Meet Our 2025 ESPRIT Award Winner: Jonelle Anderson

Jonelle Anderson, a Clinical Field Manager for our Long Island Home Care team, calls herself a problem solver—and she’s proven it again and again.

If a discharge plan hits a snag, causing stress for those involved, Jonelle, who has been with VNS Health for 22 years, picks up the phone and talks directly with patients and families. She wants to understand exactly what’s happening. She then follows up with our clinicians to find a solution, whether that’s connecting them to other resources or identifying needs the team can accommodate—whatever it takes. “I always try to go the extra step to see what can be done,” she says.

Her team has learned they can count on her when things get complicated, whether it involves a complex case, difficult family dynamics,  or an unexpected crisis. “Jonelle always makes us feel like our situation is top priority, no matter what other duties she has during the day,” one team member notes.

Jonelle’s open-door policy means people feel safe bringing her their concerns. One of the clinicians she manages describes struggling with a challenging family situation: “I felt comfortable speaking with Jonelle about this. She was supportive.”

That support goes beyond the professional realm. “Jonelle makes us feel like we are more than just an employee,” another colleague observes. “She sees us as individuals—not only as health care professionals, but also in the other roles we all assume, including parent, sibling, family member, friend.”

She leads by keeping herself—and her team—focused on what matters. “If I ever forget what it’s like to work in the field, I no longer belong in this job,” she tells them. When team members call out unexpectedly, she follows up not just to check on work but to offer support, reminding them that their health and safety come first.

Colleagues marvel at how Jonelle juggles the demands of her job while always maintaining her composure. “She manages to make it appear effortless,” one co-worker says. “She consistently handles day-to-day operations with grace.”

For Jonelle, being recognized with the ESPRIT Award is an affirmation of what drives her. “It means a lot that my peers see I’m in alignment with VNS Health’s values,” she says. “I practice these same Core Values in my own life. They are my values. I love what I do.”