Honors anyone working in health care who may not fit in other categories but whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, colleagues and other health care providers
SANDRA DINAPOLI
Title: Patient representative
Organization: Wilmington Health
What the nominator said: “When I first started at Wilmington Health, I was very lucky to be trained by Sandra. She harnesses a powerful skill of attentiveness, and she’s attentive to detail, attentive to patients, attentive to her surroundings, ensuring always that everything is running like a well-oiled machine. All while doing all of this, she greets every patient and team member with a compassionate smile, inviting energy, and comfort that patients can trust. Sandra is highly respected for her integrity by her colleagues, and I’m honored to know her. … Sandra is someone who has always had so much integrity and respect for others, as she always aims to treat everyone fairly and compassionately. Sandra has a daughter with special needs, and she enjoys seeing how Wilmington Health, as well as herself, assure that our patients are compassionately accommodated. Sandra, throughout her time at Wilmington Health, has been offered several opportunities to grow, but she remains dedicated to the teams she serves, location, and the patients that frequent the location, and she is the go-to person there for training, strategy, and process improvement. ”
– Desirae Hrynko, marketing manager, Wilmington Health
DOUG FLYNN
Title: Patient care tech/unit clerk
Organization: Dosher Memorial Hospital
What the nominator said: “Doug is the right arm of the Patient Care Unit. He is the go-to person for nurses, doctors, and leadership. Always willing to lend a helping hand. Volunteered to be part of the Employee Engagement Committee and Patient Experience Steering Team. Patient care is truly front and center. Any patient who comes into contact with Doug can tell that he cares about his patients and their family members.
“We had an elderly patient who was upset; when I went to talk with him, he told me that he wanted chocolate milk but all we had was regular. I went to Doug and let him know why the patient was upset. Doug got up and went to the patient nutrition room. He took a carton of regular milk and a cup of chocolate ice cream and mixed them together to make a chocolate milkshake. The patient’s eyes lit up when he brought that in to him. That is just one of many examples of the care that Doug gives to his patients.”
– Megan Shrewsbury, organizational development specialist, Dosher Memorial Hospital
MONIQUE RODRIGUEZ MARSHALL
Title: Pediatric registered nurse
Organization: Maxim Homehealth Care/Bayada Pediatric Homehealth Care
What the nominator said: “Monique Marshall is an absolute inspiration. As a child, she grew up with a family member with severe mental challenges. She voluntarily spent her time caring for this family member as a child, which led her to an interest in the health care field. She started by earning her EMT certification from CFCC, followed by an AAS in pre-psychology. She then came back to CFCC to become an LPN (licensed practical nurse). Believe it or not, she came back a FOURTH time to obtain her nursing degree, and now works as a home healthcare nurse for Maxim and BAYADA, with a focus on pediatrics. … She did all of this while raising a daughter on her own, as a single mom.
“Almost immediately after obtaining her nursing degree, she set up a scholarship at CFCC, in the name of her grandmother, Lillian Smith, to support other nursing students who are single moms with financial struggles. Her first student was awarded this fall. … Monique is starting a nonprofit to help struggling families with children who have significant and high-risk needs. Her goal is to become a resource center for parents who don’t know where to turn for help with their child.”
– Logan Thompson, director of advancement, Cape Fear Community College
