Alliance Health and Human Services takes great pride in honoring its dedicated employees through the prestigious John Corridan Compassion Award. Named after John F. Corridan III, a compassionate leader and co-founder of Alliance Health, this award acknowledges individuals who embody the spirit of care and humanity in their service to those residing in Alliance Health facilities. Now in its 19th year, the award continues to recognize the outstanding contributions of employees who have demonstrated exceptional compassion and commitment at our Skilled Nursing Facilities.
About the Award:
The John Corridan Compassion Award pays homage to John F. Corridan III, whose legacy in government, health care, and human services left an indelible mark on the field of care. This annual award is bestowed upon at least three individuals engaged in providing service or care within Alliance Health facilities. Eligible candidates must be regular full or part-time employees with a minimum of one year of service at an Alliance facility.
The Board of Directors, in collaboration with Alliance staff and facility managers, carefully selects the award recipients. The ceremony to honor these exceptional individuals takes place annually in November at each Alliance Health facility. Recipients are presented with an engraved symbolic award along with a $500 check, acknowledging their outstanding contributions to the well-being of those they serve.
Celebrating the 19th Year:
This year marks the 19th anniversary of the John Corridan Compassion Award. The ceremonies have recently concluded at Alliance Health’s Skilled Nursing Facilities, and there were 7 Winners spread out across 7 Communities.
Meet the Deserving 2023 Winners:
Vanessa Hunt, Interim Director of Nursing
Alliance Health at Baldwinville
Meet Vanessa:
Vanessa began her work at Baldwinville 8 years ago as a Certified Nursing Assistant! She has held multiple positions in that time, and, with our gratitude, she is now serving as the Interim Director of Nursing. With a resounding “YES,” both leadership and her peers enthusiastically and proudly nominated Vanessa for this Award as deserving of this recognition.
Vanessa has a nice story! After starting her career here as a C.N.A., she went through nursing school and became a nurse on the 3-11 shift. She has consistently been a pivotal figure as she moved on from being a Floor Nurse to being a Unit Manager, MDS, Assistant Director of Nursing and has for a second time, performed as the Interim Director of Nursing! She has always risen to the call to step up and assist during staff vacancies of greater responsibility and has performed admirably each time.
She is someone that truly cares for both the residents and the staff who care for them. She is outgoing and an excellent communicator. She takes the time and, with great care, speaks with the residents and their families to gain better insight into their conditions and how to best resolve any issues at hand. With her wonderful sense of humor, she can lighten any difficult moment and offer assurance with all involved.
She is an ultimate “team player” and has gained respect of all staff. She not only excels at teaching staff procedures and communicating expectations, she is seen as compassionate and reasonable with her staff. She is fair and does her best to understand her coworkers and their situations and offers help or advice if warranted. Being a C.N.A., she knows the day-to-day struggles that job entails. She jumps in any time to help whenever there is a need, and importantly, does it always with a SMILE and a THANK YOU. Because of her varied multi-level experience and knowledge, she is often the “go to” person for any questions or just when seeking advice.
She has the admiration and respect of not only the residents and her coworkers, but of leadership in administration in and outside of the building. She is viewed as not only an asset for the residents and staff in the building, but to Alliance as a whole. A grateful coworker wrote, “she treats both the residents and staff with respect that everyone deserves in the utmost professional manner – something we have all grown to love about Vanessa.”
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Alliance Health & Human Services it is an honor to present Vanessa Hunt with the 2023 John Corridan Compassion Award. Congratulations Vanessa and thank you!
Clerveau Honore, CNA
Alliance Health at Braintree
Meet Clerveau:
Clerveau has been a Certified Nursing Assistant for 25 years! It has been the good fortune of both the residents and staff of Alliance Health of Braintree that he has worked here caring for others in need for the last 20 of those years.
The Braintree leadership overwhelmingly supported his nomination, and he had a “groundswell” of support from his peers and fellow CNAs. Ten of his fellow staff members from various departments were nominated by the leadership team. Many of those nominations for each candidate were compelling and heartfelt. Clerveau garnered the most votes than all the nominees combined, and his kindness was a recurring theme.
