Good Samaritan Award Winners
In every place and time, there are those exceptional people who selflessly give of themselves to comfort and aid others in need. The name “Good Samaritan” originated in the Christian Bible; but the concept transcends religion and culture. Without thought of reward or cost to themselves, a “Good Samaritan” profoundly changes someone’s life. At Med Center Health, this is an employee, volunteer, board member or community member who goes above and beyond in an extraordinary act of kindness, bravery or service to others.
Nominate a “Good Samaritan”Thank you to the following people who have been recognized with the Good Samaritan Award for their selfless acts.
Good Samaritan – Liz Wooldridge
Congratulations to Liz Wooldridge, Manager of Respiratory Therapy at The Medical Center at Franklin, on receiving the Good Samaritan Award! Liz was nominated for embodying Med Center Health’s mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.
“After it took a couple of months to get insurance authorization from the VA, a patient came to pulmonary rehab. Upon arrival, the patient’s oxygen saturation was in the 70s. The patient explained she did not have portable oxygen, and she couldn’t even wear her oxygen at home when she is moving around, due to the condenser requiring to be plugged in continuously. Liz offered social services assistance to the patient, and the patient said she was awaiting VA approval already and that she was sure the VA was doing all that they could. Liz felt this patient was truly trying to get better and change her life. Liz took it upon herself to locate and purchase (with her own funds) an oxygen condenser for this patient. Liz saw the need and felt an urgency to help this patient beyond the limitations of our services and insurance approvals. Based on this act, Liz is truly deserving of the good Samaritan award.“ – Brandy Jernigan
Good Samaritan – Brandy Villarreal
Congratulations to Brandy Villarreal, Director of Nursing Services, on receiving the Good Samaritan Award! Brandy was nominated for going above and beyond to help comfort those in need.
“I am honored to nominate Brandy Villarreal for the Good Samaritan Award in recognition of her extraordinary kindness and selflessness, during a desperate time of need.
My husband and I experienced the scariest event of our lives on January 10th when our 4-year-old son went into respiratory distress and had to be emergently transported to Med Center Health. Due to it being so early in the morning, and such a sudden event, we were unable to take our other two children to stay with others. This required our 9-year-old and 6-year-old daughters to accompany my husband and I in the Emergency Department, while their younger brother received care. The Emergency Department can be a scary place for children, especially when they are watching their sibling struggle to breathe. Brandy didn’t hesitate to offer help the moment she found out. She got to the hospital as soon as she could and took it upon herself to take my older two children with her and ensured they were well cared for. Brandy provided not only a safe environment but also emotional support during a stressful time.
Brandy organized activities to keep the children engaged and happy, ensuring they felt secure and loved despite the circumstances. She fed them breakfast, helped them create a get well soon poster, and loved on them; all while managing her own responsibilities. Our daughters were understandably worried about their little brother, and Brandy’s ability to provide a calm and positive environment for them made a significant difference in their outlook of that morning. Our hope was that the scariest time of our life would not end up being the scariest time of our daughter’s young lives, as well. Thanks to Brandy, this was not the case. Instead of talking about how fearful they were regarding their brother’s health, they spoke about how much fun they had spending time with Brandy. She shielded their hearts and their eyes from what could have been a traumatic memory for them, and we will be forever grateful.
By going above and beyond, Brandy exemplified the true spirit of a Good Samaritan. Her actions provided immediate comfort and relief to my entire family, during our time of need. It allowed my husband and I to focus on our sick child without having to worry about whether our other children were being taken care of. She truly has a servant’s heart, and I am grateful for her unwavering kindness, compassion, and commitment to caring for others. Throughout our hospital stay, she continued to serve in any way she could. This was exemplified by bringing us breakfast, checking on our son, and offering a listening ear. She is a shining example of how one person can make a significant impact in the lives of others through acts of love and service. Words cannot express our love and gratitude for her.” – Courtney Livingston
Good Samaritan – Beth Basham
Congratulations to Beth Basham, an ER Tech, on receiving the Good Samaritan Award! Beth was nominated for the work she does in our community that exemplifies Med Center’s mission to care for the people and improve the quality of life in the community we serve.
