This week the Federation of American Hospitals presented Deborah Williams, Senior Director of Program Management at Premier Inc., with the 13th annual Corris Boyd Leadership Award. Williams was honored March 4th during the FAH Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Presenter Ken Kuiper, Chairman of the FAH Exposition Advisory Committee, was joined on stage by a special guest – Corris Boyd’s wife, Vanessa.
“This award is given annually in memory of our late friend. Corris Boyd was an exceptional person and an outstanding leader in workplace diversity. This award is our way of keeping his legacy of excellence going and we are so happy to have Vanessa here to take part,” Kuiper said.
It has become a tradition to surprise the winner and this year was no different. Ms. Williams was unaware of the honor until her name was called.
Nominators used words like diligence, coach, mentor, positive drive and instrumental to describe Ms. Williams. As one wrote, Ms. Williams has “propelled positive and measurable changes” in her industry. She has been “instrumental in working with diverse suppliers and our members to help contribute to the overall economic growth and well-being of the communities in which we live and work.”
But if you talk to those who know her best, they will highlight not only her professional accolades but her personal attributes. Her passion for coaching and mentoring, her desire to see others succeed, and her dedication to diversity.
Deborah Williams has served the health care industry for nearly 40 years – specializing in supplier diversity, ensuring minority, women – and veteran-owned suppliers and small businesses receive the resources they need.
Deborah Williams is an amazing example of what our industry strives to achieve.
The Corris Boyd Leadership Award honors an individual or company that has made an outstanding contribution in fostering leadership in the health care industry. The FAH established the Corris Boyd Leadership in 2007 to honor the late Corris Boyd, who spent his career working with hospital management companies and group purchasing organizations. Corris Boyd committed his life to diversity and excellence in health care. He believed that leadership development is crucial to success and was devoted to the success of minority- and women-owned business enterprises.
FAH is honored to present Deborah Williams as the 2019 Corris Boyd Award winner and extends its thanks for her outstanding work which embodies the ideals the award represents.
