East Central Reporter

HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital issued the following announcement on Aug. 20.

HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital is committed to following its mission of quality health care and service to the community with a particular commitment to its core values of respect, care, competence and joy. To ensure that this becomes a standard practice in service, the hospital recognizes a colleague each quarter as a Most Valuable Person (MVP). This colleague’s attitude and behavior will reflect the hospital’s Franciscan mission, values and philosophy.

Each quarter’s nomination will be based on one of the HSHS four core values. This quarter the hospital’s nominating committee accepted nominations for the fourth core value, joy. As defined by the sisters, joy is the manner in which our colleagues and all who join us in our ministry seek to perform their work – the internal fulfillment of caring for others. It is an essential ingredient in bringing a sense of hope to those who suffer.

Teri Whalen from the rehabilitation services department was nominated by her fellow colleagues and then selected by the Shining Star committee which is also comprised of colleagues. Whalen had nominations for the award from six of her colleagues and when she was notified of the news that she won the award, she jumped up and down, unable to contain her joy.

“Teri Whalen epitomizes the definition of joy. She brings joy to colleagues and patients through her work as an occupational therapist assistant,” one colleague wrote on their nomination. “There are many acts that prompted my nomination for Teri. First, her joy for her work is contagious. She may not realize it, but her enthusiasm and happiness she eludes during the workday rubs off on her fellow colleagues. She is always smiling, and she is the first to offer a helping hand to a busy colleague. Many mornings she’ll look my way and remind me, ‘Today is a good day for a good day.’ I also recall when Teri bought some sweatpants and a sweatshirt for a patient who didn’t have any clean clothes to wear when leaving the hospital. She has gone above and beyond for providing for those in need. For the last two years, Teri has led the Vacation Body School for grade schoolers. Last summer, she dressed as a ‘sugar cube’, and the kids loved it. Lastly, Teri’s heart simply spills with joy.”

Another colleague said, “When Teri walks into a room, the room immediately lights up. She shares her joy with others continuously! As I type this letter, Teri is currently singing in the other room to make her colleagues smile with her. Our patients come into the department looking for her so they can smile with her. Teri has a very creative mind and a giving heart. Her joy has been shared through her creativity with the Vacation Body School program, with her participation with the mission integration team, in her leading the Golden Yoga Class, in addition to her care for patients. Teri tells me often, ‘I haven’t worked a day since coming here. I just have so much fun.’”

Whalen’s joy attributes are making a difference in colleagues’ and patients’ lives each day. Her exceptional service mirrors the Franciscan sisters’ compassion for people they served in their hospitals, and their care emulated the care Jesus shared with others during His earthly life.

As the sisters “Pass the Torch” to the hospital’s colleagues to continue their ministry, they are proud of Whalen for her heart, genuine spirit, and sincere interest in the people she serves at HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital.

Original source can be found here.

Source: HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital