Overlook Medical Celebrates Its Clinicians With 'Excellence Awards'

SUMMIT, NJ — After a three-year hiatus, Overlook celebrated its "standout" team members at its annual Excellence Awards.

The event, like many in-person gatherings, did not occur in 2020 and 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to Atlantic Health.

Stephanie Schwartz, who became Overlook’s president in 2021, took the opportunity to proudly proclaim: “Now we are back, we are Overlook Strong and we are even better than ever!”

“These awards are particularly meaningful because the winners were nominated by their peers," Schwartz said. "Our colleagues know and understand what our days are like. They understand our challenges and
appreciate our successes better than anyone else.” Schwartz said.

The awards honored team members across a broad range of duties throughout the hospital — from clinicians at the bedside to host of operational team members, according to Atlantic Health.

Secretary/technician Betty Dagner was awarded for her "Surgical Services Sweet Cart," "Administrative Professional Day Potluck" and other moral-boosting initiatives, such as organizing a TikTok dance video to encourage COVID vaccinations among team members.

Presenter and executive director of the Overlook Foundation Clelia Biamonti noted of Dagner, “she doesn’t only participate, she orchestrates.”

Operating room nurse Grace Gildea, also known as "The Locker Room Lady" was honored for welcoming new staff and helping them find a place in the perioperative area.

Diagnostic radiologist David Hoffman was also celebrated for his work on the medical imaging team, and media services associate William Green was recognized for his work with address technical challenges at the hospital.

Many were also recognized for their "extraordinary efforts during COVID." For instance, a team called the Prone Team, was honored for their work treating critically-ill COVID patients, working in teams of four in 12-hour shifts.

The team turned and intubated critically-ill patients in their beds to lie on their stomachs and then onto their backs every 12 hours to help them breathe.

The full list of winners can be viewed below:

PATIENT CARE PARTNERS:
 Khaleel Canty, Supervisor Environmental Services/OR Team
 Betty Dagner, Secretary/Technician Surgical Services
 Robert Davis, Sr., Environmental Aide I
 William Green, Media Services Associates III

ALLIED HEALTH
 Matthew Butera, Registered Dietitian
 Justin Kaplan PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist/Critical Care
 Michael Kurilko, Lead Radiation Therapist
 Jeanne Waxman, Speech Pathologist III

NURSES
 Grace Gildea, RN, Operating Room
 Nicole Hradil, RN, Clinical Specialist ICU
 Joane Jones, RN, 2AB Orthopedic/Medical Surgical
 Sylvia Ylagan-Perlas, RN, Perianesthesia
 Jimmy Rainville, RN, ANM, Summit ED
 Debra Ann Schaffer, RN, Neuro ICU/Critical Care

PHYSICIANS
 Anthony Forestine, MD, Vice Chairman Department of Emergency Medicine
 Jennifer Goodwin, PA-C, Bariatric Surgery
 David Hoffman, MD, Diagnostic Radiologist
 Basil Hubbi, MD, Medical Director Breast Center
 Manoj Shahane, MD, Chairman Department of Anesthesia
 Michael Weinrauch, MD, Section Chief, Cardiology

TEAM AWARDS
 GOT YOUR BACK: ICU 5 Team (Alyssa Jurtschenko, Kristen Kishbaugh, Myra Tahanlangit, Denice Hernandez , Diana Cardona , Arnel Augustine and Madeleine Deveraux)
 IF WE DO SAY SO OURSELVES: Mobility Team (Mobility team- Tameka Fong(transport), Darrius Munroe, Melisa Downer, David Hutchinson, Christine Bevensee/Michael Lima)
 AS ONE: The Caregiver Center Team (led by Vicki Kostis, RN Director, Nursing Medical Surgical, Marian Teehan, LCSW, and Valerie Gagliano, Caregiver Liaison)