and she’s left an indelible mark on my own journey within the organization,” said Lorenzo Brown, CEO of AdventHealth Fish Memorial and the West Volusia market. “As a strong advocate, Pat has seamlessly connected AdventHealth to our community and she has been a beacon of inspiration for us all.”
In the 1980s, Northey was working as business manager at Orlando General Hospital, a small standalone hospital in east Orlando that was in danger of closure when it was acquired by Adventist Health System (now known as AdventHealth). Impressed by the company, executives and culture, Northey stayed after the transition as the hospital’s health recovered. Today, this facility is now known as AdventHealth East Orlando.
Not long after, the organization acquired Bert Fish Memorial Hospital in DeLand.
Northey served as an unofficial ambassador, making personal connections between the company and the community.
“I made introductions, and helped people get comfortable with the idea of what they saw as this big company from Orlando coming to town,” she recalled. “I saw my role as telling the story. I had bought into the idea of whole person care and shared that philosophy when I spoke with people.”
Like Orlando General, this hospital also flourished after the transition. And after a move to Orange City, today, this facility is known as AdventHealth Fish Memorial.
Even when she left her role at the hospital to enter local politics, Northey remained an advocate for AdventHealth.
By the late 1990s, Joe Johnson – who had met Northey years earlier while in leadership at Orlando General -- was AdventHealth Fish Memorial’s CEO. Johnson was so impressed by her knowledge and commitment to healthcare, that asked her to join the hospital’s board. With the exception of a two-year span in the early 2000s, Northey has been a member ever since.
Northey’s also witnessed firsthand the exceptional care provided by AdventHealth as she became a caretaker for ailing family members. This experience deepened her appreciation for AdventHealth.
“They are wonderful health care providers,” Northey said. “I know firsthand the quality of care, from the emergency room, to the bedside, to discharge.”