Healthcare Heroes
Nominations are now open for 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.
For more information, contact our Events Team at [email protected]
For sponsorship information, contact [email protected]
Complete this form to nominate an individual or organization for the Central Penn Business Journal Health Care Heroes 2023 event. All fields are required.
To be eligible for this award, the winner must be located in the central PA region at the time of judging.
Nominations are due January 7, 2023.
Nomination cost: $20
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
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
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
Zeeshan Faruqui M.D., Keystone Behavioral Health
Nurse Hero
Rayna Dormer, Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg
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
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.
Women’s Health and Wellness Hero
This honors an individual or organization that makes women’s health and wellness a top priority and whose services benefit women of all ages. Examples include: OB/GYNs, imaging technicians, midwives, doulas, women’s health facilities.
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.
