Lee Memorial to honor Dr. Skinner in memorial ceremony Friday
On Friday, Aug. 12, 2011 at 11 a.m., OB/Gyn staff at Lee Memorial Health System’s HealthPark Medical Center in South Fort Myers will conduct a ceremony dedicating a permanent memorial created to honor the memory of Dr. Debra C. Skinner. The ceremony will be held at HealthPark Medical Center Atrium, 3rd Floor (9981 S. HealthPark Drive. Fort Myers).
Nurse, Rhonda Harper said of the ceremony, “We are grateful for the opportunity to create and preserve a memorial worthy of the woman who represented strength, compassion and caring in the lives of so many families and especially in the lives of her friends and colleagues.”
” in her years of service she left a legacy of care and love throughout Southwest Floridawith Debra’s passing, the Medical Community lost more than a doctor, they lost a great patient advocate.”
Jim Nathan, President, Lee Memorial Health System
Dr. Skinner started her Lee County medical career in 1989, at Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, then, joined Lee Memorial Health System five years later. She was Lee County’s first African American female physician, and first African American surgeon.
Having the ability to make a personal connection with both, patients and staff, her passion for her job was always evident. She believed that treating patients was not a chore, but a pleasure.
Dr. Skinner died last year on Sept. 26, from medical complications stemming from Systemic Lupus.