Barry Thomet Receives Service Award

On July 30, Barry Thomet, local outreach representative, received the Patricia Perkins IOCDF Service Award at the 23^rdAnnual OCD Conference(link is external) in Chicago, Illinois.

The award recognizes Thomet’s advocacy and dedication to individuals with mental illness and addiction through more than 20 years of service at Rogers Memorial Hospital. As the marketing liaison for the International OCD Foundation(link is external)(IOCDF), he’s made it his personal mission to acquire as many resources as possible to improve the lives of children, teens, adults and families affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

“Over the years, Barry has blazed a trail,” says Stacy McGauvran-Hruby, director of marketing at Rogers. “He served as Rogers’ first community outreach representative and spread the word about Rogers’ first OCD partial program, contributing greatly to the record number of people served.”

Not only is Barry invaluable to those he serves, but he’s a joy to his colleagues. “Barry’s overflowing, warm personality is contagious and his passion for helping those in need is inspiring,” says Jerry Halverson, MD, medical director of Rogers Memorial Hospital. “He’s gone above and beyond to ensure families experiencing a mental health crisis receive a clear picture about what they can expect in treatment at Rogers, as well as other local and national providers.”

“A little known aspect of Barry's work is that he is a great steward of treatment in general, not just Rogers,” says Paul Mueller, chief executive officer of Rogers Memorial Hospital. “His lightheartedness is complemented by the gentle demeanor he has with those who reach out to him. He knows the difficulty and challenges that individuals with OCD and other mental illnesses face, which makes him one of the best resources for guidance and understanding.”

Thomet also serves on the board of directors of OCD Wisconsin(link is external), an affiliate of the IOCDF. Last summer, OCD Wisconsin created a scholarship for local high school students with OCD(link is external) in his name.

“It’s said that ‘everyone knows Barry,’” adds Mary Jo Wiegratz, national outreach manager. “Whether talking with a caller on the phone, touring a visitor, or connecting with patients and professionals who see his friendly face at the IOCDF annual conference, Barry Thomet has touched a lot of lives and made a difference.”

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