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Awards Received
In March, 2010, Ingram's magazine announced its annual regional Heroes in Healthcare - models who represent the best of what our healthcare system has to offer. INMED and Nicholas Comninellis were recognized in the category of 'Administration.' Ingram's wrote, "Few physicians here will ever treat injuries from a land mine. Nicholas Comninellis has. He is also among the rarest of CEOs: One whose service to the organization comes in an entirely volunteer role, leading the Institute for International Medicine in caring for 'the poorest of the poor.' From Angola to Zimbabwe, INMED assists the most forgotten people of our generation, and inspires the healthcare professionals of the next."
The Servant Christian Community Foundation once again recognized INMED with a 2009 Passion Award. Over 1,000 individuals attended the 2009 Thurman Mitchell Servant Leadership Summit, whose theme was "Faith Unleashed." This year's celebration - one of the largest Christian ministry awards events in the country - was held on November 9 at the Overland Park Convention Center. Nicholas Comninellis, INMED President, received the $5,000 award on behalf of INMED and observed, "At this moment, thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide are silently working on behalf of people who are largely forgotten. This award is a timely reminder of the eternal significance of their labor."
The United Nations Association of Kansas City recognized INMED and Dr. Comninellis with the 2009 Kansas City Citizen of the World Award. The presentation was made by Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser at the Mayor's U.N. Day Dinner held on October 29 at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. United Nations Under-Secretary-General Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, gave the keynote address. Afterwards Dr Comninellis reflected on his own experience with child soldiers during the Angolan civil war. "The true character of a people is seen by how they treat their most vulnerable citizens - especially the young and the elderly. INMED's mission is to serve these who are most close society's precarious margins."
At the 2008 Thurman Mitchell Servant Leadership Celebration in Overland Park, KS, INMED was awarded a 2008 "Passion Award" in recognition of their work in equipping healthcare professionals for medical missions. INMED received a $10,000 grant as one of eight First Tier Recipients. INMED President Dr. Nicholas Comninellis reflects, "This award is a reminder of the potential of medical missions. It is a unique form of service that opens doors and fosters relationships, all the while showing compassion and modeling the love of Jesus, especially to those people who are isolated and hurting. I hope this Passion Award is an encouragement to everyone who is connected with medical missions."
Over 1,000 people were in attendance at the event November 3rd, and 2008 marks the seventh year for the Thurman Mitchell Servant Leadership Celebration. Inspired by Proverbs 29:18a, the theme for this year's awards was "Picture This..."
In a gesture of extraordinary kindness, the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) recognized INMED at the 1996 IMANA Continuing Medical Education Conference in Chicago. In recent years, IMANA's medical relief arm is providing timely and effective aid in Bosnia, Kosovo, Turkey, Venezuela, the Carolinas and Chechnya. Abdul Rauf Mir, President-Elect of IMANA, introduced Dr. Comninellis saying, "We are together here because we want to help the suffering. Dr. Comninellis, he is a Christian, and we are Moslems. But we Jews, Christians & Moslems are all people of 'The Book.' So he is really one of our own, and one heart with us in this work!"
Passion And Commitment To Serve
One of the most captivating things about INMED is their passion and commitment to serve. Clearly, INMED is effectively serving medical professionals by inspiring and equipping them to aid those in dire need of medical care. INMED is also serving the poorest of the poor by providing medical professionals with actual opportunities to go beyond their comfort zone and to reach out to them. INMED has also shown a commitment to serve those who partner with them financially through excellent stewardship of those funds. It has been an honor getting to know those who make up INMED. Connie Hougland, Vice President Servant Christian Community Foundation |