“Beth is a young adult going through nursing school with Med Center Health. She has a heart of gold and a smile that is contagious. She works in the ER and is well-known for her outgoing personality and willingness to help. She started in the registration portion of the ER and is now an ER tech, while going through the nursing program. She has helped at the local VFW and serves in the VFW Auxiliary, because her father, Donnie Basham, was in the Army. She is always reaching out to different organizations to help in the community. She recently helped with TOYS For Tots 8th annual Cookies with Santa at the American Legion for the VFW and VFW Auxiliary that served more than 350 kids this year. She also assisted in the parade that morning. In November, she traveled to Henderson, North Carolina, to help distribute a trailer of food and supplies to the victims of Hurricane Helene. Deputy Cole Murphy was very appreciative of all the outpouring support and the $13,000 check to the Henderson County Heroes that was supported by Bowling Green, KY AMVETS, American Legion, and the VFW. Beth has always supported the Veterans of Foreign Wars, as her dad was deployed when she was a little girl and is now a member of POST 1298 here in Bowling Green. Beth has always been moved to serve and does a great job of it. She has a genuinely giving personality and a heart of gold.” – Jill Waddle
Good Samaritan – Dale Shields
Congratulations to Dale Shields, an EMT with Medical Center EMS, on receiving the Good Samaritan Award! Dale was nominated for the lifesaving actions he performed while he was off-duty. Dale’s nomination is below:
“As Dale was driving home after a night shift in EMS, he saw smoke ahead and a responder pull into a building. When he and the others got out of the vehicle, there was lots of smoke, and they could hear someone inside screaming. Dale and the other gentleman went inside and were able to remove this man from his home. The house became completely engulfed in flames, as they were getting him outside to safety. Dale is a retired fireman and obviously had the correct knowledge and skills to save the patient. Med Center EMS and Med Center Health are lucky to have a man like Dale around.” – Kendra Messenger
Good Samaritan – Elizabeth Marchese
Congratulations to Elizabeth Marchese, an RN at The Medical Center at Russellville, on receiving the Good Samaritan Award! Shirley Blick nominated Elizabeth for her creation of a project that gives goody bags to pediatric patients that are in the ER. Elizabeth’s nomination is below:
“In November, Elizabeth initiated a wonderful project to create goody bags for our pediatric patients in the ER. These bags, filled with affordable toys and books, are thoughtfully organized for infants, toddlers, and school-age children. They are offered to children in the ER to help soothe their anxieties and keep them engaged, while they wait for test results. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and it has sparked a wave of generosity from other staff members, who are now contributing items.” – Shirley Blick
Good Samaritan – Gail Logsdon & Christie Phelps
“Congratulations to Gail Logsdon and Christie Phelps with Commonwealth Financial Resources (CFR) on receiving the Good Samaritan Award at Med Center Health! Myesha Johnson, also an employee at CFR, nominated Gail and Christie for their quick thinking and for going beyond their roles to ensure the well-being and safety of those around them. Myesha’s nomination is below:
“On December 27, 2024, I had a seizure at work while discussing accounts with Christie. After mentioning I needed a chair, everything faded away. Christie quickly called Gail for help, ensuring my safety and contacting 911 and my mother. They kept me calm until I woke up on a stretcher, confused but relieved that my parents were already at the ER. I am incredibly grateful to both of them for saving my life. A coworker suggested I nominate them for an award they truly deserve. Thank you, Christie, for your calming presence, and thank you, Gail, for your quick actions and support. I can’t express my gratitude without getting emotional. I’m thankful for your care during this experience. From the bottom of my heart, thank you both for being incredible people.“” – Myesha Johnson
Good Samaritan – Rita Leming
Congratulations to Rita Leming, an RN on 4D, for being honored with the Good Samaritan Award. Please see the nomination below to see why the Employee Recognition Committee selected Rita as an award recipient.
“On 4D, we had a patient that was admitted to the hospital and presented with NSTEMI. The patient was found to have severe multi-vessel disease and needed CABG. The patient was to get a balloon pump placed and CABG procedure in November. Over the weekend, the patient verbalized to staff (Rita) she was concerned who would take care of her 1-year-old miniature yorkie named Huckleberry. She originally had a plan for friends to watch the dog, however the patient’s friend didn’t anticipate keeping the dog for more than a couple days. She was unwilling to keep Huckleberry for the length of her hospital stay or rehab need thereafter, and the patient’s family lives out of state. This patient was fearful and concerned, as she was critically ill in 2023, was hospitalized for over 30 days, and lost her dog due to that. She didn’t want the same thing to happen to Huckleberry. Rita selflessly volunteered to foster Huckleberry during the patients hospital stay and during her stay at swing bed after, so the patient wouldn’t have to worry about potentially losing her pet if she had the surgery she needed to have. The patient is currently at swing bed rehabbing so she can get back home to her Huckleberry, and Rita is currently taking care of Huckleberry in her home with her other pets.” – Niki Doscher
“Rita always provides wonderful patient care and patients are always thankful for her caring demeanor. Recently, I was working with a patient in 4D, and the patient mentioned she had a yorkie dog named Huckleberry she was not able to take care of while she was in the hospital for open heart surgery. The patient then pulled out her phone and showed me photos of Rita caring for her dog. She said she did not know Rita before this hospital stay. She said when she awoke after surgery that Rita was there and she expressed her concerns about her dog to Rita. Rita has been caring for her dog since and the patient has felt so relieved that her dog is being cared for while she is recovering. Med Center is blessed to have nurses that go above and beyond for patients, especially outside of the workplace.” – Kassidy Miller
Good Samaritan – Cliff Coomer
Congratulations to Cliff Coomer, paramedic and supervisor for EMS, for being honored with the Good Samaritan Award. Please see the nomination below to see why the Employee Recognition Committee selected Cliff as an award recipient.
