Healthcare Professional of the Year
F rom nurses to administrators and first responders to physicians, there are many people involved in health care. Bringing together a wide variety of health care stakeholders is one of the keys to improving community health.
In order to recognize an individual whos professional work has made a positive impact on the overall quality of care in the North Metro area, an exper t panel selects a Health Care Professional of the Year to honor as part of the North Metro Healthcare Awards, presented by the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce.
This year’s honoree is Michael Murry, lead clinical case coordinator for Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway.
“Patient care is a priority to me and my team,” he said. “We strive to develop customer relationships, acquire new skills, improve our existing abilities and become familiar with relevant pharmaceuticals. Having the ability to work effectively with physicians, nurses, dietitians, purchasing agents, clinicians and even families has definitely worked in my favor.”
Murry was born and raised in Augusta, where he graduated from Augusta High School as valedictorian of the class of 1993. He is the son of Larry Murry and Carrie Taylor. In 1999, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, where he was a four-year starter on the Bears football team.
Now he lends his skills to a different team at Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway, where he not only facilitates patient care, but also plans, coordinates and monitors care, together with physicians, nurses and other staff members.
Murry began his health care career at Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock, where he worked as a staff nurse, charge nurse and unit supervisor of the cardiovascular intensive-care unit for 14 years. In 2008, he received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, which is given by the DAISY Foundation to honor and thank outstanding nurses.
Korry Garrett, who was Murry’s classmate at UCA, nominated Murry for the Nurse of the Year
award. On the nomination form, Garrett said he has been impressed with Murry’s compassionate character, as well as the progress Murry has made as a health care professional.
“Since our days at the University of Central Arkansas, Michael has always had a sincere passion to care for people,” Garrett said. “Over the years, I have been able to watch him professionally grow from a registered nurse to now the lead clinical care coordinator. … Michael is very much deserving of this prestigious honor.”
Murry married his college sweetheart, Nikeba Davis Murry, and the couple reside in Mayflower. He is an active member of First Baptist Church Main Street in North Little Rock. He also serves his community as first vice regional director of the Southwestern Region of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., a member of the UCA Alumni Association’s Black Alumni Chapter and a youth league football coach.
Among Murry’s many philanthropic activities, he said he is most proud of his work with Brothers United, an Arkansas Department of Health initiative that works to reduce infant mortality in the African-American community by providing information about breastfeeding, safe sleep and the prevention of SIDS to expectant fathers.