2025 Recipients

 Madison Drake, Josha Mae Pacia, Robin Dossie, Kristen Berry, Alan Rellaford and Matt Sutter

Their Story of Excellence: I believe this situation is perfect for an Enloe Health Story of Excellence, as it involved multiple staff members from different departments all working together to make a special patient request happen in a noticeably short amount of time.  In June 2025, a patient was admitted to the Enloe Health Cardiovascular Unit with an unknown but rapidly evolving illness.

Shortly after admission, it was relayed to the patient and his care partner — his longtime girlfriend — that he had an extremely aggressive and terminal malignant sickness. The patient, who had a military service record, thought about this diagnosis and respectfully wished to decline further treatment and move towards hospice-centered care. Knowing full well he would likely continue declining and quickly, the patient did have one request. He and his girlfriend shared that they would like to get married before he passed away, and he asked for Enloe’s assistance in helping them complete this desire.

CVU and staff from other departments got to work right away, eager to grant the patient’s request. Alan Rellaford from The Enloe Health Spiritual Care Volunteer Program assisted in coordinating this request. The patient and his girlfriend had a notary come to confirm that the patient would not be in a condition to physically make it to the courthouse for the marriage and documents.

Alan was able to find a fellow local Freemason, Matt Sutter, to be the officiant. Once the patient’s girlfriend left to obtain the marriage license from the county offices, CVU staff sprang into action. Knowing that the intention was for the patient’s girlfriend's friend to return later that afternoon and complete the marriage ceremony, Madison Drake, RN, and Josha Mae Pacia, CVU CNA, shared the news with colleagues of a wedding taking place in the afternoon.

Madison even called her husband to have him bring a cake. Kristen Berry, Department Assistant, obtained several wedding cards and had staff members sign the cards. Robin Dossie, RN, IP Cardiac Educator, on the floor that day, has a large wildflower garden. She was able to go home and create a beautiful wedding bouquet of home-grown wildflowers.

At approximately 3 p.m. upon the return of the patient’s fiancé, we had a small bedside wedding ceremony at CVU with the patient, his fiancé, and his mother. They were all pleasantly surprised with the cake, wildflower bouquet and heartfelt cards shared by staff, along with a special officiant acquired by Alan. Many tears of joy were shed, and smiles were shared that afternoon.

The patient even got out of bed to take pictures, dole out handshakes, hugs, and smiles with his family and staff who participated in his wedding. It was as if, for a moment, the patient had forgotten his discomfort, breathing struggles and his terminal illness worries. He replaced them with cheerfulness, fellowship and a small period of normalcy.

The next day at approximately 10 a.m., the patient peacefully passed at CVU with his now wife and mother at his bedside. This is an exceptional story of excellence not only because of the teamwork and collaboration our Enloe staff provided to make a patient’s request materialize, but because of the lasting effects the patient had on our staff and how they still speak of the experience weeks later.  

Submitted by Mike Underwood, CVU Nurse Manager

Nicole Hook

Her Story of Excellence: Enloe Home Health was always an unexpected adventure when it came to health care. Whether it be the condition of terrain and weather, or the state of a patient’s home, or even the friends or family that may be present at the time of a visit, there were unexpected elements that our clinicians encounter.

One of our unique programs that Enloe Home Health was part of was the Recuperative Care Program, where we worked with the Jesus Center in providing health care post-discharge from the hospital to our homeless patients at three Jesus Center sites — Sabbath House, Renewal Center and Genesis Center (Pallet Shelter).

Recuperative Care not only provides health care oversight to these individuals and an extended period of rest but also connects them to community resources such as housing, mental health resources, and assistance with finding a primary care provider. The program has been found to decrease the hospital readmission rate for this population of patients as well as improve their chances of finding permanent housing in the community. 

Keeping with the theme of unexpected adventures in Home Health, while one of our nurses was at the Genesis Center, she encountered what could have been a fatal event. Nicole Hook — a nurse for several years with Enloe Home Health and previously at Enloe Health Enloe Medical Center — was conducting a nursing visit with one of our Recuperative Care participants when suddenly someone ran into the shelter office yelling for a suction bulb.

Staff, as well as Nicole, followed the individual out to one of the shelter units and found a young woman who had just given birth, cord intact, with a baby that was in obvious distress. According to Nicole, the baby was a shade of purple, barely breathing. Nicole jumped into action, immediately providing life-saving measures to the infant and contacting emergency services.

Nicole got the infant to start breathing at a more normal rate and the infant’s color started to return to pink. Both the mother and infant were taken by EMS to Enloe Medical Center. Had Nicole not been there, there is a good chance that the infant, as well as the mother, could have encountered severe, even fatal consequences. 