Clerveau is a model C.N.A. that anyone would want to have by their side! Described as a soft spoken and gentle man with a becoming smile and calming presence, Clerveau works the 3-11 shift on a floor with a fair share of residents with dementia who sundown. A member of the leadership team wrote, “he has that knack that only comes
with years of experience to calm and reassure disoriented or agitated patients.” Also, he added, “He’s the guy that goes to the situation not away from it.”
His work ethic is regarded by his peers as a hardworking, tireless “team player” who takes pride in his work. Both long term staff and newly hired staff think of him as a reliable and dedicated coworker who will go out of his way to assist his fellow aides and nurses. He does so whether it is to assist with a simple boost of an unassigned patient or orienting new staff to their surroundings and introducing them to their newly assigned resident – explaining the resident’s routine, where they dine, likes and dislikes and schedule. Each day he consistently performs his work with a kind, pleasant manner and is respectful to both staff, residents, and everyone he encounters.
Fondly, Clerveau has acquired a few known nicknames such as Shamu, Lafleur and St. Anthony to name a few and he answers to all of them with a “smile.” He strives to make his residents, safe, happy, and comfortable. An example of how his kindness impacts residents was best described in a letter of appreciation by a family member following the passing of one of his resident’s. They wrote, in part… “One of the C.N.A.’s she called St. Anthony, he did not mind that she did not call him by his name. St. Anthony always made sure Mom made it to her meals on time or that her meals were hot when she ate them in her room. He always made an effort to check in on her and see if she needed anything. Mom’s favorite patron saint was St. Anthony, I know she nicknamed him appropriately.”
By all accounts Clerveau embodies the spirit of this Award and is a shining example of the traits of humanity we hope are demonstrated all throughout the Alliance community. Being well deserved, on behalf of the Board of Directors for Alliance Health & Human Services it is honor to present Clerveau with the John Corridan Compassion Award. Congratulations Clerveau and thank you!
Jennifer Payton, Scheduler
Alliance Health at Maples
Meet Jenn:
It was with immense honor that the leadership team at Maples nominated Jennifer, or “Jenn” as she is called, for this Award. She is the Scheduler of the nursing staff of this 144-bed facility. She has been employed at Maples for two years. The role of Scheduler is critical to the successful operations of the facility and is known as one of the most difficult jobs. Despite the overwhelming staffing issues that all our facilities face, Jenn has successfully overcome the odds of making sure that residents have the required consistent nursing care to provide the best care for residents.
On any given day, weekend or Holiday, Jenn performs a constant balancing act juggling staff “call outs” and finding willing staff to cover extra shifts. She performs this role admirably and makes it all work, which is no small feat. She is careful not to overburden staff willing to work extra shifts and considers their need for personal time and family responsibilities – all while ensuring that staff safety and safety and the needs of residents are met.
Referred to as the “lone ranger,” Jenn keeps shooting nurse agency hours down each week. She has been part of the facility’s achievement in the amazing reduction of agency usage from almost 700 hours a week to an average of 100 hours. She has been instrumental with the conversion of agency staff usage to staff status to ensure our residents see more regular faces. Having this consistency enhances relationships among co-workers, residents, and their families – which makes residents feel safer, comforted, and cared for. Things all residents deserve.
The Maples leadership considers Jenn to be a fabulous employee, a huge asset to the facility and very deserving of this award recognition. Maples anticipates having an agency free facility in the next couple of months and they are excited to have Jenn as part of their winning team.
On behalf of the Alliance Health Board of Directors, it is an honor to present Jenn with the John Corridan Compassion Award for 2023. Congratulations Jennifer!
Mary Scott, Cook
Alliance Health at Marie Esther
Meet Mary:
Mary began her employment over two years ago here at Marie Esther as a Dietary Aide and is now in a training program to be a Cook! The leadership team wholeheartedly nominated Mary for this award as she is thought of as committed to providing her very best to both residents and staff each day with a kind and gentle spirit.
