Complete this form to nominate an individual or organization for the Lehigh Valley Business’ Health Care Heroes 2023 event. All fields are required.

To be eligible for this award, the winner must be located in the Lehigh Valley region at the time of judging.

Nominations are due February 19, 2023.

*Please note that starting in 2023 nominations cost $20. 

Allied Health Hero

Erin Collins Barron, BSN, RN, CPN, MHA
Allentown Health Bureau

Community Outreach Hero

Heather L Clark, DNP, RN
Penn State University

Thomas Fraind
Transform Rehabilitation

Christina J Graham
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center

MaryEllen (Mel) Shiels
Allentown Health Bureau

COVID-19 Hero

Lauren Grantz
Lehigh Valley Health Network

Elizabeth Page
HNL Lab Medicine

Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit
(MSICU) at Lehigh Valley Health
Network, Cedar Crest Campus

Health Professional Hero

Comfort Agbortoko
New Vitae Wellness and Recovery

Leigh Ehrlich, CPA, CHFP, MBA
Lehigh Valley Health Network

Lifetime Achievement Hero

Cathy Leffler
HNL Lab Medicine

Nurse Hero

Jennifer Green
Fellowship Community

Melissa Hosni, RN, BSN
Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg

Maureen McDonough, MSN, CEN
Lehigh Valley Health Network

Lois Wade, MSN, RN, CDCES, NPE-C
Reading Hospital/Tower Health

Physician Hero

Alex N. Benjamin, M.D.
Lehigh Valley Health Network

Therapeutic Care Provider

Devin McLaughlin, PTA
Robbins Rehabilitation East

Volunteer Hero

Theresa ‘Terrie’ Graczyk
Lehigh Valley Health Network

Workplace Wellness Hero

Lehigh Valley Health Network

East Penn Manufacturing, Co.

City of Allentown Human Resources Department

Advancements in Innovation and Health Care

Fellowship Community

Lehigh Valley Health Network

Health Care Specialties Hero

Vicky Kistler, MEd Allentown Health Bureau

Jennifer A. Janco, MD St. Luke’s University Health Network

Tracy Roman, RN, MBA, NHA Phoebe Ministries

Kristy Pereira, PT, Cert. MDT Robbins Rehabilitation East

Jacqueline Labenberg, MT-BC Music Therapy Associates

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network

Community Outreach/Education Hero

Leonardo Claros, MD St. Luke’s University Health Network

Kimberly Levitt, MPH, DHS Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom

COVID-19 Hero

Donald Hirsch Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center

Sheri Fredrick-Deeb, M.Ed, BSN, RN, NCSN Parkland School District

Jeffrey Jahre, MD St. Luke’s University Health Network

New Vitae Wellness and Recovery

Reading Hospital – Tower Health

Bethlehem Health Bureau

Health Professional Hero

Kathi Eichman, MS, CHC New Vitae Wellness and Recovery

Sonja Handwerk, RN, MSN, CNN, CCTC Lehigh Valley Health Network

Luis Puentes, BSN, MA, MBA, PHRN Lehigh Valley Health Network

Lifetime Achievement Hero

Luther V. Rhodes III, MD Lehigh Valley Health Network

Carol Gullo Mest, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAANP DeSales University

Nurse Hero

Terry Burger, BSN, MBA, CIC, NE-BC, FAPIC Lehigh Valley Health Network

Carlos Pineda Caresense

Melissa Hosni, RN, BSN Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg

Donna Pavlovic, MSN, MEd, RN Fellowship Community

Physician Hero

Timothy J. Friel, MD, FIDSA Lehigh Valley Health Network

AWARD CATEGORIES:

Advancement in Innovation and Health Care

This honors an organization principally responsible for a scientific discovery or for the development of a new process, device or a service that can save or improve the quality of life for a large number of people.

Allied Health Hero

This honors a non-physician professional practicing in allied health who displays exemplary performance in his/her field and whose services benefit families in our local communities. Examples include: Physician Assistants, lab technicians, phlebotomists, chemotherapy technicians, CNAs, hospice workers, nutritionists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and radiology technicians.

Community Outreach/Education Hero

This honors an individual or organization that reaches outside of their normal sphere of business to focus attention on a health care issue or to solve a community health problem.

COVID-19 Hero

This award honors an individual making an impact during the COVID-19 pandemic.

First Responder Hero

This honors individuals such as the military, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters and police for their professional achievement and community involvement in their line of duty.

Health Professional Hero

This honors non-medical health care workers. Examples include administrators, professors, health insurance professionals and receptionists.

Lifetime Achievement Hero

This award is presented to one individual for his/her lifetime career of advancing the health care of our region through heroic acts, mentoring, compassion, honor and integrity.

Mental Health Caregiver of the Year

This honors an individual or organization that provides mental health support and counseling services to individuals and families in our local communities.

Nurse of the Year

This honors a nurse or nurse practitioner whose performance is considered exemplary by patients and doctors and provides a model of professionalism to peers.

Pediatric and Pediatric Specialties Hero

This honors a physician or non-physician working in pediatric medicine or pediatric medical specialties whose work notably benefits the children in our local communities.

Physician of the Year

This honors a physician who displays exemplary performance in his/her field and whose services benefit in our local communities.

Senior Care Hero

This honors an individual or organization committed to advancing the health and wellness of senior citizens in our local communities.

Special Needs Advocate

This honors an individual or organization invested in special needs care for adults and/or children and making a difference to families in our local communities.

Therapeutic Care Provider of the Year

This honors an individual or organization invested in physical therapy, occupational therapy or chiropractic care whose job performance is considered commendable by patients and colleagues.

Volunteer Hero

This honors non-payroll individuals who reach out with time or skills to help patients or health care providers.

Women’s Health and Wellness Hero

This honors an individual or organization that makes women’s health and wellness a top priority and whose services benefit women of all ages. Examples include: OB/GYNs, imaging technicians, midwives, doulas, women’s health facilities.

Workplace Wellness Program of the Year

This honors an organization for a company-wide wellness program, healthy work environment, ergonomics program, or other health-related activities benefiting employees.

Do the winners have to say something?

Winners do not speak live during the event, but will be contacted to be profiled in a multi-media video that will be aired during the event.

I’m a Health Care Hero award winner, what now?

Sit tight, a member of our team will contact you soon with any additional details.

If I’m a winner, do I need to purchase a ticket?

You do not need to purchase a ticket for yourself as an honoree. All other attendees must purchase a ticket. Sponsorship packages are available to purchase for those wanting large groups of tickets and additional benefits.

Can I buy an ad in the publication?

The Health Care Hero program is supported through sponsorships. The ads you see in the magazine are part of the sponsorship packages. Please email shuettner@bridgetowermedia.com.

I bought a ticket but I don’t see it?

Tickets will be sent to you and everyone who registers the day before and the day of the event via email.

Remember, tickets can only be opened on one device, if you open it on your phone but then try to open it on your computer it will not work.

Contact lvbevents@bridgetowermedia.com if you have any issues.