RLC Trustee Dr. David Asbery honored with Physician of Excellence Award

INA, Ill. – Local physician and Rend Lake College Board of Trustee member Dr. David Asbery of Mt. Vernon has been honored with the 2018 Physician of Excellence Award from the Illinois Rural Health Association (IRHA).

RLC Dean of Allied Health Kim Wilkerson nominated Dr. Asbery for the award earlier this year. She said Dr. Asbery was her first thought when it came to local outstanding physicians.

“When I first became involved with the IRHA, I began to see physicians from the state being recognized for their work, but our area physicians were not included. Dr. Asbery came to my mind,” said Wilkerson.

She continued, “I hear students on campus talk about the care they were given when they had children. I hear them talk about how great their interactions were with Dr. Asbery during clinical rotations. And it’s not only at the college where I hear his name; it’s the whole community. He is a very community-focused physician.”

Former Board of Trustee member Eric Black, pharmacist and owner of The Medicine Shoppe in Mt. Vernon, penned a letter to the selection committee in support of Dr. Asbery’s nomination. In the letter, he highlighted Dr. Asbery’s commitment to both his patients and the community.

“David and his wife Kathy have a generous heart and have been so giving with their time and financial resources. In fact, I have had the pleasure of service with David on the Rend Lake College Board where he has been a knowledgeable asset for some years now,” wrote Black. “When your committee considers the nominees for this award, no doubt you will have several wonderful individuals to choose from. I submit that you will find none more committed, none more deserving, and none more hard working than Dr. David Asbery.”

Black’s letter continues to address the reasoning for Dr. Asbery to be the award recipient as someone who has gone above and beyond in local communities. Black illustrates Dr. Asbery’s devotion to top notch medical techniques and his dedication to his patients.

“…He has opened [obstetrician] clinics in several small towns and villages around Mt. Vernon and has increased convenience and care for hundreds of patients. David has continued growing his abilities and patient care by being one of the first in our area to be certified on the DaVinci robotic surgery system. I have heard many wonderful compliments from his patients both on his surgical abilities and kindhearted bedside manner. He has developed a very loyal patient base for good reason,” the letter states.

Margaret Vaughn, Executive Director of the IRHA, will honor Dr. Asbery at a reception this fall where the Illinois General Assembly will also recognize his efforts.

In her announcement, Vaughn wrote to Dr. Asbery, “On behalf of the Illinois Rural Health Association, I would like to congratulate you on being selected to receive our 2018 Physician of Excellence Award. You were selected because IRHA feels you have gone above and beyond the call of duty, to make a significant impact in improving the quality delivery of health care in the rural community you serve.”