Hall of Fame 2019

The Hall of Fame at The University of Kansas Health System is our highest honor. Each of our 2019 honorees has our enduring gratitude for the vital role they have played in our efforts to deliver world-class care to patients most in need. Their leadership, philanthropy and advocacy will leave a lasting impact.

Kirk Benson, MD, president of The University of Kansas Physicians from 2002-2019, guided the organization through incredible growth and change. Dr. Benson’s leadership was instrumental in achieving clinical integration, which brought The University of Kansas Hospital and The University of Kansas Physicians together to form The University of Kansas Health System.

Whether he is in the operating room or the board room, Dr. Benson has earned the trust and respect of our entire organization for his commitment to always doing what is best for physicians, the health system, and most important of all, our patients. His relentless focus on meaningful transformation has helped ensure The University of Kansas Health System can continue to expand the most advanced care to even more patients throughout the region and the nation.

Kevin Westrope and Jason Holmes have experienced the aftershocks of stroke firsthand. They vowed to do something to help other people avoid having the same experience. The couple’s generosity funded the Kevin Westrope and Jason Holmes Stroke Interventional Suite in Cambridge Tower A. The suite and its advanced technology allow physicians to provide the best possible outcome for stroke patients even after an extended delay before the patient arrives for treatment. As one of only two such suites in the region – both of which are in Cambridge Tower A – the couple’s generosity ensures more patients can receive the most advanced neuroscience care at The University of Kansas Health System.

Cheryl Lockton Williams is deeply committed to Kansas City and to ensuring no one needs to leave the region to find the most advanced care available anywhere. Her remarkable $10 million gift to Cambridge Tower A – one of the largest in The University of Kansas Health System’s history – came at a pivotal moment, pushing the health system’s first capital campaign past its halfway mark and inspiring many other gifts. Today, the Jack and Cheryl Lockton Intensive Care Patient Unit is one of the health system’s busiest units. Cheryl’s gift cemented the Lockton family’s legacy as one of the most generous in Kansas City, but more importantly, it will have an impact on healthcare in our region for generations to come.

Sharing a similar trajectory to The University of Kansas Health System, BKD CPAs & Advisors has grown from humble beginnings to the nation’s 12th largest public accounting firm. As a trusted consultant to the health system, BKD is known for its impartial, independent and objective guidance. It is also known for its generous support of cancer patients through its longtime sponsorship of the health system’s annual Treads & Threads.

Busy academic medical centers are fueled by caffeine, but The Roasterie is much more than our coffee vendor. As a true partner, founder Danny O’Neill helps support the health system’s employee GED program and employee celebrations. The Roasterie even creates custom blends for every location. It’s no surprise, considering O’Neill launched his successful coffee company after making his very first sale to The University of Kansas Hospital.

The Hall of Fame at The University of Kansas Health System is our highest honor. Each of the 2019 honorees has our enduring gratitude for the vital role they have played in our efforts to deliver world-class care to patients most in need. Their leadership, philanthropy and advocacy have made a lasting impact.

Learn more about this year's honorees.