a marketing supplement to lehigh valley business health ......a marketing supplement to lehigh...

A Marketing Supplement to Lehigh Valley Business

HealtH care

2016 editionHEROES

Greater lehigh Valley caregivers who go above and beyond

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Highmark Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

What the heart wants is to stay young at heart. So let’s give our hearts Highmark Blue Shield. With access to health coaches who can help them beat stronger. And blood pressure checks and cholesterol screenings that can catch the little things before they become big ones. It’s what we do all for hearts and all for health. Learn more at AllforHealth.com

WE’LL HELP A HEART OF GOLD GET TO ITS GOLDEN YEARS.

HMK6-593 Lehigh Valley Business Journal

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Lehigh Valley Business Health Care Heroes 2016 3

lifetime acHievementRobert Zentz 5

eDUcatiOn HerOWendy J. Waldspurger Robb 6

HealtH care PrOfessiOnal Of tHe YearJeanne Vogt 8Kelly Carney 8Donna Conley 8Steve Cunningham 9Constance Morrison 9Patrick Stonich 9

nUrse Of tHe YearMonica Ring-Striba 10Faith Binns 10Mary Grace Conklin 10Jessica Dalton 11Sharon Siniscalco 11Kay Stocker 11

PHYsical tHeraPist Of tHe YearSue Golden 12Basia Baran 13Daniel Collier 13Megan Eyvazzadeh 14Dan MacLean 14Kevin Mowry 15Gary Schoenberger 15Julie Spencer 15

PHYsician Of tHe YearDr. Jay Talsania 16Dr. Geoffrey Hallock 16Dr. Leo Scarpino 16Dr. Nicholas Taylor 17Dr. Nche Zama 17

sPecial neeDs HerOBrett Feldman 18Kenneth Hoser 18Robert E. Smith Jr. 18

vOlUnteer Of tHe YearSandra Harris Corrado 19Mary Diehl 19Ernest Norton 19

WOmen’s HealtH anD Wellness HerODeborah Gilbert 20Kelly Fortner 21Dr. Cara M. Guilfoyle 21

WOrKPlace Wellness HerOVictaulic 22Concannon Miller & Co., P.C. 22Lehigh Valley Health Network 22

Welcome to the 2016 edition of Lehigh Valley Business Health

Care Heroes. This is the third year that we are recognizing the amazing efforts of the people and companies in the Greater Lehigh Valley. These people are making a significant impact on the quality of life and health care in the region.

When we decided to start this pro-gram, we talked about the idea of a hero. Unfortunately, these days our youth look to entertainers and sports figures for their heroes. They should

instead be looking at people like Rob-ert Zentz, who is president and CEO of Fellowship Community. Robert has been running Fellowship Community, a continuing care facility in Whitehall, for 20 years. This after he retired from Sacred Heart Hospital as a vice presi-dent of patient care for 25 years. What keeps him going is that he loves making a difference, and he empowers his 300-plus employees to always do what is best for the residents.

I would like to congratulate all of our

finalists in every category of our Health Care Heroes awards. You are the ones on the front lines and make the Greater Lehigh Valley a better place to live and work. I would also like to thank our ad-vertisers who helped make this special supplement possible.

Sincerely,

The third annual Lehigh Valley Business Health Care Heroes awards program

was created to honor the efforts of individ-uals and organizations making a significant impact on the quality of health care in the Greater Lehigh Valley.

During the nomination process, com-panies and individuals nominated them-selves or others by describing their heroic actions based on the category description. To be eligible, individual nominees must work in the Greater Lehigh Valley and organization nominees must have offices in the Greater Lehigh Valley. They could not be a member of the judges’ panel or a member of a judge’s immediate family.

The Education Hero category recognizes an individual making a difference in health education, either in the community or the industry. Individuals that make women’s health and wellness a top priority are rec-ognized in the Women’s Health and Well-ness category. The Special Needs Hero honors individuals who work with patients requiring specialized care.

The individuals in the Health Care Pro-fessional, Nurse, Physical Therapist and Physician of the Year categories perform in ways considered exemplary by patients and peers. Volunteer of the Year recognizes those who give their time to improve health care and, just as importantly, other people’s lives.

The Workplace Wellness category hon-ors a business for a companywide wellness program, healthy work environment, ergo-nomics program, or other health-related activities benefiting employees.

In addition, one individual was selected to be recognized with the Lifetime Achieve-ment Award, which honors achievements, leadership and success throughout the per-son’s tenure in the health care community.

After the nominations were collected, a distinguished panel of independent judges from the area carefully reviewed and scored each nomination. The top nominees in each category were chosen as finalists, and one was selected as the winner.

taBle Of cOntents

PUBlisHer’s letter

HOW We DiD it

Mike O’ RourkePublisher

65 E. Elizabeth Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18018(610) 807-9619

PUBLISHERMichael O’RourkeADVERTISING

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE John C. Coyle III

SPECIAL INSERTS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Nancy Signorovitch

EDITORIALEdITOR

Karren JohnsonCOPy EdITOR Cheryl Sarfaty

DESIGNSENIOR EVENTS dESIGNER

Sara SianoPROdUCTION

Emily Graf EVENTS

EVENTS dIRECTORWendy Berg

EVENTS COORdINATORDayna Edelman

Published by Journal MultiMediaDavid A. Schankweiler, CEO

Lawrence M. Kluger, PresidentCoVer desiGn by sara siano

2016 JUDgestom croyle

PresidentLehigh Valley Business Coalition on Healthcare

frank HylandVice President of

rehabilitation Services and administrator of

Good Shepherd rehabilitation Hospital

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network

Judith rexDirector

Healthcare EducationNorthampton

Community College

Meet Your Clients2016/2017 Event Sponsorship Opportunities

Future^

Women of Influence AwardsMay 11, 2016 Forty Under 40 AwardsJune 13, 2016 Health Care Symposium*July 27, 2016 CFO of the Year AwardsSeptember 14, 2016 Business Expo*October 5, 2016

Manufacturing SymposiumOctober 5, 2016

90 Ideas in 90 MinutesOctober 5, 2016 Fastest Growing Companies AwardsOctober 26, 2016 Berks County Real Estate Symposium*November 17, 2016 Business of the Year AwardsDecember 6, 2016 Real Estate & Development Symposium*March 7, 2017

*In addition to sponsorships, exhibitor opportunities are available for these select events.

LVB’s sponsorships are limited. To reap the benefits of the ultimate in-person marketing opportunity, contact Mike O’Rourke at [email protected] or 610-807-9619 ext. 112.

Questions about attending an LVB event? Email [email protected] or visit www.lvb.com/events


LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – WINNER

robert ZentzPresident and ceOFellowship communityWhitehall

Sixty years ago, Robert Zentz would never have guessed he’d enjoy such

a long and successful career in health care. Desperate for work after being laid off from a Bethlehem Steel plant in 1956, he took a job as an orderly for a hospital in New York, knowing nothing about what he’d be doing. Since then he went on to earn a nursing degree, work-ing his way up from a staff nurse to a hospital executive.

“There’s not one single component of a hospital that I haven’t had an op-portunity to work with,” Zentz said. “What kept me in the health care field is that I love people and making a differ-ence.”

