Employee, Volunteer Get Company's Top Award

recently announced winners of its annual Frist Humanitarian Award, which was created in 1971 to honor outstanding individuals for their humanitarian and volunteer activities. 

Jeff Barwick, director of Food, Nutrition and Environmental Services, and Judi Bedell, a hospital volunteer, were recognized this year.

Named in honor of Dr. Thomas F. Frist Sr.—a founder of HCA, parent company of Cartersville Medical Center—the Frist Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals who serve the community and those in need and whose daily dedication and care giving epitomize the highest standards of quality and personal commitment.

The employee award recognizes an HCA-affiliated employee who goes beyond day-to-day responsibilities in his/her overall service to the community. 

An employee at for seven years, Jeff Barwick was the employee recipient of the Frist Humanitarian Award. Barwick is a graduate of Model High School in Rome and holds a degree in Business Management from Shorter College and a degree in Dietary Management from the University of Florida. He is actively involved in Cartersville Medical Center’s Customer Service Ambassador program and is known and respected as a patient and employee advocate.

When not working, Barwick enjoys riding his Kawasaki Vulcan cruiser and working out at the gym. He also is a salt water aquarium enthusiast. 

Barwick and his wife, Susan, who also is an employee at Cartersville Medical Center, have two children and a granddaughter.

Judi Bedell, retired registered nurse for 35 years and a volunteer at Cartersville Medical Center for seven years, was named the Frist volunteer recipient. 

Bedell is the volunteer team leader on the Mother/Baby unit and serves on the Camp Monarch board, working tirelessly each year to coordinate details for the annual event for cancer patients and survivors.

Bedell’s volunteer spirit doesn’t end at the hospital.

A member of in Cartersville, she and her church family provide monthly meals to the Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing with the “Boot Scooters,” a seniors line dancing group that is affiliated with the and entertain at various venues throughout Georgia. 

Bedell and her husband, Marlow have been married for 34 years and have three children and five grandchildren.

Award recipients were honored recently at a reception, which included their family and friends.