She aims to please! With Mary’s compassionate nature, the residents look forward to her interaction in the kitchen and in the dining room. She consistently does everything in her power to make the food experience as comforting and satisfying as possible. Mary pays close attention to their unique preferences including their likes and dislikes, and just the right portion size they prefer.
Mary is resourceful! She works very well with all staff and has garnered the respect of both residents and staff who have the pleasure of working with her. She oversees the function of special events and works hard to ensure that they go off “without a hitch.” With her keen eye for detail, Mary rises to the occasion and sees to it that all preparations are completed correctly and presented well in the best way possible to everyone’s satisfaction. Her presence consistently promotes a positive experience for both the residents and staff.
She is considered a loyal and dedicated “team player” who readily volunteers to lend a hand to her coworkers when needed. This is especially appreciated when she has assisted in covering shifts when staff have called out. Her generous and willing spirit contributes greatly to her team’s objectives to be successful. Gratefully, for us, during a difficult transition period between Food Service Directors, Mary remained faithful to her position. With her steadfast loyalty to the residents, Mary ensured that the kitchen successfully provided its best for the needs of the residents.
Mary embodies the spirit of this Award as she strives to enhance the quality of life on any given day for both residents and staff and is deserving of this recognition. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Alliance Health and Human Services it is an honor to present Mary Scott with the 2023 John Corridan Compassion Award. Congratulations and thank you Mary!
Patricia “Patti” Comoletti, Diet Aide
Alliance Health at Marina Bay
Meet Patti:
Patricia, or “Patti” as she is known to be called, has been a diet aide and prep cook for 38 years! She started at Neponset Circle Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in 1985 and, when the license to operate was transferred to Alliance, she transitioned to a brand-new building that opened in 2000 to what is now known as Alliance Health at Marina Bay.
The leadership at Marina Bay overwhelmingly nominated Patti for this Award as they found it surprising that Patti has never received this recognition due to her unwavering commitment to residents, staff and to the success of the kitchen in making residents happy.
Patti is a brightly communicative “team player” who unites her coworkers every day. She takes special care to support new employees during their learning process to help guarantee their success and makes safety a priority. In between the transition of Food Service Directors, Patti stepped up and never faltered with her absolute dedication to her employment. When the new Food Service Director began her new job here, Patti was instrumental in assisting her in getting the kitchen up running again. She offered her honest thoughts of what it would take to succeed.
Patti “sets the standard” for all staff to rise to the occasion as she does each day. Her strong work ethic is undeniable! She is hard-working and incredibly organized with attention to detail. Her devotion to the cleanliness of the kitchen is very impactful to the department. Patti has been a contributing leader in the fantastic survey outcomes during Department of Public Health and other governmental inspections. She is always willing to help when and where she is needed. This includes any special events the facility is involved in. Patti goes the extra mile to ensure that events go off without a hitch and enthusiastically creates a vision for the layout, food design and final presentation.
The “residents come first” for Patti. Above ALL that she brings to her work is her dedication for each resident and seeing to it that they get what they need. She aims to please and does so wholeheartedly with her great attention to detail in making sure every resident gets what they requested, ordered, or prefer and that no mistakes are made. The residents all look to Patti!
Patti embodies the spirit of this Award by her positive contributions that make a caring environment for both residents and staff and a place to want to live and work in each day. We are blessed and grateful that Patti has chosen to work at Alliance.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Alliance Health & Human Services, it is an honor to present Patti with the 2023 John Corridan Compassion Award. Congratulations and thank you Patti!
Maryann Harvey, Activities Assistant
Alliance Health at Rosewood
Meet Maryann:
Maryann Harvey has been working at Rosewood for the past two years as an Activities Assistant and considered a dedicated employee who has been changing the lives of both residents and staff with her kindness and generosity. The leadership at Rosewood wholeheartedly nominated her for this Award. This is what they had to say.
After a career in the Event Planning industry working as a director of many reputable companies on the North Shore, Maryann pivoted to the world of long-term skilled nursing care. From her experience, she brings her bright and calming personality and a keen eye for décor. She can turn even the smallest “dollar bin” decoration in the gift store into a room changing masterpiece!
