HAYES: Dr. Laci Jamison (center), CIHA ER director and physician, won the prestigious Hayes Award named for Colleen Hayes, former CIHA director of quality who served the community for more than 18 years. She is shown with Casey Cooper (left), CIHA chief executive officer, and Carmaleta Monteith, CIHA governing board chairwoman. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photos)
By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
The Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) honored current and past employees during a recognition ceremony on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 15. Employees were honored for excellence in job performance as well as tenure.
Dr. Laci Jamison, CIHA ER director and physician, won the prestigious Hayes Award named for Colleen Hayes, former CIHA director of quality who served the community for more than 18 years.
Casey Cooper, CIHA chief executive officer, said of the award, “When she (Hayes) left, to honor her and to honor her legacy, we created this perpetual award which is presented annually to an employee who has led or facilitated a system or process change, resulting in risk mitigation, improved safety or quality improvement.”
Of this year’s winner, Dr. Jamison, Cooper noted, “As co-chair of the EB flow group, she worked collaboratively and cooperatively with many departments like Lab, Radiology, In-Patient, and Performance Improvement, as well as outside agencies such as Family Services, EMS, and funeral homes resulting in several accomplishments including reduced time to admission…”
He added, “As a working manager with a tenacious focus on objective outcomes, this nominee still sees more than 150 patients per month.”
Past winners of the award include: Chad Cooper (2010), Mary Beth Dorgan (2011), Victoria Harlan (2012), Jonathon Dando (2013), Sarah Wachacha (2014), Abby White (2015), and Angel Squirrell (2016).
“I am extremely honored to win the award,” said Dr. Jamison. “I am humbled that someone would nominate me…I am completely honored to work for this institution, to work for Mr. Cooper, and to work for the Cherokee Indian people, and I hope to do so for another 30 years.”
ACHIEVEMENT: Kristi Case (center), MPA, Analenisgi Recovery Services manager, was named CIHA Employee of the Year. She is shown with Casey Cooper (left), CIHA chief executive officer, and Carmaleta Monteith, CIHA governing board chairwoman.
Kristi Case, MPA, Analenisgi Recovery Services manager, was named CIHA Employee of the Year. “It’s a real honor,” she commented. “We’ve done some really great work in Behavioral Health, and I appreciate that that’s being recognized. It feels good, but I’m shocked.”
Case was nominated with four other employees including: Nicole Dyck, Tammy Gibby, June Hensley, and Jennifer Reagan.
Past winners of the Employee of the Year Award include: Lisa Wildcatt (2006), Rita McMichael (2007), Bambi Sneed (2008), Jennifer Thompson (2009), Sonya Arch (2010), Mary Ann Farrell (2011), Jonathan Dando (2012), Elizabeth Helm (2013), Christina Panther (2014), no award was given in 2015 due to transitioning into the new facility, and Doug Trantham (2016).
Cooper said that the tenure service awards increase annually, a trend he likes to see. “The reason is because folks are staying here, and that is amazing. When we started on this journey, back in 2002, we said in order for us to be successful at the Cherokee Indian Hospital, we have to be the employer of choice for the region. We just absolutely have to be, and I think the tenure of our employees is a good illustration of our achievement of that objective.”
RETIREMENT: Lloyd D. Owle was one of several CIHA employees honored for their retirement. He served the organization from May 11, 1981 to Sept. 8, 2017.
Five-year Service Awards were given to the following: Steve Doane, Natalie Ammons, Susan Bogardus, Nathan Bradley, Martha Caulkins, Sonya Cline-McCoy, Robert Cloer, Jessica Crowe, Miranda Gardner, Lucretia Hicks, Stephanie Hornbuckle, Erin Hyde, Ann Jordison, Donald Larcher, Katie Mahoney, Christopher McKnight, Eric Metterhausen, Carmen Nations, Tammy Phillips, Rebecca Ruf, Mackenzie Sawyer, Sharon Shuler, Jennifer Shuping, Daniel Webb, Lauren Webb, and Quana Winstead.
10-year Service Awards were given to the following: Sherri Sanchez, Carol Jackson, Hazel Postell, Robert Ross, and Janet Shuler.
15-year Service Awards were given to the following employees who have been with the organization since self-governance in 2002: Daisy Crowe, Tammy Gibby, Jean Gomez, Lee Hyde, Gail Hyde, Will Lambert, Kate McKittrick, Jill Sain, Peter Shell, Betty Taylor, and Sonya Wachacha.
Several retirees were honored with plaques for their years of service including: Dr. Joyce Biberica (Feb. 6, 2004 – Oct. 31, 2017), Patty Grant-Edgemon (Sept. 30, 2013 – Oct. 20, 2017), Lloyd D. Owle (May 11, 1981 – Sept. 8, 2017), Linda Smith (July 10, 2006 – Oct. 6, 2017), Dr. Kendall Gilligan (Nov. 5, 2013 – July 15, 2017), Alice “Paulette” Woodard (Sept. 10, 2012 – Sept. 22, 2017), Dr. Stuart Maynard (Jan. 4, 2007 – Aug. 30, 2017), Dr. Tim Johnston (March 19, 2011 – July 14, 2017), Roger Watkins (Sept. 6, 2011 – Nov. 17, 2017), and Rechanda Waldroup (Sept. 23, 2005 – Oct. 17, 2017).
To view or purchase photos from this event, visit: https://onefeather.smugmug.com/COMMUNITY-and-NEWS-EVENTS/2017-Community-and-News-Events/Cherokee-Indian-Hospital-Employee-Awards-11-15-17/