Submitted by Stephanie Bisnar, RN, Oncology

Isaiah Lind

His Story of Excellence: On Nov. 5, just after 3 p.m., a patient was wheeled in through the Enloe Health Emergency Department entrance. The patient was actively bleeding from his right leg. Isaiah Lind, the weapon detection screening security officer at the time, immediately noticed the wound.  Without hesitation, Isaiah jumped up from his post and pulled his tourniquet from his duty belt.

Isaiah was able to successfully apply the tourniquet to the patient, who was then directly taken to a room in the Emergency Department to be treated. It was very impressive to have seen the actions taken by Isaiah, as Security had just added the training and carrying of tourniquets to their duty items two months prior.

Submitted by James Geary, Security Supervisor

Ashton Lippen

Her Story of Excellence: We admitted a patient to inpatient rehabilitation following a stroke that impacted not only her physical functional performance but also her ability to swallow and communicate. She worked with physical and occupational therapy to improve her independence in functional mobility, and she worked with speech therapy to address language, speech, and swallowing deficits.

While her ability to swallow returned to baseline, the severity of her speech and language impairments continued to impact her ability to express her wants and needs. Ashton Lippen, Speech Therapist, recognized that the patient would benefit from a high-tech augmentative and alternative communication

(AAC) device. These devices are extremely costly — often around $15,000 — and although they are often covered by insurance, this patient’s device was not. Using the AAC device enabled her to communicate basic needs and engage with family, friends, staff, and the world around her, significantly improving her quality of life. 

Determined to help, Ashton invested a considerable amount of time into researching grants and alternative funding sources. She discovered an organization willing to cover the cost if insurance denied coverage. Ashton collaborated with the case management team to submit the insurance claim, obtained the denial and secured funding through the organization.

Thanks to Ashton’s persistence, the patient left inpatient rehab with a personal AAC device. This case highlights the often-overlooked role of speech therapy in recovery. While physical function is essential for daily living, the ability to communicate is equally critical for meeting basic needs and fostering engagement — ultimately enhancing quality of life. 

Submitted by Maki Peterson, Supervisor, Rehabilitation Therapies

Teresa Roberts and Kascha Wilson

Their Story of Excellence: This is a story that will go down in the history of Enloe Health Telemetry Care and maybe even the organization. This story has told itself many times over because when things happen that are unexpected and out of the ordinary, individuals rise above and exemplify greatness.

However, this story goes far beyond the excitement of the unexpected and demonstrates absolute patient-centered care and kindness. Kascha Wilson was assigned to a patient who was admitted for a non-pregnancy-related concern but was late in her third trimester. This patient had a fear of being in the hospital and fear of the outcome of her relationship with her unborn child.

Due to this fear, assessments and care were challenging. Kascha took the time to connect with ­— what others would call — a challenging patient. She was able to see her struggles, to see her fears, and to see her as a whole person. When the time came — and it came very quickly — for a new life to enter the world, Kascha was there to support her patient. 

This patient called out with her first report of a “cramp.” The charge nurse, Teresa Roberts, entered the room and immediately recognized the signs of labor. Help was called while Kascha and Teresa sprang into action. Kascha, supporting the patient physically and emotionally, knelt on the floor and, with a calm and reassuring demeanor, was this patient’s sole supporter.

Teresa was calm in the face of an urgent situation and quickly took action in a situation that TCU is not trained in. She positioned herself to check on the progress of labor and literally “caught” a precious newborn boy within minutes of that first complaint.

Teresa’s instincts kicked in and she quickly stimulated the baby while Kascha, still kneeling on the floor, continued to reassure the patient. The OB team arrived shortly after the birth and took over care. The excitement of a fast delivery and a quick response from these two amazing nurses resonated through the unit. But the story does not stop there.

With an unwavering commitment to patient-centered care and a compassionate heart, Kascha continued her care of this patient. She advocated for her in ways that go above and beyond. She saw the person behind the situation and ensured that she was not defined by her circumstances.

She took a multidisciplinary approach to ensure this patient’s physical, mental and emotional needs were met. Kascha’s approach to compassionate, patient-centered care is one of the most amazing things I have witnessed. 

Teresa’s leadership and ability to ensure safety and calmness in the eye of a storm, and Kascha’s unwavering commitment to excellence, are demonstrated on a daily basis. I am beyond proud and honored to work with these two amazing nurses.  