After working 25 years as vice presi-dent of resident patient care at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Zentz

retired in 1995, but his retirement was short lived. A few days later he was asked to serve as the administrator of a small

skilled-nursing facility in Whitehall. Today, as president and CEO of that same facility now known as Fellowship Community, Zentz has played a key role in its growth and recognition as a top-

performing, long-term care facility. “I’ve never had a day where I wake up

and say I don’t feel like going to work today,” said Zentz, who is celebrating his 20th anniversary with Fellowship Community this year.

Leading by example, Zentz creates a culture of caring at Fellowship Commu-nity. He believes that showing residents that you care about them is essential for their health and longevity. Armed with a belief that seniors should remain ac-tive and engaged, 10 percent of his staff consists of seniors over 70 years of age.

In addition, he empowers his 300-plus employees to always do what is best for the residents and to do everything with excellence. His open-door policy, pleasant demeanor and positive attitude make him a very approachable leader.

Passionate about continuing educa-tion, he has implemented numerous programs to prepare employees for suc-cession planning and to develop their skills to further enhance Fellowship Community’s resident-centered care. Thanks to his efforts, Fellowship Com-munity is repeatedly recognized as a top workplace based on employee surveys.

At 79 years of age, Zentz remains an active member of the community, still serving on numerous advisory boards. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, their seven children and 15 grandchildren.

“i’ve never had a day where i wake up and say i don’t feel like going to work today.”

Congratulations

3000 Fellowship DriveWhitehall, PA 18052

FellowshipCommunity.com 610.799.3000

Your friends, colleagues, and the Board of Directors

are proud of your accomplishments.

Robert Zentz, BSN, MSA, RN, NHA

President/CEO Lifetime Achievement

Award

Donna Conley, NHA Chief Operating Officer

Finalist Healthcare Professional of the Year

Basia Baran, PT, DPT Assistant Director of Physical

Therapy Finalist Physical Therapist

of the Year

610-807-9619 | LVB.com

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6 Health Care Heroes 2016 Lehigh Valley Business

EDuCATION HERO – WINNER

Wendy J. Waldspurger robbassociate Professor, chair of the Nursing Department, Hazel & Walter May endowed chair for excellence in Nursingcedar crest collegeAllentown

While a caring and empathetic heart is essential to being a good

nurse, it is not the only characteristic that contributes to a compassionate and competent nurse.

This is one of the most important les-sons Wendy J. Waldspurger Robb strives to teach her nursing students at Cedar Crest College as an associate professor and chair of the Nursing Department. Maintaining a high level of rigor while balancing nurture for her students, she is passionate about helping them see that nursing is also hard work.

“Nurses are challenged daily to pro-vide complicated care in a challenging environment to a culturally diverse population,” she said, adding that they also must be smart. “With the continu-ing advancement of technology and the

complexity of health care, nurses must use knowledge of the hard sciences, as well as the social sciences, to provide the

best care to their clients.”Since joining the college 16 years ago,

she has been instrumental in numer-ous initiatives to support the education of nursing students. She has developed

courses, advised curricular changes, and employed innovative instructional meth-ods in both the classroom and clinical set-ting to ensure that students receive a high quality educational experience that shapes them both professionally and personally.

Her dedication has been most evident in leading the inception of the Clinical Associate Program, which provides stu-dents with quality clinical experiences that foster critical-thinking skills.

“I tell my nursing students to never stop learning,” she said. “Continue to grow and learn every day, whether it is through formal education, like advanced degrees, or informal continuing educa-tion opportunities. We owe it to those under our care to be professional and competent without hesitation.”

Robb was also an integral part of

the graduate nursing program at Cedar Crest, which made a noticeable impact in the communities and health care institu-tions served by its graduates. Serving as its inaugural director, the program not only flourished, but it extended off-site to Reading Hospital. As a result, numerous graduates have gone on to hold positions in nursing education, as well as manage-ment positions in health care institutions across the greater Lehigh Valley area.

Recently, Robb has been named the Hazel & Walter May Endowed Chair for Excellence in Nursing, a distinguished honor that demonstrates her commit-ment to the art of nursing and teaching.

congratulates these members of the PHS family on their nominations for the 2016 Lehigh Valley Business Healthcare Heroes Awards:

Nche Zama, MD, PhDMedical Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Physician of the Year

PHS is extremely proud of your accomplishments, and thanks each of you for striving to make Pocono Medical Center one of U.S. News and World Report’s Top 10% of Hospitals in Pennsylvania and a high performing hospital for Heart Failure and Heart Bypass Surgery.

Mary Grace Conklin, RN Cardiac Catheterization Lab

Nurse of the Year

Stephen J. Cunningham Senior Vice President &

Chief Business Development Officer

Healthcare Professional of the Year

Pocono Health System

PoconoMedicalCenter.org

1603_PHS_Health-Heros_LVBJ_AD_v4.indd 1 3/15/16 10:15 AM

“i tell my nursing students to never stop learning. We owe it to those under our care to be professional and competent without hesitation.”

Tell your story. We’re Listening.

CLOSE DATE/MATERIALS DUE: MAY 29TH | PUBLICATION DATE: JULY 25THContact Mike O’Rourke at [email protected] or 610-807-9619 ext. 112 for more information.

BUSINESS PROFILES

Business Profi les is the special advertising supplementof Lehigh Valley Business that will highlight the region’s businesses in magazine format. A full-color pro� le willbe devoted to featuring the history, accomplishmentsand growth of your company.

I don’t know who you are.I don’t know your company.I don’t know your company’s product.I don’t know what your company stands for.I don’t know your company’s customers.I don’t know your company’s record.I don’t know your company’s reputation. Now – what is it you wanted to sell me?


achievements: Leading the development of innovative models of dementia care, research, publishing and professional presentations. As a result, Phoebe is rec-ognized as the regional leader in serving people with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, as well as their families. Her latest endeavor involves leading a team of community volunteers to provide and promote a dementia-friendly community in the Lehigh Valley.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “Since I don’t appear to be the rugged, outdoor type, people might be surprised to know that when I was in my 20s, I climbed Mount Hood in Oregon, which is 11,000 feet and covered by glaciers.”

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “Because I specialize in working with people with dementia, people often say to me, ‘I could never do what you do.’ What they don’t realize is that as people with dementia lose the ability to remember the past or look forward to the future, they live in the moment and enjoy the genuine aspects of interactions with others.”

Health care heroes: “The health care heroes who inspired me were all the people who brought vision and compassion to their work with older adults.”

Kelly carneyexecutive DirectorPhoebe center for excellence in Dementia careAllentown

HEALTH CARE pROFESSIONAL OF THE yEAR – FINALIST

achievements: Leading employees to provide resident-centered care that ex-ceeds stringent industry standards, resulting in national recognition; received the Facility Leadership Award from the American College of Health Care Administra-tors (ACHCA) on two occasions.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “I am fascinated with the weather and weather-related phenomena. If I hadn’t chosen nursing as a profession, I would have liked to become a meteorologist working for a television station.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “If you maintain a compassion for people, a sense of humility, a teachable spirit, a willingness to work hard combined with leadership skills that reflect honesty, confidence, commitment, flexibility and objectivity, you will have what it takes to be successful as a nurse in any health care or health-related setting.”

Health care heroes: “I have been fortunate to have had two special people influ-ence my career in nursing: Mary Eddy, a nursing supervisor at Geneva General Hospital, who helped me to gain the experience and confidence needed to become a critical care nurse; and Robert Zentz, president and CEO of Fellowship Community, who gave me the direction, the empowerment and the support to make good things happen.”

