Griffin Health honors caregivers, announces Employee of the Year

Judith Abaidoo

DERBY – Griffin Health recently honored more than 900 employees and physicians who reached service milestones of 5 years and more, and announced its 2026 Employee of the Year and Department of the Year at its 54th Annual Service Awards celebration at Aria in Prospect.

At a “Broadway Bash” themed celebration, Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel personally presented gifts of appreciation to longtime employees and announced Mammography and Breast Sonography Technologist Judith Abaidoo of West Haven as the 2026 Employee of the Year and the Griffin Hospital Central Processing Department as the 2026 Department of the Year.

Abaidoo named Top Caregiver
A caregiver at The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital since 2023, Abaidoo regularly receives thankful comments from patients that describe her as professional, kind, calm, and reassuring.
“Guided by the belief in serving something larger than herself, Judith’s impact is seen in the experience she creates for every patient,” Charmel said. 

“Even in situations where patients arrive anxious or uncomfortable, Judith creates a sense of trust. Her colleagues recognize her steady presence under pressure and view her as a role model who leads by example.”
Griffin’s Employee of the Year selection come from its monthly I Take It Personally (ITIP) Award program where employees are nominated by their colleagues. Each month, up to four Griffin Health caregivers are selected for their efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin’s commitment to person-centered care. Of these ITIP winners, four are selected as finalists for the honor of Employee of the Year.

Central Processing Department Named Department of the Year
The Griffin Hospital Central Processing Department was honored with Department of the Year for disciplined execution, consistent process control, and an unwavering focus on clinical safety.
Central Processing achieved a high level of performance this year, showing meticulous attention to detail during several HVAC infrastructure upgrades in which there was not a single surgical case delay. 

The department also improved instrument processing and the availability and readiness of surgical instruments through staff education, workplace safety, and innovative technologies that have elevated both employee performance and service quality.
“The team’s responsiveness to clinical needs, including the development of specialized emergency instrument trays and additional safety testing protocols, reflect their spirit of collaboration and accountability,” Charmel said. “Their consistency, coordination, and control flawlessly support exceptional surgical patient care every day.”
The Department of the Year is selected from the four hospital departments selected as “Department of the Quarter” by the ITIP program.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Health in Derby honors 2025 Employee of the Year at awards dinner

Chris Collins

DERBY - Griffin Health recently honored more than 800 employees and physicians who reached service milestones of 5 years and more, and announced the 2025 Employee of the Year and Department of the Year award winner at its 53rd Annual Service Awards Dinner at Aria in Prospect.

At an “outta sight” 1970s disco-themed celebration, Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel personally presented gifts of appreciation to longtime employees and announced Griffin Hospital Security Officer Chris Collins, of Stratford, as the 2025 Employee of the Year and the Griffin Hospital Emergency Department as the 2025 Department of the Year.

Collins Named Top Caregiver

A caregiver for nine years at Griffin Hospital, Collins has been a trusted leader in the Griffin Hospital Security Department, displaying an exceptional ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and manage conflict calmly, compassionately and professionally.

“Chris’s professionalism and genuine care for others are evident in all he does,” Charmel said of Collins at the celebration. 

“One notable example of his caring approach was his support techniques used for a hearing-impaired behavioral health patient. Chris spent a considerable amount of time patiently connecting with the patient, using his knowledge of basic sign language that he learned as a former camp counselor to ease the patient’s anxiety and build trust. His thoughtful approach helped the patient laugh, feel reassured, and discover music and games on a computer tablet, leaving a lasting positive impact.”

Griffin’s Employee of the Year selection comes from its monthly I Take It Personally Award program where employees are nominated by their colleagues. 

Each month, up to four Griffin Health caregivers are selected for their efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin’s commitment to patient-centered care. Of these ITIP winners, four are selected as finalists for the honor of Employee of the Year.

Emergency Department Named Department of the Year

The Griffin Hospital Emergency Department was honored with Department of the Year for cultivating an environment where both patients and caregivers feel valued, listened to, and cared for.

