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Health Care Heroes

Event Date: April 4, 2023

Each year the Central Penn Business Journal recognizes excellence, promotes innovation and honors the efforts of individuals and organizations making significant positive impacts on the quality of health care in the midstate.

 Tickets are nearly sold out but if you are interested in purchasing tickets for $90 each contact [email protected] to see if there is space available.

Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey
4650 Lindle Rd., Harrisburg

8:30 AM – Registration and
Networking
9:00 AM – Program begins and
breakfast served
9:45 AM – Awards Celebration

For sponsorship information, contact [email protected]

Award Categories2023 HonoreesPast Honorees

For more information, contact our Events Team at [email protected]


2022 Honorees

Advancements in Innovation and Health Care

UPMC Central PA ICU lead team for CGM

Wellspan Health Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

Allied Health Hero

Carla E. Pielmeier, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital

Community Outreach

Penn State Health

Dr. Oralia G. Dominic, Highmark, Inc.

Sadler Health Center Community Health Team

COVID -19 Hero

George M. Fernandez, Latino Connection

Asceline Go, M.D., Family First Health

Teri Jakob, UPMC Pinnacle Foundation

Amit M. Sharma M.D., M.P.H., Geisinger Clinic

Lifetime Achievement

John Porter Jr., WellSpan Health

Mental Health Hero

Molly Ashcroft, Innovo Detox

Zeeshan Faruqui M.D., Keystone Behavioral Health

Nurse Hero

Rayna Dormer, Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg

Joye Gingrich, UPMC Carlisle

Physician Assistant of the Year

Sarah S. Sweigart PA-C, Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center

Senior Care Hero

Jody Smith L.P.N, The Campus of the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg

2021 Honorees

Advancements in Innovation and Health Care

Smilebuilderz LLC

Health Care Specialties Hero

Music Therapists- Board Certified at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Donald Steely Jr. WellSpan Health York Cancer Center

Ashutosh Kumar, MD Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

Duane Williams, MD Penn State Children’s Hospital | Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Ron Coughlin, CNA The Campus of the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg, PA

Holly Gilmore, LPC, BCBA WellSpan Philhaven

Cristine Frantz WellSpan York Hospital

Community Outreach/Education Hero

Kelly Blechertas York County Coalition on Homelessness

Dr. Oralia G. Dominic, PhD, MS, MA Highmark Inc.

Ann Kunkel WellSpan Health

Hamilton Health Center

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

COVID-19 Hero

Eugene Curley III, MD WellSpan Health

Rich Feczko Compass One Healthcare

Allison Polinski, MSN, RN, CIC Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center

Hamilton Health Center

Child Life Program – Penn State Children’s Hospital

Health Professional Hero

Anne Bizup, MSN, RN Central Penn College

Robert W. Callahan Jr. US Department of Veterans Affairs, Lebanon VA Medical Center

Mark Goedecker, MD WellSpan Health

Dr. Elena Guk, DDS, MS, FICOI, FAGD Cornerstone Dental Health

Jaime Bashore Long, MD Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Amber Stower, RN WellSpan Philhaven

Lifetime Achievement Hero

Robert C. Aber, MD, MACP Penn State Health

Cheston M. Berlin, MD Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

Mental Health Caregiver Hero

Michael Diller, PsyD WellSpan Health

Amy Eichelberger, LPN WellSpan Philhaven Behavioral Health

Hanni Snyder, RN WellSpan Philhaven

Jennifer Stoner, MA Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

Timothy S. Zeiger Psy.D., PLLC Timothy S. Zeiger Psy.D., PLLC

WellSpan Health/WellSpan Philhaven

Nurse Hero

Tracie Dawson, RN, M.Ed, BSN, CSN Derry Township School District/ Hershey Middle School

WGSH Nursing Team WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital

Elisha J. Peregino, CRNP Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Jill Savini, RN Lebanon Valley College

Lindsay Truong BSN, RN The Campus of the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg, PA

Physician Hero

Dr. Nicole Osevala, MD Penn State Health

Erika F. H. Saunders, MD Penn State Health

Dr. Raghav Tirupathi, MD FACP FIDSA Keystone Health

2020 Healthcare Heroes Finalists:

Advancements in Innovation and Healthcare:

Alder Health Services

Highmark

WellSpan Health

Allied Health Hero:

Dr. Robert Blake of Blake Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Center

Nikki Marhefka of Central Penn College

Javier Muniz of Wellspan Health

Community Outreach/Education Hero:

Central Penn Business Group on Health

Jeanne McClintick LNP, CHPLN of Hospice of Central PA

Adam Marden of Susquehanna Valley EMS

Leigh-Ann Reitze of UPMC

Health Professional Hero:

Ali Washabaugh of House of Hope

Jonathan Ortiz, DO of UPMC Pinnacle Carlisle

Brian SChuler, MD of WellSpan Cardiology

Mental Health Hero:

Marian Echevarria of WellSpan Health

Kenia Perez-Gonzalez of WellSpan Philhaven – Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Pediatrics Care Hero:

Johanna Vidal-Phelan, MD, MBA, FAAP of Hamilton Health Center

Aimee Friedrich of WellSpan York Hospital

Gabrielle Wallace of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Senior Care Hero:

Julie Hurley of The Campus of the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg

Katherine Szala of Visiting Angels

Special Needs Advocate:

