Crouse Health Hosts Crouse Choice Awards on March 13

View the Crouse Choice Awards Program

Each day, Crouse Health employees strive to carry out our mission of providing the best in patient care, as well to honor our vision and values. In doing so, many patients and family members choose to send along words of appreciation and recognition.

Based on nominations from employees, physicians, volunteers and departments, these employees were selected by our Simply the Best Oversight team to be honored in 12 categories during the Crouse Choice Awards this past Monday, March 13, at Syracuse Stage. And speaking of appreciation, we extend special thanks to the Paul Kronenberg, MD, Employee Recognition Fund of the Crouse Health Foundation for funding the event.

Mickey Lebowitz, MD, and David Wolfe emceed the evening. Additional entertainment was provided by Smoke Wind; Butler Sheehan School of Irish Dance; Bob Beattie; and Sally Dulcich-Bloom and Con’Taisha Pringle.

The finalists and winners (in teal bold) were:

Customer Service – Clinical
Thomas Tarbox, Educational Services and Michele Bode, MD
Karen Engel-Kissane, Care Coordination Services
Sandra Stojkovski, Radiology

Lasting Impression
Roneisha Williams and Taylor Mizro, Respiratory Therapy
Patricia Nolan, RN – Madison Irving Surgery Center
Stephanna Stephens, Patient Ambulatory Helper

Best Example of Living the MVV
Jacqueline King, RN – NICU
John Bergemann, Human Resources
Jeffery Youngs, Health Information Management

Innovation & Creativity
Michael Duffy, MD; Rachel Elder, MD; James Mostrom, MD; Kathy Steinmann, DNP; Jill Hauswirth, BSN; Kathryn Marsella, RN; Sara Meneilly, BSN; Sue Leroy, Manager, Vascular Access/Phlebotomy; Ellen Crehan, NP; Jenny Sohl, NP; Sharon Valenti, NP; Joseph Perkowski, CRNA; Sharon Hunter, RD, CDN, CDE; Cara Pinoargotte, BSN, RN, CCRN; Nicole Cook, MSN, RN, CNOR
Sandy Rivers, Lisa Ardner and Kelly Esposito, Chemical Dependency Treatment Services
Barbara Drapola, Director, Clinical Integrations; Rachel Carey, Sr. Quality Improvement Analyst; Karen Mauro, Care Coordination/Social Work; Karen Dabrowski, Case Management

Best Example of Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Janelle Harris, DSRIP Patient Engagement Specialist
Veronica Clanton, Patient Access Representative
Laurie Leonard, Chemical Dependency Treatment Services

Most Adaptable to Difficult Situations
Kathryn Lumpkin, Medical Imaging
Gina Hayes, MD
Dennis Sanabria, Patient Access

Customer Service – Non-clinical
Raphael Vaverchak, Programmer Analyst Application
Dina Squadrito, Health Information Management
Cindy Crooks, Crouse Medical Practice

Crouse Hero
Linda Churchill and Tabiatha Esperon, Health Unit Coordinators
Shelby Brown, Physical Therapy
Kathleen Ingianni, Speech Therapy

Most Compassionate
Melinda McMinn, MD – Palliative Care
Carl Butch, MD – Crouse Medical Practice
Debra Doupe, Medical Affairs Coordinator

Good Catch
Melisa Ciciarelli, RN – PromptCare
Susan Dingman, RN
Pomeroy Emergency Services Department; Lawrence Semel, MD;
KD Nunes, RN; Debra Gustke, RN; Annie Roberts, BSN, RN; Justin White, RN; Rita Sherifi, RN; Brendan Hind, EMT, Emergency Care Technician; Justin Rowland, Emergency Care Technician; Oscar Pinoargotte, BSN, RN, CCRN – SWAT; Lois Smith, RT(R)(CT)(ARRT) – Certified CT Technologist

Community Service
Linda Kurtz, Health Unit Coordinator – NICU
Evelyn Mitchell and Laurie Leonard – Chemical Dependency Treatment Services
Jessica Liepke, Spirit of Women; Lois Sexton, BSN, RN, CCE – Educational Coordinator; Faith Terry, RNC, LCCE, FACCE – Instructor Community & Family Education

Commitment to Quality
Kathie Bruno, RN
Martiel Stoecker, DNP, RN, CNM
Aimee Monica, RHIT

Dr. Paul Kronenberg Special Awards
Elizabeth O’Connor
Belinda Blanck
Suhair Jones
William Shanley