Donna conleychief Operating OfficerFellowship communityWhitehall


HEALTH CARE pROFESSIONAL OF THE yEAR – WINNER

Jeanne vogtclinical Hospice Directorlehigh Valley HospiceAllentown

W ith a career in health care spanning more than 30 years

in the Lehigh Valley, few display more passion, care, love and devotion than Jeanne Vogt.

Driven by a desire to make a differ-ence in people’s lives, she began her career with the Visiting Nurse Asso-ciation, where she spent decades car-ing for hundreds of families and their loved ones, often working nights, weekends and holidays to ensure her patients were well cared for.

Having since gravitated to the focus of hospice care, she has made it her mis-sion to offer presence, awareness, com-fort and love to help patients during the last stages of illness live their lives to the fullest in the time they have left.

“I chose hospice care because I’m

able to be present to patients and fam-ily members in a meaningful way,” Vogt said.

Today, as the clinical hospital di-rector for Lehigh Valley Hospice in Allentown, she is still quick to take on-call hours to stay in the field and support her nurses and the families

that are in need. “It’s truly a gift to be able to be at

the bedside with a patient and their family,” Vogt said.

With a passion for serving others that extends beyond the borders of the Lehigh Valley, she recently spent her own money and time to travel to Ke-nya, bringing more than four suitcases of supplies to a children’s hospice unit half a world away.

“Traveling to Africa and spending time working with health care profes-sionals of other cultures was such a re-warding experience,” she said.

Having spent a few years in a national role driving quality in palliative care across the country, she is now also furthering the profession as an adjunct professor at Ce-dar Crest College in Allentown. Serving

as a mentor to many young nurses, her advice to them is to “go beyond what you learn in school.”

“What we look for is the heart in nurses for hospice care,” she said.

The impact she has had on so many families in their most challeng-ing time, and the love and devotion she shows to everyone who crosses her path, has been an inspiration to many. Not to mention the fact that she achieved all of these amazing accom-plishments while raising three children on her own, working her way through school and eventually earning a master of science in nursing.

“i chose hospice care because i’m able to be present to patients and family members in a meaningful way.”


achievements: Serving as the lead in starting and expanding At Home Inc., from two employees to more than 50 employees over 10 years. He has never lost focus on patient care and compassion. On a daily basis, he affects multiple people’s lives and is always remembered by families and other professionals. At Home start-ed with home care only and now offers palliative care, hospice and assisted-living campuses. In the next year, an additional 130 beds will be built to accommodate memory care and rehabilitation.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “I’m not as intense as some say I am.”

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “I was a research coordinator for a nonprofit HIV/AIDS clinic in Philadelphia. Working closely with patients and other health care workers always encouraged me daily.”

What is one thing you would like to change about health care? “How insurance determines length of stay in home care settings.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “It’s the most rewarding and ever-changing career you could have.”

Patrick stonichceO and chief of Nursingat Home Inc.Schnecksville


achievements: Playing a part in many major advances in health care includ-ing the 60,000-square-foot Hughes Cancer Center, Heart and Vascular Institute; serving many community leadership capacities and being recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Sanofi Pasteur for his efforts in philanthropy and advances in health care.

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “There is much discussion about uncontrolled costs in health care, and I believe that there are new technological advancements that will significantly reduce the costs.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “There are very few, if any, fields that can provide the professional satisfaction that comes from making a meaningful and substantive difference in the lives of many. You are contributing to saving lives and nothing has a higher calling.”

Health care heroes: “As part of a team whose goal was to bring radiation oncology to Monroe County, I had the opportunity to organize a number of cancer patients to testify to the physical and emotional issues they faced. These patients inspired me as to what a motivated group could accomplish and make the quality of life different for the many thousands who would follow.”

steve cunninghamSenior Vice President and chief Business Development OfficerPocono Medical centerEast Stroudsburg


achievements: Leading multiple organizations to increase employee and patient satisfaction, compliance, census and productivity; proudly serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a physician assistant for 22 years before retiring in July 2011.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “I was one of the first women medical members of the Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Units and had the most positively challenging time of my career.”

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “I wanted to be a paramedic just like on the television show ‘Emergency!’ I started out by becoming an EMT, then an EMT-P while I was in college.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “It’s a great field. Don’t do it for the money. Do it because you really want to make a difference—and then you will.”

Health care hero: “I’m inspired by one specific physician, Winslow Borkows-ki, M.D., who changed life for my family. As the physician of our little preemie, he was a great help to us all, and showed us that compassion is more important than medicine sometimes.”

constance morrisonPresident and ceOBerks Visiting Nurse association / Home Health care Management, Inc.Wyomissing


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achievements: Serving the St. Luke’s Hospital and Health Network System for more than 34 years; orchestrating the massive renovation of the Allentown Emer-gency Department; training for and implementing a new hospital system.

What is your favorite book and its author? “I love to read but my best memories with books are the books I read to my children and now my grand-children. ‘Goodnight Moon,’ by Margaret Wise is one of my favorite books.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “I love being a nurse so it is not difficult for me to ‘sell’ anyone on working in health care. I often suggest that young people shadow one of my nurses, technicians or myself to see firsthand if this is a position they might want one day.”

Health care heroe: “My first mentor Cathy Heller, an RN in ICU, played a significant role in who I am today. I loved the way she interacted with her patients and I quickly found a way to mimic her. Later when I became a manager of ICU, we ended up sharing offices. I listened to her for hours and picked her brain on how to manage staff while delivering great care to the patients.”

faith BinnsDirector, emergency DepartmentSt. luke’s University Health NetworkAllentown

NuRSE OF THE yEAR – FINALIST

achievements: Working with nursing representatives from all departments across the medical center to implement strategies that result in increasing the nurs-ing professional practice and improving the patient experience; making significant achievements in areas of cardiac care and EMS services within the hospital, as well as the community.

What is one thing you would like to change about health care? “That it has become more about being a business than taking care of patients and the people in the community.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “My daughter is in the process of going to nursing school and I have always encouraged her to go into nursing, but to do it for the right reasons. If you want a career that will make you lots of money, nursing isn’t for you. If you want to become a nurse because you want to take care of people who are in need of help or to support your patient’s family, then nursing is for you.”

Health care heroes: “I learn something new every day whether from a pa-tient, a doctor, my fellow nurses, housekeeping … you just have to keep your mind open to learn.”

mary grace conklinregistered NursePocono Medical centerEast Stroudsburg


NuRSE OF THE yEAR – WINNER

monica ring-stribaregistered Nurselehigh Valley HospiceAllentown

Afew years ago, Monica Ring-Striba switched her career path to hospice

care—a decision that was inspired by her own mother’s experience receiving hospice care.

“My mom was a nurse who was ad-mired by many for her compassion and love of people,” said Ring-Striba. “We were so appreciative of the support from her hospice team. The experience changed my life.”

Today, Ring-Striba serves as a regis-tered nurse for Lehigh Valley Hospice in Northampton, where she goes above and beyond to provide physical, social, spiri-tual and emotional care for individuals and their families during the last stages of illness, such as cancer, ALS, HIV, Al-zheimer’s, Parkinson’s and others.

When Jennifer Fisher’s husband was diagnosed unexpectedly with Stage 4

esophageal cancer last year, she supported his decision to spend the rest of his time with his family at home. Having

Ring-Striba there when he arrived home from the hospital is something Fisher said she will always be grateful for.

