The Downey Society created the award in 2001 to honor physicians who exhibit outstanding leadership, generosity and service to the community such as that of Samuel O. Poole, MD for whom the award was named. The co-chairs of the Downey Society are Pepper Brown, MD, a surgeon with Northeast Georgia Surgical Associates, and Buddy Langston, MD, a retired pediatrician.

A Gainesville native, Dr. DeLong graduated from Gainesville High School before beginning his college career at the University of Georgia and Emory at Oxford. When he decided to attend medical school, it was Dr. Poole who wrote his recommendation.

In addition to being a successful surgeon, Dr. DeLong has been very involved in medical community outreach. His leadership was instrumental in the formation and growth of the Hall County Medical Society’s Health Access Initiative as well as the development of the cooperative relationship between Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Health Access, the Hall County Health Department and Good News Clinics. Dr. DeLong continues to serve on the board of Health Access and as physician liaison.

After the death of Dr. Poole in fall 2006, Dr. DeLong was asked to serve as interim medical director of Good News Clinics until a permanent medical director was recruited. During that time, he continued to move the clinic forward in the tradition and vision of Dr. Poole, developing new and innovative lines of communication to assist in improving performance of the clinic. He continues to serve on the board of directors of Good News Clinics and volunteers his time there as well.

Dr. DeLong also filled in the interim as the managing physician at the health department until a physician was hired to run their primary care clinic. "Dr. DeLong has continued to give his time and talents to serve our community when it needed him most," says Dr. Brown. "The Health Access Initiative, the Good News Clinic and the health department are all examples of times people have all turned to him for help, and he has stepped up time and again." In addition to local community support, he is also actively involved in missions work with First Baptist Church of Gainesville, providing vital medical care around the world in developing nations.