CQ Health has celebrated its star performers with the 2023 Staff Recognition Awards, presented last night (Thursday, 27 July).
Chief Executive Dr Emma McCahon is proud of the health workforce throughout CQ Health, saying clinicians and support staff were professional and dedicated to caring for their region, but it was important to stop and say a big thank-you.
“Our teams don’t do their jobs for accolades, but we know it’s important to show them their work is valued and appreciated. That’s why we celebrate peer-nominated awards every year.”
The 2023 winners are:
- Senior Doctor of the Year: Dr Shruti Nagarkar who always goes the extra mile for her patients in Hospital in the Home, and Geriatric Evaluation and Rapid Intervention/Residential Aged Care Facility acute care Support Service. She is also a great role model, mentor, and educator for her colleagues.
- Junior Doctor of the Year: Dr Debasish Ghosh who has introduced innovative ways to support the health service and staff, contributing indirectly to better patient care.
- Nurse of the Year: Katherine Petrie for her work at the helm of Rockhampton Hospital’s Acute Pain Service, supporting patients through kindness and care, and educating her colleagues.
- Midwife of the Year: Gladstone Midwifery Educator Meredith Lovegrove for her unwavering commitment to midwifery education and her exceptional contributions to Gladstone Hospital’s Women and Newborn Unit.
- Allied Health Clinician of the Year: Physiotherapist Sherry Savage who provides excellent care, especially to First Nations women and children.
- Team of the Year: Community Health Rockhampton Operational Services Cleaners who often go above the call of duty to ensure the building is kept clean for staff and clients.
- Clinical Support Staff of the Year: Recruitment Services Coordinator Rebecca Flesser for her work in streamlining recruitment processes, supporting the health service to find the right person for the right job.
- Health Equity Award: Ross Atu, Manager Health Equity, who supports the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce and did a huge body of work to develop the health service’s first health equity strategy.
- Consumer Engagement Award: Advanced Recreation Officer Marie Seeman who supports patients in the Rockhampton Rehabilitation Unit.
- Pursuing Innovation Award: Mental Health Co-Responder Team, Rockhampton: For caring for people in mental health crisis in the community, reducing visits to the Emergency Department.
- Board Chair’s Award for Excellence: Dr Melissa Newman from Emerald Hospital, who goes above and beyond for her clients in the Maternity Unit, ensuring women get top care. She is loved and respected by the community and the multi-disciplinary team she leads.
Dr McCahon thanked all CQ Health staff for their tireless work to provide great care to Central Queenslanders.