Monthly Co-Worker Newsletter of St. Joseph’s/Candler august 2025
SJ/C Launches New Websites
St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Marketing and Public Relations officially unveiled new designs for its three main websites: sjchs.org, sjcphysiciannetwork.com and cancerpavilion.com. The focus for each site is access, convenience and meeting the healthcare needs of everyone in our community.
The result is an elegant, modern look that invites patients and visitors to an online experience that is user-friendly and easy to navigate both on desktop and mobile versions. Some of the features of the new sites include an updated physician finder, a new look for the locations map and easy ways to request an appointment, contact the health system or sign up for a class.
Just as SJ/C uses advanced technology to treat patients, the new, slick design of our public-facing websites helps keep the health system’s digital presence on the cutting edge. Even if you have been on the new site a few times already, there is still quite a bit to explore. Co-workers are encouraged to browse around whenever they have a moment. If you encounter an error or have other helpful feedback, please email Senior Digital Marketing Specialist Jennifer Inabinett at mensterj@sjchs.org
moving forward
Lab Co-Worker Awarded For Outstanding Work
Congratulations to Carletha Durham Turman, MLS, for being named Medical Laboratory Scientist of the Year by American Medical Technologists (AMT). Turman works in the Core Lab at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She received the award at the AMT’s annual meeting in Pittsburgh last month. The AMT presents this award each year in recognition of “the continuous pursuit of scientific accomplishment in the profession of medical laboratory science.”
Mission Critical
Blankets for Cancer Patients in Bluffton & Hilton Head
The Subaru dealership in Hilton Head teamed up with the local chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to donate special blankets to patients undergoing infusion and radiation therapy at SJ/C’s Bluffton and Hilton Head Island practices. The blankets, which also convert into pillows, came with care packages that included thoughtful gifts like coloring books to help patients pass the time.
This partnership has become a yearly tradition for Subaru and LLS, hoping to convey to our patients that they are cared for and supported on their cancer journey.
Angels Pack Food for Elderly Citizens
America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia hosts volunteer events to help sort and package food for at-risk populations, and the Angels of Mercy were there last month to lend a hand. Despite the July heat, the Angels and other volunteers packed 1,800 grocery bags with nutritious foods to supplement the diets of seniors in need. Senior citizens can be particularly vulnerable to hunger at the end of the month when their funds are depleted by medication and housing costs.
MCG Students Host Teddy Bear Clinic
Second-year students at the Medical College of Georgia –Savannah Campus (MCG) stopped by The Children's House last month with a very special offer: to give check-ups to the children's teddy bears and other stuffed animals. They invited the kids to join them and help with checking their teddies' eyes, ears, and bodies to make sure everything was A-OK. The kids had a blast and were happy to report clean bills of health all around.
“Our goal is to help children understand that medical visits don't have to be unfamiliar or scary,” said Akshara Jayaraman, an MD candidate at MCG who organized the clinic. “This way, they get to join in and be caregivers too.”
The clinic also gave the MCG students a chance to connect and communicate with children and to explain medical concepts in age-appropriate terms.
“Volunteer events expose us to different fields,” Jayaraman said. “And I can say after being with those adorable kiddos, a couple more of us are leaning towards pediatrics.”
(magnet nurses in touch)
Congratulations to our latest DAISY Award winner, Amanda Lewis. She is a nurse on PCU at Candler Hospital. She has actually received multiple nominations! Here are just a few of the great comments from patients and families:
“Amanda not only gave excellent care to my husband, she made certain of my needs. Always a pep in her step and a huge smile on her face.”
“Amanda was an absolute angel. She provided so much compassion and support and made us laugh as well.”
“It warms my heart to see an old-fashioned caring nurse. I can feel her compassion and dedication to her patients. My mom and I felt a sense of warmth and comfort when she walked into the room. I felt at ease leaving my mom in her care. She deserves a thank you for being outstanding!”
By Alicia Motley, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC Director, Professional Practice, Specialty Services & Infection Control, Magnet Program Director
It's inspiring to see how the dedication of one of our team can elevate the patient experience repeatedly. Congratulations Amanda!
SJ/C Presents First Two TULIP Awards
Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are a vital and essential part of high-quality care. St. Joseph’s/Candler established the TULIP Award to recognize this role, especially when it makes a notable impact on a patient.
TULIP represents the following qualities:
Thoughtful: Goes beyond providing excellent care and supports an unforgettable experience for patients/family.
Unforgettable: Demonstrates skills aligned with the coworker compact and delivers compassionate care.
Lasting: Lives out St. Joseph's/Candler mission, vision and values.
Impact: Serves as an exemplary model to other nursing assistants and peers a like.
