ChristianaCare recognizes Public Safety leaders, caregivers for valor and lifesaving care

ChristianaCare honors Public Safety promotions, lifesaving actions at Newark campus ceremony

NEWARK, Del. — ChristianaCare recognized the professionalism, leadership and lifesaving actions of its Public Safety team this fall, honoring 24 team members with promotions and presenting awards to 27 caregivers during a ceremony on the Newark campus.

The event brought together colleagues, family members and friends to celebrate those who have gone above and beyond in protecting patients, visitors and fellow caregivers across ChristianaCare facilities.

ChristianaCare campus presidents LeRoi Hicks, M.D., MPH, MACP; Amy Marston, MBA, MHA; Joan Pirrung, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC; and Angel Tejeda, MBA, CHFM, senior vice president of Facilities and Services, joined members of the Public Safety leadership team in congratulating the honorees.

“Our colleagues’ professionalism, their ability to serve and protect, and their unwavering support of our caregivers and community — all while ensuring our patients receive the best care possible — are testaments to their expertise, training and leadership,” said Mark Wilhelm, corporate director of Public Safety.

“In Public Safety, we are part of the care team,” Wilhelm said. “We are part of the care plan, and we are part of the quality outcomes for every patient in the communities we serve.”

Promotions announced

The following Public Safety caregivers were recognized for promotions:

Lieutenant

• Theresa Jaremchuk

Investigator

• David Labriola

Sergeant First Class

• Matthew Bragg

• George Deem

• Malcolm Duff

• Daniel Grimes

• Michael Messick

• Anthony Rivera

• Nicole Smagala

• Michael Wolff

Sergeant

• Ed Adams

• Dominic Giofre

• Tatiana Gladden

• Clayton Hewes

• Dillon Lavelle

• David Loewenstein

• Jeff Martinsen

• Michael McNerney

• Daniel Smith

• Matthew Taylor

• Roberto Tovar

• Dylan Updyke

Administrative Assistant

• Stephanie Cline

Supervisor, EMT

• Beth Conrad

Awards for outstanding performance and lifesaving actions

Two multidisciplinary teams received Awards for Outstanding Performance and Lifesaving Actions for their rapid response to medical emergencies on ChristianaCare campuses.

In one incident outside the Christiana Emergency Department, a patient became unresponsive. Caregivers acted as a unified team to stabilize the patient and transport them into the emergency department. Emergency medical technician Stephanie Cline initiated lifesaving measures and coordinated the response until advanced medical care was available.

“They bridged the gap between collapse and advanced medical care,” Wilhelm said.

Those recognized included:

• Stephanie Cline, EMT

• Joseph Sammons, constable

• Richard Blaasch, constable

• Patrick Dorrian, constable

• Matthew Bragg, sergeant first class

• Tatiana Gladden, sergeant

• Brett Wyatt, dispatcher

• Bill Wipf, Emergency Management

• Aric Dillon, emergency care technician

• Jadon Chandler, emergency care technician

• Sara Wise, registered nurse

• Vernon Harvey, patient guide

A second team was honored for saving the life of an unconscious community member found in a vehicle outside the MRI entrance at the Newark campus.

“This demonstrates the core capabilities of our Public Safety team, who are trained to respond, assess and deliver appropriate services and lifesaving interventions to our community,” Wilhelm said in presenting the award.

Those caregivers included:

• Beth Conrad, EMT

• Glenn Silvasy, constable

• William Nelson, constable

• David Labriola, investigator

• Patrick Kelleher, dispatcher

• Lew Epright, dispatcher

Certificates of Valor

Certificates of Valor were presented to Public Safety caregivers who mobilized quickly to resolve a serious safety matter using real-time review, span-of-control coordination and effective communication to restore a safe environment for patients and caregivers.

Wilhelm said the team acted “quickly and without hesitation” to mitigate the situation.

Those recognized included:

• Matthew Bragg, sergeant first class

• Anthony Rivera, sergeant first class

• Dominic Giofre, sergeant

• David Hager, constable

• Richard Blaasch, constable

• Alfred Grandell, constable

• Daryl Jackson, constable

• Christina Taylor, dispatcher

• Nicole Carmean, dispatcher

ChristianaCare officials encouraged those interested in joining the organization to explore career opportunities across clinical, public safety and support services.  For more information about careers at ChristianaCare, visit the organization’s employment website.