Two Spartanburg area women to be honored as Women of Distinction

September 23, 2021

Girl Scouts of South Carolina–Mountains to Midlands will honor two Spartanburg area women at its annual Boots & Pearls: Women of Distinction Awards Celebration on Thursday, October 14, 2021 on the Drayton Mills Grand Lawn. They are planning a safe, social distanced way to recognize these incredible women. The community is invited to attend.  Tickets and sponsorships can be found on their website.

This year’s honorees are Dr. Amy Baruch and Ms. Laura Ringo.

Dr. Amy Baruch was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and graduated from Hinsdale Central High School in Illinois, where she later moved with her family. After earning her Biology undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, she moved to Tucson, Arizona to pursue a Master’s Degree in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Arizona, where she stayed for medical school and pathology residency training. She spent a year of fellowship training at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, before settling in Spartanburg 15 years ago.

After moving to Spartanburg, Amy met her husband Marcus, with whom she has 2 daughters, and assumed many different roles in the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, working as a pathologist. She serves as the system Medical Director for the Cytopathology and Microbiology laboratories, as well as medical director for the laboratories at Union Medical Center and Cherokee Medical Center. She served as President of the Medical Staff at Spartanburg Regional, won 2018 Physician Leader of the Year, and just completed a two-year term as Chair of the Medical Executive Committee. She implemented several provider resilience programs at Spartanburg Regional including the Battle Buddy program for nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, Amy completed a Masters in Health Care Delivery Science at Dartmouth College.

After delivering a lecture in Ohio to a female physicians group in 2011, she recognized the need for a similar group in Spartanburg to help female physicians build community. Along with her colleague Rosanna Lapham, she founded Spartanburg Women in Medicine (SWIM), an integral part of the Spartanburg County Medical Society. SWIM’s platform raises awareness for and addresses community needs and encourages female physicians to become more politically active, particularly regarding legislative issues about public health.

A longtime recreational runner, Amy ran her first full marathon while in pathology residency and has since run many full and half marathons. With her interests in running and raising healthy, confident girls, Amy joined the Girls on the Run Upstate Council board last year, serving as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Governance Committee and now serves as board Chair. She is also on the board of Carolinas Pathology Group.

In her free time, Amy loves spending time with friends and family and pursues outdoor activities like running, hiking, biking, and caddying for her daughters in local golf tournaments.

Ms. Laura Ringo has served as the executive director of PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well (formerly Partners for Active Living) for the past 16 years. PAL improves health and wellness throughout Spartanburg County by creating an environment and culture that fosters physical activity and healthy eating through an equity lens. PAL is a small nonprofit working to enact large-scale change.

Under Laura’s leadership, PAL launched the Southeast’s first bicycle-sharing program, Spartanburg B-cycle, and spearheaded the creation of the Rail Yard Community Park and Vic Bailey Subaru Bike Park by redeveloping a brownfield. PAL is driving an ambitious urban trails plan that will develop a 50+ mile network and has grown the number of spectator tents at the annual Downtown Criterium from 1 to more than 100. None of these accomplishments would be possible without a strong, collaborative group of public and private partners.

Laura loves the Spartanburg community and enjoys being involved. She serves as president of the Hampton Heights Neighborhood Association and vice president of the Pine Street School Foundation. She is a former president of Leadership Spartanburg Alumni Association and a former board member of the Spartanburg Chamber’s executive committee, Mary Black Health System, Palmetto Cycling Coalition, Eat Smart, Move More SC, and a diaconate member for First Presbyterian Church.

Laura’s recent recognitions include Spartanburg Young Professional’s inaugural 40 under 40 class, Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership and Community Change Honoree for Community, Spartanburg Herald Journal Inaugural Women of Achievement, Spartanburg Young Professional Inaugural Young & Professional in Nonprofit.

Laura and her husband Will have been renovating a house in Hampton Heights for half of their lives (or so it seems), are parents of two daughters, one of which is a proud Girl Scout, one dog, and the world’s meanest cat.

Attendees will park and walk to tables outside, where they will celebrate their accomplishments with a movie on the lawn. The evening tribute recognizing women who exemplify excellence in service, leadership, community visibility, and professionalism begins at 6:30 p.m. as attendees will park their cars and walk to lawn.  Tables will be set up and food and drink will be served with the ticket price.