For many people, giving thanks is top-of-mind at this time of year. Given the range of challenges that 2020 has presented — COVID-19, economic upheaval, civil unrest, and the need to juggle personal, family, and professional responsibilities in new ways — it is perhaps more important than ever to communicate our appreciation for each other. At Penn Presbyterian, staff on the front lines and behind the scenes have met these challenges and more with courage and resilience, showing unwavering dedication to their patients, colleagues, and community members. The executive leadership team and I could not be more proud of or grateful for these remarkable efforts.
I would also like to share my gratitude for the longstanding loyalty of our team members who recently celebrated milestones. Their years of experience and leadership have been especially valuable in providing stability and guidance to their teams over the past several months. This year, 363 employees celebrated a milestone anniversary at Presby: 171 reached 5 years, 72 hit 10 years, 65 celebrated 15 years, 31 reached 20 years, 12 hit 25 years, six celebrated 30 years, and three celebrated 35 years. Lab supervisor David Talemal and Radiology technician Charles Katze both reached incredible 40-year milestones this year, and Seymon Myers has now been a mainstay of our accounting team for an awe-inspiring 50 years.
Due to social distancing, we will not be able to host our annual Employee Recognition Ceremony, but a creative committee is working together to figure out how we can best ensure our honorees are recognized for their dedicated service virtually. Stay tuned for additional details! Plus, each honoree will receive a certificate celebrating their achievement, a letter of gratitude from Michele Volpe, and instructions on how to redeem their gifts online.
As PPMC continues to build a culture in which we regularly recognize employees’ achievements and contributions, I encourage everyone to make it a habit to thank your peers, celebrate your coworkers, and help out your colleagues. After all, amid all of the uncertainty and challenges, one thing is clear: we’re in this together.