Living Our Values Award Winners

Amanda Verheydt & Nicolette Schnettgoecke

Nutrition Therapy

Amanda and Nicolette provided exceptional care and teamwork while supporting a patient and family facing a complex situation. The patient, visiting from another country, did not speak English or have U.S. health insurance and will likely need long-term nutrition support. They collaborated with the interdisciplinary team and external dietitians to identify a charity care program. They also coordinated interpreter-supported communication and provided hands-on tube feeding education, ensuring the family had the knowledge and resources needed during a vulnerable time.

Krystal Fisher, In-Home Mental Health Coordinator

Mental Health Services Administration

Krystal supports intake scheduling for our in-home mental health team and consistently goes above and beyond for clients. She worked closely with a vulnerable client eager for counseling but struggling with the process and technology. Through multiple calls, Krystal ensured documents were completed and provided steady reassurance. When technical challenges prevented the intake, she quickly reconnected and arranged an in-person visit to reduce stress. Krystal is a dedicated advocate who truly lives EvergreenHealth's values.

Tonia Kembel, BSN, RN

MedSurg (8 Silver)

In a profession where burnout is common and excellence is too often quiet, Tonia is a blazing exception — the kind of nurse who doesn't just care for patients; she safeguards their dignity when they're too weak to do it themselves. She is, in the simplest and truest terms, the real deal.

From the moment she enters the room, the air changes. Stress that has been sitting on your chest like a cinder block suddenly lightens. It isn't magic and part mastery: Tonia possesses that rarest of gifts — the ability to read a room in a heartbeat. She knows when a hand on the shoulder is needed and when silence is the kindest medicine. She knows when to tease you about hoarding the good cough drops and when to simply sit, wordlessly, until the weight of her presence is more comforting than any platitude.

Her empathy is not performative; it is bone-deep. Her compassion is not a checklist item; it is the air she breathes. Yet she pairs these soft skills with competence so rock-solid you never doubt for a second that you're in the safest possible hands. She floats through the chaos of the entire wing — phones ringing, alarms beeping, families panicking — with the calm authority of someone who has seen it all and still chooses kindness every single time.

Tonia teaches without lecturing. Younger nurses orbit her the way fledglings watch an eagle — picking up her unruffled professionalism, her quick clinical eye, the way she can de-escalate a spiraling situation with a perfectly timed joke. Her humor is never forced; it lands gently, precisely, often in just four or five words that leave an entire room of frightened people suddenly laughing through tears. I watched her hand a cough drop to an elderly man who hadn't smiled in days, murmur something under her breath, and the man wheezed out a laugh. so hard he needed his oxygen adjusted. That is witchcraft of the highest order.

But it was what she did for me — unasked, unnoticed by anyone else — that will stay with me forever. I was at my lowest: a grown man stripped of strength, trying not to cry in a paper gown, wrestling with a problem I was too embarrassed and too exhausted to solve myself. Without a flicker of judgment, without making me feel I'd imposed, Tonia handled it. Quietly. Completely. On her own initiative, while simultaneously running an entire wing. She gave me back a piece of dignity I thought was lost for good, and she did it with such grace that I almost didn't realize it was happening until it was already done.

There are nurses who are good. There are nurses who are great. And then there is Tonia — a category of one. She doesn't merely treat illness; she protects humanity in its most fragile moments. She creates safety in a place designed to expose every vulnerability. She reminds every patient, every coworker, every wide-eyed student lucky enough to shadow her, what this profession can be when it is practiced at its absolute highest.

Tonia is the standard others should aspire to. She is proof that excellence and warmth can coexist, that competence and kindness are not mutually exclusive. If every nurse modeled even half of what she brings to every shift, the world would be noticeably less broken.

She is not just an extraordinary nurse. She is a quiet miracle in scrubs, and anyone who has been under her care knows they have been touched by something rare and irreplaceable.

I find myself tearing up writing this a week later, I'm a strong man who's not easily moved.

Thank you, Tonia.

Hilda Enciso, NAC

Safe Patient Handling

I first of all want to make sure we have the correct person that I am writing this on. She transported me twice that day. Once for a head CT in the morning and then later in the day she picked me up from a Myelogram CT of my lower back.

My first transport was done in a wheelchair, and I was taken from my floor down to CT for a brain scan. Hilda was wonderful, making sure I was comfortable and warm enough for the transport through the cold hospital corridors. I chitchatted with her. She was friendly and you could tell she enjoyed what she was doing. She connected on a human level with me as we went through the halls. She apologized for any bumps and pre-warned me when they were coming. She dropped me off, told me to take care, and she went about her day.