In a high-pressure environment where the Griffin ED sees more than 35,000 patients a year and every second matters, the ED reduced median wait times for all patients, time from the admission decision to inpatient departure, time to get patients into a room, time to see and its rate of patients leaving without being seen.

“These achievements underscore the Emergency Department’s dedication to delivering efficient and compassionate care to every individual they serve,” Charmel said. “The heart of the ED is its frontline team. They’ve supported expectant mothers with baby essentials, comforted children with toys, provided clothing to those in need, and celebrated birthdays for long-term patients, making them feel a sense of belonging.”

The Department of the Year is selected from the four hospital departments selected as “Department of the Quarter” by the ITIP program.

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

Griffin Health honors employees at 50th annual awards dinner in Prospect

DERBY -  After a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Griffin Health recently honored more than 600 employees and physicians who reached service milestones of five years and more, and announced the Employee of the Year Award winners for 2020, 2021, and 2022 at its 50th Annual Service Awards Dinner at Aria in Prospect.

COVID-19 Testing Customer Service Representative Bryan Bostic of Ansonia won the 2020 Employee of the Year Award, ICU Nurse Blerina Petitti, RN of Southbury won Employee of the Year for 2021, and Surgical Services Multi-Skilled Technician Michele Dinaj of Shelton won the 2022 Employee of the Year Award.

At a “Back to the Future” themed celebration, Griffin Hospital CEO and President Patrick Charmel presented gifts of appreciation to longtime employees and announced the award winners.

Bryan Bostic

Bostic Wins 2020 Employee of the Year

Bryan Bostic has been a caregiver at Griffin for more than 13 years and was nominated by a member of the Griffin Hospital Emergency Department while he was working in the Distribution Department in 2020. 

The fellow caregiver wrote, “I take pride in the care I provide my patients and I never doubt that the same level of care will be provided to them when I give handoff to Bryan.” Bostic has carried this same dedication to his patients and fellow caregivers into his current role with the Griffin Health COVID-19 Testing program. He is considered the backbone of the Customer Support Team, promoting positive relationships as a motivator and actively offering assistance to anyone who needs it.

Blerina Petitti

Petitti Named Top Employee for 2021

Blerina Petitti has been a caregiver at Griffin for more than five years, and earned the respect and admiration of her fellow ICU caregivers for her tireless efforts to care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic surges and her selfless acts to encourage and support her team. 

She received numerous accolades from patients and their family members, acknowledging her kindness, dedication to maintaining their dignity, comforting nature, and commitment to ensuring a peaceful, healing environment.

Petitti was earning her Nurse Practitioner degree during these challenging times, and sacrificed critical study hours to pick up additional shifts because she knew her fellow caregivers needed help. She also frequently prepares meals to share and makes sure everyone on her team has time to sit, relax, and enjoy homemade cooking.

Michele Dinaj

2022 Employee of the Year Goes to Dinaj

Michele Dinaj has been a caregiver at Griffin for more than 12 years and is known for modeling positive relationships, leadership, and attention to detail in providing exceptional patient-centered care. 

She displays a positive attitude to each and every person she meets and makes sure to know “what matters most” to each of her patients. She anticipates patient needs and often advocates for her patients, bringing forward suggestions to enhance the patient experience. 

Additionally, Dinaj promotes professional growth within Surgical Services as an active member of the hospital’s Falls Committee and as an enthusiastic mentor and preceptor for new caregivers.

Griffin’s Employee of the Year selection come from its monthly I Take It Personally (ITIP) Award program where employees are nominated by their colleagues. Each month, up to four Griffin Health caregivers are selected for their efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin’s commitment to patient-centered care. 

Of these ITIP winners, four are selected as finalists for the honor of Employee of the Year.

