Wittenberg believes that lessons learned both in and out of the classroom provide the foundation for success in life. Douglas Vinsel, a 2007 Alumni Citation Award winner, exemplifies that belief.

"My years at Wittenberg were arguably the most important time of my life and probably did more to help me grow socially, spiritually and academically than any other time in my life," Vinsel said.

Named chief executive officer of Duke Raleigh Hospital in Raleigh, N.C., in March 2006, Vinsel said that he became interested in hospital administration toward the end of his sophomore year, and he credits Wittenberg with positioning him for graduate study in health administration, which he pursued at Duke University.

Responsible for the 186-bed acute care hospital, all of Duke Medicine in Wake County, including the development of multispecialty ambulatory care centers, recruitment and relationship management of Duke primary and specialty physicians as well as the alignment of the hospital with the mission, vision and values of Duke Medicine, Vinsel has enjoyed his professional life.

Throughout his 33 years in hospital administration, Vinsel has sought ways to improve services that benefit both patients and administrators. Among other accomplishments, he served as lead executive in establishing a mobile cardiac transport service and was responsible for developing and sustaining a successful selfgovernance model for nursing leadership at WakeMed in Raleigh. While at Euclid General Hospital in Ohio, he was responsible for planning, developing, implementing and operating a satellite urgent care center approximately 10 miles from the hospital to help secure the ambulatory market.

A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the American Hospital Association, Vinsel serves on several boards and is involved in numerous community activities.

Reflecting on his time in college, Vinsel said he found a home at Wittenberg - as a member of the football team, the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and as a sociology major. He learned about teamwork from his coaches and fellow athletes, about cooperation from his fraternity brothers, and he discovered a passion for health administration from his course work.

"Wittenberg was my springboard for personal and professional fulfillment - for which I will be eternally grateful."

- Phyllis Eberts '00