Healthy Connections’ Sarah Thomas and Ann Calandro participated in the 2023 Go Red For Women Health Expo and Luncheon on May 10 in Benton.
Ann Calandro, Director of Pharmacy Services, and Sarah Thomas, Community Relations Specialist, at the Go Red For Women event.
This year’s theme was “Be the Beat For Someone You Love.”
The event spotlights the fight against heart disease and stroke and celebrates the passion and power of women in their fight against these silent and deadly diseases. More than 44 percent of women ages 20 and over are living with some form of cardiovascular disease which remains the leading cause of death in women.
Thomas is part of the 2023 Circle of Red, which makes commitments annually to support the Go Red For Women movement and serve as an ambassador for the cause.
The American Heart Association is committed to advancing its mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Together, we can encourage women to make life-saving lifestyle choices and learn how their family history plays a role in their ongoing health. Education and action can save mothers, best friends, and sisters everywhere. For more information on becoming a Circle of Red member, contact carmen.parks@heart.org.
Congratulations to our Healthy Connections Shining STAR Employees of the Month for March:
(DRUMROLL)
WEST: DEVIN GAGE
EAST: KIM BROWN
Each month across the Healthy Connections Community Health Network, exemplary employees are nominated for this award for representing our Three Pillars: Excellence, Compassion, and Community. These pillars are considered heavily when choosing winners.
As winners of this Shining STAR award, Devin and Kim are winners of a $50 gift card to the HC Hub Company Store.
Devin is a Registered Nurse at the Mena clinic. He joined Healthy Connections in 2019. Kim is a Patient Care Coordinator at the Little Rock Midtown clinic. She joined Healthy Connections in 2022. In their nominations, this is some of what their co-workers said about them:
- “Devin is great with the patients. He also is wonderful at training others. He has a lot of patience.”
- “Kim is kindhearted, calm, and respectful. When patients come in or even call, she does anything she can to help them the best she can.”
- “Devin is very helpful and patient. He ensures that the patients are taken care of. He takes the time to speak to them and answer all the questions that they ask.”
- “When it comes to helping patients Kim goes above and beyond. She takes her time and will not end a call until the issue has been resolved. She shows care with dealing with the patients and is very empathetic to their situations.”
Congratulations to both Devin and Kim.
Thanks again this month to everyone who nominated an employee. There were a lot of great nominations. Do you know who should be our next employees to be recognized? You can nominate them by visiting https://www.healthy-connections.org/nominate.
Healthy Connections, Inc., held a special event on Tuesday to celebrate the retirement of Director of Nursing Phyllis Cunningham.
She has spent the past 14 years with Healthy Connections and the past 32 years in nursing. She has been an amazing leader to us all and we wish her the best in the next chapter of her life.
“Kindness is so critical to our success and to making our workplace happy. I love Maya Angelou’s quote: ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ I’ve always tried to live by that,” Cunningham said. “I don’t know that I bring a lot of skill but I do try to bring that. Being kind and loving people and caring about people makes all of our work every day so much easier.”
Cunningham has been a part of tremendous growth for Healthy Connections in her 14 years with the organization. When she started, Healthy Connections had just two clinics – Mena and Mt. Ida. There are now 13 clinics in nine communities stretched from Little Rock to De Queen.
“From the staff and everyone at Healthy Connections, we want to let Phyllis know how much we appreciate you,” said Tony Calandro, CEO of Healthy Connections, Inc. “I think everyone is aware of how large we have gotten and Phyllis has gone along with the paces the entire time. In everything we have done, she has stepped up.”
Cunningham is known for her sense of humor and sayings that bring smiles to the faces of her co-workers. One of her favorites is, “We choose our attitude every single day.”
“This has been a great place. There are so many opportunities here,” Cunningham said.
Thanks, Phyllis for all you’ve done for our patients, co-workers, and communities.
Healthy Connections, Inc., is proud to announce the winner of the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award is Phyllis Cunningham.
Cunningham is the Director of Nursing for Healthy Connections, Inc., and has been with the organization since 2009. She is set to retire in 2023.
“Several years ago we began recognizing those members of the Healthy Connections team who have dedicated their efforts to the improvement and advancement of our company. Phyllis is an advocate for Healthy Connections and delivers our Mission and Vision on a daily basis,” said Tony Calandro, CEO of Healthy Connections. “She has been an inspiration to others and helped to shape Healthy Connections.”
See the complete list of 2022 Healthy Connections award winners at: www.healthy-connections.org/awards22.
Healthy Connections, Inc., is proud to announce the winner of the 2022 Distinguished Leadership Award is Susan Singleton.
Singleton is the Chief Financial Officer of Healthy Connections and joined the organization in 2019. Since then, she has been heavily involved in many areas and has proven to be a prominent leader.
“Susan is someone who has made an impact from the start and continues to make and influence every day,” said Tony Calandro, CEO of Healthy Connections. “She has stepped in where assistance and help is needed and provided guidance and direction for staff, managers, and the entire company. She has been instrumental in the continued development of Healthy Connections.”
See the complete list of 2022 Healthy Connections award winners at: www.healthy-connections.org/awards22.