 

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital recognizes employees at awards dinner in Prospect

Edward Dzialo Jr. of Seymour was named Griffin Hospital Employee of the Year for 2019./ Contributed photo 

DERBY- Griffin Hospital recently honored more than 600 employees and physicians who reached service milestones of five  years and more, and announced the employee and department of the year award winners at its 49th Annual Service Awards Dinner at Aria in Prospect.

Respiratory Therapist Edward "Ed" Dzialo Jr. of Seymour was named Griffin Hospital’s 2019 Employee of the Year and the School of Allied Health Careers at Griffin won Department of the Year.

At an elegant “black and white” themed celebration, Griffin Hospital CEO and President Patrick Charmel personally presented gifts of appreciation to longtime employees and announced the winners.

Dzialo Named Top Caregiver

Dzialo has been a caregiver at Griffin for more than 35 years and is known throughout the hospital for his ability to connect with his fellow caregivers and for the exceptional care he provides for his patients.

He was nominated for the award by a patient who stated Dzialo’s expert care and encouragement helped him through an episode of respiratory distress while at the hospital. 

The patient referred to Dzialo as his “angel.”

Dzialo also sets an example for patient safety in his department by using and promoting techniques proven to improve communication between caregivers and for using checks that ensure accurate transfer of patient information during shift changes.

“I’m always impressed by Eddie’s commitment to safety and the warmth and support he displays when connecting with his peers while giving a complete and thorough hand-off of the patients he cared for,” said Liza Mecca, BA, RRT, AE-C, director of Respiratory Services. “His love for what he does and the care he provides cannot be measured as it is quite clearly limitless!”

Griffin’s Employee of the Year selection come from its monthly I Take It Personally (ITIP) program where employees are nominated by their colleagues for outstanding work. 

Each month, one employee is selected from the hospital’s four service divisions - Ancillary, Nursing, Service, and Support - for his or her efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin Hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care. Of these employees, four are selected as finalists for the honor of “Employee of the Year.” 

In addition to Dzialo, Kojo Agyedu, Operating Room, Antonio Monteleone, Jr., Security, and Sean Hanlon, Engineering, were finalists for the top honor.

School of Allied Health Careers Named Department of the Year

Griffin Hospital’s School of Allied Health Careers was honored with Department of the Year for providing many community residents a fulfilling career in healthcare.

Founded 10 years ago, the school was the first Hospital Based Allied Health School in the state. Its curriculum currently includes Phlebotomy, a Patient Care Technician Program, a condensed Certified Nursing Assistant Program and a Medical Assistant Program. 

The school has graduated 893 students, and boasts a national exam pass rate of 100 percent for the past four years.

The school won Department of the Year in part due to a community partnership with Ansonia High School to help train patient care technicians, and a partnership with the University of New Haven where students can take the Patient Care Technician or Phlebotomy programs as a college elective and attain college credits.

“The School of Allied Health Careers has provided an opportunity for many community residents to transition into a career in health care, allowing them to make a positive change in their life and in the lives of their families,” Charmel said. “Many of the school’s students have overcome personal adversity and are now providing a stable, safe and nurturing environment for their family while doing important and meaningful work that makes a positive difference in the lives of others.”

The Department of the Year is selected from the four hospital departments selected as “Department of the Quarter” by the ITIP program. In addition to the School of Allied Health Careers, this year’s Department of the Quarter winners were Dining Services, Security & Telecommunications, and Community Outreach.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby honors employees at 48th awards dinner

Michael Currie of Waterbury was named Griffin Hospital Employee of the Year for 2018./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital recently honored more than 600 employees and physicians who reached service milestones of five years and more and announced employee and department of the year award winners at its 48th Annual Service Awards Dinner.

The event was held at Aria in Prospect.

Environmental Services Quality Control Supervisor Michael Currie, of Waterbury, was named Griffin Hospital’s 2018 Employee of the Year and the Surgical Physician Assistant Program won Department of the Year.

At a colorful “neon-bright” themed celebration, Griffin Hospital CEO and President Patrick Charmel personally presented gifts of appreciation to longtime employees and announced the winners. 