Patient Care: Demonstrates a kind and thoughtful attitude towards patients, families and co-workers.
Nominations for the TULIP award can be submitted by patients and family members or fellow co-workers.
Congratulations to the first two co-workers to receive this award: Angel Lane, a PCT on 7 South at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Kendra White, a PCT on 4 North at Candler Hospital.
Youth Volunteers Learn About SJ/C Workforce While Helping Others
Hospitals have welcomed teenage volunteers during the summer break for decades, harking back to the days of "candy stripers." This nickname arose from the distinctive red-and-white striped uniforms youth volunteers once wore. Though the uniforms have changed, the programs have endured because the benefits are two-fold: teens gain invaluable life skills, career insights, and personal growth, while hospitals receive much-needed support, enhance patient care, and foster a connection with the next generation of potential healthcare workers.
These benefits were clear to Ella Arthur, Jillian Schmid, and Elise Stuchell, who spent almost two months volunteering in different departments across the health system.
"Getting to talk to people and assist them has been really fun," said Ella Arthur, who will start at St. Vincent’s Academy this fall. "There is so much communication, and people want your opinion. It’s been a great experience."
Arthur heard about the program through her mother, Sarah Mankin, an Education Specialist for SJ/C. Besides spending time in Physical Therapy, Arthur also provided significant help at the Candler Hospital Gift Shop.
"I would definitely do this again," she said.
Jillian Schmid, who is headed into her sophomore year at Savannah Country Day School, was excited about the program because she already plans for a career in medicine, possibly in dermatology.
"I was looking for something I could do at my age that
would get me involved in the medical field," she said. "This way I could test my interest. I love this program because I’ve been able to do so many different things. I’m on the Rehab floor at Candler, and I didn’t know I’d be interested in it, but it’s been great."
Schmid said the SJ/C co-workers she worked with have been gracious and welcoming.
"Everyone here is so nice," she said. "They seem to really love that we are here to help."
Elise Stuchell appreciated the advice co-workers were willing to share.
"The co-workers in OB/GYN would tell me about their careers and how they found them, and they would ask me about what I thought I might want to do," she said.
Stuchell will be a senior this fall at Savannah Arts Academy. She joined the volunteer program to learn more about the workforce and what it might be like to work in a hospital.
"There are a bunch of different areas that you can work in," she said. "You can do more hands-on assisting with the nurses, or you can help in the offices. You get to see every little moving part. I knew it would be a good experience."
(L-R) SJ/C Volunteers: Ella Arthur Jillian Schmid, and Elise Stuchell.
Angel Lane, PCT
Kendra White, CNA
welcome to St. Joseph’s/Candler!
Please join us in welcoming the following new co-workers to the St. Joseph’s/Candler family:
Brianna Aldrich | ICU, Candler
Isabelle Anderson | Telfair BirthPlace
London Anderson Cardiac Care Unit
Dane Anthony | Cardiac Care Unit
April Bailey | Dietary Svcs., St. Joseph’s
Mallory Barrett | Emerg. Dept., Candler
Denisse Berrios | Adv. Thoracic Oncology Ctr.
Mary Black | Occupational Health
Jerlean Brackbill | ICU, Candler
Maggie Breckenridge | Ultrasound, St. Joseph’s
Coralie Brice | Telfair BirthPlace
Cynthia Brown Lab. Outreach Svcs., St. Joseph’s
Destinie Brown Physical Ther., Candler
Karleigh Buchan | Speech Ther., Candler
Janeace Buckingham-Bluma | Path. Lab, St. Joseph’s
Michelle Castillo | Float Team
Aria Chatman | Nuclear Medicine, St. Joseph’s
Sharon Cheesman | Prog. Care Unit, St. Joseph’s
Ramon Crawford | Operating Rm., Candler
Samantha Czech | Diagn. Radiology, Candler
Alexandra Deaton | Prog. Care Unit, St. Joseph’s
Kintria Delgado ENT
Naudtia Duncan | SJ/C Physician Network
Kathy Dust | Emerg. Dept., St. Joseph’s
Nicole East | Ultrasound, St. Joseph’s
Sienna Elder | Medical Staff Svcs.
