Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Mercy’s 2023 Living Our Values Awards honor outstanding individuals
Each year, Mercy honors their team members who exemplify the values of Dignity, Justice, Service, Excellence and Stewardship. They are nominated by their coworkers, as those who truly set the example of “Living Our Values,” embracing 1 Peter 2:21, “For this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
The LOV Awards can be summed up in a simple quote from Mercy foundress Catherine McAuley:
“We should be as shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
“In honoring our coworkers, we witness the embodiment of our core values,” said Ryan Gehrig, president, Mercy Arkansas Communities. “Their dedication serves as an example of our shared commitment. Each recognized co-worker has demonstrated our values are more than just words, by touching the lives of those we serve with unwavering compassion and care.”
This year’s LOV Award honorees are Emily Gole, Robin Sides, Carol Hedrick, Dr. Bruno Pereira, Austin Miller and Dr. Linda Lam. Take a moment to read their inspiring stories below.
Dignity LOV Award
Cherishing each person in God’s Image
Emily Gole, RN, ICU Manager
Nominated by: Bobbie Morris, Nursing Director
“Emily Gole continues to go above and beyond for our patients to ensure each and every one experience true dignity. During the COVID pandemic, Emily would go out of her way to work with respiratory therapy to schedule time and take trach patients outside to get a little sunshine. This took a lot of organization and effort to ensure they had the nursing staff (which was almost always her) and the respiratory therapist’s support to ensure their safety. For these patients who had been in our beds for weeks to months, that sunshine hitting their face meant the world to them. On top of that, I can think of one specific patient out of this group that upon discharge from the COVID unit was admitted to our inpatient rehab unit. Emily worked with the director of Rehab to make sure staff that cared for him were present upon his discharge to celebrate his huge accomplishment with him and his family. During COVID, as many are aware, our ICU delivered some babies as well. Emily ensured that during this time, and for some time after, our labor and delivery nurses knew how appreciated they were for the help they provided the ICU team during some of the most difficult times. These two teams celebrated and mourned together. Emily does these things every day for our patients and our coworkers. She never sees it as going above and beyond, she has a true Mercy heart.”
Justice LOV Award
We pledge to be in right relationships with one another, with particular concern for the economically poor.
Robin Sides, Community Health Worker
Nominated by: Kristen Jordan, Rehab Program Director
“Robin is one of those true blessings that you will always find with a smile on her face. She goes the extra mile every day to help a patient with whatever they may need. She is also always willing to help her coworkers too. She speaks to everyone and always makes you feel like you have been blessed by her smile, funny wit and compassion. Our Rehab team especially wanted to recognize Robin for assisting one of their rehab patients who had food insecurities, by providing a bag of groceries and helping our patient get set up with Meals on Wheels. He is now able to discharge home and feel more secure about having food in the future. This is just one small example of how Robin provides for those in need. Thank you for your compassion and support for our patients!”
Service LOV Award
We seek out and put the needs of others first.
Carol Hedrick, Clinic Float Pool
Nominated by: Janean Woods, Audiologist
“Carol exemplifies many of Mercy’s values, but she is amazing at providing service in all the clinics that she travels to when needed. She seeks out situations where she can be used to serve our patients and show God’s love and Mercy’s values in each interaction she has with patients and with coworkers. Carol has worked with Mercy for years and goes wherever she is sent, to provide whatever service is needed that day. Carol always serves with grace and dignity, showing patients their value and worth as a person and their value to Mercy as a patient. I have seen Carol give her all in every interaction and she constantly does her best to provide for patients with kindness and compassion, all the while keeping Mercy’s stewardship value in mind. She is a pleasure to work with and always exemplifies Mercy’s values to everyone.”
Excellence LOV Award
We only give the best for those entrusted to our care.
Dr. Bruno Pereira, Mercy Physician
Nominated by: Emily Gole, Ashley Crippen, Kevin Maldonado and Brayn Maldonado
“Dr. Pereira has a heart for service and shows it in many ways in the Intensive Care Unit. The individualized care is unmatched. His ability to have end-of-life conversations while treating his patients as if they were his own loved ones is admirable. His knowledge base, and commitment to evidence-based practice is worthy of the Excellence award in itself. But as a nurse leader, I’m most amazed (and incredibly grateful) by the way he serves the nurses and techs that work alongside him.
Dr. Pereira is often our first call when we find a suspicious lump. He calms our anxieties when our children run prolonged fevers. He guides us to primary care providers and specialists. He prays with us when we receive concerning CT results. He answers his cell phone on weekends, and sacrifices family time to talk about the standards as we try to grasp a treatment plan. All THIS he does because of his servant heart. Because he cares. Because he truly wants the best for all, but especially the best for his work family. And his embodiment of Mercy’s values is felt throughout every interaction.”
Stewardship LOV Award (Two winners)
We use our talents and resources wisely to strengthen Mercy, which is a ministry of the church.
Austin Miller, Physical Therapist, Mercy Therapy
Nominated by: Houston Talmage “Austin has been such a great mentor for me upon arriving to the therapy clinic. He has kept an open mind and made himself available to ask questions as I have needed. He has also been very welcoming to me, and I’ve enjoyed my time here in this neuro program. I look forward to growing this program and team together and sharing knowledge to better serve our patients! This is just one story of how awesome Austin is with growing others and using his talents to help others succeed in whatever they need.”
Linda Lam, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Nominated by: Maya Wai
“I appreciate Linda for her daily commitment to excellence, stewardship, and advocating for our patients. She collaborates tirelessly with our providers and case managers to optimize patient care, especially when selecting antibiotic therapy for discharge. She is a wealth of knowledge for everyone. Thank you, Linda, for all that you do for our patients!”