![<B> Sierra Moore</B> and the paramedics who treated her en route to Denver Health Medical Center, <B>Michelle Galles</B> and <B>Brian Schimpf</B>. <!--IPTC: [CUT1]Nine-year-old Sierra Moore and the paramedics who treated her en route to Denver Health Medical Center, Michelle Galles and Brian Schimpf. [CREDIT]Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post-->](/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/20090423__20090426_E17_FE26DAVIDSONp1.jpg "20090423__20090426_E17_FE26DAVIDSON~p1.JPG")
If anyone knows a thing or two about triumph over challenge, it’s the paramedics and emergency medicine physicians at Denver Health Medical Center.
The circumstances are often horrific, but the medicine that they practice results in thousands of success stories every year.
That fact hasn’t gone unnoticed.
The American Association of Surgeons has named Denver Health’s Rocky Mountain Regional Trauma Center the top facility of its type in the nation, and at Denver Health’s 10th Triumph Over Challenge Gala, special tribute was paid to the men and women of the emergency department. The event raised an estimated $757,000.
On hand to accept a standing ovation from the 1,200 guests were paramedics Seann Hedlof, Michelle Galles, Brian Schimpf and James Azuero.
Galles and Schimpf responded to the June 2008 drive-by shooting that critically injured Sierra Moore. They stabilized the 8- year-old as the ambulance raced to the hospital, siren blaring and red lights flashing, making things somewhat easier for the ER docs awaiting her arrival. Moore has since recovered and was able to share the spotlight with Galles and Schimpf last Saturday at the Sheraton Denver Downtown.
Others honored at the black-tie affair were Employee of the Year Isabel Barrera, manager of Denver Health’s medical interpreter/ translation program, and four whose contributions to Denver Health have been outstanding: Katherine Archuleta, acting chief of staff for Labor Secretary Hilda Solis; Marti Awad, chair of Denver Health’s Level 1 Society board and a wealth manager with Merrill Lynch; financial adviser Stephen Clark, immediate past chair of the Denver Health Foundation; and WellPoint Foundation president Caz Matthews, a member of the Denver Health & Hospital Authority board.
The gala’s tropical theme was inspired by the Cuban roots of Yvette Pita Frampton, who chaired the benefit with her husband, Chris, managing partner at Riverfront Park. Honorary chairs were Level 3 Communications CEO James Crowe and his wife, Pamela.
Yvette Frampton, a documentary filmmaker, was born in Miami to Cuban parents. She volunteers as a translator at Denver Health, where she is also president of the Volunteer Association board and a member of the Level 1 Society and Denver Health Foundation boards.
Guests, including hospital CEO Patricia Gabow; David McReynolds, chair of the Denver Health Foundation board; Diamond Sponsors Jerry and Margaret Hodge; and emcee Denise Plante of KOSI, dined on mojito-glazed beef medallions paired with chipotle shrimp at tables decorated with tropical fruit and flowers from Bouquets. Later the salsa band Quemando played for dancing.
Other familiar faces in the crowd: Mayor John Hickenlooper; U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter; former Gov. Bill Owens; former Mayor Federico Penã; University of Colorado Denver Chancellor M. Roy Wilson; Dr. Richard Krugman, dean of the CU School of Medicine; Drs. Johnny Johnson and Reginald Washington; attorneys Hubert Farbes and Steve Farber; and the leadership team for the 2010 gala that will celebrate Denver Health’s 150th year: Ernie Blake and Sharon Magness Blake; Lisa and Bruce Alexander; and Jean and Dr. Ben Galloway.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,
