'You Make a Difference' winners receive recognition, premier parking

By Lori Newman, BAMC Public AffairsMarch 23, 2015

You Make a Difference Award winners
(From left) Command Sgt. Maj. Tabitha Gavia, Col. Donald Gajewski, Tech. Sgt. Cheri Hernandez-Watson, Sherry Jenkins, Arthur Fortes and Brooke Army Medical Center Commander Col. Evan Renz pose for a photo during an awards ceremony March 17 in the BAM... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- The "You Make a Difference" quarterly award winners may not receive an Oscar or an Emmy, but they do receive premier third floor parking and a personal "thank you" from the commander and command sergeant major.

The new YMAD program is a way to identify BAMC staff and volunteers whose thoughtful, caring actions made an immediate and positive impact on the patient experience.

A committee selects monthly award recipients, and from those quarterly award winners are chosen in the following categories: Military, Civil Service, Physician and Volunteer.

The four winners for the first quarter were recognized March 17 at the commander's award ceremony. They were presented a certificate from the commander along with a 90-day parking placard allowing them designated parking on the third floor of the parking garage.

"If you look at these representatives up here, this is what makes this organization work every day," said BAMC Commander Col. Evan Renz.

The Provider award went to Col. Donald Gajewski, director of the Center for the Intrepid. Gajewski was nominated for his leadership and compassion for his peers and the patients at the CFI.

His nomination said in part, "I have only met a few men who are so compassionate about their peers and patients. He loves his job and definitely would not have a problem going out of his way to try and correct whatever needs to be done."

The Military Member selected was Tech. Sgt. Cheri Hernandez-Watson, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, for her passion as an enlisted leader and her enthusiasm towards the care of her patients and staff throughout her unit.

"[Hernandez-Watson] identified that her staff were experiencing significant challenges with moving patients in and out of the main entrance of her unit. She took very aggressive steps to have a door added to a developing contract that will change the doors from manual to automatic which will soon allow her staff and patients to move seamlessly in and out of her unit," her nomination stated.

Sherry Jenkins from Cardiology received the Civilian award because she is not only a very competent registered nurse and case manager; she has a consistently positive outlook on life.

Jenkins nominator shared, "I have personally witnessed the majority of her interactions with patients, and with her bright smile, and compassionate way, she makes everyone she comes in contact have a better day. She welcomes our patients in as though they are part of our family, sooths their pain, celebrates their successes, and shares their sorrows and tears."

The YMAD Volunteer of the quarter award went to Arthur Fortes for his work at the Pharmacy front desk.

"[Fortes] ensures that the prescriptions being presented are correct and the medication is available on the formulary. He gives pertinent information for resolution should a problem arise and he verifies that refills are available at the time of check in as well."

The YMAD program is a way for BAMC leadership to recognize individuals who go the extra mile for a patient, whether it's bringing a patient or workplace safety issue to someone's attention, taking time to improve a program or service, or making an extra effort to help a patient or co-worker.

"Each day, the command sergeant major and I see BAMC team members positively impacting our patients' lives," Renz said. "This program is a way to provide them the recognition they so richly deserve."

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Brooke Army Medical Center