Lakeside Health Advisory Board Welcomes New Member and Recognizes Outgoing Member

The hospital board that helps guide Lakeside Medical Center has welcomed its newest member, Inger Harvey.  Ms. Harvey serves as the project director of Palm Health Foundation’s initiative “Healthier Glades” which is funding one million dollars over five years to tackle the root causes of behavioral health issues facing Glades’ residents.

Ms. Harvey’s professional experience includes working for the Office of Community Revitalization for the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners and, early in her career, serving as a candy striper at the former Glades General Hospital in Belle Glade.  Ms. Harvey attended her first board meeting at Lakeside Medical Center in Belle Glade on February 12th, 2019.  The acute care, 70-bed teaching hospital is owned and operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County.

“It’s an honor to serve on the board of this hospital which recently received national recognition by The Leapfrog Group as an A-rated facility for patient safety,” said Ms. Harvey. “I feel as if my dedication to the health of this agricultural region has come full circle now that I am again working for the betterment of hospital patients in the Glades.”

At its February meeting, Lakeside Health Advisory Board members also recognized outgoing member Angela Pope for her eight years of volunteer service. Rev. Robert Rease, Board Chair, noted that Ms. Pope is a well-respected financial services professional in Pahokee and has a strong connection to the Glades communities.

“Ms. Pope’s tenure on the hospital board is highlighted by her dedication to the health of our patients, her strong ties to this community and her advocacy for the hospital and its staff,” said Rev. Rease.  “During her service on the board, our rural teaching hospital has graduated six classes of Family Medicine Residents. She has supported enhanced community outreach, diabetes prevention and education, patient satisfaction and above all, compassionate, safe, quality care.”

“It’s been my pleasure, privilege and honor to serve on the board,” said Ms. Pope. “I care about this hospital very much.  Thank you for allowing me to serve and I wish the best to the board and the hospital going forward.”

The meeting was highlighted by the board’s presentation of a framed photo memento to the daughter of the late Sandra Chamblee in memory of Ms. Chamblee’s legacy.  Ms. Chamblee, who served as Vice Chair of the hospital board, passed away in December 2018. She was a champion of improving health care for all Palm Beach County residents and her outreach and advocacy focused on those living in the rural Glades communities.

“More than 30 years ago, Sandra Gove Chamblee became a founding mother of the Health Care District,” said Rev. Rease in his presentation. “Early in her career, she was called upon by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to oversee a study on HIV and TB in the Glades. The study evolved into the Glades Health Initiative, which she ran for 14 years. Sandra retired in 2010 but she did not stop volunteering to help others in her community.”

An identical framed memento will be displayed at the hospital to honor Ms. Chamblee.  
Upon accepting the memento in her mother’s honor, Lynn Anderson said, “My mother is smiling down from heaven.”