Employee Awards
Congrats to Katie Gildea, VNS Health’s 2023 SLP of the Year!
May 25, 2023–As we approach the end of Better Speech and Hearing Month, we’re proud to announce that speech-language pathologist (SLP) Katie Gildea has been named VNS Health’s Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year! Leaders from VNS Health Provider Services reviewed this year’s nominations and selected Katie as someone who exemplifies how our SLPs go above and beyond to achieve the best possible outcomes for their patients—delivering outstanding service while also embodying VNS Health’s Core Values of Integrity, Empathy and Agility. Katie started out in speech-language pathology almost 20 years ago, working with children and adults recovering from brain injuries. After several years, she moved to New York and joined VNS Health. Now approaching 15 years with the organization, she has spent much of her career working with patients on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. “I feel very lucky to be in home health care right now,” said Katie. “I find that all my
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Jane Reilly Is Honored With The Outstanding Clinician Excellence Award From VNS Health Personal Care
October 12, 2022–This year’s Outstanding Clinician Excellence Award goes to Jane Reilly, a VNS Health team member since 2018. Jane states, “I make a difference through problem-solving and persevering.”After 39 years of caring for patients, four of those years at VNS Health, Clinical Case Manager Jane Reilly has become a valuable resource for her colleagues who are just starting out. “I make practical suggestions to the new home health aides, drawing on my own experience,” Jane explains. “I am creative and committed, and I persevere and problem-solve as much as I can.”That’s exactly what Jane did back on one memorable assignment, when she was still new at the job and had to take care of a spinal cord patient who was 6 feet 7 inches tall. “Everyone was afraid of him, with his large overwhelming presence,” she recalls. “But I wasn’t. We trusted each other.”Jane makes a difference in the lives of
Bernadette Thomas Is Honored With the Outstanding Administrative Employee Award From VNS Health Personal Care
October 12, 2022–This year’s Outstanding Administrative Employee Award goes to Bernadette Thomas, who states, “I like finding new solutions by supporting the team.”Bernadette joined VNS Health as a home health aide 28 years ago. Since then, she has mastered multiple different positions across the organization through hard work and dedication. “I have worked as a Lead Home Health Aide, a Data Entry Coordinator, a Float Supervisor, and my current position as Lead Supervisor,” Bernadette says. “The stories throughout all these years are too many to mention!” Bernadette adds that it’s important to her to support her team by working closely with them and making sure they get all the help they need in their jobs. “I love being in communication with people,” she explains. “I’m hands on—I am always trying to make myself available and make the program better. I always say yes! I never say no!”
Yamira Maturana Is Honored With the Outstanding Management Employee Award from VNS Health Personal Care
October 12, 2022–This year’s Outstanding Management Employee Award goes to Yamira Maturana, Manager of Human Resources Shared Services, for representing our core values of agility, empathy and integrity. It was the year 1999 when Yamira started working as a receptionist for VNS Health. Little did she know that 23 years later she would be awarded an Outstanding Management Employee Award. “This is a huge accomplishment and milestone in my life,” she says. “I am truly honored to receive this award. I make a difference by listening to our Home Health Aides.” During her career in VNS Health, Yamira has also worked as a Compliance Specialist, Employee Relations Representative, and now as a Manager in HR Shared Services. For her, meeting potential candidates interested in the home care field has been very rewarding. “It’s pleasure hearing why they are passionate to serve,” she says. “I recall how one candidate changed her career to
Valora Ford is Honored With the James R. Withrow Jr. Award, Home Health Aide of the Year
October 12, 2022–The 2022 James R. Withrow Jr. Award for Home Health Aide of the Year is a tradition that began in 1988. This award is given in memory of James R. Withrow Jr., one of the original members of the Personal Care Board of Directors. The Home Health Aide of the Year best personifies the qualities of the ideal paraprofessional. The criteria for the award were developed by a team of Home Health Aides and Supervisors. This year’s Home Health Aide of the Year is Valora Ford. Valora has been a VNS Health team member since 2012. When you have Valora Ford on your side, you know you’re in very good hands. That’s because Valora makes sure you’re taken care of. For Valora, restoring a person’s dignity and confidence as they age or after they’ve had an illness and reassuring her patients that they have the right to live life on
Meet the 2022 Liota and Marren Award Winners!
June 21, 2022–Congratulations to the 2022 Liota and Marren Award winners: John Tawiah and Natasha Merjuste, who were nominated by their VNS Health colleagues and selected by a committee of nursing leaders! John Tawiah, Psychiatric Nurse, Bronx ACT Team, Winner of the Marilyn Liota Award The Liota Award to Promote Cultural Diversity in Nursing Leadership, named after long-time VNS Health nurse and Queens Regional Vice President Marilyn Liota, is awarded each year to help an exemplary VNS Health nurse realize her or his leadership potential. The award provides a $1,500 scholarship for expenses related to nursing studies, continuing professional development, or communication/English language skills development. “Fighting the stigma around mental illness, and helping my patients lead better lives, are my driving forces.” In the Ghanaian village in which John grew up, mental illness was viewed as demonic possession. He is haunted by memories of a childhood classmate who would occasionally vanish into the bush. “I’ve heard
Check Out the Latest ABCD and Initiative Award Winners—all 974 of them!
June 15, 2022–Here they are, all in one place – a list of team members who, over the past few months, have been recognized for going above and beyond in their work. Specifically, the list covers from September 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022 and features both ABCD Award winners and Initiative Award winners. All told, that’s 974 VNSNY team members! Congratulations to all! Click here to view their names.
Tara Hantman Is Named VNS Health’s Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year
May 19, 2022–VNS Health has announced that the Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year will be awarded to Tara Hantman. The award was recently presented to Tara at our Speech-Language Pathology Celebration event. Nominations for the award could be submitted by anyone in the organization. Leaders from the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and Rehabilitation teams then reviewed the nominations to select an awardee who best exemplified VNS Health’s values, including the organization’s Core Values of Empathy, Integrity and Agility, as well as exceptional service and going above and beyond to achieve the best outcomes. Congratulations to Tara on this honor!
Marjorie Delva Is Named VNSNY’s First Occupational Therapist of the Year
April 28, 2022–As VNSNY continues its recognition of April as Occupational Therapy Month, the organization has announced the winner of its inaugural Occupational Therapist of the Year award: 12-year VNSNY veteran Marjorie Delva. The award was presented to Marjorie at our first-ever Occupational Therapy Month Celebration event on April 28th. Nominations for the award could be submitted by anyone in the organization. Leaders from the Occupational Therapy (OT) and Rehabilitation teams then reviewed the nominations to select an awardee who best exemplified VNSNY’s values, including the organization’s Core Values of Empathy, Integrity and Agility, as well as exceptional service and going above and beyond to achieve the best outcomes. “Marjorie is reliable, resourceful, and passionate about the care she provides to her patients,” said one of her nominating letters. Another colleague praised Marjorie as “the most thorough OT I’ve worked with in a 30-year rehab career,” adding, “she has integrity, empathy and
Esther Conteh Receives Phyllis Mills Living Legend Award
December 10, 2021–The award, named for long-time VNSNY Board Member Phyllis Mills, was given in recognition of Esther’s outstanding contributions to care management models and processes during her 20 years with VNSNY CHOICE.