“Monica was our angel in disguise,” she said. “She immediately gave my hus-

band her fullest attention, comforted him and me, and joked with him about his Steelers. They had an immediate con-nection and it truly helped him through the difficult time.”

In addition to making sure he was comfortable and had the medical equip-ment and medicine he needed, Ring-Striba got to know the Fishers and their children personally. Not only was she there for them all until the end, but she continued providing support during the funeral and after.

“Monica holds a special place in my heart and has become family to me,” Fisher said. “She is an amazing and com-passionate hospice nurse who truly cares about her patients.”

While Ring-Striba has found her new field to be extremely rewarding, she said

that people often have the misconception that hospice is a death sentence, when in fact the focus is more on comfort and quality of life rather than cure.

Since switching careers, Ring-Striba said her biggest role model has been Jeanne Vogt, hospice director for Lehigh Valley Hospice.

“She is a role model for caring for pa-tients and their loved ones,” Ring-Striba said. “She inspires her staff by her passion and service to hospice care.”

When it comes to giving advice to others considering a career in health care, Ring-Striba simply said, “Go for it! There are so many rewarding opportuni-ties in health care.”

“monica is an amazing and compassionate hospice nurse who truly cares about her patients.”-Jennifer Fisher


achievements: Working for Easton Hospital for 40 years, the past 15 years of which she dedicated to working at Easton Community Care, a.k.a. “the clinic”; securing a government grant seven years in a row that allowed teen moms to finish high school, care for their child/children, find a job, apply to college; supplied birth control, helped with doctor’s appointments and much more; helping mold first-year residents into upstanding third-year residency graduates.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “I am shy around people that I do not know well.”

What is your favorite book and its author? “‘Quit Kissing My Ashes,’ by Judy Collier—it helped me through a very difficult time in my life.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “Make sure you think about all the aspects of nursing—both the good and the bad because it is a career you have to love.”

Health care heroes: “I was inspired by many people during my career, but I believe my first nurse manager, Lois Altemose, taught me the most.”

Kay stockerregistered Nurseeaston Hospital Easton


achievements: Going above the call of duty to explain medicines, treat-ments and surgery, and to ensure families have an opportunity to speak to the physicians, as well.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “When people look at me and see a short, petite nurse they may be surprised to know that I have pet snakes and grew up loving bugs and non-traditional ‘girl’ things.”

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “Formally diagnosed as a child with multiple autoimmune dis-orders, I met a multitude of incredible health care professionals who not only took care of my body, but took care of me as a person. All those things gave me inspiration and motivation to pay it forward and hopefully become a beacon of hope and sup-port to my patients and their families.”

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “When people first find out I am a critical-care nurse, the first question they often ask me is, ‘Isn’t it depressing being around death all the time?’ The simple fact is most people leave intensive care alive and well, thanks to the incredible teamwork of the ICU staff.”

Jessica Daltonregistered Nurselehigh Valley Health NetworkAllentown

achievements: Joining a physician-based weight-loss program after severe-ly injuring her back working in the OR and losing 100 pounds; being hired as an RN to help others accomplish the same life-changing experience.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “I am a gourmet cook but I cannot stand baking.”

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “The summer I was turning 13, my mom said I was not go-ing to just sit around the house, so I signed up as a volunteer for the local nursing home in their recreation department. I was immediately smitten with the elderly, spending time together hearing their stories and taking care of them.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “Nursing is a hugely versatile career. From all the amazing specialties, shifts and overall opportunities, it is a great career for single or married people. It is amazing to end every day knowing you have impacted someone’s life.”

Health care hero: “I read a lot about Florence Nightingale as a young girl and she was one tough cookie. I was drawn to her strength and true grit.”

sharon siniscalcoregistered Nurselehigh Valley Fat lossCenter Valley

NuRSE OF THE yEAR – FINALIST NuRSE OF THE yEAR – FINALIST

CONGRATULATIONSDr. Wendy Robb

on being named theEDUCATION HERO IN THE 2016

HEALTHCARE HEROES AWARDS PROGRAM!

cedarcrest.edu

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pHySICAL THERApIST OF THE yEAR – WINNER

sue goldenDirector of Neuro rehab therapiesGood Shepherd rehabilitation NetworkAllentown

Growing up with parents who were pharmacists and a brother who be-

came a physician, it was no surprise that Sue Golden found a career in health care, as well.

“I knew medicine was an interest of mine, but I wanted to have a closer rela-tionship with patients, and physical thera-py wrapped those both together,” she said.

Since joining Good Shepherd Reha-bilitation Network in Allentown 15 years ago, Golden has changed the fabric of the organization, making contributions that have elevated it as a destination hospital for complex rehabilitation.

More importantly, she has improved the lives of countless patients and families who turn to Good Shepherd when dealing with traumatic injuries or disabilities and have found relief from Golden’s healing

touch when other therapies failed. As director of Neuro Rehab Therapies

at Good Shepherd, Golden continually

looks for innovative therapies that im-prove patients’ lives, such as headache, balance and vestibular therapy, oncol-ogy rehabilitation, Lee Silverman Voice Treatments and physical therapy-based

pilates. She also pioneered Good Shep-herd’s Vision Rehabilitation Program, which benefits patients with vision defi-cits from conditions like stroke, concus-sion and brain injury.

“I don’t think that people understand the depth and breadth of our training in order to look at the patient as a whole and take all factors into consideration when treating them,” said Golden.

One of her significant accomplishments is the development of Good Shepherd’s Ekso exoskeleton program. The Ekso is a bionic device that helps patients with low-er extremity weakness walk again. Since the program’s inception in 2012, patients have taken 3 million-plus steps, making the facility the No. 1 clinical user of this technology worldwide.

The biggest testament to this innova-

tion is one of Golden’s spinal cord in-jury patients who was told by doctors 12 years ago that he would never walk again. Not only is he walking, but he is living a full, active life.

Golden sees abilities, not disabilities, and passionately challenges herself and others to find solutions and offer hope to every patient who comes to Good Shep-herd. She often tells young people enter-ing the field that “physical therapy is a career requiring people skills, creativity, endurance and compassion.”

“You can always learn techniques, but to be the best you have to have the pas-sion,” she said.

“Physical therapy is a career requiring people skills, creativity, endurance and compassion.”

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achievements: Earning her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the Academy of Physical Therapy in Krakow, Poland, in 1994; earning her doctorate of physical therapy from the College of St. Scholastica in Minnesota in 2015 while working full time and raising a family.

What is your favorite book and its author? “‘Mommy’s Grace,’ by Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman. This book is heartwarming, inspirational and has a strong message for every mother.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “I would quote Leo Buscaglia, who once said: ‘Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.’ I believe that every person involved in patient care should never forget about these smallest acts of caring.”

Health care hero: “My health care hero is my mother, who dedicated 35 years of her career to pediatric patients while working as a registered nurse and director of nursing of a pediatric hospital in Krakow, Poland. She loved her little patients and spent many nights comforting sick children in her arms.”

Basia BaranPhysical therapistFellowship communityWhitehall

pHySICAL THERApIST OF THE yEAR – FINALIST

achievements: Being selected from more than 1,200 Phoebe employees to be a voice in its Faith in Action video, an initiative aimed at culture change; mentoring other staff members and successfully training more than 20 therapists in the Neuro-cognitive Engagement Therapy techniques, an innovative model for providing short-term rehabilitation services to individuals with cognitive impairment.