Currie Named Top Caregiver

Currie has been a caregiver at Griffin for 10 years and is directly responsible for managing hands-on educational sessions for staff.

He conducts rounding throughout the hospital which contributes to Griffin’s consistently high HCAHPS scores for cleanliness. Coworkers praise Currie for his excellence in providing customer service to hospital patients and visitors and his ability to communicate effectively with all caregivers regardless, of their position, to make sure all questions are answered and requests are met.

In his supervisory role, Currie has taken on numerous challenges, including running the department’s bed board, consistently showing exceptional performance and strong leadership in each new responsibility.

The hospital's Employee of the Year selection come from its monthly I Take It Personally (ITIP) program where employees are nominated by their colleagues for outstanding work. Each month, one employee is selected from the hospital’s four service divisions - Ancillary, Nursing, Service and Support - for his or her efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin Hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care. Of these employees, four are selected as finalists for the honor of “Employee of the Year.” 

In addition to Currie, Maria Cantito, Cardiac Rehab, Michele Derbyshire, Professional Development, and Kaila Parkins, 2 North B, were finalists for the top honor.

Surgical Services Named Departments of the Year

Griffin Hospital’s Surgical PA Program was honored with Department of the Year for providing clinical support that is integral to the recent growth and success of the hospital’s surgical services.

The program was established more than 10 years ago, and the group has grown exponentially with the addition of services and coverage expectations. 

Surgeons rely on the Surgical PA Program to provide high-level care to their patients and to provide detailed updates on their patients’ healing. The PA service is also always available to assist other hospital departments with emergency case assistance, nursing and care coordination expectations, floor procedures, consultations, emergency codes and rapid response events, and providing patients’ families with updates.

The group showed their dedication to the growth and success of Griffin’s surgical department recently with their involvement in the implementation of the robotic surgery program. The surgical PAs and APRN quickly made themselves available to participate in the training necessary to meet the assisting needs and post-operative care requirements of the new program. The Department of the Year is selected from the four hospital departments selected as “Department of the Quarter” by the ITIP program. 

In addition to the Surgical PA Program, this year’s Department of the Quarter winners were Griffin Faculty Physicians Administration and Billing, Materials Management, and Spiritual Care.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital names Orange resident employee of year

Liz Laden of Orange was named Griffin Hospital Employee of the Year for 2017./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital recently honored more than 700 employees and physicians who reached service milestones of five years and more and announced the employee and department of the year award winners at its 47th Annual Service Awards Dinner at Aria in Prospect.

Accountable Care Organization Coordinator Elizabeth Laden of Orange was named Griffin Hospital’s 2017 Employee of the Year, and the hospital’s Surgical Services Department was named the 2017 Department of the Year.

At a “High School Yearbook” inspired celebration, Griffin Hospital CEO and President Patrick Charmel personally presented gifts of appreciation to longtime employees and announced the winners.

The celebration is held each May during National Hospital Week to recognize employees and physicians for years of service and for outstanding performance.

Laden named top employee

Laden began her career at Griffin Hospital in 2005 as part of the Emergency Department, and assumed the newly created position of ACO Coordinator in the Case Management Department in 2014. 

In this role, she provides follow up assistance to patients who have visited the ED, ensuring they understand their discharge instructions, have follow up appointments with their community physicians and have filled their prescriptions.

As a result of these efforts, Laden has been able to reduce avoidable ED visits for Griffin’s ACO patient population by 32 percent. 

She is a key member of multiple hospital committees, including preferred provider meetings with area skilled nursing facilities, home care, and physical therapy partners.

Laden is also currently participating in Griffin’s Healthcare Leadership Academy program, and in the hospital’s Medical Spanish program to better communicate with her Spanish speaking clients.

