Staff who gathered for the Employee of the Year announcement in the dining room at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital were surprised when two winners were announced – Colleen Getty, clinics medical assistant, and Kelsey Lovejoy, CT special imaging tech.
This was the first time two recipients were selected for the hospital’s top honor. Each one received a blown glass float created with the Samaritan colors of blue and gold, a framed certificate of appreciation and a generous monetary gift.
Those who were selected as Employee of the Month throughout 2023 were in the running for Employee of the Year, with voting open to all Samaritan hospital and clinic employees in North Lincoln County. During the surprise presentation on Tuesday, March 19, hospital CEO Lesley Ogden, MD, and COO Virginia Riffle created a bit of humor, pretending to disagree about who should announce the winner. Usually, it is Dr. Ogden, but Riffle argued that because she is retiring in April, she should be the one to make the announcement. They amicably agreed to give two awards so they each could present. In actuality, there was a tie vote that resulted in two winners.
About the winners
Kelsey Lovejoy was hired in August 2006 as a radiologic tech and was promoted to her current position of CT special imaging tech in October 2014. She was named Employee of the Month in June, with several nominations in praise of her positive attitude, excellent interactions with patients and her enthusiastic promotion of the hospital as being an excellent employer.
Colleen Getty was hired in September 2020 as a medical office receptionist at Samaritan Coastal Clinic. A few months later, she started a medical assistant apprenticeship, becoming a certified medical assistant/registered medical assistant in December 2022. She is a “specialty float” which means she is willing and able to work when and where assistance is needed at the clinics, including general surgery, orthopedics, podiatry and women’s health. She was named Employee of the Month in November and nominations praised her amazing work ethics and positive attitude.
