At Aultman, we are proud to have more than 7,300 team members who work hard every day to lead our community to improved health. During our annual recognition dinner on May 16, Canton resident Julie Oney was named Aultman’s Employee of the Year.

The Employee of the Year award is designed to recognize employees who consistently go above and beyond their job expectations, while demonstrating the mission and vision of Aultman Health Foundation. A physical therapist at Aultman Hospital, Oney is a well-deserving recipient for her truly remarkable and compassionate act of kindness - from one mother to another.

Julie was caring for a terminally ill widow. This patient’s son was a senior in his high school marching band. Her initial goal was to live to see her son graduate. However, due to the nature/extent of her illness, it became apparent that this was unlikely. So, her new goal was to participate in her son's senior band recognition at an upcoming Friday night football game. This truly touched Julie's heart, and she decided to do everything she could to help her patient achieve this goal. She worked together with the patient's pastor and others to come up with a plan.

On the Friday of the game, the patient was discharged to a local nursing facility. After work, Julie went to the facility with the pastor to sign the patient out and take her to the game. Julie assisted her, transferring her in and out of the car and pushing her wheelchair in the stadium. When it came time for her son's senior band recognition, the patient was able to achieve her goal of participating alongside her son - with Julie pushing her wheelchair down the field. She was even able to stay and watch her son perform with the band in the halftime show. Afterward, Julie helped her get back to the nursing facility safely.

Without Julie’s compassion and willingness to volunteer her unique skills and training to assist, none of this would have been possible. She did all of this out of the goodness of her heart – so that a dying mother could be there for her son's special event.

“Julie truly exceeded the spirit of service that day – and her heartfelt act of kindness will never be forgotten by that patient and her family,” said Sue Olivera, senior vice president of human resources. “We are so proud to have Julie in our Aultman family.”

This year’s event was attended by more than 800 employees, celebrating milestones ranging from five years to 45 years of service at the organization. In addition, a total of 20 “Keys to Success,” “Rising Star” and “Points of Caring” award recipients were honored during the recognition dinner.

Keys to Success awards are designed to recognize those individuals whose deeds or actions stand out to their peers as best representing Aultman to patients, employees, the medical staff, the board of directors and the community.

The following Aultman employees (listed with their department and hometown) received Keys to Success awards during the recognition dinner:

• Adenike Gbadebo, Emergency Department, of Akron
• Tim Newman, Integrated Health Collaborative, of East Sparta
• Bonnie Link, Aultman College, of Bolivar
• Karen Dudones, Memorial 4 South, of Akron
• Brandon Vacha, MICU, of Canton
• Jeff Fostyk, Pharmacy, of Canton
• Christian Spilios, AultCare Information Systems, of Alliance
• James Gerber, Central Service, of Canton

An additional eight Aultman employees received Rising Star awards. The Rising Star award recognizes employees with less than 10 years of service who show potential for advancement, enthusiasm in promoting Aultman and ways to improve services offered. The award recipients are:

• Katie Dirne, Aultman College, of Akron
• Brandi Harris, Aultman Hospital Med/Surg Dept., of Brewster
• Michael Ann Patrick, Intensivist Program, of Canton
• Jon Bishop, Finance, of North Canton
• Peter Casper, HR, of Stow
• Kristen Fano, CVSICU, of Canton
• Carissa Rothacher, AMG Revenue Management, of New Philadelphia
• Sarah Werntz, Aultman Orrville Hospital Med/Surg Dept., of Sterling

A total of four Points of Caring awards were handed out during the dinner, as well. The Points of Caring awards are Aultman’s excellence in patient care awards. The honorees exemplify the five characteristics of outstanding caregiving, or the Points of Caring: Compassion, Customer Service, Clinical Participation, Commitment and Community Involvement. These honorees consistently go above and beyond to demonstrate clinical excellence, and to exceed the expectations of the customers that they serve both internally and externally. The award categories and winners are:

• Individual Nurse: Monica Coventry, NICU, of North Canton
• Allied Health Professional: Brenda Fomich, Aultman Home Health, of Massillon
• Manager: Elizabeth Good-Knutson, Patient Experience, of Dalton
• Group: Code Rose, Aultman Behavioral Health Nurses