FARMINGTON — Don Garrison, chief of facilities management at Franklin Community Health Network, recently received the prestigious American Society of Healthcare Engineers Fellow Award. It honors the exemplary efforts, outstanding achievements and accomplishments of an individual in the field of health care engineering.

The award is one of the highest designations given by the organization and is based on many areas, such as education, experience in the health care field, including construction, maintenance and repairs. It also is based on areas of health care management, major accomplishments, community activities and contributions to the field.

Since joining FCHN in 2001, Garrison has overseen strategic construction planning and campus development that has included a two-year $12.5 million renovation and construction project at Franklin Memorial Hospital completed in 2006. Also included was a $15 million newly constructed 58,000 square-foot Medical Arts Center, which is home to five Franklin Health medical practices and other hospital departments. The Medical Arts Center, which is connected to Franklin Memorial Hospital, was completed in 2008.

Garrison is also a member of the FCHN leadership team and supervises clinical engineers, plant operations, maintenance, and is the organization's safety officer.

Garrison has held many positions in engineering societies at the state, regional, national and international levels. In 2002, he was recognized as the Engineer of the Year for the New England region, and in 2006 he received the senior level ASHE award. He has written many articles for both local and national publications. He has been an editorial adviser for the International Federation of Hospital Engineering's official publications, and is currently the New England Healthcare Engineers' Society newsletter editor and Web site coordinator.

Garrison resides in Farmingdale with his wife, Coral.

Don Garrison