NORTHWEST
PASTEUR PLAZA
7909 FREDERICKSBURG, STE. 115-210
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78229
PHONE (210) 614-4544
FAX (210) 582-5523
WILLIAM P. FITCH, III, MD
PEGGY P. FRANCIS, DNP, FNP-C
WILLIAM J. HARMON, MD
TIMOTHY C. HLAVINKA, MD
CLAYTON H. HUDNALL, MD
LEROY A. JONES, MD
NAVEEN KELLA, MD
JOAN T. MEANEY, MD
KURT G. MEISSNER, MD
RANDALL P. SINGLETON, MD
C. RITCHIE SPENCE, MD
KENNETH J. STALLMAN, MD
GEORGE V. BURKHOLDER, MD
CONSULTANT
NORTH CENTRAL
SONTERRA MEDICAL PARK BLDG. III
255 E. SONTERRA, STE. 200 & 203
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78258
PHONE (210) 499-5158
FAX (210) 499-5259
CHRISTOPHER W. GRAHAM, MD
THOMAS K. O’NEILL, MD
DANIEL R. SALTZSTEIN, MD
PATRICIA J. TERRY, MD
NORTHEAST
NORTHEAST METHODIST PLAZA
12709 TOEPPERWEIN RD., STE. 110
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78233
PHONE (210) 564-8000
FAX (210) 590-7945
CHRISTOPHER W. GRAHAM, MD
RENE A. SEPULVEDA, MD
DAVID R. TALLEY, MD
SOUTHEAST
SE BAPTIST MEDICAL OFFICE BLDG.
4212 E. SOUTHCROSS, STE. 125
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78222
PHONE (210) 337-6228
FAX (210) 304-6476
PATRICIA P. CECCONI, MD
LUIS R. RIVERA, MD
ALAMO HEIGHTS
NIX ALAMO HEIGHTS
5307 BROADWAY, 2nd FLOOR
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209
PHONE (210) 614-4544
FAX (210) 582-5523
WILLIAM P. FITCH, MD
DOWNTOWN
NIX MEDICAL CENTER
414 NAVARRO, STE. 900
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78205
PHONE (210) 474-7020
FAX (210) 226-2192
JUAN A. REYNA, MD / PRESIDENT
PATRICIA P. CECCONI, MD
ARTHUR S. CENTENO, MD
ANDREW A. TOBON, MD
HONDO
MC SPECIALTY CLINIC
606 31ST STREET
HONDO, TX 78861
PHONE (830) 741-3361
FAX (830) 426-8496
WILLIAM P. FITCH, III, MD
CENTRAL BUSINESS OFFICE
7909 FREDERICKSBURG, STE. 110
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78229
PHONE (210) 731-2050
FAX (210) 731-2066
www.urologysanantonio.com
7909 Fredericksburg Rd, Suite 110
San Antonio, TX 78229
(210) 582-5666
Abbey.Forney@urologysa.com
AUA Communications Office
ATTN: Reporting Award
1000 Corporate Blvd.
Linthicum, MD 21090
Dear Judging Committee,
It is my pleasure to nominate KENS 5 TV’s medical reporter Wendy
Rigby for the Excellence in Urology Reporting Award in the consumer
electronic publications category. Specifically, I am nominating Wendy for
her outstanding television news reports about the male urinary sling and
the inflatable penile prosthesis. The stories aired on the San Antonio CBS
affiliate during the 5 p.m. Eyewitness News program on May 18, 2007
and September 25, 2007, respectively.
Our clinic, which provided the expert interviews for these stories, has
worked with Wendy on many occasions. At each encounter, I am impressed by her professionalism and thoughtfulness.
Despite the time constraints of television news, Wendy makes her daily
pieces informative and relevant for her audience. The probing questions
that she poses to her expert sources reveal her clear understanding of the
news topic and its context in the larger health care system. She uses this
knowledge to guide physicians to translate their technical expertise into
meaningful material that viewers can appreciate.
Just as impressive as her understanding of medicine is Wendy’s sensitivity for the patients she interviews. She shows incredible respect for the
personal nature of their medical situations. Watching Wendy’s work, it
is obvious that she has thoughtfully considered the best way to show her
subjects as individuals and avoid presenting them as merely illustrations
of a clinical condition.
The male sling and penile prosthesis news story for which I am nominating her provide excellent examples of her competence in this area. For
instance, Wendy’s questions for the recipient of the prosthesis, Mr. Goodman, focused on the impact that the surgical device had had on his self esteem and marriage. She referred all questions about how the device works
and its effectiveness to Dr. Jones, the medical expert. The result was that
viewers were able to appreciate Mr. Goodman’s situation and receive accurate medical information that is very seldom discussed outside of the
urologist’s office.
The caliber of Wendy’s work has been honored throughout her career. She is the recipient of
numerous reporting awards. Her pieces, including the male sling and penile implant stories, are
often selected for inclusion on the CBS newsfeed, where affiliates nation-wide can access the
story for use in their markets.
Wendy’s informative, responsible, accurate and thoughtful journalism has added a great deal
to the public’s understanding of urologic health care and is in keeping with the tradition of the
AUA Urology Reporting Award.
Respectfully,
Abbey Forney
Communications Director
Enclosures (5 sets of discs and transcripts)
cc:
.
Wendy Rigby, Medical Reporter, KENS 5 TV
5400 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio, TX 78229
(210) 337-8634 wrigby@kens5.com