What is one thing you would like to change about health care? “If I were in charge of the world, I would change the complexity of reimbursement for health care.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “The first thing that I recommend to young people is to pay attention in school and get good grades to help get into a PT program. Also, I advise people to volunteer in the field to better understand the current environment of health care and to help find a therapy setting where they may like to work.”

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “People often compare physical therapists to an athletic trainer. But physical therapists treat people from the moment they are born until their last moments of life. We treat people for everything from cardiovascular disease to orthopedic issues to wounds and burns.”

Daniel collierlead therapistPhoebe MinistriesAllentown


COMPASSIONATE CARE TAUGHT HEREThe HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS AT DE SALES UNIVERSITY congratulate all of the winners and nominees—to us you are all heroes.

GRADUATEDoctor of Nursing PracticeDoctor of Physical Therapy

Master of Business Administration & Master of Science in Nursing Dual Degree Master of Science in Nursing & Nurse Practitioner ProgramsMaster of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

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achievements: Coordinating all internal continuing education for Rob-bins’ staff of over 10 therapists and nearly as many support staff; helping orga-nize a charity drive to give clothing and children’s toys to Syrian refugees that were relocated to the Lehigh Valley.

What is one thing you would like to change about health care? “I would love health care to be accessible to all people and I would like people to get more preventive care than they currently have access to.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “I tell them it is a great field and one of the best for lifetime learn-ers. There is more to learn about the intricacies of the human condition than can be accomplished in one career. It is rewarding and humbling.”

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “We don’t torture people! Physical therapy has always been about teaching people to move well, and to identify barriers to moving well.”

Health care heroes: “My co-workers and employers at Robbins—they go above and beyond to care for the whole person. They bring energy and compassion to work every day and care for each individual who walks through the door, and they care about their fellow employees.”

megan eyvazzadehPhysical therapistrobbins rehabilitationAllentown


achievements: Running team meetings for all of the PTs in Quakertown; monitoring all equipment to make sure it is safe and working correctly; attending coordinator meetings with representatives from Theraplay’s other centers; taking on these responsibilities in addition to treating a full caseload.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “I met my wife, who grew up in Germany, in Afghanistan.”

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “I grew up in a family where real care and concern for others was a high value. This care for others developed into a desire to help people in a practical way, and various experiences volunteering in health care environments led me to decide on physical therapy.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “It may not be popular, but I routinely recommend young people take a gap year before starting university to work and volunteer, experiencing the ‘real world.’”

Health care heroes: “I am incredibly inspired by the many ‘health care he-roes’ that I have met who have given up secure careers to go to places around the world to sacrificially serve fellow people who have very limited access to health care.”

Dan macleanPhysical therapisttheraplay, Inc.Quakertown


GRAND VIEW HEALTH


achievements: Making a difference in levels of pain, quality of life and helping women reclaim ownership of their bodies and their lives.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “I have four boys … twins age 7, a 5-year-old and a 5-month-old.”

What is your favorite book and its author? “Right now I would say ‘Wonder,’ by RJ Palacio. Despite it being a young adult book, I feel everyone should read this. It’s a story of compassion, truth, self-awareness, self-love and provides a beautiful lesson that I hope to instill in my children.”

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “That physical therapy is just for massaging or giving out ice or heat. We don’t just treat the problem or the symptom, we find out why it’s happening, and then teach you how to retrain your body to become more efficient.”

What is one thing you would like to change about health care? “We spend countless dollars on so many things that could be prevented in the first place if we were reimbursed on proactive things like nutrition, body awareness, fit-ness and wellness programs, injury prevention and just education in general.”

Julie spencerPhysical therapistPhysical therapy at St. luke’sBethlehem


achievements: Managing the office and treating all those he serves with respect and value.

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “Growing up, I was heavily involved in team sports. I witnessed many musculoskeletal injuries, and suffered some of my own. Those experiences with the rehab process at that time began my path to a health care profession, and ultimately to physical therapy. I have always been amazed as to what the human body can endure and recover from.”

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “I find many people do not understand that physical therapy has become a primary option for treatment of medical conditions without physician referral. We need to continue educating the general public that physical therapists have the ability to be the first choice provider for their health care needs.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “It is important to keep an open mind and continue to educate ourselves to provide the highest quality, evidence-based care that we can. If we do that, we can make an extraordinary impact on someone’s function and quality of life.”

Kevin mowryPhysical therapist the Physical therapy & Wellness InstituteQuakertown


achievements: Enjoying 43 years of clinical practice; continually learning and developing professionally in order to be the best physical therapist for patients; contributing to the growth and development of the Coordinated Health company, including moving from office to office to engage the community and educate the newly hired staff so that they learned the best methods for connecting with their patients to gain their trust; participating in the education of hundreds of physical therapy students from the high school to graduate school level.

What is your favorite book and its author? “‘The Bible,’ God.”

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “My father had a stroke when I was 10 years old and I watched his improvement with his physical therapy.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “That after 45 years of patient treatment I am as excited about this profession as I was the first day I started. This profession gives back more than you will ever put into it.”

gary schoenbergerPhysical therapistcoordinated HealthLehighton


Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network is the region's preferred provider of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitationbecause of Healthcare Heroes like Susan Golden. Her skill, compassion and dedication to innovation help Good Shepherd take its patients BEYOND LIMITS.

Susan Golden,PT, NCSDirector, Neurorehabilitation

BeyondLimitsRehab.org • 1-888-44-REHAB

HealthcareHeroes!

Congratulations,


pHySICIAN OF THE yEAR – WINNER

Dr. Jay talsaniaHand SurgeonOaa Orthopaedic SpecialistsAllentown

Those who know Dr. Jay Talsania as a talented hand surgeon may

be surprised to learn that he origi-nally planned to pursue a career in biomedical engineering. It wasn’t until the summer before his junior year at Bucknell University that he discovered a love for anatomy and physiology that surpassed engineering.

“My father, who was a general sur-geon, passed away that year and some-thing clicked in my head to pursue a career in surgery,” Talsania said. “My only regret is that I never spent time observing him with his patients and in the operating room.”

In 1997, Talsania joined OAA Or-thopaedic Specialists in Allentown, armed with a care philosophy that combines a conservative approach,

patient education and state-of-the-art surgical procedures.

“Most people think that hand sur-

geons just do surgery all day, but the majority of my practice is nonopera-tive,” he said. “Most conditions can be addressed with a conservative approach that includes education, splinting, in-

jections, therapy, and sometimes just observation.”

Since joining OAA, he has built a solid hand practice, adding three partners and creating a premier hand center with more than 21,000 patient interactions in 2015 alone.

Talsania’s caring does not stop with his office practice. Enthusiastic about sharing his career experiences and knowledge, he regularly lectures at Lehigh Valley Hospital, speaks at lo-cal schools for career days and enjoys having students shadow him.

“I love what I do and I hope that young people with an interest in medi-cine can see that despite the long road and long hours, we should feel privi-leged to help people with our knowl-edge and our skills,” he said.

Since 2007, Talsania has also made nine trips to Guatemala to participate in hand surgery mission work spon-sored by the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation. Word of this mission has spread around the Valley and his trips now include family, friends and other colleagues who not only help in the hospital, but also help to build schools, latrines and irrigation systems. A huge soccer fan, Talsania often arrives in Guatemala with a hoard of soccer balls and donated shoes. Last year, he and his daughter collected and distributed more than 600 pairs of shoes in a small village in Guatemala.

