Norman Regional Health System

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Physicians of the Year 2015 
Left to Right: Dr. Gary Wells, Medical Director of the Norman Regional Emergency Department, Gail Grego, RN, Director of Emergency Services, and Dr. Patrick Cody, Medical Director of EMSSTAT stand with awards given at Norman Regional's annual Physician Awards Ceremony. *Grego holds the award that was presented to Dr. Robin Mantooth (on the right), who was unable to attend.

Norman, OK–Three Norman physicians were honored for their achievements during an awards ceremony at Norman Regional on Thursday, December 3, 2015. All three work in emergency medicine. They are Drs. Patrick Cody, Gary Wells, and Robin Mantooth.

Patrick Cody, DO, MPH, was chosen by Norman Regional employees as the year’s Outstanding Physician. All employees were given the opportunity to vote for one physician they felt best personified three traits: compassionate care of patients, building of collegial relationships and the pursuit of professional excellence.

Cody is the program director for Norman Regional's new Osteopathic Emergency Medicine Residency Program. He is also the Medical Director for the EMSSTAT ambulance service and was instrumental in the service's expansion to the City of Moore this year.

"Staff commented that Dr. Cody has a passion for healthcare, outstanding communication with patients, families and staff and is a great teacher. He practices what he preaches," said Richie Splitt, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at the HealthPlex and Moore, and presenter at the ceremony.

Cody also serves as the Medical Director for the City of Norman Fire Department, the City of Norman Communications Center, LifeNet EMS (Stillwater, OK), the Oklahoma City Community College Emergency Medical Sciences program and the Gomer Jones Cardiac Care Clinic inside the University of Oklahoma Gaylord Family Stadium. Dr. Cody is also the team physician for the Norman Police Department SWAT team.

Gary Wells, DO, was given the Physician Peer Award. Physicians voted for a fellow physician they felt best personified three traits: compassionate care of patients, building of collegial relationships and the pursuit of professional excellence. He is the Medical Director for Emergency Medicine at Norman Regional Health System.

Dr. David Williams presented the award to Wells and said the highest honor a physician can receive is a vote of confidence from their peers.

"Dr. Wells is extraordinarily thorough, is well versed in all subspecialties, and is a strong patient advocate," Williams said.

Each year, one physician is given the Hal Belknap Heart of Gold award, which honors a physician for his or her service to the community. Dr. Hal Belknap was on the Medical Staff at Norman Regional from 1967 until he passed away in 2008. He made remarkable contributions both locally and globally, ranging from supporting a Boy Scout troop at Norman Regional to founding a health clinic in Africa.

The Hal Belknap Heart of Gold award was awarded to Robin Mantooth, MD, for her work overseas on medical mission trips. She is the physician for an orphanage in Uganda, and has been for 10 years. Most recently she has been on teaching trips to Malawi, Somalia and Macedonia. Mantooth was unable to attend the awards ceremony but shared a message with the crowd, reminding them to be thankful and grateful for the little things such as bathrooms and running water. She also noted how valuable healthcare services are, and to see all patients as created in God’s image and to treat them well.

Mantooth is the Medical Director of Norman Regional Moore's Emergency Department. Her special interests include tropical medicine, travel medicine and ultrasound. Mantooth was raised in western Canada and since moving to the United States has lived in Washington, Georgia, Michigan, Texas and Oklahoma. She went to medical school on a military scholarship and spent 11 years in the Air Force. She has lived in India for a short time, and spends at least one month a year in Africa. She is also an amateur shearer, hand spinner and an award winning photographer