Kelly Farrell Wayne Medical Oncology
Jamell Fireall | Patient Reg., Candler
Michele Fournier | Prog. Care Unit, St. Joseph’s
Kameron Francis | Pharm. Residents, Candler
David Furbert | Dietary Svcs., St. Joseph’s
Jessica Gentry | Ultrasound, St. Joseph’s
Sierra Gilliard | OB/GYN
Jamie Gilmore | 6 South
Dyonn'a Golson Physical Ther., Candler
Jawanna Gooddine Patient Reg., Candler
Lawanna Grant | Prog. Care Unit, St. Joseph’s
Gwyneth Green | 5 South, St. Joseph’s
Kimberly Hall | Emerg. Dept., Candler
Latronia Hall | St. Joseph's Cardiology
Ashley Hannah | Pharm. Residents, Candler
Lori Harden | Emerg. Dept., St. Joseph’s
Charles Heard | Envr. Svcs., Candler
Justin Heitmeyer | Plant Ops., St. Joseph’s
Taylor Hewitt | Pharm. Residents, Candler
Carol Hodge | Specialty Phys. Rev. Cycle
Mahogany Houston | Prog. Care Unit, St. Joseph’s
Harley James Emerg. Dept., Candler
Cemila Jaremka | ICU, St. Joseph’s
Yolanda Jinks | Dietary Svcs., St. Joseph’s
Jasmine Johnson | Surg. Oncology
Nigel Johnson | Envr. Svcs., Candler
Chelsea Keedy | Pharm., Candler
Caitlin Kitchens | Home Health - Hinesville
Bockarie Kobba | Purch. & Dist., Candler
Cindy Lairscy Duehring | TCU, Candler
Taylor Langford | Ultrasound, Candler
Karen Leininger Inf. Oncology, Bluffton
Teresa Lockett | Amb. Surg. Svcs., St. Joseph’s
Kendall Lynes | Anesthesiology, St. Joseph’s
Nicole Martinez | Emerg. Dept., St. Joseph’s
Anna Massey | Nuclear Medicine, St. Joseph’s
Ashley Maxwell | Diagn. Radiology, Candler
august birthdays
1 Akierra Amburgey
Aariel Dees
Virginia Frick
Renee Fritz
Precious McCalebb
Arcola Mccaskey
Robert
Ebony
2
Dioresil Bacay
Brianna Davis
Zoanne Harlas
Brittany Hartl
Alyssa Hubmeier
Ashley O'Neal
Charles O'Neal
Jacob South
Cheryl Sprague
A'Sha Thorpe
4
Afifa Abdelqader
Ambar Ayala-Rivera
Marietta Brown
Delana Carter
Crystal Dixon
Amel Komic
Anneliese Primrose
Carol Stille
Idell Tate
Deborah Walton
Cristen Wood
Toby McIntire 2 North, Candler
Stephanie McKeever | Clin. Care Coordination
Jacqueline Mcmillian | Primary Care - Islands
Kristopher Meade | 5 South, St. Joseph’s
Belen Mendoza Operating Rm., Candler
Brithney Milien | Surg. Oncology
Kyle Mitchell | Emerg. Dept., St. Joseph’s
Shamekia Moore | Pastoral Care, Candler
Joshua Morehouse | Emerg. Dept., St. Joseph’s
Madison Morgan | Speech Ther., St. Joseph’s
Katie Moss | Diagn. Radiology, St. Joseph’s
Karen Muller | Surg. Svcs., Pooler Campus
Angel Nicholson | Health Information Mgmt.
Destiny Oliver | Interventional Radiology
Brittany Outland Ins./Payment Verification
Emily Padgett | Operating Rm., St. Joseph’s
Chanel Paris | Emerg. Dept., St. Joseph’s
Emily Patselas | Neuro ICU
Carlee Pergerson | Emerg. Dept., Candler
Anh Pham | Pharm., St. Joseph’s
Gracelyn Phillips | Diagn. Radiology, Candler
Misha Pinckney | Dietary Svcs., St. Joseph’s
Rhonda Polk | Telfair BirthPlace
Bambi Potter | Specialty Phys. Rev. Cycle
Jamila Qualls | Histology / Cytology
Layla Ray | Adv. Thoracic Oncology Ctr.
Mickayla Reid | South, St. Joseph’s
Kaley Rosenbaum | 6 North, Candler
Alba Ruiz | Specialty Phys. Rev. Cycle
Charve Sampson Neurology
Samantha Saraceno Pharm. Residents, Candler
Tuesday Scott | LCRP
Catherine Otero
Maddison Shadle Specialty Phys. Rev. Cycle
Zachary Shaw | Purch. & Dist., Candler
Madeline Sheldon SJ/C Physician Network
Makari Simmons | Envr. Svcs., Candler
Myla Simmons | Dietary Svcs., St. Joseph’s
James Smith | Occupational Health
Lilli Snow Human Resources
Breanne Soto | OB/GYN
Alura Spaulding | Diagn. Radiology, Candler
Cassandra Sweat | Health Information Mgmt.
Denise Tamayo Specialty Phys. Rev. Cycle
Clarissa Thaw | Emerg. Dept., St. Joseph’s
Enniesha Thompson | 4 North, St. Joseph’s