Jeannette Magaro of Autism in Classrooms

Cheryl D. Tierney, MD of Penn State Pediatric Rehabilitation and Development

Therapeutic Care Hero:

Denisha Roberts of Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development

Volunteer Hero:

Brett Ernst, MD of Schein Ernst Mishra Eye

Women’s Health and Wellness Hero:

Lynne M. Hopfl RN, BSN, M.ED. of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Adriane Burgess of WellSpan York Hospital

Workplace Wellness Program of the Year:

County Commissioners Association of PA

Dickinson College

UTZ Quality Foods

Nurse of the Year:

Tara Gardner of Geisinger Holy Spirit

Tammie Treibley of WellSpan Ephrata Cancer Center

Kelly Trynosky DNP, RN, ACNP-BC of WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital – Center for Heart Care

Sarah Bosserman Matulewicz of WellSpan York Hospital

Physician of the Year:

Bolanle A Limann MD, MPH, MBA of Hamilton Health Center

Mark L. Simmons of Lancaster General Health/Penn Medicine

Patrick Moreno of  Lancaster General Health/Penn Medicine

Amber Billet, MD, FACEP of WellSpan York Hospital

Lifetime Achievement Hero:

Thomas R. McGann M.D. of WellSpan Health

2023 Honorees

Advancements innovation in Health Care

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital
Peyton Walker Foundation

 

Community Outreach Hero

Organizations

Andre Campbell RICP
Byrnes Health Education
JDRF Central PA Outreach Committee
WellSpan Health

Individuals

Dr. Klaudia Cwiekala-Lewis,  York College of Pensylvania
Traci Jennings,  Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Meghan Zook,  The Salvation Army Harrisburg

 

Covid 19 Hero

Olivia Embleton, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Srikanth Hosur, WellSpan Health

 

Lifetime Achievement

Bob Batory, WellSpan Health

 

Mental Health Hero

Terri Bowling, Highmark Caring Place
Melissa Brown, UPMC PinnacleHealth Psychological Associates
Lisa Zoll, Grief Relief, LLC

 

Nurse Hero

Tammy Bricker, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Daryl Lamancusa, UPMC Harrisburg
Jessica McClary, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Casey O’Donnell, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

 

Physician Assistant of the Year

Constance Berk, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

 

Physician Hero

R. Daniel Bledsoe, UPMC in Central Pa. and Community LifeTeam EMS
Stephen Flack, WellSpan Health
Hemal Gada, UPMC Central PA
Luis Garcia, Family First Health
Jessyka Lighthall, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

 

Senior Care Hero

Kim Butler, Messiah Lifeways
Celeste Genovese, Hospice and Community Care

 

Special Needs Hero

Organizations

The Arc of Cumberland and Perry Counties Advocacy & Family Education Department
Clinic for Special Children

Individuals

Kristine Welsh-Eves, Wellspan Philhaven Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities

 

Volunteer Hero

Joyce McFadden, Hospice & Community Care

 

Workplace Wellness Program of the Year

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

AWARD CATEGORIES:


Advancement in Innovation and Health care

This honors an organization principally responsible for a scientific discovery or for the development of a new process, device or a service that can save or improve the quality of life for a large number of people.

Allied Health Hero

This honors a non-physician professional practicing in allied health who displays exemplary performance in his/her field and whose services benefit families in our local communities. Examples include: Physician Assistants, lab technicians, phlebotomists, chemotherapy technicians, CNAs, hospice workers, nutritionists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and radiology technicians.

Community Outreach/Education Hero

This honors an individual or organization that reaches outside of their normal sphere of business to focus attention on a health care issue or to solve a community health problem.

COVID-19 Hero

This award honors an individual making an impact during the COVID-19 pandemic.

First Responder Hero

This honors individuals such as the military, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters and police for their professional achievement and community involvement in their line of duty.

Health Professional Hero

This honors non-medical health care workers. Examples include administrators, professors, health insurance professionals and receptionists.

Lifetime Achievement Hero

This award is presented to one individual for his/her lifetime career of advancing the health care of our region through heroic acts, mentoring, compassion, honor and integrity.

Mental Health Caregiver Hero

This honors an individual or organization that provides mental health support and counseling services to individuals and families in our local communities.

Nurse Hero

This honors a nurse or nurse practitioner whose performance is considered exemplary by patients and doctors and provides a model of professionalism to peers.

Pediatric and Pediatric Specialties Hero

This honors a physician or non-physician working in pediatric medicine or pediatric medical specialties whose work notably benefits the children in our local communities.

Physician Hero

This honors a physician who displays exemplary performance in his/her field and whose services benefit in our local communities.

Senior Care Hero

This honors an individual or organization committed to advancing the health and wellness of senior citizens in our local communities.

Special Needs Advocate

This honors an individual or organization invested in special needs care for adults and/or children and making a difference to families in our local communities.

Therapeutic Care Provider Hero

This honors an individual or organization invested in physical therapy, occupational therapy or chiropractic care whose job performance is considered commendable by patients and colleagues.

Volunteer Hero

This honors non-payroll individuals who reach out with time or skills to help patients or health care providers.

Workplace Wellness Program Hero

This honors an organization for a company-wide wellness program, healthy work environment, ergonomics program, or other health-related activities benefiting employees.