The hospital's Employee of the Year selection come from its monthly I Take It Personally (ITIP) program where employees are nominated by their colleagues for outstanding work. Each month, one employee is selected from the hospital’s four service divisions - Ancillary, Nursing, Service and Support - for his or her efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin Hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care. 

Of these employees, four are selected as finalists for the honor of “Employee of the Year.” In addition to Laden, Kyle Finnucan, of the Distribution Department, Dike Miller, RN, and Tracy Volpe, RN, of The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, were finalists for the top honor.

Surgical Services named departments of the year

Griffin Hospital’s Surgical Services Department was honored with Department of the Year for effectively maintaining excellent service during renovation projects, significantly improving patient safety, and meeting ambitious financial goals for the year.

The department’s Short Term Surgery staff seamlessly transitioned to a temporary location in the hospital during construction of the new Ambulatory Surgical Suite, including creating a new unit, redesigning workflow, and collaborating with Interventional Radiology caregivers to minimize impact on start times, turnover times or inconvenience to patients, their families and surgeons.

Surgical Services has reported no Surgical Care Improvement Project infections in more than two years, and has significantly decreased sharps injuries and sterilization errors. 

The department achieved its goal of 75 percent on-time starts and surpassed savings goal. Surgical Services also increased hip replacement surgeries by 451 percent, knee replacement surgeries by 165 percent, and increased overall surgical volume by 19 percent. 

The Department of the Year is selected from the four hospital departments selected as “Department of the Quarter” by the ITIP program. 

In addition to Surgical Services, Department of the Quarter winners were Planetree Programs & Services, Business Services and The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Shelton resident named Griffin Hospital 2016 Employee of the Year

Operating room nurse wins top honor  

Griffin Hospital 2016 Employee of the Year Kim Kelly  

DERBY - Griffin Hospital recently honored its nearly 800 employees and physicians who reached service milestones of five years and more and announced its employee and department of the year award winners at its 46th Annual Service Awards Dinner at the Aria Banquets in Prospect.

Operating room nurse Kim Kelly of Shelton was named Griffin Hospital’s 2016 Employee of the Year, and the hospital’s Case Management Department was named the 2016 Department of the Year.
At a “Classic Hollywood” inspired celebration, Griffin Hospital CEO and President Patrick Charmel personally presented gifts of appreciation to longtime employees and announced the winners.
The celebration is held each May during National Hospital Week to recognize employees and physicians for years of service and for outstanding performance.

Kelly Named Top Employee
Kelly joined Griffin Hospital in 1989 as a per diem float nurse, and advanced to a full-time staff nurse on the inpatient floors before being transferred to the hospital’s Digestive Disorders Center in 1998.
She recently took on the new roles and responsibilities of an OR nurse, functioning flawlessly as a patient advocate, teacher, team member, influencer, leader, and communicator. 
Kelly is the Bariatric Surgery Service Leader, the OR Safety Champion and received the Marie Santini Operating Room Nursing Excellence Award in 2015.

“Kim continually goes above and beyond,” Charmel said in presenting the award. “She anticipates the needs of the department, will volunteer to take extra call, and willingly works until all of the patients’ needs are met. She provides a high level of nursing care in all services and departments, with the capacity to float to [gastroenterology], Same Day Surgery, and the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit as needed - always with a smile. To express her appreciation to her co-workers, Kim frequently makes her famous coffee cake to thank the staff for a job well done with the OR’s patient safety high reliability initiative.”

The hospital's Employee of the Year selections come from its monthly I Take It Personally (ITIP) program where employees are nominated by their colleagues for outstanding work. 
Each month, one employee is selected from the hospital’s four service divisions - Ancillary, Nursing, Service, and Support - for his or her efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin Hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care. Of these employees, four are selected as finalists for the honor of “Employee of the Year.” 
In addition to Kelly, Amanda Boroski, of Griffin Faculty Practice, Ricky Le Pera, of Griffin's Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Tricia Palmer, of Radiology and The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness, were finalists for the top honor.

