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SALT LAKE CITY -- Co-workers say a physician's assistant at St. Mark's Hospital is a "wonderful human being," not only for what he does on the job but off the clock as well.
We caught up with Lou Melini at work to deliver a KSL High 5. Kerry Magana nominated him for the honor.
"He is a very, very tender-hearted man," she says. "He does a lot of good stuff for the Scouts -- above and beyond."
Over the past decade Lou has taken 23 trips with Scouts as part of a wilderness program. He says those trips include some 500 miles of hiking.
This year instead of taking several hiking trips, he took the Scouts backpacking 50 miles in the backcountry.
Melini says, "Being in pediatrics, I think part of my job and focus is to get kids outdoors and in nature, be independent so when they get out of the wilderness they have a can-do attitude."
"When these kids did a 50-miler, they're really not tremendous athletes, but now they have the sense of confidence that they've done something that few other kids have done," he explains.
Lou says he keeps the hikes going because it's good for the kids and his own health.
As part of the High 5 he received a gift basket from our High 5 partners, Les Schwab. It includes a $100 gift certificate for services at their stores.
If you know someone who deserves a High 5, click here to nominate them.
