Humanitarian Award: John Padgett, a family-practice physician...
Humanitarian Award: John Padgett, a family-practice physician assistant for Bristol Park Medical Group in San Clemente, has been selected national Humanitarian of the Year by the American Academy of Physician Assistants/National Professional Group.
Padgett has sent medical teams to El Salvador, the Honduras/Nicaragua border, Southeast Asia, Afghanistan and other needy areas through his association with Refugee Relief International Inc., a nonprofit charitable organization.
As a veteran of the Vietnam War and a former Special Forces medic in Southeast Asia, Padgett said he recognized the importance of quality health care.
“What touched me most deeply was the suffering of the innocent,” Padgett said. “It became my intention to do something to help them if I had the opportunity.”
With the award, Padgett received $1,000 and a matching contribution to the charity of his choice, Refugee Relief International.
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