~ Tamra West Leadership Award (SC): Mrs. West was The Carolina Centers (TCC) South Carolina Program Director for over 11 years. She was recognized as a hospice leader in South Carolina and was a true leader for TCC. The recipient of this award will be someone who works to form strategic partnerships with others entities in the community, a fierce leader and a strong advocate - all the characteristics that Mrs. West possessed.

Nominees for each Leadership Award must:

• Have devoted significant time to promoting hospice care

• Have vision and be forward thinking

• Have been involved in hospice care throughout NC or SC

• Be involved in fostering relationships with strategic partners

Dr. Compton is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He graduated from University of Virginia School of Engineering and then finished his medical degree in 1976 at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC. After a three year Internal Medicine Residency at the University of South Florida he entered United States Public Health Service and served in the National Health Service Corps for two years. After leaving the service he went into private practice in his hometown of Laurel, Maryland.

His practice has involved office, hospital and nursing home medicine. He is an AMDA certified medical director.

Palliative Medicine has always been a large portion of his geriatric practice going back to the days prior to when it was not considered a specialty. He has served as a Hospice Medical Director continuously since 1986.

His current practice is inpatient and outpatient Palliative Medicine at Trident and Summerville Medical Centers under the aegis of Agape Senior and Physicians Care. Dr. Compton also serves on the MUSC Ethics Committee and is the chair of the Trident/Summerville Ethics Committee, and Cancer Committee.

When he is not practicing medicine, he enjoys time with his family, grandkids, playing golf, and participating in outdoor activities.