Shining STARS: Celebrating One Year
Pictured: Cathy Filkins celebrates her STAR employee recognition award with coworkers Pat Sciuto (left) and Hope Barry (right) at Strawberry Hill Primary Care.
As the employee recognition program marks its one-year-anniversary, we reflect on successes over the past 12 months and look ahead to an enhanced program kicking off in July.
On a recent Friday in March, Cape Cod Healthcare team members at Strawberry Hill Primary Care gathered gleefully in the break room awaiting the arrival of their coworker and receptionist Cathy Filkins.
As she walked into the room, cheers and laughter erupted. Filkins was overjoyed and surprised by the dozen faces that greeted her. Filkins was nominated for and ultimately won a STAR award for going above and beyond in her role by demonstrating her commitment to Service, Teamwork, Accountability and Respect. On the nomination form, Filkins is described as “a dream coworker” and “patients are lucky to have her to advocate for them.” Filkins has “a calming effect to help others.” Filkins received balloons, a STAR lanyard and a $100 gift card.
Scenes like this one have played out in clinical offices, conference rooms and cafeterias across CCHC over the past year. Since the launch of the first organization-wide monthly employee recognition program a year ago in March, nearly 600 team members have been nominated by peers or managers. The nominees are then reviewed and discussed by a committee comprised of 12 employees throughout Cape Cod Healthcare.
Over the past year a total of 60 (five per month) were awarded the STAR title. Winners were announced via screensavers, TV screens, the intranet and social media.
“There has been so much enthusiasm around the program and celebration at these events by a broad group of team members,” says Bridget Torres, Organizational and Professional Development Consultant for Cape Cod Healthcare. “We want to build on that and take this to a higher level in July, where we can have a greater celebration of employees and the acknowledgement there are many shining stars in our organization. Everyone walks down the red carpet every day. Everyone is a star.”
Beginning in April, the program will move from a monthly to an enhanced, celebratory event every quarter. Here are additional details:
- Peers and supervisors can submit nominations from April to June.
- The STAR committee will continue to travel to winners’ locations to present 15 individual awards each quarter.
- The first quarterly recognition event will feature a red-carpet celebration the first week of July at Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital. The goal is to celebrate all of our shining stars.
- Coming soon: CCHC teams will be recognized with a traveling STAR Team award.
- Watch for members of the STAR committee as they travel throughout the system to hand out “STAR swag” to thank everyone for their commitment and hard work.
We hope you enjoy clicking through the slideshow of photos of winners and team celebrations in 2024 (click on arrow at right below; on mobile, swipe left).
To view winners and team celebrations from 2023, visit STAR Sharepoint site
Yira Castillo, Jeff Sullivan and Madison Lewis celebrated EVS team member Tony Guglielmo’s STAR award this week in the Lorusso Boardroom at Cape Cod Hospital.
Tony’s coworkers, supervisors, colleagues and many others, including those attending the new employee orientation session, enthusiastically joined in on the surprise celebration.
The Strawberry Hill Primary Care team surprised March STAR award winner Cathy Filkins (center) with a special gathering in the break room earlier this month.
Strawberry Hill Primary Care receptionists Pat Sciuto (left) and Hope Barry (right) celebrate Cathy Filkins (center), one of the STAR award recipients in March.
Catarina Hegner, Communications Specialist for Interpreter Services, is a March STAR award recipient
Catarina Hegner of Interpreter Services is joined by STAR committee members and her coworkers in the ER at Cape Cod Hospital.
Jose “Ricardo” Novoa Hormaza, Engagement Specialist Case Manager at Cape Cod Human Services, is all smiles after receiving a STAR award in March.
“Ricardo” is congratulated by his team at Cape Cod Human Services and STAR committee members.
Glenn Kavanaugh, a Medical Assistant in Pain Management at Cape Cod Hospital, was named a STAR recipient in February.
Rebecca Crowley, Ambulatory Clinical Operations Director, was named a STAR recipient in February.
Michelle Demers, a courier for Central Distribution Center, was named a STAR recipient in February.
Laurie Kjoller, a social worker for Neurologists of Cape Cod, was named a STAR recipient in February.
Heather Malcomson, NP, Strawberry Hill Primary Care, was named a STAR recipient in February.
Aaron Dickstein, MD, ER/Gastroenterology at Cape Cod Hospital, was named a STAR recipient in January.
Katie Suddard, RN for MACC, was named a STAR recipient in January.
Linda Oliva, a hospice aide for McCarthy Care Center, was named a STAR recipient in January.
Maria Goncalves, Environmental Service Aide, was named a STAR recipient in January.
Nicole Clark, Nutrition Support Coordinator, was named a STAR recipient in January.