Case Management Named Departments of the Year
Griffin Hospital’s Case Management Department was honored with Department of the Year for improving coordination with other hospital departments and community agencies to provide excellent transition of care and patient satisfaction.
“The Emergency Department Care Coordinators were able to prevent avoidable readmissions by tripling the number of community service referrals, including Meals on Wheels, Health and Human Services, The CHF/COPD Wellness Clinic at Griffin Hospital, and other skilled facilities,” Charmel said. 
“The Complex Care Team monitored patients at the greatest risk for hospital readmission and were able to keep 80 percent of these high-risk patients healing at home and out of the hospital.”
In addition, Case Management was able to help improve Griffin’s financial stability by working with physicians to improve clinical documentation and recoup denied health insurance reimbursements.

The Department of the Year is selected from the four hospital departments selected as “Department of the Quarter” by the ITIP program. 
In addition to Case Management, Department of the Quarter winners were Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, The Childbirth Center at Griffin Hospital, and Medical Education.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital names Ansonia woman Employee of the Year

Jackie Hoyle of Ansonia was named Griffin Hospital's 2015-16 Employee of the Year. / Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital recently honored more than 135 employees who reached service milestones of five years and more and announced its employee and department of the year award winners at its 45th Annual Service Awards Dinner at the Crowne Plaza in Southbury.

Jackie Hoyle, RN, of Ansonia, was named Griffin Hospital’s 2015-16 Employee of the Year, and the hospital’s Business Services was named Department of the Year. 

At a Monte Carlo Casino inspired celebration, Griffin Hospital CEO and President Patrick Charmel presented gifts of appreciation to employees who worked at Griffin for more than 20 years before announcing the winners.

The celebration is held each year during National Hospital Week to recognize employees and physicians for years of service and for outstanding performance.

Hoyle Named Top Employee

Hoyle is a nine-year employee of the hospital and coordinator of The Sleep Wellness Center at Griffin Hospital.

In her nomination for Employee of the Year, fellow employees said Hoyle has proven to be a gifted and extremely motivated individual who puts her heart and soul into everything she does to provide an exceptional patient experience. 
They also praised her for volunteering in several hospital programs and community activities, her excellent patient care, and for providing a calm environment at The Sleep Center through meticulous maintenance of scheduling and providing quick follow-up information for patients who may be anxious about their results.

“Jackie is bright and willing to take on any challenge or function to better the organization, and she is known to be a powerful force, who steps forward as a volunteer in our community,” Charmel said in presenting the award. 
“She is - without a doubt - 100 percent dedicated to our patients, her coworkers, The Sleep Center, the hospital and the community we serve.”

The hospital's Employee of the Year selections come from its monthly I Take It Personally program where employees are nominated by their colleagues for outstanding work. Each month, one employee is selected from the hospital’s four service divisions - Ancillary, Nursing, Service and Support - for his or her efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin Hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care. Of these employees, four are selected as finalists for the honor of “Employee of the Year.” 
In addition to Hoyle, Ashley D’Agostino, RN, of the hospital’s nursing unit on 1 North, Justin Pereiras, of the hospital’s Valet Service, and Christian Meagher, of the Communications and Public Affairs Department, were finalists for the top honor.

Business Services Named Department of the Year

Griffin Hospital’s Business Services was honored with Department of the Year for adopting best practices for billing and improving department efficiency and effectiveness that has helped improve the financial standing of the hospital.

In its nomination for Department of the Year, Business Services staff was recognized for enthusiastically embracing change despite the fact that it came with greater individual performance monitoring and a much higher level of individual and collective accountability.

“Business Services streamlined billing and cash review process and implemented a more efficient customer service process that has resulted in improved customer satisfaction and has increased teamwork with other departments to insure appropriate, correct and timely billing,” Charmel said.

The Department of the Year is selected from the four hospital departments selected as “Department of the Quarter” by the ITIP program. In addition to Business Services, Department of the Quarter winners were Engineering, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Patient Safety and Care Improvement.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.