Scott Whisnant will receive the Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholars Award Thursday Nov. 10 at 12:30 p.m. in the Burney Center. The Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholars Award, according to the UNCW Honors College, is given each year to a citizen of the Cape Fear area who has worked hard and made significant contributions in music, medicine or the humanities in the community. 

Whisnant, who is the director of government relations, grants and outreach at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, is responsible for the creation of the Cape Fear HealthNet.

Its website includes a list of goals such as expanding the safety net to provide medical homes for primary care and creating a network of pharmacy solutions to ensure patients can afford medications. Cape Fear HealthNet also coaches patients with chronic disease to manage symptoms without unnecessary health care.

“I am overwhelmed to receive this honor, and I appreciate everyone who played a role in my selection,” said Whisnant in a press release. “I have received so many blessings in my life and strongly believe we are all called to give something back. My goal is to strive to live up to the ideals of winning such a prestigious award.”

What is truly remarkable is that Mr. Whisnant underwent the diagnosis and treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma only last year. The U.S. National Library of Medicine marks the disease as one of the easiest forms of cancer to cure; however, the battle is usually fought with grueling rounds of chemotherapy. Often it begins as a mysteriously swollen lymph node that can quickly spread to other vital organs in the body.

Cape Fear HealthNet was created in 2008 to make sure that residents of New Hanover and Brunswick counties have medical care. According to the website, they are optimistic about including Columbus and Pender counties in the near future.

At the time of Cape Fear HealthNet’s inception, nearly 20,000 people in the Cape Fear community lacked health insurance and could not afford medical care. The organization reported the opening of a clinic at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 412 Ann St. just last year, which added on to the dental clinic that was already in place from 2009. The clinic is free for those who are at 200 percent or less of poverty guidelines, but HealthNet asks that patients show proof of income and bring a $10 donation if they are able.