“i love what i do and i hope that young people with an interest in medicine can see that … we should feel privileged to help people with our knowledge and our skills.”

achievements: Triple-board certified in plastic, general and hand surgery; known nationally and internationally for his reconstructive work and advancements in microsurgery; recipient of the prestigious Fu-Chan Wei Award for Excellence in Clinical Surgery—only the fifth person in the world to be so honored for expertise and lifelong commitment in the area of reconstructive microsurgery; pioneered new procedures, reattached body parts, repaired massive facial injuries, applied skin grafts to treat burns, mastered microsurgical techniques, managed complex wounds and helped thousands of patients to feel better about their appearance.

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “Forest Brown showed me that plastic surgery was more than cosmetic surgery.”

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “They do not realize our importance for doing reconstructive surgery, whether burns or trauma patients.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “Choose what you are interested in and persevere until you get it.”

Health care heroes: “Acland, Taylor, Trier, Morain—all great plastic sur-geons who showed us the way to be the best we could.”

Dr. geoffrey HallockPlastic and reconstructive SurgeonPrivate PracticeAllentown

pHySICIAN OF THE yEAR – FINALIST

achievements: Operating in the Lehigh Valley for more than 30 years; being the first in the area to offer the anterior approach hip replacement, an alternative to traditional replacements that offers patients a faster recovery and improved mobility.

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “My father really encouraged me to go into medicine. He only had an eighth-grade education, but was a very successful restauranteur. He always wanted my two brothers, my sister and I to go into medicine and begin our own practice.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “I tell young people that medicine is a noble profession and not just a job or a career. It is a way of life. I also tell young people how rewarding it is … many patients have come back to me to tell me that I have given their life back to them.”

Health care hero: “My health care hero was Dr. Ted Papademetrion. He was my mentor and teacher in my orthopedic residency program. He instilled in me how to understand human anatomy and to be meticulous with my sterile technique.”

Dr. leo scarpinochief of Staff, chief of Surgery, chair of Orthopedicscoordinated HealthAllentown



achievements: Saved and prolonged many women’s lives because of his dedi-cation and love for his patients; treating patients like they are part of his family, giv-ing them personal attention and making sure they understand their options; always looking for the latest breakthrough to benefit his patients.

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “That everything I do is sad. It is actually quite the oppo-site. As a gynecologic oncologist, I not only have the opportunity to cure cancer, but also give people hope when it seemingly doesn’t exist.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “Health care can be a challenging career choice, so it’s impor-tant to go into the field because you like taking care of people. If you do what you love, all the hours spent training and studying will be worth it.”

Health care hero: “Lynn Simpson M.D., MSc is a maternal fetal medicine physician at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, where I did my residen-cy. She has the ability to stay calm even in the highest-pressure situations. She is also able to discuss complicated medical issues with patients easily and with compassion. I try to emulate her every day.”

Dr. nicholas taylorSection chief, Gynecologic OncologySt. luke’s University Health NetworkBethlehem


achievements: Recognized nationally as a leader for clinical and quality out-comes; trained in cardiothoracic surgery and pediatric cardiac surgery at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital; completed his specialized training in cardiac valve and complex cardiac surgery at the University of Paris, Broussais Hospital under the leadership of world-renowned surgeon Dr. Alain Carpentier; fre-quently conducts medical missions in Asia, Africa and South America.

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “When I was 9 years old living in a village in Cameroon, Africa, my mother died during childbirth. The people taking care of her told me that there was no doctor to save her. I decided right then and there that whatever a doctor was, I was going to be one someday so that no other child would have to experience what I went through.”

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “People would be surprised to know that I love to sing and that I dream of being an actor.”

Health care hero: “When I was growing up, there was a missionary doctor who worked in a leper colony. My grandmother, who raised me, was a leper. That doctor’s wholesome sacrifice was very inspiring to me and endearing.”

Dr. nche Zamacardiothoracic Surgeon and Medical Director of the eSSa Heart & Vascular InstitutePocono Medical centerEast Stroudsburg


CONGRATULATIONSThe PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM AT DE SALES UNIVERSITY

congratulates

BRETT FELDMAN, PA-C

a graduate of the DeSales Physician Assistant program and a Healthcare Heroes nominee.

DeSales.edu/pa 1.877.4-DESALES

Women’s Health and Wellness Hero

Deb Gilbert, R.N.Sacred Heart Hospital Parish Nursing

Women’s Health and Wellness Hero

Cara Guilfoyle, M.D.Coordinated Health

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Robert ZentzFellowship Community & Chairman, Sacred Heart Hospital Board


Geoffrey Hallock, M.D.Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery


Leo Scarpino, M.D.Coordinated Health

Thank you

for your dedication to providing quality health care in the heart of the city.

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Sacred Heart Hospital

Congratulates

www.shh.org


SpECIAL NEEDS HERO – WINNER

Brett feldmanDirector of Street Medicine and Physician assistantlehigh Valley Health NetworkAllentown

Growing up, Brett Feldman dreamed of becoming a rodeo cowboy. For-

tunately for the Lehigh Valley, he de-cided to pursue a career in health care instead. Today, as a physician assistant and director of Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Street Medicine program, he serves as a true health care hero for a population that shares an unlisted spe-cial need: the homeless.

“There is no other field where you have the opportunity to improve peo-ple’s physical and emotional needs,” Feldman said. “Homeless or not, people come to you sick and scared of what might happen to them and you are given the opportunity to offer physical and emotional healing.”

Driven by a deeper sense of compas-sion and a need to intervene for those

forgotten, Feldman, along with his wife, created the Street Medicine pro-gram to bring health care services to

the homeless. With the premise that every individual deserves access to quality medical care regardless of where they sleep, the program revolutionized what it means to be a health care pro-

fessional within the Lehigh Valley.Over the last eight years, Street

Medicine has grown to span free clin-ics, soup kitchens and winter shelters, and serves as an essential pillar of com-munity care for eight Valley service organizations, including New Bethany Ministries and Safe Harbor.

On a rotating weekly basis, Feldman visits these various organizations, pro-viding clients with checkups, testing, immunizations, medicine and access to medical specialists that they would otherwise be unable to afford.

When he’s not busy with his travel-ing clinic hours, he can be found walk-ing outdoors with his backpack of sup-plies, seeking out homeless individuals who are living anywhere from under bridges to forests.

For Feldman, the field of medicine is more about a humane right to be healthy than the logistics of billing for payment. Thanks to his partnership with Lehigh Valley Health Network, all his services are free to those who need them. Beyond the invaluable na-ture of these subsidized services, he strives to make patients feel comfort-able, to follow up with their needs, and to express true care about their lives. In short, clients trust him.

“Each relationship is an opportunity to do more than just listen and leave, but to share, survive and hope with our friends,” Feldman said.

“there is no other field where you have the opportunity to improve people’s physical and emotional needs.”

achievements: Specialized in providing adaptive SCUBA training, equip-ment and demonstration events for persons with physical disabilities; trained quadriplegics, paraplegics; individuals with spina bifida and down syndrome, as well as single, double, triple and quad amputees; partnered with Camp S.T.A.R., a local adaptive sports camp for children with physical disabilities, to just show them that SCUBA was a fun sport that they could try. Recently, with the help of Cigna Insurance, Hoser instructed Chrissy Kaestle as she became the first quad amputee in the world certified on independent SCUBA.