I went down for a Myelogram later in the afternoon. Unfortunately, this was a horrible experience! When she arrived to bring me back to my room, I was in significant pain from the procedure. She was surprised by the huge difference in my comfort level. The first thing she did was ask if I was okay? She told me she was going to go find the tech and see if she could get me right back to my room to get me comfortable. She got me a warm blanket and explained to me she was going to get me back to my room as soon as she could. I felt much more assured thanks to Hilda's attention.

She hustled to find the tech, returned quickly and carefully moved me back to my room. As soon as we were on my floor, she got my nurse right away to get me more comfortable. Then she made sure I was comfortable and was in the hands of my nursing team.

Her compassion, care, and heartfelt desire to help was exactly what I needed and wanted from my care team.

Some may think transport is not part of the care team, however it truly is! Hilda is the perfect example of what EvergreenHealth Medical Center strives for. I view the role of hospital transport teams as very important considering they oftentimes take people to/from unsettling tests and procedures. Hilda brought calm and positive distraction on the first transport for my brain scan. More importantly, she brought care and compassion to me after being in so much pain and discomfort. She is caring, compassionate and truly someone I am hoping to meet again in the future.

Nancy Bailey

Ultrasound

I can't say enough about my experience with Ultrasound Tech Nancy. After having a stent placed in my carotid artery 6 months ago, I was anxious to make sure everything looked okay at the 6-month ultrasound. Nancy went through everything that would happen and explained everything as she went through the ultrasound. I learned so much about anatomy and blood flow to the brain. She took the time to patiently answer my questions and reassured me throughout the process. As you can imagine, when I first got the stent, I was distracted and didn't really understand everything that they were saying, so it was so reassuring to see the stent and blood flow clearly for the first time. I think that Nancy is a great representation of EvergreenHealth's Values!

Marites Hawkins

Environmental Services, Monroe

Marites is always so friendly and helpful, even when being pulled in multiple directions at once. The floor in the ER lobby was in desperate need of a cleaning. I knew EVS was extremely short-staffed and I couldn't get ahold of anyone in floor care. Marites came and took care of our lobby with a smile on her face. Thank you, Marites!

Debbie Tombs, RN

Surgical Support, Monroe

On May 15th, 2025, during a total joint procedure in the operating room, an unexpected situation arose that could have jeopardized patient safety. The surgeon mentioned he might ask for an item to be opened onto the sterile field, not realizing that the item was not truly sterile. Faced with this challenge, I immediately recognized the potential risks of this with a breach in sterility and sought guidance from my manager, Debbie.

Debbie demonstrated exceptional leadership, problem-solving skills, and a deep commitment to patient safety. She quickly entered the OR to help assess the situation, listening carefully to the details and collaborating with me on potential solutions. We discussed with critical thinking, she consulted with Infection Control from EvergreenHealth Monroe and we reviewed AORN standards and best practice rationales. She explored all options to ensure that the sterile field would remain uncompromised.

Debbie equipped me with the knowledge and tools necessary to address the situation with the surgeon when the time came. She provided rationales and a clear approach for discussing sterility and alternatives in a professional way. With her expert guidance, I felt prepared to handle the challenging conversation.

As the surgeon stated his request, Debbie's commitment to patient safety and professionalism paid off — I began explaining rationales and alternatives. But then Debbie returned to the OR with a perfectly sterile solution that resolved the issue without delay! Her ability to think critically and act decisively in this high-pressure situation was nothing short of outstanding.

I am incredibly grateful for Debbie's unwavering support and dedication. In my 15+ years as a nurse, I've never had the privilege of working with a manager who combines such exceptional leadership, attention to detail, and patient-centered care. Her guidance not only safeguarded the patient's well-being but also reinforced my trust in her as a mentor and leader.

Debbie's actions reflect the highest standards of nursing practice and leadership, and I am honored to nominate her for this EvergreenHealth Monroe Excellence Award.

EvergreenHealth Monroe Dietary Department

Led by Chef Ryan Hymel, the team goes above and beyond to create nourishing, high-quality meals and exceptional experiences for patients, visitors and staff. Their creativity, teamwork and dedication have earned community praise and recognition, making the Trax Edge Café a true "hidden gem." We are grateful for their outstanding contributions and lasting impact.

