E. Kenneth Hatton MD

A staff physician at Good Samaritan Hospital for more than 40 years, E. Kenneth Hatton MD heralded service, quality, and growth in medicine to his colleagues, students, and patients. As long-time friend Walt Lunsford (financial advisor and senior vice president, Advest, Inc.) simply stated, "He loved medicine." That love of medicine permeated all of Dr. Hatton's endeavors. Known as a quiet, unassuming person, Dr. Hatton nonetheless enacted bold measures to enhance and expand medical research and education in Greater Cincinnati. These measures include gifts to Good Samaritan Hospital totaling $2.2 million-part of which, a $1 million charitable remainder trust, represents the largest individual gift in the hospital's history; a family practice lecture series; and an additional trust to secure the future of research and education at Good Samaritan Hospital. In honor of this gift, the research and education program was renamed "The E. Kenneth Hatton MD Institute for Research and Education" in 1997. In addition, Dr. Hatton established the E. Kenneth and Esther Marie Hatton Foundation to support innovative medical projects across the community. Applying the tenets of service, quality, and growth in both medicine and business, Dr. Hatton always used his intellect and intuition, leaving a remarkable imprint on medical research and education in Greater Cincinnati.

J. Robert Johnson PhD

A pioneer of medical research and development, J. Robert Johnson PhD served for 37 years as scientific director of Medical Research at Good Samaritan Hospital. Dr. Johnson, who expanded the hospital's medical education program, was instrumental in improving regional patient care, but the impact of his work also reaches across the United States and around the world. A member of the team that performed the first kidney transplants in Cincinnati, Dr. Johnson was personally responsible for providing the necessary anti-rejection drug to transplant patients and was nationally recognized as an expert in the drug's therapy and production. A natural leader, Dr. Johnson played a significant role in the campaign to the Food and Drug Administration that successfully removed the drug Eferol-responsible for the deaths of 38 US infants-from the market. Similarly, Dr. Johnson's contributions were essential to disproving a theory of the cause of preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy-related condition occurring in approximately five percent of expectant mothers. To honor Dr. Johnson, who was deeply respected by those who worked with him, the annual TriHealth Research Competition was renamed the "J. Robert Johnson PhD TriHealth Research Competition" in 2004.

John W. Vester MD

John W. Vester MD built a distinguished, decorated record of medical service in Cincinnati and beyond, starting with training at then Cincinnati General Hospital, the Medical College of Richmond (VA) and the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Harvard University. Called for duty in the Korean War, Dr. Vester served first at the Army Medical Nutrition Laboratory (Chicago, IL) and then at the 8228th M*A*S*H unit. Beginning his tenure with Good Samaritan Hospital in 1968, Dr. Vester served at various times as director of Research, chairman of the Institutional Review Board, and chairman of Endocrinology and Nephrology. Likewise, he assumed several roles at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, including professor of Medicine and Biochemistry, associate dean, chairman of the Institutional Review Board, and director of Continuing Medical Education. In 1994, Dr. Vester retired from the United States Army Reserves with the rank of full colonel and numerous military commendations. A dedicated community member and entrepreneur, Dr. Vester also served as the medical expert for Channel 12 News, wrote three storylines for the M*A*S*H television series, and founded The Midwestern Institutional Review Board.