LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville health care worker was honored for her dedication to serving patients.
Kiara James, who is a community health worker at the J. David Richardson Trauma Center at UofL Health, was selected for the fifth annual Kelsie Small Future Healer Award.
The award was established in 2021 in honor of Kelsie Small, a Central High School graduate and Northern Kentucky University nursing student who was killed in in 2020, the day before Mother's Day. The award is presented annually to a "medical professional at UofL Health who exemplifies excellence, caring, compassion and commitment to education."
James has worked with UofL Hospital for five years and now leads a team of four other people as community health workers. According to a news release Monday, those who nominated James said she "models trauma informed care, how to connect and build relationships with individuals and families" and "how to support and advocate even when it’s hard."
James identified a gap in services for victims of gun violence who had impaired mobility after being released from the hospital. She started a nonprofit called Pushing Forward, which builds ramps for wheelchair ramps for people who suffer traumatic spinal cord injuries. The local nonprofit has built ramps in 10 different houses.
She also started a survivor support group for gun violence victims.
Small was an aspiring nurse who was killed at the age of 19 years old. She was known for kind-heartedness and a willingness to help anyone.
Christopher 2X's Game Changers has devoted resources to supporting children impacted by gun violence with the Future Healers program, which is a partnership between the Game Changers, UofL Hospital's Trauma Institute and students at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. The goal of the program is to help Louisville children who have been impacted by violence in their neighborhoods to build a better future.
Future Healers Kiddos Medical program is an educational initiative that introduces children to medicine and science as a way to provide opportunity and learning to build upon their future.
To learn more about Christopher 2X Game Changers, click here.
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- Future Healers program honors 11-year-old who died of brain cancer
- 'We push through' | 11-year-old boy fighting brain cancer joins Louisville anti-violence nonprofit program with a dream
- Louisville nonprofit's Future Healers program learn from first responders
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