Community members gathered on April 11 at Weingarten Vineyard for the fourth annual Parkland Health Center Foundation Celebration and presentation of the Joyce Buchheit Excellence in Health Care Award. The 2019 award was presented posthumously to Dr. Richard C. Winder, with his wife, Maxine Winder accepting the award on his behalf.
Dr. Winder was a very well-known physician in the region. When he moved to the Farmington area in 1976, Dr. Winder began a general practice in Park Hills. During this time, he delivered over 2,000 babies, and due to his interest in making sure that uninsured expectant mothers had access to prenatal care, he was instrumental in setting up the women’s clinic for the St. Francois County Health Department. In addition, Dr. Winder saw the need for ambulance services in the county and was instrumental in establishing the St. Francois County Ambulance District.
Most recently, Dr. Winder served as the medical director of the Mineral Area Regional Medical Center emergency department until his retirement in 2012. During his time at Mineral Area, he was also director of medical education for interns and residents, a program he started and that enhanced the recruitment of physicians to the area. Dr. Winder’s significant contributions to health care in our region span a thirty-six year career. He passed away in July 2018.
“I was very pleased with the evening,” said Debbie Peterson, president, Parkland Health Center Foundation. “The atmosphere was great, honoring a wonderful man; the food was amazing; everyone just seemed to be having a great time.”
Joyce Buchheit, the award’s namesake, is a member of the Parkland Health Center Foundation Board of Directors and a past member of both the BJC HealthCare Board of Directors and the Parkland Health Center Board of Directors. Past recipients of this award include Dr. Edward DuMontier (2016), Dr. George Oliver (2017) and Carol L. Coulter, RN (2018).
Learn more about Parkland Health Center Foundation.
Pictured above is is Maxine Winder (right) accepting on behalf of her late husband, and Jack Marler (left), director of medical staff services at Parkland Health Center.