Lawrence and Memorial Hospital Physicians Named Top Docs

New London, CT/Westerly, RI (May 12, 2022) – This week, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital (L+M), Westerly Hospital (WH) and the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Connecticut (VNASC), honored 24 employees recognizing their excellence in care during Nurses Week (May 6-12). For the first time in two years, staff were able to celebrate their accomplishments at in-person ceremonies.

Awards were given in seven categories:

DAISY Award – an internationally recognized award bestowed several times annually to a nurse who demonstrates extraordinary care and compassion with a patient and/or a patient’s family. This year’s recipients are:

• L+M: Jessica Sionni, BSN, (Charlestown, RI)

• WH: Jill Long, BSN, RN (East Greenwich, RI) No Photo

• VNASC: Ashley Fridinger, MS, RN (Waterford, CT)

Interprofessional Collaboration Award – recognizes someone who exemplifies the Yale New Haven Health System values of patient centered care, respect, compassion, integrity, and accountability. This year’s recipients are:

• L+M: Bruce Cadieux, RT (Jewett City, CT)

• WH: Hannah Schilke, LICSW (Westerly, RI)

• VNASC: Carole Torres, Aide, (Ledyard, CT)

Nightingale Awards – given annually to nurses who have demonstrated excellence in nursing care, professionalism, innovative/clinical practice, a collaborative nursing environment and improving health of the community. This year’s recipients are:

• L+M: Carol Bowers, RN, CMSRN (Ivoryton, CT), Valentina Matikayen, BSN, RN (Waterford, CT), Kate O’Brien, MSN, RN (Pawcatuck, CT), Lottie Penta, BSN, RN (Waterford, CT)

• WH: Hayley Benn BSN, RN (Bradford, RI, Brittany Peruzzotti, BSN, RN (Westerly, RI)

• VNASC: Rachel Brennan, RN (Niantic, CT)

Preceptor of the Year Award - recognize nurses who stand out as empowering mentors training our new nurses. This year’s recipients are:

• L+M: Jennifer Scotti, RN (Waterford, CT)

• WH: Antoinette Gears, BSN, RN (Westerly, RI)

Rising Star Award – is given to a nurse with less than two years of experience who exemplifies the Yale New Haven Health System values of patient centered care, respect, compassion, integrity and accountability. This year’s recipients are:

• L+M: Marissa Mills-Burt, R N (East Hampton, CT)

• WH: David Demers, BSN, RN (Kingston, RI)

• VNASC: Laci Gardner, RN (Norwich, CT)

Sunflower Awards – are bestowed several times annually and recognize a patient care associate (PCA), certified nursing assistant (CNA) or hospital unit coordinator (HUC) who has demonstrated outstanding leadership by developing creative solutions and providing compassionate care to patients and families. This year’s recipients are:

• L+M: Militza Rosa, PCA (New London, CT)

• WH: Cristen Highland, CNA (Westerly, RI)

• VNASC: Grisel Escalera, Aide (New London, CT)

Transformational Leadership Award – recognizes nurse managers and clinical coordinators who exemplify the Yale New Haven Health System values of patient centered care, respect, compassion, integrity, and accountability for this prestigious award. This year’s recipients are:

• L+M: Jaclyn Jones, BSN, CMSRN (Groton, CT)

• WH: Karen Manor, BSN, RN (Bradford, RI)

• VNASC: Amy Comeau, RN (North Stonington, CT)

Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, a member of Yale New Haven Health, is a non-profit, 308-bed general and acute care hospital providing patient care to medical, surgical, pediatric, psychiatric and obstetrical patients in southeastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island since 1912. Lawrence + Memorial offers cardiac acute, step-down and rehabilitation programs and is the only eastern Connecticut hospital that performs emergency and elective angioplasty. www.lmhospital.org

Westerly Hospital, a member of Yale New Haven Health, is a 125-bed hospital that has been providing residents of southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut with a full range of inpatient and outpatient services in a community hospital setting for more than 90 years. Westerly Hospital patients receive the finest quality treatment in the following areas of care: emergency, medical, surgical, radiology, laboratory and rehabilitative services. The hospital also offers heart and vascular care, interventional pain management, wound care, pulmonary rehabilitation services, inpatient geriatric psychiatric care and comprehensive cancer care provided through the Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center. All inpatient rooms are private. westerlyhospital.org

The Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Connecticut is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to optimizing the health and well-being of the people in our region. Since 1909, VNASC and its predecessor organizations have been caring for everyone from the elderly who wish to remain in their homes for as long as they can and patients recovering from surgery or illness, to new mothers, schoolchildren, and the homeless. We use the most current medical advances and technologies in home healthcare, and strengthen community resources for everyone.