The most recent Credo Award and Five Pillar Leader Award winners were announced Wednesday at the Clinical Enterprise Leadership Assembly at Langford Auditorium.
Neal Patel, M.D., MPH, professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Clinical Anesthesiology, associate professor of Biomedical Informatics, and chief medical informatics officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, received the Five Pillar Leader Award, given for leadership in service, quality, growth/finance, innovation, and the promotion of staff and faculty satisfaction and commitment.
Patel’s nominating letter read, “Neal is the embodiment of the type of leader Vanderbilt prides itself in. He is professional, poised, calm under pressure, reliable, trustworthy, honest and transparent. He is intelligent and creative and always challenges himself and those he works with to be innovative and resourceful. He strives for simplicity and high reliability, but, of utmost importance, always ensures that the best interests of the patients and our providers and staff are kept in mind.”
Credo Awards honor staff and faculty who exemplify the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Credo.
The latest award winners are: Jaime Bruce Holliman, a Child Life specialist at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt; Karla Keeton, R.N., Vanderbilt University Hospital, unit 8 north; and Don Pierce, a family and guest services representative in the VUH trauma unit.
Holliman’s nominating letter read, “She is creative, kind, generous — just an amazing person. She can help a child open up, and help them make sense of a crisis. But she doesn’t stop there. She takes the time to teach and explain the methods she uses to the staff and families she supports. Jaime is one of the most genuinely caring people I have ever met.”
Keeton’s nominating letter read, “She is an exceptional nurse and a role model for the unit. She demonstrates Credo behavior in every aspect of her work, and she eagerly shares her experience with new staff to help them grow. Her commitment to her colleagues and to the nursing profession has led numerous staff members to utter the phrase, ‘I wish I were more like Karla.’ The admiration felt by the unit toward Karla is palpable, and I believe this to be due to her steadfast commitment to her profession and her colleagues.”
Pierce’s nominating letter read, “I have seen Don handle very difficult situations with ease and compassion. He is an angel to those who are living the darkest minutes and hours of their lives. Don always arrives early to work and stays late if there is a family in need. I have seen him clock out of work and continue to stay to comfort a family member who needed a friendly voice and advice. I have had countless family members tell me what a difference Don made to them when they did not know if their family member would live or die. He has one of the hardest jobs emotionally in this unit, and goes above and beyond to exceed expectations of him.”
