Burdeshaw Named BMH-GT Volunteer of Year

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Dorothy Burdeshaw has been selected Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle 2013 Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year. She was recognized at the Auxiliary’s annual fall luncheon held September 20 at the hospital.

Burdeshaw has been a member of the Auxiliary since August 2003. Her volunteer duties include manning the front desk of the hospital’s Patient Tower each Monday afternoon and also delivers newspapers to patients. She also serves on the Auxiliary’s Board of Directors as corresponding secretary.

The Volunteer of the Year is selected by Auxiliary members each year and recognizes the member who has provided outstanding service to the organization.

“Ms. Dot is a terrific volunteer and very deserving of this award,” said Cathy Johnson, Baptist Coordinator of Volunteer Services. “She has worked hard for the Auxiliary and hospital for many years and has done a fantastic job,” she added.

A native of Birmingham, Ala., Burdeshaw earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Judson College in Marion, Ala. and a master’s degree in health and physical education from Louisiana State University. She also earned a doctorate of education from the University of Texas. She taught health and physical education at the University of Texas for 16 years and at Mississippi University for Women for 21 years. She retired from MUW in 1994 where she served as head of the Health and Kinesiology Department and was Athletic Director.

She currently serves on the MUW Foundation Board, the Board of Advisors at Judson College and is active in the library ministry at First Baptist Church in Columbus where she also teaches an Adult Ladies Sunday School Class.

“It is a privilege to be a part of the Volunteer Auxiliary where so many give generously of their skills and time. It is very special to be recognized as Volunteer of the Year for this group,” Burdeshaw said. “I am most appreciative, yet, I realize that there are so many volunteers who deserve this recognition,” she added.

The hospital Auxiliary is a 100-member group whose members volunteer throughout the hospital every day of the week. In addition, members operate the hospital’s Gift Shop and host fund-raising projects that generate thousands of dollars for the hospital each year which are returned to the hospital in either purchased items or cash donations.

With 315 beds, Baptist Golden Triangle is the largest regional hospital affiliated with the Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care system. With physicians and surgeons representing almost every medical specialty practicing at the hospital, Baptist Golden Triangle offers a wide range of comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages.

In addition to the Baptist Cancer Center, the hospital offers a variety of services to the community, Baptist Behavioral Health Care for those with behavioral and mental health problems, an emergency room with 24-hour ambulance service, an extensive rehabilitation department, and educational programs. Baptist Golden Triangle employs more than 1,000 health care professionals.