PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Nineteen employees of Northern Light AR Gould Hospital (formerly TAMC) were welcomed into a “Veterans-In-Partnership” or VIP group at the hospital recently, all having achieved the status of 20 years or more of service.
“You built this place,” said Greg LaFrancois, Gould president, to all of the employees gathered at the annual December VIP breakfast. “You created a hospital that is perfectly suited to deliver the services our community needs. County folks do not have to leave the County for care because of your work.”
The number of VIPs fluctuates as employees retire and others are welcomed into the ranks. Currently, there are about 140 team members considered VIPs — that’s about 14 percent of the non-profit healthcare organization’s workforce.
New “veterans” welcomed into this elite club for 2018 were, from Presque Isle: Sherry Beaulieu, manager of volunteer services and guest relations; Mindy Churchill, an ED technician and CNA in the emergency department; Dorice Clark, practice specialist in cardiology; Dr. Renee Fournier, provider in pediatrics; Diane Lauritsen, manager of the primary care center in Mars Hill and Women’s Health in Presque Isle; and Dr. Jorge Pineiro, provider in pediatrics.
Also named VIPs were: Suzanne Buckley of Westfield, manager of medical records; Deborah Corey of Washburn, laundry worker; David Craig of Ashland, manager of laboratory services; Lynn Dube of Perham, executive assistant in administration; Geraldine Dyer of Mars Hill, unit secretary at Continuing Care (formerly Aroostook Health Center); Robert Hunt, PA-C, of Fort Fairfield, provider at WorkHealth; Dr. Stacy Jandreau of Caribou, provider in the emergency department; Allyn Ladner of Easton, phlebotomist in the lab; Debra Nicholson of Easton, patient services representative at the health center in Fort Fairfield; Ann Parady of Fort Fairfield, day supervisor for environmental services; Karen Putnam of Mapleton, medical assistant in the specialty clinics; Marcia Sturgeon, LPN, of Mapleton, a nurse in primary care in Presque Isle; and Dr. David Weed of Mapleton, provider in sleep diagnostics.
Each new VIP received a small gift in appreciation of their lengthy service to the organization. The hospital’s senior leaders also each spoke to the group, sharing words of appreciation, anecdotes about all that has changed over the past 20 years, and even a challenge to be leaders and mentors to others moving forward.
Submitted by the Communications Office of Northern Light AR Gould Hospital.
