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 and a $100 award.
Staff members consistently show up in meaningful ways to ensure patients are well cared for. On a Friday in late April, when a time-sensitive breast surgical specimen that was expected that day hadn’t arrived by evening, Pathology Assistant Dongdong (DeeDee) Cao took responsibility for following up. Cao came in on Saturday, her day off, to personally process the specimen, and kept everyone informed. Anna Moran, MD, interim chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at PPMC, said Cao demonstrated a strong work ethic and the highest level of patient care: “Her efforts went above and beyond her routine scheduled work week.”
Like Cao, environmental services worker Xianling Meng didn’t let downtime deter her from assisting a PPMC visitor. While on a lunch break in the cafeteria, Meng assisted an unaccompanied woman in a wheelchair. Kirstie Joniec, BSN, RN, watched Meng help the visitor set up her lunch. Meng later checked on the woman and cleaned up her area after she finished. “This is the reason we appreciate Xianling every day in our unit; she is always willing to lend a helping hand,” said Joniec.
Some staff members shine at recognizing a patient’s individual needs. Michael Jamison, BSN, RN, a nurse on CUPP Pavilion 3 East, had been caring for a patient for several months when the patient’s condition changed and he grew more anxious. “Mike stayed with the patient and even did his charting in the patient’s room to keep him company,” said colleague Dominique Brochu, BSN, RN, PCCN. Jamison’s comforting presence and conversation helped keep his patient at ease.
Emergency Department technician Meg Sokena noticed that a patient in the ED – a paraplegic with multiple wounds and frequent spasms – looked uncomfortable and at risk for falling out of his hospital wheelchair. She spoke with the charge nurse about moving the patient to a recliner and gathered supplies to offload the pressure on his wounds. The patient told ED nurse Ryan Hrapczynski, BSN, RN, that he felt very respected and grateful for Sokena’s care. When the patient expressed his difficulties adjusting to paralysis for the last year, Sokena helped connect him to others who’d gone through a similar experience. “She truly made a difference, not only in his visit, but also in his life,” Hrapczynski said.
Thank you to all of our STARs for your unwavering commitment and compassion. You are an inspiration to your patients, colleagues, and community!
JUNE 2022
- Danielle Fishman, PT, Inpatient PPMC, Occupational Therapist
- Jenna Mechalas, CUPP Pavilion 3 South, Clinical Nurse 2, Inpatient
- Edward Best, Post Anesthesia Hospital, Perioperative Assistant
- Nicole Polaski, Patient Progression PPMC, Nurse Admin Quality Patient Safety Coordinator
MAY 2022
- Suzanne Sokena, Emergency Room, Emergency Department Technician
- Taylor Chiaro, Nursing Education, Wound Ostomy Nurse
- Maria Strack, Case Management, Social Work, Clinical Resource Coordinator
- Demetrius Terrell, Guest Services PPMC, Patient Coordinator
- Ashley Marshall, Nursing Administration, CNA
APRIL 2022
- John Barrett, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Nurse Practitioner, APP I
- Nicole Flaherty, Respiratory Therapy, Reg Respiratory Therapist III
- Erin Gallagher, Anesthesia, PAH Nurse Anesthetist
- Xianling Meng, Environmental Services Worker, Housekeeping
- Dongdong (DeeDee) Cao, Surgical Pathology, Pathology Assistant II
MARCH 2022
- Melissa Montefiore, X-ray Digital, Specials, Clinical Nurse 2, Procedural
- Russell McKinney, Security, PPMC, Security
- Michael Jamison, CUPP Pavilion 3 East, Clinical Nurse 2, Inpatient
- Thomas Bradford, Social Service PPMC, Social Worker I
- Anissa Hines, Infusion Suite, Clinical Services Associates