Each day, our team members go above and beyond to create exceptional experiences and make a meaningful difference for those we serve and for one another.
Excellence in Action recognizes individuals who notice what’s needed and choose to step in—taking initiative, showing courage, and following through to make things better. Whether solving a problem, supporting a colleague, or improving someone’s experience, their actions reflect ownership, empathy, and sound judgment.
Their efforts make a real impact and help define the level of care and service we strive to deliver every day.
Continue reading to see the nomination stories for our July Excellence in Action winners:
When a busy day could have become overwhelming, Kim turned it into an opportunity to make a difference through calm, compassionate service. As the only registration team member covering the Kettering Health Springfield Emergency Department during an exceptionally busy shift, Kim worked tirelessly to keep patients moving through the registration process while maintaining a warm, welcoming presence. Despite the increased demands, she never let the pace make patients feel rushed, ensuring each person was treated with kindness, respect, and genuine care.
Kim’s dedication helped the care team maintain timely discharges while creating a positive first impression for patients entering the Emergency Department. Her ability to remain composed, efficient and compassionate under pressure reflected the very best of patient-centered care. By stepping up when her team needed her most, Kim demonstrated Excellence through her reliable, high-quality work and Leadership by rising to meet an unexpected challenge with a positive attitude.
Kim, thank you for the compassion, resilience and commitment you bring to our patients and your team every day. Congratulations on receiving the Excellence in Action Award.
Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness leave the greatest impression. For one patient, Pauline’s thoughtful care transformed an already positive hospital stay into an experience they will never forget.
During nurse leader rounding, a patient shared heartfelt praise for Pauline, describing the many ways she consistently went above and beyond throughout their stay. In addition to keeping the room clean and welcoming, Pauline regularly emptied the trash, cleaned the bedside table and happily helped retrieve personal belongings whenever they were needed. Her attentiveness, compassion and willingness to serve made the patient feel cared for in every interaction.
Pauline’s dedication reflects Kettering Health’s values of Wholeness and Excellence by creating an environment where patients feel respected, supported, and genuinely cared for. Her actions are a powerful reminder that exceptional patient experiences are built through the compassion and commitment of every team member, regardless of role.
Congratulations, Pauline, on being recognized with the Excellence in Action Award. Thank you for the kindness, dedication, and heart you bring to our patients and our mission each day.
The greatest educators do more than teach, they inspire, encourage and help others grow. That is the kind of impact Jerry makes every day for his students and colleagues at Kettering College.
Jerry is known as a dependable, hardworking faculty member who is deeply committed to the success and well-being of nursing students. He has devoted significant time and effort to strengthening the mental health nursing course while supporting students as they learn not only how to care for their patients’ mental health, but also how to care for their own. At the same time, Jerry continues to pursue his Ph.D. while serving full time, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to learning and professional growth. Beyond the classroom, he is a trusted coworker who is always willing to listen, offer thoughtful perspective, and support those around him.
Jerry’s dedication reflects Kettering Health’s values of Learning, Leadership and Belonging. Through his passion for education, his investment in student success, and his encouragement of colleagues, he creates an environment where others can thrive.
Congratulations, Jerry and thank you for your dedication to your students, your colleagues, and the future of nursing.
In moments when every second matters, having a teammate who steps forward can make all the difference. Alex Gillum is that kind of teammate. Someone who recognizes a need, takes action and supports those around him with a steady commitment to excellence.
During a particularly challenging morning in the operating room, a surgical team faced an unexpected obstacle as they worked to locate critical supplies needed to begin a procedure. Although the situation was outside of Alex’s assigned service, he took the initiative to check in and see how he could help. Once he recognized the urgency, Alex remained alongside the team until every needed item was located, and the room was fully prepared to move forward.
His calm presence, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail helped prevent delays, eased stress for the surgical team and supported a safe, seamless experience for the patient. Beyond this moment, Alex is consistently recognized for his reliability, kindness and willingness to support others. He leads by example, follows through on his commitments and creates a culture where teammates know they are not alone.
Alex’s actions reflect Kettering Health’s values of Leadership and Excellence. Through his everyday commitment to teamwork, service and patient-centered care, he demonstrates how small moments of ownership can have a lasting impact.
Alex, thank you for the compassion, teamwork, and dedication you bring to your role. We are so excited to recognize you as this month’s Excellence in Action Award winner. Congratulations.
Great improvements often begin with someone who recognizes a need and chooses to take action. Mary Couch demonstrated that kind of initiative by stepping forward to create a solution that strengthened her entire department and positioned her team for continued success.
Mary proactively took ownership of developing standard operating procedures for a new and highly technical process within her department. This effort required significant technical expertise, including complex stored procedure development and SSIS package design using Visual Studio. Although this work was not assigned to her, Mary recognized the importance of creating a consistent and sustainable approach and committed the time, focus and attention needed to make it successful.
Through extensive research, thoughtful documentation and the application of skills gained throughout her career, Mary created a resource that brought structure and reliability to a complex process. Her work reduced reliance on individual knowledge, improved consistency, supported smoother collaboration and created a valuable tool for onboarding, cross-training and future team growth.
What makes Mary’s contribution especially meaningful is her willingness to look beyond her own responsibilities and consider what would benefit the team. Her accountability, follow-through, and commitment to quality reflect the kind of ownership that strengthens an organization.
Mary’s actions exemplify Kettering Health’s values of Excellence, Learning and Leadership. She not only delivered high-quality work but also shared her knowledge and created opportunities for others to succeed. Her efforts have helped her team work more efficiently, confidently and consistently while preparing them to meet future challenges.
Congratulations, Mary, on being recognized with the Excellence in Action Award. Thank you for your dedication, innovation, and commitment to making a lasting difference through your expertise, initiative and willingness to support those around you.
Every day, exceptional care is made possible by team members who quietly go above and beyond because they genuinely care about others. Nicole is one of those team members, consistently demonstrating compassion, integrity and a commitment to excellence.
Nicole exemplifies Kettering Health’s values of Wholeness and Excellence through her dedication to patients, teammates and her department. She anticipates the needs of others, steps in to help without hesitation, and willingly gives her time to support quality patient care. Her commitment was especially evident when she stayed beyond her scheduled shift to complete a complex blood crossmatch for an ICU patient, ensuring seamless care and a smooth transition for the next shift.
Nicole also extends her compassion beyond her daily responsibilities through pet therapy with her dog, Remy. Together, they bring comfort, encouragement and connection to patients and team members.
Over the past several months, Nicole has helped create a more positive and collaborative work environment by making others feel valued, supporting teamwork and advocating for safe, effective processes.
Congratulations, Nicole, on being recognized with the Excellence in Action Award.
