Singing River Health System Honors Employees with Spero Awards for Organ Donation Advocacy 

Singing River Health System recently recognized several employees for their outstanding commitment and service in going above and beyond to support the lifesaving mission of organ donation. 

This year’s honorees include:

• Ocean Springs Hospital: Joshua Powell 
• Pascagoula Hospital: Deidre Peyton, Buddy Gager, and Ellen DePineuil 
• Singing River Gulfport: Jordan Quave

“These individuals truly embody the spirit of the Spero Awards,” said Heath Thompson, administrator of Ocean Springs Hospital. “They exhibit an extraordinary level of compassion in everything they do. They are heroes who go far above what you would normally think of when you think of someone answering the call to duty.” 

The Spero Awards, hosted by the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency (MORA) for the past decade, recognizes the invaluable contributions of community and hospital partners who make organ, eye and tissue donations possible. Now presented quarterly, the awards take their name from the Latin word Spero, meaning “HOPE.” 

That hope, at the heart of organ and tissue donation, benefits both transplant recipients and donor families. The collective efforts of hospital partners, healthcare professionals, donor families, volunteers, supporters and corporate partners are crucial in advancing MORA’s lifesaving mission. 

Community members can learn more and register to become an organ and tissue donor by visiting MSORA.org.