Colleagues honored with top hospital awards

Annually HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals award two colleagues with top honors for living the mission of the Hospital Sisters, which is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality Franciscan health care ministry.

This year Cath Ruff of HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital and Donna Dekan of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital received these awards, which are peer nominated and represent the highest awards a hospital colleague can receive.

The Father Klimek Healing Presence Award is presented annually to the person who best emulates the giving and compassionate spirit Father Klimek showed during his 45 years of dedicated service to the hospitals. The 2020 recipient, Cathy Ruff, is a registered nurse and clinical nursing educator at HSHS Sacred Heart. She was nominated for faithfully carrying out her work for the good of our patients and their families, going beyond what is necessary to bring joy into the lives of others, and for being regarded as someone who projects the very best of the hospital’s mission.

The Keeper of the Tradition Award is given to a hospital colleague who in exemplary ways carries on the traditions of Christian hospitality, servant leadership and the integration of the Sisters’ mission into his or her everyday work and service. Donna Dekan, the 2020 recipient, is an environmental services colleague at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital. She was recognized for sharing her compassionate spirit and willingness to help colleagues and patients alike.

During a small ceremony earlier this week each recipient received a congratulatory certificate, a glass bowl made by Dr. Steven Immerman of Evergreen Surgical, and a designated parking spot at their respective hospitals.