Shannon Whitty

Diagnostic Imaging

Shannon Whitty made a special patient feel very special yesterday at the hospital. You see, Ellsworth turned 102, and his doctor scheduled him for a procedure on his birthday. Shannon knew this. She quickly acted, engaging staff for treats and decorations to honor our patient and also to express to him our gratitude for his service so many years ago on D-Day in Normandy.

As he arrived for his appointment, Shannon greeted him in the waiting room with balloons and rolled his wheelchair into the department. Lining the long hallway were staff clapping and singing Happy Birthday as his wheelchair strolled by. The song finished, they all clapped, and he clapped with appreciation. The door of his procedure room was bedazzled with gold streamers that he parted as they entered. On the wall were happy birthday letters and a huge 102! Cupcakes and a signed card from many staff awaited him afterwards.

I truly believe he will never forget Shannon and those who care for him at EvergreenHealth.

Jessica Forshee-Setzer, LMHC

Behavioral Health

I would like to highlight an inspiring story from our Behavioral Health Clinic — one that reflects the power of compassion, persistence, and expert care. It centers on Jessica Forshee-Setzer, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), whose dedication made a profound impact on a young patient's life in just a few months.

When this young patient first arrived at the clinic six months ago, his family was deeply concerned. He was experiencing frequent outbursts at school, difficulty communicating, and severe challenges with focus. At his initial appointment, he wouldn't make eye contact or speak, remaining glued to his video game and barely acknowledged those around him.

Jessica met him where he was — starting with simple, non-threatening games to build trust. Over time, her gentle persistence and thoughtful approach began to pay off. Session by session, she slowly introduced more engaging activities, and soon the patient began to open up, sharing bits about his school life and family.

Milestones followed. He began checking in at the front desk independently, helping himself to water, and even assisting other patients by pressing the automated door button. As more sessions passed, and Jessica was able to work with his school to learn background information and IOP treatment details, she was able to address his emotional and social needs, helping him to utilize opposite action and positive behaviors.

Now, as he nears the end of his program, the transformation is nothing short of remarkable. He has developed strong communication skills, learned effective coping strategies, and gained a newfound confidence. He will even greet the psychiatric provider (Dr. Brian Wasicek) at the Behavioral Health clinic.

His bright "Hi, Dr. Wasicek!" in the hallway is a small but powerful symbol of how far he's come. Once a boy who hid his face behind his hands and wouldn't speak a single word is now a cheerful, talkative adolescent.

Jessica's commitment to this patient's growth reflects the excellence we strive for every day. Her work reminds us of the incredible difference one person can make.

Thank you, Jessica, for the heart and skill you bring to every session. We are honored to have you as part of our team.

Chieko Hara

Environmental Services

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate Chieko. She responded so quickly to any verbal requests I make and always does them with a smile. An example from today:

The floor was exceptionally sticky in a patient room. I saw her cart and interrupted her while cleaning another room to ask her to come mop as soon as she could. She came almost immediately. The first mop didn't quite get all the sticky, and I again interrupted her in another room and asked for an additional mop, which she graciously did. Minutes later, the patient dropped her food tray on the floor and we needed to emergently get her back in the bed, but the floor was covered in slippery hot cereal. And for the 3rd time, I sought her out – this time she was in an isolation room. She quickly changed out the mop head, doffed her PPE and performed hand hygiene. (I was impressed she did all this so quickly while I was pressuring her to please come quickly to the other room!) She came in and took care of the mess, which allowed us to perform our patient care safely.

Philip Tietjen

MSK Administration

I wanted to nominate Phillip for a Living Our Values Award. On Friday morning he received a transferred call from one of his PSRs with a patient who has commented he was suicidal. The patient has been suffering from pain for a long time and was frustrated with the lack of communication regarding next steps following his recent MRI. The patient stated he was in chronic pain and "wanted to end it." The patient stated that he felt like no one cared about him.

Phillip, with his calm, respectful and professional voice and demeanor talked to the patient, listened to his complaints, and assured him we care about him and will make sure to have his care team follow up with him. Phillip reached out to the clinical nurse manager of the division and under her guidance followed the suicide policy steps. The patient stated he doesn't have any plans for self-harm and declined calling 911, or going to the ED. He stated his brother called him and he needs to get back to him. The patient also declined talking to anyone else from the clinical team at that point.

Phillip contacted the director of ambulatory behavioral health services and reached out to the patient's PCP for further follow up. When Phillip called the patient the second time to offer the 988-crisis line for additional support, the patient's voice and energy was much better and he stated that he has plans to spend time over the weekend with his daughter and his brother.

