Dr. Dennis and Laurie Alter: Humanitarians of the Year

Palm Coast Observer
Business

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dennis Alter and his wife, Laurie, were recognized Nov. 16 as the Humanitarians of the Year by the Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation, at a Nov. 16 event at the Hammock Dunes Club.

“We are honored to celebrate Dennis and Laurie tonight," said John Subers, Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation executive director, in a press release. “They both have done so much for our community and hospital. They are truly wonderful and deserving humanitarians.”

In 1992, the Alter family moved to Flagler County, where Dennis has served as an orthopedic surgeon for 24 years, playing a significant role in the growth of the community’s health care. At Florida Hospital Flagler, he has served as chief of surgery, secretary and treasurer of the medical staff, vice-president of the medical staff and chief of staff. Additionally, he has served on Florida Hospital Flagler's board of directors for the past four years. Both Dennis and Laurie are founding members of the Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation 20/20 Society, a group of community individuals and corporations with a shared goal to raise $1 million by the year 2020 to aid in the advancement the local health care.

“With a passion for those in need, Dennis has provided medical care for many in this community who are unable to pay,” Subers said. “When they first arrived in Flagler County, Dennis gave free sports physicals in the football locker room to several high school athletes who did not have health insurance. Each year, more students appeared and, eventually, more doctors and volunteers were needed. With Florida Hospital Flagler's involvement, it developed into a huge community outreach program and now we provide free sports physicals to hundreds of local athletes each year.”

Supporting education is an important endeavor to the Alters, and each year they award the Alter Family Leadership Scholarship to a college-bound Flagler Palm Coast High School graduate.

Laurie has also been very involved in the community and has supported the Flagler County School System for nearly a quarter of a century. She was president and vice-president of Flagler Palm Coast High School's School Advisory Councils for many years. While president, she was instrumental in developing a strategic plan of action for determining how the SAC and parent-teacher organizations would distribute state awarded funds.

Previous Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation Humanitarians of the Year include Peter and Sue Freytag (2015); Tony and Dottie Papandrea (2014); Charles M. Helms (2013); Kathy McKenna (2012); Annie W. Woodard (2011); Elmer C. Stainbrook (2010); and Jerald K. Tranzow (2009).