LAGRANGE — WellStar West Georgia Medical Center has named Sue Brown, RN, BSN, CCRN, the recipient of the 2016 Mary Lynn Faress Award for Distinguished Service.

Brown, who has worked at WGMC for 40 years, is the director of the Intensive Care Unit/Step-Down ICU.

“Those who work with Sue describe her as a selfless, caring, fair and outstanding leader,” said Tracy Gynther, vice president and chief nursing officer. “She leads by example and never has a problem jumping in to help with anything that needs to be done in the unit. She’s a role model, teacher and inspiration to everyone who works with her.

“She is the most dedicated person I know, working countless hours in order to make the ICU and Step-Down Unit a great place to work and to receive care. We’re lucky to have her and don’t know what we’d do without her.”

Brown began working at WGMC in 1974 as a nurse assistant on the Sixth Floor. She moved as a registered nurse to the Critical Care Unit in 1976 and became a critical care nurse in the ICU seven years later.

In 1988, Brown was named assistant manager in the ICU, and she then became the ICU patient care coordinator in 1999. She was promoted to ICU nurse manager in 2003 and now has been ICU director since 2008.

The award has been presented yearly since 2003 to a WGMC nurse and LaGrange College graduate who exemplifies the ideals of personal and professional integrity displayed by longtime Chief Nursing Officer Mary Lynn Faress, who retired from WGMC in 2002.

Brown said receiving the award was even more special because she and Faress worked together at WGMC for 27 years.

While at WGMC, Faress touched the lives of countless people by serving selflessly to the greater good of others; improving the quality and level of care through teamwork, personal involvement and ethical behavior; believing in the unlimited potential of every individual; listening and communicating with understanding and without judgment; and leading by example.