 (From left to right) Sharon Jensen, Alice Browar, Melanie Bowie, Carol Pecor and Thomas Waters are honored for their 45 years of service at the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) employee and volunteer recognition event at Hart’s Hill Inn on Wednesday, May 13. |
 (From left to right) Beverly McNally, the top individual volunteer honoree, and Sue Warwick, recipient of the John Weakley Award, at the MVHS employee and volunteer recognition event at Hart’s Hill Inn on Wednesday, May 13. |
On Wednesday, May 13, 2015, the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) honored the organization’s top employees and volunteers at a recognition event held at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro. MVHS recognized 1,142 employees who reached milestones in service ranging from 5 years to 45 years of service and an additional 311 employees who have been with the organization for more than 25 years. The top honorees, with 45 years of service, included:
- Melanie Bowie, Nuclear Medicine, St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC)
- Alice Browar, Cardiac Rehab, Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH)
- Sharon Jensen, Nutrition Services, FSLH
- Barbara Mierek, Operating Room, FSLH
- Carol Pecor, Maternity Services, FSLH
- Thomas Waters, AC 3 Medical/Surgical Unit, FSLH
MVHS also honored two employees with the prestigious Denise Taurisano and John Weakley Awards in recognition of significantly fostering a positive work environment with excellent customer service, professionalism, responsiveness, compassion and a caring nature. The awards are named after Denise Taurisano, a SEMC Radiology employee, and John Weakley, a volunteer and greeter at FSLH, who exhibited all of these qualities and were an inspiration to all who had the pleasure of working with them before their passing.
Robert Tan, director of Medical Imaging for MVHS, is the 19th recipient of the Denise Taurisano Award. Tan has been an employee at SEMC since 1980 and has served as a staff radiologic technologist, quality control technologist, assistant manager and manager of the Department of Radiology. Tan received his certificate as a radiologic technologist from the St. Elizabeth School of Radiography.
Sue Warwick, director of Volunteer Services and Guest Relations for FSLH, received the inaugural John Weakley Award. Warwick has been an employee at FSLH for 40 years and is responsible for guest relations, service excellence and oversight of the Volunteer Services Department. She works with staff and leadership to review patient satisfaction results and assist in the development of action plans to improve patients’ experiences as well as overall patient satisfaction performance.
In addition to employees, MVHS also recognized volunteers who gave of their time in 2014. In total, 562 men and women volunteered at FSLH and SEMC in 2014 and generously gave 75,500 hours of service — the equivalent to the number of hours worked by 39 full-time employees. MVHS honored 114 volunteers and volunteer groups who reached milestones in cumulative service ranging between 100 and 49,500 hours.
Beverly McNally of New Hartford was the top individual volunteer honoree with 16,000 hours of service. She began volunteering at FSLH in 1992 and currently serves on the Faxton St. Luke’s Volunteer Association Board. McNally coordinates all merchandise purchases for the gift shop at the Faxton Campus, as well as scheduling and training of the volunteers who work there.
The Arc of Oneida-Lewis Chapter’s Arnold Avenue Day Habilitation Group was the top group volunteer honoree with 49,500 hours of service. These dedicated individuals help assemble charts and patient folders, assist with clerical projects and volunteer on site at SEMC in the Food and Nutrition areas.
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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.
Media Contact
Jacquie Klotzbach
Digital Media and Project Specialist
(315) 624-5602
jklotzba@mvhealthsystem.org