Through Maryann’s decorating activity group, she makes residents feel involved and empowered in the process of decorating their “own home.” She and the residents make beautiful bouquets for the residents’ rooms and commons areas around the building. Volunteering her time to obtain donated flowers from a local grocery store, Maryann spends an incredible amount of time sorting through those flowers to ensure her residents have only the best to choose from. She tailors decorating to the abilities of each specific resident so that everyone feels they have made meaningful contributions and have enjoyed the activity. This gives the residents immeasurable pride in their work.
Never hesitating to assist or help make residents more comfortable. She knows the residents on a deep level, and has daily conversations directed toward their interests to keep them engaged in their daily activities. She understands the emotions the residents are feeling and knows when they need someone to hold their hand. She is a “team player” as she notices when other departments need help and never hesitates to lend a hand.
She has earned the respect of her co-workers. Her determination to remain faithful to her residents during her own difficult personal loss was so inspiring to staff that many of them sprung to assist her to provide whatever support she needed to help with the residents. Her residents come first; she was heard saying, “I need them, and they need me.” I don’t want to miss too much without them.”
On holidays, Maryann goes the extra mile and is the first person to arrive to ensure that the residents have a great experience. She has been known to dress up as a turkey for Thanksgiving, wear all RED for Valentine’s Day, serve lobster rolls on Mother’s Day and has had a basket for each resident on Easter. She is always gracious during busy times, and her behavior inspires the rest of Rosewood to be more compassionate.
Maryann embodies the true spirit of this Award in making Rosewood feel like “home” for the residents and promotes a “caring” environment for staff to come to work each day. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Alliance Health and Human Services, it is an honor to present Maryann with the 2023 John Corridan Compassion Award. Congratulations and thank you Maryann!
Manuel (Manny) Monteiro, CNA
Alliance Health at West Acres
Meet Manny:
Since Migrating from Cape Verde over 35 years ago, Manny has only worked 2 jobs, first as a supervisor for an industrial laundry facility and then as a CNA at West Acres. He has been at West Acres for almost 20 years! The word that comes to mind in describing Manny is Advocate. He will be the first to notify the nursing or rehabilitation staff that his resident has had a change in status and then follows through with their recommendations, making sure his residents are walked or have the adaptive equipment they need.
He stands up for what is right, not what is easy. Manny sees each resident as his family and does what it takes to make sure that his residents are taken care of in the way that he takes care of his loved ones. This is especially true with “difficult” residents for which he always finds just the right approach to manage their care. This may take the form of assisting the nursing staff in giving resistive residents their medications by going in and talking with them, often in Cape Veridian or preparing special food for residents that do not eat enough and are losing weight.
One can observe Manny on the unit, sitting and chatting with a resident about sports, helping a resident save pictures on their phone sent from a family member, assisting a co-worker without question, or joking around with a resident. He makes the residents feel loved and his residents love him and are always happy to see him. For example, when a female resident recently returned from a surgery, she was SO happy to see him in the hall that she reached for him for a hug, grabbed his hand, and told him that she loved him. Manny sees his residents always as people, not a task or a checklist. He treats his residents with tender loving care and fearlessly stands up for what he feels is right to make sure his residents’ needs are met.
The leadership team wholeheartedly nominated Manny for this Award. Alliance Health at West Acres residents and staff are very fortunate to have Manny working here as a CNA. On behalf of the Alliance Health Board of Directors, it is a great pleasure an honor to present Manny Monteiro with the John Corridan Compassion Award. Congratulations and thank you Manny!
Congratulations to all of our 2023 Nominees and Winners!
As Alliance Health and Human Services celebrates the 19th year of the John Corridan Compassion Award, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to this year’s deserving winners. Their dedication, compassion, and commitment to providing exceptional care embody the values that John F. Corridan III held dear. Alliance Health remains grateful for the remarkable contributions of its employees, and we look forward to continuing this tradition of recognizing excellence in compassionate care for many years to come.