Celebrating the Holidays at PPMC

PPMC employees celebrated the holidays with beloved traditions to spread joy among colleagues and in the community.

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, PPMC brought back its 17th annual Children’s Holiday Party for the community. Gary Ginsberg, assistant executive director of Facilities, teamed up with the West Powelton Concerned Community Council, and with BBLM Architects as a sponsor, gave 125 local children and families a pancake breakfast and surprise appearance by Santa Claus.

As in years past, the Nursing Community Outreach Council collected new, unwrapped items and gift cards to be distributed by the People’s Emergency Center (PEC), a West Philly organization that provides support services to parents, youth, and children who are experiencing homelessness or financial difficulties.

Meanwhile, on Dec. 21, the Abramson Cancer Center and Kathleen M. Rotz Lung Cancer Research Fund pulled off their 7th annual “Believe in the Magic of Santa” event which helps cancer patients facing financial hardship. This year, three patient families were “adopted” by donors who fulfilled their holiday wish lists, and additional patients received gift cards. Oncology social worker Kayla Hilliard, MSW, LSW, explained that one $25 gift card can cover round-trip cab fare or help fill a gas tank so a patient can show up for chemotherapy, or provide a meal for a patient who needs good nutrition to fight cancer.

On the lighter side, competition was fierce for the nursing staff’s 2nd annual holiday tree decorating contest, with 5 East ultimately taking top honors with its “Nightmare Before Christmas” movie theme. And it wouldn’t be the holidays without an ugly holiday sweater contest! PPMC challenged employees (and their pets!) to don their homeliest holiday apparel.

This year’s winners included:

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  Best Overall: Julie Thomas, MSN, RN, CPAN, director of Nursing Clinical Information Systems, and her dogs
• Fan Favorite: Anastasiya Viarouka, RN, of the Medical Care Unit, and her dog
• Rudolph Award: Swana Thomas, PharmD, MPH, Ambulatory Care clinical pharmacist, and her sister
• Best Homemade Ugly Sweater: Kim Elam, MBA, PHR, SHRM-CP, senior Human Resources business partner
• Best Pet Ugly Sweater: Jennifer Coyle, RRT, RPFT, pulmonary function technologist for Respiratory Therapy, and her dogs
• Best Ugly Shirt/Top: Bridget McQuate, communications specialist for Human Resources, and her dogs