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When UNT Health Science Center President Michael Williams and JPS Health Network CEO Robert Earley decided to have their organizations join forces, they pictured a collaborative practice that would enhance the delivery of care to patients across Tarrant County.

The Fort Worth Business Press recognized the efforts of Dr. Williams and Mr. Earley with its 2015 Vision Award for their work to create a new medical group that brings “greater efficiency, accountability and value” to health care in the region.

The winners were recognized Wednesday at the Fort Worth Club. Also honored as HealthCare Heroes were two UNTHSC faculty members: Amy Raines-Milenkov, DrPH, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Darrin D’Agostino, DO, MPH, MBA, Chair of Internal Medicine.

“This venture opens up new educational opportunities, new research opportunities and new ways to develop how care is delivered in Fort Worth,” Dr. Williams said.

Dr. Raines-Milenkov was selected for her work combating Fort Worth’s high infant mortality rate. She is the principal investigator on a five-year, $3.5 million Healthy Start grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to implement a national model designed to improve women’s health before, during and after pregnancy and to support families in caring for infants through their first two years of life.

Dr. Raines-Milenkov serves on the Texas Department of State Health Services Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force. She is also the Chair of the Tarrant County Infant Health Network and a member of the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, Healthy Communities collaboration.

Dr. D’Agostino was selected for his leadership on major public health issues, from his work as medical director of the Cowtown Marathon to his high-profile presence during the Ebola crisis.

During last year’s marathon, Dr. D’Agostino and his team cared for more than 200 athletes who developed medical issues. In addition to the expected common sport injuries, Dr. D’Agostino was called upon to inject a runner with an EpiPen to save him during an anaphylactic reaction and to treat another runner whose personal defibrillator was malfunctioning and needed to be reset.

During the recent North Texas Ebola scare, Dr. D’Agostino was interviewed by local media more than a dozen times in an effort to calm fears and educate an increasingly anxious public. He has since been appointed to the Texas governor’s task force on emerging and infectious diseases to better identify and prevent deadly disease outbreaks.

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