Licking Memorial’s Michael Brazil Named Health Care Worker of the Year
OHA on Tuesday presented Licking Memorial Hospital’s Michael Brazil, an environmental service assistant, with the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year award. Brazil was one of 74 nominees who were honored at OHA’s Annual Meeting recognition dinner at the Hilton Columbus at Easton this week.
Brazil’s nominator said: “He is an exceptional health care worker who supports his coworkers, creates a productive and pleasant work environment, and inspires patients and visitors with his optimistic attitude. As a boy, he sustained a severe brain injury that left him with permanent right-sided body impairments. As a patient at Licking Memorial rehabilitation services, he worked to maximize his physical potential and was able to obtain a job.”
Brazil’s therapists then assisted in finding him a position in the Physical Therapy Department where he began working in 2007. “Every day, he overcomes physical challenges to perform his duties, including cleaning the treatment areas and equipment. He is motivated, extremely dependable, a positive role model for the staff and patients, and an integral part of the rehabilitation team,” said his nominator.
OHA also honored four other finalists for the statewide health care worker of the year award:
- Richard Paat, MD, clinical professor of medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center; chairman of Medical Missions for the Special Commission on Relief and Education, Mercy Health – Perrysburg Hospital (Perrysburg)
- Cheryl Royster, licensed independent social worker, Adena Fayette Medical Center (Washington Court House)
- Rachael Sammet, director of Nuclear Medicine, Kettering Health Main Campus (Dayton)
- Deborah Walsh, registered nurse, University Hospitals Home Care Services (Cleveland)
View a full list of nominees here.
