Article credit: Diocese of Manchester On Wednesday, April 11, immediately following the annual White Mass for healthcare professionals, the NH Guild of Catholic Healthcare Professionals will honor Mr. Paul Mertzic RN, BSN, MS, with the 2018 St. Martin de Porres Award, given annually to a Catholic healthcare professional who exemplifies the virtues of Catholic healthcare. Mr. Mertzic is the Executive Director of Community Health & Mission at Catholic Medical Center. A graduate of St. Anselm College nursing program, and of New England College where he earned an MS in Health Care Management, he has worked in healthcare in the city of Manchester for more than 40 years. Throughout his career, Mr. Mertzic has been instrumental in providing compassionate leadership to ongoing community concerns, particularly in the areas of healthcare for the homeless and oral health promotion and advocacy. Mr. Mertzic has served on the Boards of Directors of Pastoral Counseling, On the Road to Wellness, New Horizons, Makin it Happen, Granite United Way, Healthy Manchester Leadership Council and other nonprofit organizations. Most recently he has served on the Network4Health Integration Committee, which is part of the 1115 Transformation Waiver for the state. Mr. Mertzic is an active member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Epping where he serves as a Eucharistic minister and lector, and as a member of the parish’s Pastoral Council and its Finance Council. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph/St. Raymond Council 6850. Mr. Mertzic and his wife Karen are residents of Raymond, and have three adult children. For more information about the NH Guild of Catholic Healthcare Professionals visit their website at www.nhcatholichealth.org.