An Emergency Department Physician is the 2019 President’s Award of Excellence recipient for consistently exceeding expectations through personalized service to patients, families and colleagues.
Dr. Melanie Senechal was presented with Niagara Health’s top award for extraordinary performance at our Awards of Excellence ceremony on June 25.Dr. Senechal, a St. Catharines Site Physician, is a leader in her professional field and in the Emergency Department (ED). She has positive energy and an optimistic outlook that extends throughout the ED. She takes a holistic approach to her delivery of care, which is founded on kindness, compassion, respect and an understanding heart. She is passionate about the professional development of students and colleagues.
Niagara Health’s Awards of Excellence honour individuals across our organization for their commitment to our Purpose, Vision and Values. In addition to the President’s Award, which recognizes overall extraordinary performance, through a formal nomination and selection process by their peers, six awards were presented to valued members of our team.
"I always enjoy this time of year when I have the opportunity recognize team members across our organization for creating extraordinary experiences for our patients, families and each other,” says President Suzanne Johnston.
The award recipients we are honouring are an outstanding group of individuals who are living our CORE values of Compassion in Action, Driven by Optimism and Achieving Ambitious Results.
Here are the other Awards of Excellence recipients:
Compassion in Action Award
Trillium Unit Team I Greater Niagara General Site I Complex Care Unit
The Complex Care Unit, known as the Trillium Unit at our Greater Niagara General Site in Niagara Falls, discovered that a patient’s wife was admitted to our St. Catharines Site for a stroke and was not expected to survive. The team worked together to help the patient’s son get his father, who was an admitted patient on the Trillium Unit, to the St. Catharines Site so he could kiss his wife one last time. The patient’s family was very grateful and nominated the team for a Giant Act of Kindness through Giant FM Radio. It was an emotional experience for all.
Driven by Optimism Award
Sandy Harte | Welland Site Wellness Nurse, Occupational Health and Safety
In her role, Sandy lives and breathes compassion and caring. Sandy assists staff through difficult experiences such as bereavements, personal and family addictions, mental wellness experiences, abuse and abandonment. In every interaction, Sandy listens intently to see where she can have the most impact, preserving dignity when staff are at their lowest point. Sandy’s commitment to others often extends her day well past normal hours. Sandy brings positivity, strength and optimism to her role, supporting staff through challenging situations.
Achieving Ambitious Results Award
Debbie Jacques l Welland Site l Human Resources Analyst, Executive Assistant, Human Resources
Debbie’s optimism is contagious. Whether it’s her kind, friendly and encouraging words, or her support and “we-can-do-it” attitude, everyone’s day will be brighter after talking to Debbie. Her enthusiasm and willingness to go the extra mile helped make events like Pink Shirt Day and Take Your Kids to Work Day a success. She volunteers for all projects and ensures they are a success. Debbie always makes sure the people around her are supported. She’s the kind of co-worker everyone wants on their team.
Extraordinary Caring Award
Rachel Robinson l Port Colborne Site l Registered Nurse, Urgent Care Centre
Rachel’s skills as a Registered Nurse at our Port Colborne Site go beyond providing physical care for her patients. She cares for her patients as if they were her own family, providing spiritual and emotional support. Rachel sat with a young girl in distress in triage and talked to her like a mother would to her daughter. Patients feel genuine caring and kindness from her when they are in her care.
Extraordinary Future through Innovation Award
Sean Robb l St. Catharines Site l Neuropsychology Intern, Outpatient Mental Health Psychology
Sean is one of the friendliest people who always arrives to work with a smile and willingness to help. He brings forward innovative ideas with other clinicians, such as creating the Brief Individual Psychotherapy Intervention Team program to support Outpatient Mental Health clients who use mental health and emergency services frequently. He works collaboratively across all areas of NH, living our CORE Values of Compassion, Optimism, and Achieving Ambitious Results.
Extraordinary Team Award
Jae Sonke, Carol Eaton, Shauna Speck, Patty Welychka, Jennifer Pratt, Tiffany Coy l Welland Site l Patient Flow Team, Administration
Our Welland Site Administration team advocated for a patient who was living in an unsafe condition at home. It was their commitment to our CORE Value of Compassion that led them to help this patient. The team immediately took action, making patient safety a priority. As a result of their efforts, the patient is now living comfortably at home in a safe environment.