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “Six and a half years as a paraplegic and being a cancer survivor.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “Think of the smiles, giggles, screams and sometimes tears over the freedom you have the ability to provide and what that means to people that normally don’t have access to freedom.”

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “People with adaptive needs are not lazy and unemployable.”

Kenneth HoserPresidentadaptive Diving associationSchwenksville

SpECIAL NEEDS HERO – FINALIST

achievements: Received New Vitae’s 2015 Iris Award, which recognizes and exemplifies an employee that goes above and beyond the normal call of duty for resident care; served as the Allentown School District board president for two terms.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “People never believe at the young age of 54, that I have five grandchildren.”

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “That we do it for the money, which is not true. We do it because we love people and want to make people happy and hopeful, and help people get healthy and to improve their lives.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “I tell them you will never get financially rich, but you will get rich by knowing you are working in a job every day that you love, and making a difference in people’s lives.”

Health care heroes: “People I work with are the real heroes—from the owners Adam and Donna who are very kind, to the president of our company, Judy, and my administrator, Toby, who lets me be me, trusting I will always do what’s right.”

robert e. smith Jr.activity and Mentor coordinatorNew Vitae Wellness and recovery Limeport

SpECIAL NEEDS HERO – FINALIST


VOLuNTEER OF THE yEAR – WINNER

Dr. sandra Harris corradoPhysicianGrand View HospitalSellersville

Inspired by her father’s dedication and compassion to caring for sick pa-

tients, Sandra Harris Corrado decided to follow in his foot steps.

“The medical field is so reward-ing and dynamic,” said Corrado, who is board certified in internal medicine. “Every day is interesting and different.”

Currently serving as a physician at Grand View Hospital treating hospital-ized patients, Corrado’s commitment to caring for others extends well beyond her responsibilities at the hospital.

In 2007, she stepped up as one of the first doctors to help start a free clin-ic for residents of Upper Bucks County who were indigent and uninsured. She quickly became an essential part of the team of volunteers, attending endless evening meetings in the planning and

development of this free clinic. A year later, the Volunteer Doctors

Care–Upper Bucks Clinic officially

opened its doors. Actively involved in all aspects of the clinic, Corrado volun-teered as a physician, providing patient care at evening clinic sessions, as well as participated in administration, spear-

headed the development of clinic poli-cies and procedures, and helped plan, carry out and set up annual fundraising events necessary to help run the clinic.

In 2009, she was named medical di-rector of the clinic. In this role, she super-vised the work of several nurse practitio-ners and the registered nurse coordinator at the clinic, responded to the numerous calls from hospital laboratory and X-ray departments when test results required the immediate attention of a physician, and fielded calls regarding patients’ needs from clinic staff at any time of the day or night. Most impressive was that she did all of this as a volunteer.

After the majority of its patients were able to secure health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, the clinic closed its doors in 2015 after serving the commu-

nity for eight years—which never would have been possible without Corrado’s dedication, determination and devotion.

Always looking out for those in med-ical need, Corrado is still actively work-ing to assist patients who cannot afford their prescribed medications.

“If there was one thing I could change about health care, it would be to eliminate the ever present fear of lawsuits that influences so many medi-cal decisions and therefore increases the cost of health care,” she said.

In her free time, Corrado enjoys solving crossword puzzles and cooking.

“the medical field is so rewarding and dynamic. every day is interesting and different.”

achievements: Retired after 45 years at The Morning Call; has volunteered her time with a multitude of causes throughout the Lehigh Valley.

What is your favorite book and its author? “I am an avid reader and will read almost anything, but since I was a young girl and read ‘Call of the Wild,’ by Jack London, it has remained one of my favorite books and he’s my favorite author.”

What people or events encouraged you to become a volunteer? “The Morning Call chose me to represent them on the cruise committee for the Miller-Keystone Blood Center. I have been a member of this committee since their very first cruise, 22 years ago. I have been proud to have been a part of making a difference in many people’s lives by helping with the blood center’s fundraising and awareness efforts.”

Health care heroes: “There are many people in the health care industry who have and continue to make a difference in my life. Both my parents received rehabilitation from caring professionals who worked hard to allow them to return home and enjoy their lives. My father was tended by hospice, allowing him much peace at the end of his life. Our oldest son, who is a quadriplegic, receives daily care from aides that allow him to live on his own.”

mary Diehlcruise committee MemberMiller-Keystone Blood centerBethlehem

VOLuNTEER OF THE yEAR – FINALIST

achievements: At age 80, continues to donate his time and talents in help-ing staff members with events and activities; president of the Apartment Residents Council and coordinates the apartment’s Wii bowling and shuffleboard league.

What people or events encouraged you to become a volunteer? “Right after I moved to the Phoebe Apartments, I suffered a ma-jor heart attack. I started most of my volunteering after the heart attack. Since then, I am doing really well. The fact that I’m active helps, I think. I have been a volunteer for four years now.”

What do you tell someone interested in volunteering? “There is a common misconception that when you are 80 years old, you can’t be as active as I am. I feel blessed to be as active as I am and volunteering keeps me active. Working with the community life and pastoral care departments is so much fun and a blessing.”

Health care heroes: “Pastor Albert Martin, Phoebe chaplain, and Joan Wickel, Phoebe director of community life, have both been a great help and in-spiration to me. Also, my brother Scott Brooks-Cope, director of pastoral care, is always encouraging and supportive. It’s a real team effort.”

ernest nortonVolunteerPhoebe MinistriesAllentown

VOLuNTEER OF THE yEAR – FINALIST


WOMEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS HERO – WINNER

Deborah gilbertDirector of the Parish Nursing and community Outreach DepartmentSacred Heart HospitalAllentown

Recognized as a powerful advocate, a compassionate care giver and a

dynamic leader, Deborah “Deb” Gilbert serves as director of the parish nursing and community outreach department at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown.

In this role, she supervises a team of eight parish nurses while also coordi-nating an impressive women’s health program targeted at the most vulner-able women in the community.

Most weeks you can find Gilbert and her team in the soup kitchens, shelters and churches of center city Allentown going above and beyond to help all types of people meet their health care goals. Some are chronically homeless while others are at a crisis point in their lives and find themselves in need of a free meal.

“Everyone we meet is an individu-al with a back story that has brought them to this moment in their lives,”

Gilbert said. “Everyone is a gift and has a gift to share with the community in which they live.”

On any given day, Gilbert and her team may help a homeless person who

needs asthma medication or an unem-ployed mother who can’t afford to buy the uniform she needs to start a new job. While she delivers care with the deepest of compassion, Gilbert is not a “softy.” She not only helps clients find their own motivation to get healthy and be productive, but she holds them personally accountable, as well.

It is this blend of support and ex-pectation that sets Gilbert apart as a care giver and as a manager. In addi-tion to supervising her team of nurses who provide care in some of the tough-est spots in the Lehigh Valley, Gilbert regularly goes along with them to work with clients.

Taking great strides to grow the parish nursing program, Gilbert es-tablished a special fund called “Bridg-

ing the Gap” to help pay for the small things that clients may need to get healthy.

