Celebrations commemorating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were held throughout the Health System, with staff honoring his legacy by reaching out to underserved communities. Francoise Eberhardt, BSN, a nurse at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, honored Dr. King’s birthday by volunteering at the Penn Medicine Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House with her PPMC colleagues. The guest chefs prepared a breakfast smorgasbord and spent time with the transplant patients and family members staying at the house.
Eberhardt is dedicated to giving back all year round. Her many outreach efforts were recently recognized at the University’s annual MLK Community Involvement Awards, which honor members of the university, Penn Medicine, and local communities who play an active role in service and social justice. Eberhardt received the Staff Award, one of only seven people recognized this year.
Eberhardt is a member and past chairman of PPMC’s Community Outreach Council and regularly works with partners inside and outside the hospital to make resources available to those in need. Her colleagues have recognized her twice as a “Presby STAR,” and she was awarded the Rosalyn J. Watts Award for Community/Patient/Family Relationships in 2019.
She volunteers her time to support many local organizations and is always prepared to serve a meal, collect donations, or organize a health fair as soon as a need is identified. From teaching lifesaving interventions through Penn’s Mobile CPR Project, to exposing children the importance of reading as a school library volunteer, Eberhardt has proven herself a passionate patient advocate and an endlessly enthusiastic community champion.
“I never in a million years expected this recognition. It was truly a shock, and I am so excited and appreciative to be in the company of this year’s award winners,” she said. “Dr. King once said, ‘The time is always right to do what is right.’ It’s a simple message, but it reminds us that we don’t have to wait to do good; the moment is always right to give back.”