Three local health-care workers are among 31 finalists selected in 10 categories for the 2009 Health Care Heroes Awards.

Scott Agran of Banner Boswell Medical Center in Sun City is a finalist in the community outreach division; Jon and Marjorie Hillegas of Banner Arizona Medical Clinic in Sun City West are finalists in the health-care education division; and Cynthia Fishel of Arrowhead Hospital in Glendale is a finalist in the nursing category.

Winners will be announced at the eighth annual breakfast honoring unsung heroes of the Valley’s health care community Aug. 20 at The Arizona Biltmore Resort. Registration begins at 7 a.m. Breakfast and awards start at 7:30 and the event will conclude at 9:30.

The 2008 Health Care Heroes Awards is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and sponsored by the Phoenix Business Journal, Abrazo Health Care, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Delta Dental.

Individual seats are $80. Corporate tables of 10 are available for $850 and include two new one-year subscriptions to the Phoenix Business Journal, priority seating, a gift for each attendee and the corporate name listed in a thank-you ad to run after the event.

For information or to reserve a seat, call 602-308-6531. Registration closes at 5 p.m. Aug. 13, or when the event is sold out.

Finalists are:

• Community Outreach: Scott Agran, Banner Boswell Medical Center; Patricia Christman, Paradise Valley Hospital; Ruth Rimmer, Maricopa Integrated Health System.

• Dental: Dennis Barnes, Phoenix VA Healthcare System; Ken Snyder, St. Vincent de Paul; Roscoe Williams, Maricopa Integrated Health System, McDowell Health Care HIV/AIDS Clinic.

• Health care Education: Pam Fuller, University of Phoenix; Michael Grossman, Maricopa Integrated Health System; Jon and Marjorie Hillegas, Banner Arizona Medical Clinic.

• Lifetime Achievement: Dan C. Coleman, John C. Lincoln Health Network; Lawrence Koep, Arizona Transplant Associates; Eleanore "Ellie" Schafer, St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center.

• Non-Physician: Jody Arends, West Valley Hospital; Betsey Bayless, Maricopa Integrated Health System; Laurie Eberst, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center.

• Nursing: Jan Dougherty, Banner Alzheimer Institute; Cynthia Fishel, Arrowhead Hospital; Laurie Vasquez, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

• Physician: Dean Coonrod, Maricopa Integrated Health System; John Elliott, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center; John Kerrigan, Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

• Researcher/Innovator: Bob Bohanske, Southwest Behavioral Health Services; Nabil Dib, Catholic Healthcare West, Chandler Regional Medical Center and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center; Mitchell Shub, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

• Service Philanthropy: Richard Dozer, GenSpring Family Offices; Bernard Glossy, Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation Mission of Mercy Arizona.

• Volunteer: The Hansen Family, Desert Mission and John C. Lincoln Health Network; Marie Marron, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center; Jean Reynolds, West Valley Hospital.