One of Gilbert’s most impressive accomplishments was securing grant dollars from the Lehigh Valley Wom-an’s 5K Classic and the Koman Fund to develop the Healthy Woman program. The grants are used to pay for health education and outreach to low-income women, as well as mammograms and other diagnostics for women without insurance. Thanks to Gilbert, the pro-gram has helped hundreds of women get critical care.

“everyone we meet is an individual with a back story that has brought them to this moment in their lives.”

Jay Talsania, MD2016 Healthcare Heroand Co-founder of the

Good Shepherd Healing Hands Clinic

BeyondLimitsRehab.org • 1-888-44-REHAB

Congratulations

Congratulationsto all of the

2016 HealthcareHero Finalists

Phone: 610-317-0130 | www.LVBCH.com


achievements: Driving force behind Robbins Rehabilitation, beginning their Women’s Health program five years ago; performed life-changing treatment for people who have been dealing with intense, debilitating pain for years.

What is one thing you would like to change about health care? “Along with the postpartum check up at the gynecologist, all women should also have an evaluation by a physical therapist who is certified in women’s health as a part of the standard of care. This would catch any issues they may have early and give them the tools they need to deal with them.”

What is the most common misperception that people have about your field? “There is so much depth to what our field offers women who are struggling with issues that we treat—from chronic pelvic pain and painful intercourse, to pain with sitting and urinary incontinence.”

What do you tell young people who are considering a career in health care? “Health care is a great field to get into if you want to help people live fuller, healthier lives. The variety of fields and opportunities that are available to young people are limitless. Look at me. I am a women’s health physical therapist and the vast majority of our country doesn’t even know that field exists.”

Kelly fortnerPhysical therapistrobbins rehabilitationBethlehem

achievements: Dedicating her time and resources to breast cancer awareness, fundraising and patient support; donated her time and surgical expertise to five pa-tients in the Lehigh Valley in 2015 that were otherwise unable to afford treatment.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you? “I am a competitive multisport athlete. I am involved in triathlons and also a member of the New York Adventure Racing Association, a team of elite level adventure racers.”

What is your favorite book and its author? “‘How Winning Works,’ by professional athlete and motivational speaker Robyn Benicasa. She uses experi-ences from her athletic career to explain the essential elements necessary for profes-sional and personal success in teamwork and leadership.”

What people or events encouraged you to pursue a career in health care? “I was inspired to become a physician after seeing my grand-mother battle multiple diseases, including breast cancer. I enjoyed learning about science and wanted to use my knowledge to have a direct influence on people’s lives.”

Health care hero: “My husband, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, has taught me that patience and compassion are just as important as surgical decision- making and operative skills.”

Dr. cara m. guilfoyleBreast Surgeoncoordinated HealthAllentown

WOMEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS HERO – FINALIST

WOMEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS HERO – FINALIST

And thanks to all of the medical professionals at Easton Hospital.

You’re all heroes to us.

Congratulations, Kay Stocker!

www.newvitaewellness.com • 610-965-9021

Serving communities by promoting hope, health and wellness.

Congratulations to Robert E. Smith, Jr. for being a 2016 Health Care Hero Finalist!


WORkpLACE WELLNESS HERO – WINNER

victaulicJohn Malloychairman, President and ceOEaston

For a company with more than 3,600 employees spread across 12 manu-

facturing facilities and 31 branches world-wide, creating a companywide wellness program might seem like a daunting task. But for Victaulic, a leading producer of mechanical pipe-joining solutions based in Easton, it was a challenge worth taking.

Today, Victaulic offers its employees a comprehensive wellness program com-prised of both online and on-site wellness activities and events—ranging from free health screenings and massages, to physi-cal activity logs and healthy recipes with shopping lists.

Key to Victaulic’s successful wellness program has been an emphasis on employ-ee engagement and strong communica-tion. In addition, it extends most wellness program features to the families of its em-

ployees. To achieve this, the company im-plemented the “Wellness Works for You” program, which acts as a vehicle to assist

employers in designing and implementing a comprehensive wellness program. In ad-dition to offering a central location for all Victaulic employees to access wellness ini-tiatives, the program also offers advice and

solutions to help enhance those programs, evaluates results and keeps employees up to date with most current trends in wellness.

Currently, Victaulic’s wellness portal is full of tools to assist employees in improv-ing their health and tracking progress, such as weight management tracking, tobacco cessation and Fitbit discounts.

The company also hosts on-site events at its offices, such as health coaching, monthly nutritional visits with a registered dietician, health fairs, weight-loss classes and farmer’s markets. Cafeteria features have also improved by including more healthy food options, posted nutritional information and healthy food samples.

As an extra incentive, every employee and spouse who achieves 100 points by completing various wellness activities, screenings and required health-risk assess-

ments, receives $300 each year. In 2014, 14 percent of employees participated along with 64 spouses. In 2015, 19 percent of employees participated plus 123 spouses.

Thanks to Victaulic’s efforts in pro-moting a culture of wellness, employ-ees and their family members have been motivated to change their lifestyles and have become excited about wellness and wanting additional programs. Many em-ployees have been able to lose weight and increase physical activity through wellness challenges and on-site weight-manage-ment programs. Others have found and addressed undiagnosed medical issues through provided yearly blood screenings.

Key to victaulic’s successful wellness program has been an emphasis on employee engagement and strong communication.

chief products and/or services: A full-service tax, accounting and consulting firm specializing in business accounting and tax planning.

Wellness initiatives: Weekly in-office yoga sessions; discounted Fitbits and a monthly competition with a $50 gift card awarded to one person who met the monthly steps goal; complementary health-risk assessments; silly “stress buster” games; healthy food choices and healthy cooking demonstrations with a local chef; company volleyball team; tobacco-cessation program; standing desks and dis-counts for gym memberships.

What are some of the positive changes you have seen from creating a wellness program? “We have seen some employees more interested in fitness because of the Fitbit program and some more interested in eating better because of the healthy food options.”

What’s next for your organization? “Weekly yoga and healthy food choices will continue through the rest of tax season 2016. Our company volleyball team also will be returning this summer and a few employees have started running during lunch. After tax season concludes, we will again evaluate our wellness pro-grams to see what is working and what more could be added.”

concannon miller & co., P.c.Bob OsterceOBethlehem

WORkpLACE WELLNESS HERO – FINALIST

chief products and/or services: Advanced acute care hospital and health network, recognized for its accomplishments as a leading medical center and community-based health care institution.

Wellness initiatives: “LVHN has invested over $6 million in the development and implementation of a comprehensive wellness program that uses state-of-the-art technology and education to ensure the safest means possible are available for provid-ing patient care. Specifically, this program uses the most advanced patient lift equip-ment to provide patients and staff the safest, most ergonomically correct means to transfer patients in and out of beds and wheelchairs. We also hired a full-time clinical safety education specialist, who works tirelessly to minimize the risk of injury to pa-tients and caregivers, and reduce employee exposures to contaminated sharp objects.”

What are some of the positive changes you have seen from creating a wellness program? “These investments in technology, er-gonomics and education have improved the work environment considerably and yielded dramatic improvements in the health, safety and overall well-being of our workforce. For example, in 2006 the rate of patient handling-related injuries to LVHN staff was 2.2 injuries per 100 full-time workers. By 2015, this rate declined nearly 80 percent.”

lehigh valley Health networkBrian Nester President and ceOAllentown

WORkpLACE WELLNESS HERO – FINALIST

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