This fall, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center honored its longest serving employees at the 52nd Annual Employee Recognition Ceremony. Longtime staff from units and departments across the hospital gathered together at The Inn at Penn to celebrate their milestones and contributions with raffle prizes, a photobooth, a delicious buffet lunch, and mocktails cleverly named for the three highest achievers — a refreshing “Annetto Sour” for Clinical Resource Management & Social Work’s Annette Brown, BSN, RN, a sparkling “Cindypolitan” for Lab Chemistry Urinalysis technician Cindy Goldfarb, and a sweet “Randy Lynchburg Lemonade” for Pharmacy manager Randall Lynch, PharmD, all of whom have dedicated an incredible 45 years to PPMC.
After CEO Michele Volpe offered a warm welcome, she explained that the organizers of this year’s event were inspired by the sense of “tradition and specialness” conjured up by during the Royal Wedding this past spring and hoped to keep that feeling alive with the theme, “You Deserve the Royal Treatment.” In a keynote speech, UPHS Chief Operating Officer Phil Okala admitted, “Ladies and gentlemen, for the record, I am not royalty,” but offered several memorable observations about longevity, loyalty, and progress, nonetheless. Then PPMC leaders took the podium one by one to recognize all 266 honorees who had reached their milestones and have played critical roles in ensuring extraordinary patient care.
All told, 70 staff members celebrated five years at PPMC, 76 employees reached 10 years, 43 hit 15 years, 35 reached 20 years, 20 celebrated 25 years, eight hit 30 years, and seven reached 35 years. Four incredible 40-year veterans — Karen Greenfield, Cathryn Hofmann, RN, Karen Moore-Lee, RN, and Jeanne Murphy, RN — were presented with checks for $1,000 each, while 45-year VIPs Brown, Goldfarb, and Lynch each received $1,500 as a token of thanks for their dedication.
As each group was called forward, hospital leaders also shared historical tidbits to take everyone back to the days when they first walked the hospital campus. Five years ago, for example, new staff members watched as PPMC broke ground on the Pavilion for Advanced Care and Trauma Center, while those who joined the Presby family 20 years ago were just learning how to use Google and arguing over whether Titanic’s Jack and Rose could have shared the door. Chief Financial Officer Anthony Zumpano recited the top songs from 25 years ago, but disagreed with the choices and instead led the entire crowd in a raucous rendition of Tag Team’s 1993 hit “Whoomp! (There It Is).” Brown, Goldfarb, and Lynch were also reminded that 1973 not only was the year they initiated their longstanding commitment to PPMC, but also the year of The Godfather, Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly,” Nixon’s “I’m not a crook” declaration, and the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.
Whether just starting their PPMC journey or celebrating decades as mentors, advocates, and “the historians who can tell the really good stories,” everyone present at the ceremony was honored for their unique role in propelling PPMC ahead and creating a great environment for patients and staff alike.
“Every day at Presbyterian presents a new challenge. We start days off with no beds, a full surgical schedule, and an ED that’s trying to keep up with demand. We’ve learned to expect the unexpected and to handle the pressure that comes when a patient who has no hope of surviving elsewhere is transferred to our trauma bay,” Volpe said. “Each of you takes the unexpected in stride and fights through every challenge. And on top of this, you walk down the halls with a ‘Presby Pride’ that shows on your face and is communicated through your interactions with our patients and their families. You are royalty for all these reasons and more, and Penn Medicine is so proud to recognize your contributions.”