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As Gregory Coren, a senior materials handler in Food Services, walked down the red carpet at the June 12 Service Awards, he received a standing ovation from his colleagues. The reason? Coren, a first degree black belt in karate, has not called in sick to work since 1977.
Coren and hundreds of his colleagues who have dedicated 5 to 40 years of service to BWH gathered with their friends and families for a celebration in the Cabot Atrium, where they were treated to a “thank you” video, a look back over the years and anecdotes about each 20 to 40 year honoree.
“Thank you for your commitment and dedication, your passion and compassion, your wisdom and spirit, all of which guide us to help make a difference in the lives of those who depend on us,” said BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA. “Because of your talents and contributions, we are opening new doors and extending our reach to help those in their time of need.”
BWH Chief Operating Officer Kate Walsh and Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President for Patient Care Services Mairead Hickey, PhD, RN, led the audience on a trip down memory lane.
The duo kicked off with 2003, when employees celebrating five years of service joined BWH. That was the year Dan Brown’s The Davinci Code was the best selling book, and LeBron James graduated high school and went straight to the NBA. Hickey and Walsh capped off their look back and had the audience dancing in their seats with a sound clip of Sly & the Family Stone’s “Dance to the Music,” which topped the charts in 1968, when 40-year honorees began at BWH.
BWHers with 20 to 40 years of service walked down the red carpet as an announcer shared unique details about each.
For example, 30-year honoree Julia Rattigan-Curtin, a documentation specialist in Care Coordination Utilization, needed the help of the U.S. Army to get to work as a staff nurse at BWH during the infamous Blizzard of ’78.
As Marion McPhee, a senior IS programmer analyst in the Channing Lab and a 30-year celebrant, was recognized, the audience learned that her most rewarding experience was creating a chart of normal blood pressure readings for children, which is used to determine if a child’s blood pressure is high or low.
The announcer informed the crowd that 20-year honoree Marianne Louis, practice secretary in Radiology, most enjoys working with her wonderful colleagues, whom she says are like family.
“Thank you for all you do each and every day to set this hospital apart as a great place to work, an inspiring place to learn and a place of discovery - all in the name of providing the best patient care possible,” said Lisa Ponton, JD, MSW, vice president of Human Resources.
The honorees celebrated together at a reception following the ceremony in the Cafeteria.
Online Extra! View a photo slideshow with audio clips from the Service Awards at www.bwhpikenotes.org/media