With his calm and professional approach, Phillip has succeeded in de-escalating and reducing the patient's anxiety and helping the patient feel appreciated. This is not the first time that Phillip has been managing those types of stressful situations. Phillip is a strong leader who demonstrates EvergreenHealth compassion, respect, collaboration and accountability every day and with every patient and staff encounter.

Kathy Downie

Diagnostic Imaging Read Room Support

Kathy is always putting patients first. She is very kind, respectful and considerate. She treats them as anyone would want a family member or loved one treated. She is always willing to try to work patients in when needed.

Today, when looking it up a patient appointment on Epic, it showed the
appointment was actually in Monroe. I called back to our CT department and Kathy and her team said that it would be no problem to work him in here as he would not be able to make it to Monroe on time and would need to reschedule. After talking with scheduling, Kathy made it happen. The patient was so very grateful that we were able to accommodate him.

This was not the first time Kathy has gone above and beyond for patients, and all of the registrars want to acknowledge her.

Zabayda Nur, HUC/CNA

8 Silver

I would like to take a moment to recognize an extraordinary CNA, Zabayda, for her exceptional care and dedication during my husband's recent stay at EvergreenHealth. My husband was admitted to 8 Silver after experiencing some post-operative complications, and while all of the staff provided wonderful care, Zabayda truly stood out.

"From the moment she introduced herself, it was clear that Zabayda brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. She is not only highly skilled but also uses her expertise to offer compassionate, patient-centered care. What impressed me most was how she took the time to ensure my husband was comfortable. She answered every one of his questions with patience and clarity, and she did the same for me, making sure I felt informed and supported every step of the way.

"Zabayda's genuine compassion and commitment to her patients were evident in the way she interacted with my husband. She never rushed through tasks and was always attentive, checking in regularly to ensure that he had everything he needed and that he was comfortable. Her kindness and professionalism made a difficult time easier for both of us, and her approach to care exemplified the values that EvergreenHealth holds dear—Compassion, Respect, Excellence, Collaboration, and Accountability.

"It is clear that Zabayda is a true asset to your team. Her thoughtful, compassionate care made all the difference during our time in the hospital. She not only provided the necessary medical care but also gave us peace of mind, knowing that we were in such capable and caring hands.

"I am grateful for the outstanding care Zabayda provided, and I hope she is recognized for her dedication to the well-being of her patients. She truly embodies the spirit of the "Living Our Values" award and is a shining example of what it means to provide exceptional care. Thank you, Zabayda, for everything you did for my husband and our family during this challenging time.

Morgan Beazley, LICSW

EvergreenHealth Outpatient Behavioral Health Services, Canyon Park

Morgan had been seeing a patient for a few visits who had quite a long-standing history with depression. He recently took a leave from work and articulated increased suicide ideation, with the presence of a plan. Morgan communicated with the treatment team daily, responded promptly to concerning MyChart messages from the patient, and created a plan to support the patient – ensuring safety while honoring his wishes.

The patient was initially very resistant to hospitalization and had precarious trust in healthcare providers. Through careful discussions and providing space for patient autonomy, she was able to work with the patient to avoid police involvement and involuntary detainment. The patient was finally able to voluntarily seek inpatient hospitalization with Morgan's gentle guidance and patience. She coordinated ROIs that the patient was initially resistant to, by building a relationship and communicating authentically. The patient was hospitalized at his own request, and he able to receive a higher level of care. He has since discharged, returned to work, and continues to remain stable as he works closer to his baseline health.

Shady Bies-Johnson

Recovery Center at EvergreenHealth Monroe

I walked a patient over to the recovery center yesterday. He was nervous about going over and the fear of the unknown was his main concern. As I knocked on the door, Shady came quickly, greeted the patient by name and stated how happy they were that he was there. It was the most genuine warm welcome I have heard and it visibly made the patient more relaxed. Not just her warm welcome to the patient but then she thanked me for walking him over and stated how much she appreciated it. This is the embodiment of EHM's core values to respect our patients and staff enough to go the extra mile.

Bin Ke

Accounting

We received an expected invoice from a vendor. Along with the invoice was a request to update the payment information. Bin followed AP procedures and double-checked with the vendor on the updated information, only to find out it was fraudulent and did not originate from the vendor. Everything about the email, from the return email address and down to the attached invoice, were expected and appeared normal - there was nothing suspect about any of it. But Bin is excellent in what she does and did her due diligence anyway. Because of that, we were not defrauded of $90,000! Way to go, Bin! Great catch!