Submitted by Krista Rooks, Nurse Manager, TCU

Travis Breeding

His Story of Excellence: On Jan. 14, 2025, Travis Breeding, Supervisor, Therapy, was summoned to the Emergency Department to assess a 27-year-old patient with sudden onset of dizziness complaints. Upon examination, Travis noted findings that were consistent with central impairment and inconsistent with peripheral impairment and referred the patient to a doctor for further workup.

MRI and CT tests revealed a clot. The patient was airlifted to Mercy. Travis had recommended a rehab consult, and Vikram Podduturu, M.D., accepted the patient into the Enloe Health Rehabilitation Center. She was discharged home and continues her rehabilitation at Enloe Health Outpatient Rehabilitation. This patient completed a Moment of Excellence card for Travis, stating, “Thank you for your exceptional care and dedication. I truly appreciate your persistence and taking your time on my diagnosis. You make a difference. Thank you so much. I would’ve been sent home. I appreciate your hard work. You truly make a difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The patient’s sister also gave us a note, stating, “This is the sister of the girl who had the stroke. I just wanted to say thank you so much for taking your time with her. We arrived at the ER at 7 a.m. Because of your ability to pay attention to detail and expertise, my 27-year-old sister was treated for a stroke by 3 p.m. Thank you. I speak for my family when I say people like you make a difference. Thank you.” 

Travis Breeding is passionate about delivering exceptional health care experiences. He has invested himself in attaining additional training in this highly specialized vestibular assessment and treatment, and he shares his knowledge with the entire health care team in order to facilitate the best outcomes for patients. Travis is appreciative for the collaboration he enjoys with Emergency Department physicians and staff in ensuring patient outcomes are elevated.   

Submitted by Brenda Logan, Manager, Inpatient Rehabilitation Services 

Sandy Broeckel, Shailesh Nandish, M.D. & Cath Team

Their Story of Excellence: There are so many members of my Enloe family who I will never meet or have the opportunity to meet again to thank for doing their best work on the job that day, but here we go. It is with a heart of gratitude that I write this to all involved — or who learn of my case to better understand a patient’s perspective of hospital care from a nurse’s standpoint and the atypical presentation of an acute heart attack, especially for someone who was 43 years old, with a husband and daughter who just turned 11. 

This is my story, and please share it with your departments as you see fit to testify that we all make a difference, and no matter how large or small, it can mean the world to your patient. It all started around 10:30 a.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at my work desk as I was preparing to attend our Case Management meeting after eating my morning snack. 

The only discomfort I felt until then was a mild ache in the area of the upper back between the shoulder blades that is not uncommon to me. This is a sign of a heart attack for females. While on my walk to the stairs, I felt flush, sweaty and short of breath to the point I had to rest on the chair by the stairwell on the second floor. Someone saw me there and made a remark that I didn’t look good, but did not stop to see if I actually needed help as I did not know if I did or not at that point. 

I was able to make it down the stairs to the seats in front of the pharmacy. This is where a colleague from Enloe Health Hospice, Sandy Broeckel, walked by to casually ask how I was doing, as if we have known each other for quite some time. My only reply was that something wasn’t right, and I started to remove my sweater. She instructed me to stay right there and had an Emergency Department gurney arrive within the minute, and I was immediately taken to a room in the ER. 

This was only the beginning of the many miracles that day. Although I don’t remember much, the story that unfolded is nothing less than many miracles that ended with a saved life. In the cath lab, I remember being prepped, holding on to the bar with my right hand waiting to hear that everything was fine. Next, through a flash of a greenish hue around my field of vision, I realized both my arms were in front of me in the air and everyone was telling me to put my arms down or something to that nature. My response was, “Sorry, I passed out!” I relaxed and passed out again, only to wake up in the ICU the next morning ventilated.

What I did not know at the time was there was a 99% occlusion blocking my mid left anterior descending cardiac artery that supplies oxygen and blood to the left ventricle — the heart’s most hardworking muscle — requiring two stents to be placed. 

The moments that occurred just prior to the cath lab and during the times I blacked out may not be totally accurate in the retelling, but this much I am able to put together. The cath team was called in for another case and the room was prepped for someone else. Because my EKG showed I was actively having a heart attack, they rushed me in instead to perform cath and stenting, which explained the echocardiogram’s picture of my left ventricle not working quite right. 

Once the stents were in place, my heart went into some tachyarrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) and a code ensued. Through the chest compressions and shocks that ended up being performed nine times, Shailesh Nandish, M.D, in his skill was able to implant an Impella device so that — in the aftermath — my heart could rest and recover to the best of its ability if I survived. My husband did some research, and it is a less than 2% survival rate for the type of event that occurred with the arrhythmias that followed. I heard that it is not often Enloe has very many of these Impella devices on hand, and it was only available at the time I needed it because the company representative happened to be in the area with an extra device — another one of the many pieces that end with the miracle of saving a life.  

