Hospital recognizes nurses, doctor
The Medical Center of Trinity has given its Nurse of the Year and New Nurse of the Year awards.
Mitchell Jessie, RN, Behavioral Health Services, has been honored as the Nurse of the Year. Jessie puts patient needs first and has been identified as a top performer in patient surveys, and is perhaps the most complimented of all staff members. Team members admire him for his skills of empathy and his sunny disposition, sense of humor, and the ability to make everyone laugh.
Shawna Mulherin, RN, is the New Nurse of the Year. Mulherin has served on 4 West for seven months. She has displayed professionalism, responsiveness and teamwork in all her interactions with staff and patients.
The hospital also has named Dr. Dwayne Ledesma, general and vascular surgeon, as Physician of the Year. The award is nurses’ choice based on integrity, professionalism, accountability, responsiveness, teamwork, nurturing, empathy and respect.
Ledesma received his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School and completed his residency at Baylor University, and fellowships at Union Memorial Center for vascular intervention in Baltimore and the University of Texas.
Volunteer award winners
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point awarded its first quarter volunteer Star Awards.
- Elizabeth Celia, Five Star winner, has volunteered at the hospital for more than two years with 4,600 hours of service. Celia helps on special projects, has served as chairperson for comfort carts, and is currently a courier and helps make heart pillows for patients.
- Ted Zapoliski, Five Star, has volunteered for more than three years with 1,200 hours of service as a courier, two shifts a week.
- Midge Nelson, Five Star, has been a volunteer for six years with 2,500 hours of service as a courier, taking extra open shifts.
- Dorothy Cassels, One Star, has volunteered since 2007 with 1,600 hours of service in the CSU waiting room and the CPRU waiting rooms.
- Nancy McCann, One Star, has been a volunteer since October 2000 with more than 3,600 hours of service working in the hospital’s gift shop.
Grants for opioid crisis
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) has commended new efforts to combat the nation’s opioid crisis with more than $70 million in grant funding to help communities and health care providers prevent overdose and treat addiction.
Florida state and local government, as well as non-government organizations, are eligible to apply.
The grants are authorized by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, legislation supported by Bilirakis in Congress, and will be administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
For information on the grants, visit HHS.gov.
To apply for a grant, visit SAMHSA.gov.
Special Doctor Service Award
Dr. Pariksith Singh, CEO of Access Health Care Physicians, was recognized with an award from iLa. Ganeshan, a member of Parliament in India, for his outstanding contributions toward health care.
The award is called the Shreshtha Vaidya Seva Ratna Award, or the Special Doctor Service Award, and was presented to Singh in the presence of his Holiness Swami Brahmayogananda, Founder Acharya, Yoga Shanthi Gurukulam, Chennai, India.
Ganeshan is an Indian politician and senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
