Through our compassionate and talented people, we live out our mission each and every day–in both small gestures and large moments. We’re recognizing 11 team members as May Employees of the Month for practicing one or more of our values as they carry out our mission.
Employee of the Month recognizes the people you love to work with. The winners exhibit Kettering Health’s Standards of Behavior, live out our values, and demonstrate the healing presence practices outlined in Called to Care.
Thank you for impacting the lives of those in our community by fulfilling our mission. Our work wouldn’t be possible without you!
Continue reading to see the nomination stories for our May Employees of the Month.
“Ariana is a member of the Marketing team at Kettering College. She is always ready and eagerly willing to jump in to help, even at a moment’s notice. Recently, she provided last-minute assistance to ensure that the April graduation ceremony was a huge success and a memorable event for students and their family members who could not attend. Due to a miscommunication, the option to livestream the event fell between the cracks. Ariana responded to our request to provide the link to the technical crew in time for us to notify graduates and their families. Thank you, Ariana, for saving the day!”
“Katie is a huge asset to the care coordinator team at Kettering Health Behavioral Medical Center. She has been in the role of team lead since June 2023 and has excelled in that role. She demonstrates such care and compassion for our patients and staff. Her broad knowledge of community resources and psychosocial interventions ensures that our patients leave with the best follow-up plans in place for them to succeed. Katie readily offers her clinical expertise to her team to assist them with difficult cases. Her positivity and warmth allow staff and physicians to seek her out for support. Her friendliness, hard work, and genuine care for others is the foundation for the dedication she shows on a daily basis.”
“Todd Bailey is an exemplary nursing assistant. He shines and stands above the rest. He always helps others and offers to help. He gives every one of his patients the best care possible. His behavior and kindness make him the best nursing assistant ever. He gives quality care to all his patients. He changes bed linens, gives baths, helps toilet patients, etc. No task is a problem!! He smiles, and his happiness is shown in the work he does. I believe in his ability to help the most challenging patients, make them smile, and know they are cared for. It takes a special person to touch a patient’s heart, and I get the pleasure of working with Todd and see him do this every day.”
“When you see Doris in the hallways, she always speaks and smiles. Doris does great work daily, and there is testimony to that when you talk to her patients, co-workers, and physicians. She goes above and beyond to help her patients, the physicians, and the staff. She is diligent about being timely, accurate, and prepared daily. Doris is a familiar face around Kettering Health Greene Memorial, for she has worked here for decades.”
“A patient was admitted to the hospital the day of his wife’s funeral. Brittany called the family to arrange a FaceTime with them while they were at the funeral. Brittany also went to the gift shop to get the patient a card and an angel bear. Brittany had all the staff working that day sign the card to give to the patient. When I did the leader rounding on this patient, he could not say enough about how wonderful the staff was. He was just speechless about Brittany’s act of kindness. He could not even explain how he felt. When I thanked Brittany for her kindness, she said it was just part of the job. Brittany goes out of her way to make her patients feel loved.”
“Diana’s remarkable 41-year tenure at Kettering Health reflects her unwavering dedication to the organization’s mission and values. With a tireless work ethic, she consistently goes above and beyond to support colleagues and assist wherever needed. Diana’s integrity and compassion shine through in every interaction, whether with staff, patients, or visitors. Despite staffing challenges, she selflessly works weekends and fills leadership roles across multiple locations. Even after planning to retire, Diana extended her service to aid with Accreditation Commission for Health Care survey readiness, demonstrating her commitment to excellence. Her initiative in creating a monthly Environmental Services newsletter highlights her proactive approach and positivity. Diana’s outstanding professionalism, work ethic, and commitment make her an invaluable asset to Kettering Health.”
“I was a patient in Kettering Health Main Campus emergency center two nights in a row. The first night, Julie was very kind and respectful to me as she was doing an ultrasound to assess for a possible miscarriage. The next night, I was back in the emergency center because I had miscarried and required additional medical care. They wanted another ultrasound to confirm, and Julie was there to complete it. She remembered me from the night before and showed just as much care the second night. I could not get out of bed, but after my ultrasound, I needed to use the bathroom. Julie went out of her way to help me, clean me up, and change my sheets, all of which were outside of what she needed to do. And trust me, it was not an easy scenario. But not only did she show compassion and care to help me, she also was able to lift my spirits despite the circumstances I was there for. Julie made me very comfortable during my time in the emergency center, and we even laughed at some points, which was very therapeutic for me. Julie demonstrated the standard of behavior and competence in her job role, but especially in caring. It’s hard transitioning from healthcare provider to patient, especially with an event like a miscarriage. It was an emotional time for my husband and me, but Julie showed so much care towards both of us that we felt some of our grief and struggle lifted just by her being there with us. Julie is sympathetic, supportive, and caring, and I could not have asked for better with my experience at Kettering Health. Julie positively impacted my husband and me while I was admitted to the emergency center by showing us sympathy during a difficult time, as well as finding the ability to make us laugh and feel uplifted. She brought positivity to an unfortunate medical event, and I am very grateful that she was a part of our care team.”
“We have a patient who was discharged home on IV antibiotics (Vancomycin) from Kettering Health Dayton with no access to infectious disease follow up. Tamu took serious ownership and went above and beyond with an issue that she had not agreed to follow on an outpatient basis and is generally outside her scope. She got the patient an appointment with a cardiologist who follows endocarditis, reached out to Infectious Disease at Kettering Health Main Campus to get guidance on what to do for him, and ultimately helped to coordinate admission to KH Main Campus to get his PICC line issue sorted, his cardiology workup expedited, and to help this patient have the best outcome possible despite significant roadblocks.”
“Jill from Medication Assistance willingly steps in to cover the Infusion Pharmacy’s workload, always maintaining a positive attitude. She prioritizes team support, often sacrificing her own breaks and staying late to ensure tasks are completed. Recently, she volunteered to cover for a co-worker with cancer, demonstrating her selflessness. Jill’s commitment extends beyond work; she goes the extra mile for patients, even offering to pick up paperwork from their homes. Her unwavering compassion, selflessness, and dedication make her the epitome of a patient-focused employee, deserving of recognition every month.”
“Stephanie’s exceptional kindness and compassion were evident in a recent encounter with a patient suffering from extreme anxiety. Despite the patient’s fear of medical tests and leaving home, Stephanie’s patience and warmth helped her successfully complete a DXA scan, a milestone for someone who only ventures out six times a year. Stephanie’s comforting demeanor inspired the patient to schedule her first mammogram, a step she had avoided for eight years. Her calming presence and genuine smile positively impact colleagues and patients, as reflected in the recognition she receives in Press Ganey surveys. We’re fortunate to have Stephanie’s compassionate spirit in our breast center family.”
“Rachael is one of the most compassionate nurses I have ever worked with. She always goes above and beyond for all the patients on the floor, even if she’s not the primary caregiver. For example, I had a patient switch to hospice and Rachael took the time to braid her hair and help her look spiffy. This is one of many examples she has exhibited that shows how big her heart is and how she puts her patients first. You could tell it brought so much joy to the patient. It’s the little things she does that really make a difference and are what Kettering Health is built on. Rachael has always been one of the hardest workers we have had. She is going out of her way to help anyone out. She is the definition of a team player and how Kettering Health employees should carry themselves.”