Each year, Kettering Health nominates one employee from each full-service hospital for Ohio Hospital Association’s Health Care Worker of the Year Award. And we’re excited to celebrate our 2025 nominees!
These employees regularly go above and beyond, reflect our mission and values, and give back to the community. Congratulations to this year’s nominees:
- Kettering Health Dayton: Garth Adams
- Kettering Health Greene Memorial: Dr. Isaac Humphrey
- Kettering Health Hamilton: Kimberly Miller
- Kettering Health Main Campus: Dr. Akil Patel
- Kettering Health Miamisburg: Kyle Kalbaugh
- Kettering Health Troy: Kevin Gill Walter
- Kettering Health Washington Township: Sherrie Chenault
- Soin Medical Center: Julie Hamerling
Keep reading to see excerpts from their nominations.
“Garth consistently displays a commitment to going above and beyond. In his role as a preceptor to Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) students, Garth supports 18 interns and eight residents each year, offering mentorship that extends well beyond his regular work hours.
In addition to his educational role, Garth has made a lasting impact by supporting hospital staff in need. He frequently collaborates with Human Resources to identify staff members facing hardships and provides tailored support, either through financial assistance or facilitating medical care.
He developed a protocol for chaplains to address the emotional needs of patients, improving patient experience scores and ensuring that emotional and psychological care is integrated into the clinical team’s approach.
He has strong connections with local pastors, regularly inviting them to participate in room blessings and other hospital events. He also consistently offers his time and support to local churches. His involvement in local faith communities strengthens the connection between the hospital and its broader community.”
“He’s committed to mentoring newer members of the medical staff, often staying after shifts to provide additional training to residents and medical students. His colleagues noted that his willingness to share his expertise has been invaluable in shaping the next generation of providers. He also demonstrates leadership in challenging situations. During a medical emergency in the hospital, Dr. Humphrey quickly stepped in and took action to help a patient who had gone into sudden cardiac arrest. His calm leadership under pressure restored order in a chaotic moment for staff, and his actions stabilized the patient, preventing a potential worse outcome.
He regularly volunteers his time for community health fairs, offering free consultations and health screenings to underserved populations. He also participates in outreach programs that focus on preventative care, raising awareness for conditions like diabetes and hypertension—both of which were identified in a community health needs assessment as areas of focus.”
“She has always kept her composure and made the right decisions during high-pressure situations. But when she saved someone’s life outside of the hospital for the first time, her calm, expert lifesaving measures were recognized with Kettering Health Hamilton’s Living the Mission award in September. Having just joined a pickleball league, Kimberly’s first night did not go as planned. She was called to help a nearby player who collapsed and was unresponsive. Quickly calling for the AED, Kimberly completed her assessment and started CPR. After defibrillating the player, he regained a pulse and was transported to Kettering Health Hamilton for further care. Due to her quick thinking and lifesaving measures, the man she helped is back playing pickleball.
In addition to her work, Kimberly gives back to her community. She helps families when community support systems were not available. Kimberly personally supports families in need, connecting them to resources or providing essential items like car seats or clothes. She also played a role in helping a mother with a heart problem while caring for her newborn, exemplifying how her role as a nurse extends beyond Kettering Health Hamilton’s Family Birthplace.”
“Dr. Patel was recently instrumental in the successful separation of three-year-old twins, Pedro and Augusto, who were conjoined at the head. As part of a larger surgical team in collaboration with Dayton Children’s, Dr. Patel committed his vascular expertise to map the boys incredibly rare neurovascular structure, made all the more difficult by their size, age, and physical orientation (joined at the top of the head with one boy rotated 90 degrees). Dr. Patel meticulously planned and executed the intricate vascular mapping of the boys’ brains, and he assisted in the following surgeries, which were planned over the course of two years, each lasting numerous hours.
Having helped chart the pathways and protocols for successfully conducting these complicated, high-risk surgeries, Dr. Patel continues to lend his expertise and skill to caring for children in similar situations. His efforts with this separation surgery have led him to being involved on other surgical teams facilitating similar procedures throughout the world.”
“Kyle has met and exceeded the demands of her role, bringing instrumental leadership and clinical expertise to the ever-changing healthcare environment. She leads by example and offers guidance, support, and inspiration to her peers to foster a culture of teamwork and respect.
She is known for her patient-centered care approach, ensuring each patient feels seen, heard, and cared for, regardless of their circumstances, wholly reflecting the organization’s mission.
Kyle is deeply rooted in the Miamisburg community, where she routinely gives back and helps those in need. For example, Kyle volunteered at a restaurant where patrons could pay what they felt was fair, with free meals provided to those unable to pay. She also contributes to a local organization that provides free clothing and household goods to those in need, such as those recovering from house fires or homelessness. Kyle is also active in her church and numerous other community initiatives.”
“Kevin created and organized a ceremony where butterfly stones with patients’ names are placed outside of the hospital to help families grieve their loved ones and honor them in a memorable way.
When patients are discharged from the hospital, he ensures they have all of their basic needs met by supplying them with socks, shoes, and jackets if they do not have any, demonstrating that spirituality goes beyond prayer. Kevin also cares for the well-being of Kettering Health employees. When he noticed the burnout that many physicians face, he researched ways to provide spiritual resources to help them. His efforts led to a groundbreaking paper on the burnout of physicians, and he continues to advocate for the mental health of employees.
In his spare time, Kevin leads the worship team at the Kettering Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Through the church, he connects with international students to help them feel welcomed and comfortable in the community. Kevin is also part of local organizations like the Rotary Club of Dayton and the Miami County Drug Coalition, showing his dedication to making a positive impact in our community.”
“Sherrie Chenault is a collaborative, trusted leader who brings teams together to address changes and achieve outstanding results.
Her collaborative approach has been critical to her team’s success, especially this year as many processes changed in an effort to serve more patients in the community. Together, she and her team achieved measurable improvements in first case on-time starts as well as OR utilization. Throughout those changes and transitions, Sherrie championed both operational efficiency and compassionate care.
Sherrie also serves as a mentor and role model for her team. Described as a pillar of strength and resilience, her ability to offer guidance and support—especially in challenging and stressful times—has been invaluable to her colleagues. She leads with integrity and empathy, creating a culture of respect, support, and teamwork. She works tirelessly to improve individual practices and patient safety while promoting work-life balance.
According to one colleague, ‘her unwavering commitment to our hospital’s values has not only improved the lives of our patients but also strengthened the very fabric of our healthcare team.'”
“As an essential member of the Care Management Unit Practice Council, Julie has coordinated a dialysis improvement project and community volunteer efforts for the team. She also actively participates in hospital committees, including the Quality Committee and the Patient Flow Governance Council. Through her leadership and involvement, key metrics directly impacting patient outcomes have improved.
In addition to coordinating department efforts, Julie often sees them through by providing ideas and assisting with implementation. For example, Julie will often create a clever phrase or a checklist to confidently align her coworkers and ensure the project is thoroughly implemented. She also provides organizational tools and finds educational materials to ensure each project’s success.
When caring for a homeless patient, she purchased the patient clothing and hygiene products without anyone asking her to. When a veteran patient came in for care with their therapy dog, Julie bought food for the dog to ease the patient’s worries. Going above and beyond the call of duty is normal for Julie.”
