St. Mary’s Honors Three with our Highest Awards
February 17, 2022
By: Mark Ralston
Categories: Colleague Stories
Each year, St. Mary’s honors three members of our team with our system’s top awards.
Each year, St. Mary’s honors three members of our team with our system’s top awards. These recipients of our most prestigious honors are chosen by their peers for their outstanding commitment to St. Mary’s Mission and Core Values and their dedication to our patients, colleagues and the community.
We are proud to announce our 2021 Annual Awards recipients are:
- Iris Chandler, Pre-Registration Coordinator, Patient Access Services – Catherine McAuley Award for frontline staff
- Lynn Fernandez, Regional Manager, Patient Access Services – Edward J. Fechtel Jr. Excellence in Leadership Award for managers
- Phil Smith, Regional Director, Supply Chain Management – Sister Antonette Excellence in Leadership Award for directors
Before the pandemic, we presented our awards at our annual Tenure Banquet. Since large gatherings still are not safe, for the second year in a row we presented these awards in a virtual awards celebration on Wednesday. As part of the festivities, each recipient was surprised with a video of family, friends and colleagues sending their congratulations.
In addition, Iris, Lynn and Phil will each receive a plaque and a monetary token of appreciation.
They can also receive your words of appreciation! Simply click on the link in each of their profiles below to send words of congratulations.
“It is an honor and a privilege to serve with such dedicated and committed people,” Montez Carter, St. Mary’s President and CEO, said during the ceremony. “These recipients are truly outstanding, and it is a blessing to serve with each of you. Thank you for all you do for our ministry, our colleagues, our patients, and our community.”
Catherine McAuley Award
Iris Chandler
The award Iris received is named in honor of Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, women religious who have devoted their ministry to the care of those who are sick and vulnerable since 1831. The recipient is chosen from among the 12 colleagues who received St. Mary’s Spirit of Mercy Award over the previous year.
Iris shares Catherine McAuley’s spirit to serve the most vulnerable. She runs a nonprofit organization that stands tall in the community serving those who are less fortunate and in need. She is a licensed and ordained Pastor who brings all her leadership characteristics to our healthcare system. This is not a job for her – this is Ministry work, and she enjoys sharing resources to help employees and patients thrive to their fullest potential.
Iris joined St. Mary’s on Christmas Day 2011 and has been a gift to our ministry ever since. She has a rainbow spirit that makes everyone feel warm and fuzzy. She respects everyone regardless of race, shape, form or fashion and makes everyone feel important. She is a breath of fresh air with her positive attitude, even on the toughest days.
E. J. Fechtel Jr., Excellence in Leadership Award
Lynn Fernandez
The award presented to Lynn is named in honor of Edward J. Fechtel, Jr., a visionary leader who served as St. Mary’s President and CEO from 1966 to 1999.
Lynn was nominated by numerous leaders and members of her team. She is always looking forward to the future while learning from the past. She has a way of seeing things from all angles and finding a solution that works for all. And, she gives a sense of urgency to any problem she is confronted with and inspires her staff to get it done.
Lynn has created something truly special in Patient Access Services – and for proof of that you don’t need to look any farther than the fact that a member of her staff – Iris – is our Catherine McAuley Award recipient! A team like this doesn’t just happen. It’s built, day by day, with consistency, compassion, dedication and commitment. And that’s exactly what Lynn does.
Sister Antonette Excellence in Leadership Award
Phil Smith
The award presented to Phil is named in honor of Sr. Antonette Martinko, MSC, who served as Director of Nursing and then as Special Assistant to the President from 1966 to 2003.
Phil is a really good sport and an awesome director. He is always in the background, but our hospitals would literally be lost without his leadership and his team. Like many of us, he has been called to action in a big way throughout the Pandemic. Phil worked 7 days a week for months to be sure that our caregivers and support staff had the items they needed to continue to care for our patients and organization.
Phil's team are some of the most pleasant and enjoyable people to work with and you can't say that about a team unless they have a good leader. Phil will do anything he can to help another department or leader. As Dr. Howard Abney said when he founded the original Sr. Antonette Award in 1989, “An effective leader commits people to action, converts followers to leaders, and leaders to agents of change.” Phil is the definition of an effective leader.