Spaw V i c k i e Spaw's years of experience in the nursing profession- coming up on 30-made her a first-rate choice for e m e rg e n c y department manager at Gulf Breeze Hospital. The pervasive corporate culture of teamwork and integrity drew Spaw to the Baptist Health Care affiliate, where she sees opportunity to serve a fast growing community.

"Everybody here from administrator to front-line employees, walks the customer service talk," said Spaw. "That makes a big difference in the way patients and their loved ones feel about the care they receive."

Spaw earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from East Tennessee State University in 1978. She has worked primarily in the areas of critical and emergency care for the last 15 years.

At Gulf Breeze Hospital Spaw serves as manager of the emergency department and the intensive care unit. She has worked in the Baptist Health Care system in the past at serving as director of emergencytrauma services at Baptist Hospital. Spaw says she was eager to return to the organization. Living in Midway, Gulf Breeze Hospital was close to home and held to the culture and values that are conducive to a good work environment.

Gulf Breeze Hospital completed an expansion project in 2005 that included a new, larger emergency department. Spaw says working in the new unit is paradise. It is complete with state-of-the-art technology and designed so that all patient rooms are visible and easily accessible from the expansive nurses' station.

The expansion increased the number of beds in the emergency department from five to 15 beds, which are necessary to keep up with the number of residents and visitors the entering area.

"I recently read that the population in Santa Rosa County is expected to double during the next 35 years," said Spaw. She adds that the hospital will continue to grow to meet the needs of the community.

In her spare time, Spaw enjoys gardening, and she and her husband, Ray, like riding motorcycles-Kawasakis. The couple has four grown children Lucas, age 27; Rhiannon, 22; Jacob, 21; and Amelia 19.

Three graduate from Sacred Heart's OB/GYN residency program

Three physicians who have completed specialized training in obstetrics/gynecology recently graduated from a residency training program at Sacred Heart Women's Hospital. The following physicians completed four years of training through the University of Florida College of Medicine's OB/GYN residency program based at Sacred Heart:

. Dr. Mandy Boudreaux, a Louisiana State University School of Medicine graduate, will go into private practice in Abbeville, La.

. Dr. Melissa Heath, a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, will enter private practice in Brewton, Ala.

. Dr. Lisa Jaacks, a graduate of Creighton University School of Medicine, will go into private practice in Phoenix, Ariz.

This month, Florida State University College of Medicine assumes sponsorship of both the OB/GYN and Pediatric residency programs located at Sacred Heart in Pensacola. Dr. Clyde H. Dorr, II, serves as program director of the OB/GYN Residency Program. For more information on medical education at Sacred Heart, visit www.sacred-heart.org.