SMH Honors Employee/Leader of the Year
The following employees were recognized at the April meeting of the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board:
Breast Health nurse named employee of year
 Every spring, Sarasota Memorial singles out a special staff member from the health system’s 4,000-strong workforce as its EXCEL Employee of the Year for 2010. This year’s honoree is Breast Health Nurse Helen Swanton, RN.
Helen received a number of nominations from her peers, who describe her as an outstanding nurse, friend and advocate for women battling breast cancer.
Petite in stature, but huge in heart, they wrote: “Helen is not only an exceptional nurse, she’s one of the nicest people you will ever meet ... she exemplifies exceptional commitment to the cancer community as well as to her patients.”
An employee since 1993, Helen provides compassionate care, expertise and support to patients throughout their breast care experience. A Certified Oncology Nurse since 1980, Helen was a 2008 nominee for the Wellness Community’s prestigious Steven Goldman Keystone Award for her contributions to breast health and the well-being of her patients, and has been a strong advocate for the uninsured and underinsured, successfully writing grant proposals that have helped women get the care they need and leading the Woman-to-Woman breast cancer support group for patients, survivors and their families.
Top leader keeps facilities running smoothly & safely
 Each year, the organization also honors a manager or director who demonstrates exceptional leadership, and Sarasota Memorial selected Facilities Manager John Ready as the deserving recipient of this year’s Leader of the Year Award.
An employee since 1989, John has won the highest respect and admiration of his peers for his hands-on, tireless efforts to help his team and the hospital improve and maintain the hospital’s environment of care. Under his guidance, the hospital has consistently received the highest ratings from regulators who routinely inspect the hospital campus.
“John is the type of leader who can create presentations for the Hospital Board, educate staff on new equipment and then crawl under the building to lend his expertise on utility connections —all in one day!,” one staffer noted in his nomination.
Date Published: April 27, 2010
Media Contact: Kim Savage
Phone: (941) 917-6271
Pager: (941) 252-8101 |