Submitted by Elizabeth Hower, Care Coordinator, Case Management 

Zane Ferguson, Travis Retzer, Melinda Withington, and Cardiac and Emergency Department Caregivers

Their Story of Excellence: Zane Ferguson is a physical therapist for our Home Health department. In March, Zane was at the home of a patient he had been seeing for several weeks. The patient mentioned to Zane that she had not been feeling well that morning. Zane talked with the patient, inquiring more about how she was feeling. The patient said that since that morning, she had some chest pain/tightness, as well as pain radiating to her arm and shortness of breath.

Zane urged the patient to call 911 and go to the hospital to be examined. He also educated the patient on the symptoms of a cardiac emergency and the importance of receiving medical evaluation and treatment quickly. The patient refused, insisting she would be alright. After further assessing the patient, Zane called the Home Health office and spoke with Travis Retzer, Supervisor, Therapy, as well as Melinda Withington, Nursing Supervisor, for advice.

He was encouraged to keep trying to get the patient to go to the hospital. Eventually, the patient did agree but insisted her friend take her, not an ambulance. Zane stayed with the patient to monitor her until her friend arrived, asking the patient questions and monitoring her condition.

At the hospital, a cardiac catheterization was performed soon after her arrival. The patient was found to have 100% right coronary artery blockage. After successful treatment, the patient was back home in less than 24 hours. This really shows how Enloe — specifically Home Health — really makes a difference in our community and in our patients’ lives. We are trusted in their homes to help them continue their wellness journey, especially for those who are unable to leave their home to receive therapy and treatment elsewhere. Our team, no matter what their specialty, is dedicated to providing excellent patient care and quality of service to this community. 

It’s hard to predict what would have happened without Zane’s intervention and guidance. We wanted to share this story and give kudos to the entire team: to Zane for identifying a medical emergency, to his supervisors for their help, to the Emergency Department clinicians for a quick and efficient triage, to the Cardiac team for their evaluation and treatment, and to the patient for following the guidance of the medical team involved.  

Submitted by Stephanie Bisnar, Clinical Supervisor, Home Health & Travis Retzer, Supervisor, Therapy 

David Robinson

His Story of Excellence: I would like to take a moment to formally recognize the exceptional professionalism and integrity displayed by one of our hospital security officers, David Robinson, during a recent incident involving a stolen iPhone.

A fellow staff member — a hardworking employee from the Emergency Department and a mother of three who is currently putting herself through school — accidentally left her phone in the public restroom near the Emergency Department. She realized it almost immediately and returned, only to find the phone already gone.

Thankfully, she had her iPad with her at work and was able to track the device inside the hospital. Security promptly responded and helped her follow its signal, which eventually led them to a room on my floor. What followed was one of the most professional, poised and quietly powerful interventions I’ve seen. Before entering the room, David had the foresight to use the iPhone alert feature — knowing that if the person in possession heard the sound too early, they could silence it.

Once they were close enough, the alert was triggered, and a phone began ringing in a teenage visitor’s pocket. When asked, the teen said he was going to return it, but the story didn’t quite add up. Here’s where this officer’s thoroughness really stood out: He reviewed all the surveillance footage from the surrounding cameras — and the footage made it painfully clear that the teen had multiple opportunities to return the phone. He was seen exiting the restroom, visibly excited, showing the phone to two friends, and ultimately handing it to a girl with him who attempted to conceal it next to her own Android device. They passed several nurses’ stations and common areas, including mine, without once making an effort to turn it in. It was not a misunderstanding.

When confronting the teen, David remained calm but firm. He explained, in no uncertain terms, that theft of a phone valued over $1,000 is considered a felony, and that the hospital takes such incidents seriously. Whether or not the phone’s rightful owner chose to press charges, the matter would still be pursued. His delivery was composed, respectful, and unwavering — and it worked.

The teen admitted to taking the phone. What could have been a chaotic or emotionally charged moment instead became a teaching one — not just for the teenager involved, but for everyone who witnessed it. David didn’t just recover a stolen device, he sent a message about honesty, accountability and the kind of community we strive to maintain here. It is rare to see someone handle a high-stress situation with such grace, diligence and moral clarity.

I hope this officer’s actions are recognized not only for their outcome, but for the deeper example they set. David turned what could have been an ugly moment into a powerful reminder of integrity in action. 

Submitted by Raynell Walker, RN Charge, Medical/Surgical Unit