The Erlanger Health System Foundations honored Drs. Manoo Bhakta and Nita Shumaker, and Olan and Norma Mills at the 14th annual Dinner of Distinction
The 2017 honorees were recognized for their enduring commitment to foster quality medical services to this community, as well as demonstrating unquestionable character and human compassion.
Manoo Bhakta, MD, is board certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and has served as instructor and associate professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology for the University of Tennessee College of Medicine-Chattanooga for the past 30 years.
He also served as chief of Pediatrics, medical director and is the director of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. Dr. Bhakta is the founder of the Erlanger’s Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, a clinic that provides comprehensive total care in pediatric hematology and oncology services with four pediatric oncologists and a wide range of support staff. As a principle investigator for the Children’s Oncology Group, a consortium of over 200 children’s hospitals actively participating in therapeutic and biologic research to advance cure and reduce late effects of cancer, Dr. Bhakta has been able to witness and participate in a medical progress with currently 85 percent of children once diagnosed with what was a catastrophic disease are now cured.
Nita Shumaker, MD, is board certified in pediatrics and has served as clinical faculty for University of Tennessee College of Medicine-Chattanooga for the past 22 years. She also served in the United States Air Force for four years as captain/pediatrician. Dr. Shumaker has been named medical staff secretary, vice chief of staff, chief of staff, past chief of staff and board member for Erlanger Health System; secretary, chief of pediatrics and a member on the Quality Assurance Committee at Children’s Hospital; and a board member of Southside and Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers. She is a pediatrician for the Galen Medical Group, volunteers with Project Access and is president-elect for the Tennessee Medical Association.
Norma and Olan Mills are both honorary chairs of the Children’s Hospital Believe Campaign and are being recognized with the third annual “Gordon Street Distinguished Leadership Award” for their extraordinary leadership and support to build a new children’s hospital.
Olan Mills II served in the United States Army which included one year of duty in Korea as a helicopter pilot. Upon completion of his military service, he returned to Chattanooga to work at and later assume management of Olan Mills Studios. Mr. Mills served as chairman of the board of trustees of The McCallie School and a regent at the University of The South, chairman of The River City Company and The United Way as well as president of the Adult Education Council and the Boys’ Club of Chattanooga. He raised funds for the Tennessee Aquarium and was one of the Aquarium’s first board members. He also served on First Tennessee Bank and the Public Education Foundation boards.
Norma Patteson Mills has been a long time supporter of Children’s Hospital since working at the first Children’s Hospital on Glenwood in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. She was also on the Children’s Hospital Foundation when it began in 1986 until 2002. Mrs. Mills has served on other boards that include University of the South, Sweet Briar College, Grace Point Episcopal Camp and Retreat Center, Bright School, University to Tennessee Chattanooga Foundation, Hunter Museum, AIM Center, Tennessee River Gorge Trust, and Young Women’s Leadership Academy Foundation.