BWH held it 21st Annual Service Awards Ceremony in the Cabot Atrium on Thursday, June 14 to honor employees who have provided five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service to the hospital. Each year, BWH celebrates these service milestones by presenting employees with awards and gifts of their choice based on their years of service.
Vice President of Human Resources Cheryl Locke, served as the event’s master of ceremonies. Locke greeted the attending awardees, their families and coworkers before introducing Matt Van Vranken, chief operating officer and Andy Whittemore, MD, chief medical officer.
“People ask me what the special ingredient is at BWH. My response to them is always, ‘it’s the people,’” added Van Vranken. “You set us apart from other institutions and make us a world-class institution.”
Awardee Karen Flaherty, RN, nurse program manager, Comprehensive Breast Health Center, began her BWH career 25 years ago. “It seems like yesterday,” said Flaherty, who first worked at the Parkway Division of the Boston Hospital for Women.
In addition to the Service Awards Ceremony, a celebratory dinner was held on June 19 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel to honor employees who have served BWH for 20 or more years.