Every month, PPMC staff members who embody Service, Teamwork, Achievement, and Respect are named Presby STARs. In addition to earning recognition from their colleagues, these outstanding all-stars also receive a certificate from CEO Michele Volpe and a $100 award.
Whether they're on the front lines or behind the scenes, PPMC's clinical and non-clinical staff consistently go the extra mile — from CNA Christan Dance, who offered warm words of comfort and a shoulder to cry on after a patient argued with her partner, to Cupp 3 East nurse Robert Rathmann, RN, PCCN, who took a trip to Rite Aid after discovering the batteries in a patient's hearing aids had died.
Even on the busiest, most challenging days, employees like security officer Damon Moody take time to treat every patient with kindness and respect. Moody was assisting a nurse with a discharge when they realized their patient only had one shoe. The man was homeless, and it was raining. Without a second thought, Moody went to his car, returned with a pair of new, unworn work boots he’d just purchased, and gave them to the patient. The patient was awestruck by Moody's selflessness, and his nursing colleague noted, "Damon made me proud to be a Penn Presby employee."
Patient care associate Christine Leichtman also demonstrated exceptional empathy for an end-of-life patient in the Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit. The patient's family unfortunately had to make the heartbreaking decision to stop medications and have her breathing tube removed; after praying and singing, they chose to leave the room before the patient passed away. Leichtman remained, however. She learned while caring for the patient that the woman loved gospel music, so she continued to play the patient's favorite gospel songs and sat at her bedside, quietly talking and keeping her peaceful in her final moments.
Thank you to all of our STARs for demonstrating compassion and courage each day. You are an inspiration to your patients, colleagues, and community!
SEPTEMBER 2020
- Akei Johnson - Patient and Guest Services
- Christine Leichtman - Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit
- Anthony Maddux & Pete Ranaudo - Plant Operations
- Izaiah Ponds - Nursing Administration
- David Scott - Psychiatry Unit
OCTOBER 2020
- Christan Dance - Cupp 4 South
- Kevin DeLussey, BSN, RN, RN-BC - Patient Progression
- Jamar Eaton - Post-Anesthesia
- Alice Ekobeni, BSN, RN - NeuroIntensive Care Unit
- Truc Nguyen - Outpatient Pharmacy
NOVEMBER 2020
- Brooke Dorliea, BSN, RN - Cupp 5 East
- Maria Gardizy, RN - Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit
- Devonayre Gooden - Nursing Administration
- Damon Moody - Security
- Robert Rathmann, RN, PCCN - Cupp 3 East
DECEMBER 2020
- Michelle Abner - Heart and Vascular Intensive Care Unit
- Jeremy Borrero, RN - Heart and Vascular Intensive Care Unit
- Lena Miller - PAC5 NSU
- Myriam Pierre - Scheie 3
- Larry Wisdom - Case Management Social Work