« All NewsLexington Medical Center Foundation Hosts Ambassador David Wilkins
February 23, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. – Explaining how he used boiled peanuts and the words “Bonjour, Ya'll!” to enhance diplomacy and strengthen the world's largest trade relationship, David Wilkins will speak with humor and honesty about his work as United States Ambassador to Canada during a dinner hosted by the Lexington Medical Center Foundation on March 4, 2010.
When President George Bush appointed Wilkins to serve as Canadian ambassador in 2005, the southern Republican from Greenville was tasked with restoring the relationship between the United States and Canada. The new job took Wilkins to each Canadian province and territory. Wilkins will recount many of his experiences along the way – from ice skating, petting polar bears and trouble learning French, to helping resolve high-profile trade disputes and visiting soldiers in Afghanistan. He explains that diplomacy, like life, is about building relationships.
Wilkins is a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and chairs the Public Policy and International Law practice group, which focuses primarily on representing businesses on both sides of the US-Canadian border and offers experience on a wide range of strategic bilateral issues. He served as United States Ambassador to Canada until 2009. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, Mr. Wilkins practiced law for 34 years in Greenville, South Carolina, and has extensive experience in civil litigation and appellate practice.
The dinner with Ambassador Wilkins is at the Embassy Suites at 200 Stoneridge Drive in Columbia. Tickets are $50.00 per person. You can register on-line and find more information at www.lmcfoundation.com.
Wilkins will tour Lexington Medical Center beginning at 10:00 a.m. on March 4th. News reporters are welcome to join the tour and conduct interviews. He will also be available for interviews at the Embassy Suites from 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. on March 4th. Reporters who will be attending should contact Jennifer Wilson, Lexington Medical Center public relations manager. Wilkins will also meet privately with Lexington Medical Center physicians to talk about topics including his observations of the Canadian health care system.
Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a county-wide health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 5,200 health care professionals. The network also includes the largest extended care facility in the Carolinas, two occupational health centers and more than 40 physician practices. At its heart is the 414-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center won "Best Hospital" by readers of The State for ten years in a row, "Best Hospital" by readers of the Free Times, "Best Place to Have a Baby" by readers of Palmetto Parent, the "Consumer Choice Award" from the National Research Corporation and the prestigious "Summit Award" from Press Ganey.