“On Saturday, January 25, units from various Warren County Fire Departments responded to reports of a residential house fire on Nashville Road in Woodburn’s district. Upon my arrival, I observed a two-story single-family residence with fire coming out of a window on the second floor with smoke coming from all windows and the eaves on the second floor. 911 calls indicated that there were possibly individuals still inside the residence, and that there was an individual suffering from injuries outside. I conducted an initial scene survey and observed an adult female suffering from serious injuries and burns being tended to by an off-duty medical provider in the front yard. Personnel from Woodburn, Bowling Green, and neighboring departments began to arrive and quickly extinguished the fire and conducted searches for any remaining occupants inside. Chief Bob Skipper of the Woodburn Fire Department was the incident commander of this fire. In consultation with Chief Skipper, we believe the efforts and quick action of off-duty Asst. Supervisor Cliff Coomer from Med-Center Health EMS directly impacted the outcome of the severely injured individual. His actions resulted in timely medical interventions and transport to a nearby burn/trauma facility, which ultimately led to her life being saved.” – Bill Rector, Warren County Fire Department.
Good Samaritan – Bobbie Cherry
Congratulations to Bobbie Cherry, an RN on 4D, for being honored with the Good Samaritan Award. Please see the nomination below to see why the Employee Recognition Committee selected Bobbie as an award recipient.
“Bobbie Cherry led the 4D SICU team (including CT surgeons) in adopting four kids from the Angel Tree Program. Two of those children needed beds, so she got beds, mattresses and comforters. Another child got a bike and a scooter. The children were also given clothes and toys. Bobbie also discovered that 6 residents at Magnolia Village did not have families, so she also purchased blankets, word search books, coloring book, crayons, shampoo, body wash, lotion, grippy socks, pop-it-sensor toys, and a therapeutic microwaveable stuffed animal. She included her granddaughter in the giving fun, and Starla made cards for all 60 residents at Magnolia Village, and the two of them delivered goody bags to all residents. When delivering Angel Tree items to the drop off center, she discovered the two siblings who had asked for beds had another sibling that had been adopted but did not receive a bed, so she went back and bought a bed, mattress, and comforter set for that child, as well. In addition to all of this, she also personally adopted another child from the Angel Tree Program. She had her truck fully loaded up with gifts, and with her generous heart, she delivered to all.” – Brandy Villareal
Good Samaritan – Kacey Jackson
Congratulations to Kacey Jackson, a security officer at The Medical Center at Bowling Green, for being honored with the Good Samaritan Award. Please see the nomination below to see why the Employee Recognition Committee selected Kasey as an award recipient.
“When a mental health patient had been discharged and still seemed to be having issues Kacey stayed with this patient to observe them. Based on their mental health condition they began to have more issues arise and ended up on the 5th floor of the garage. Kacey, by following, interacting with the patient and assisting until BGPD arrived, likely helped to save the man’s life. Based on her good judgement she most likely prevented a self-harm incident from occurring.” – James Monroe
Good Samaritan – Chris Meredith
Congratulations to Chris Meredith, an application analyst in IT, for being honored with the Good Samaritan Award. Please see the nomination below to see why the Employee Recognition Committee selected Chris as an award recipient.
“Chris Meredith reached out to us to see if it would be possible for Med Center Health hospitals to serve as donation centers for Toys for Tots. His daughter, Darby Meredith, was elected as one of 42 Toys for Tots Youth Ambassadors in the country this year, and she was looking for opportunities to set up donation boxes. We were able to get Toys for Tots approved as a special initiative for Med Center Health hospitals to each become collection centers. Chris told me a great story about how this request now means so much more to the families we serve in our region: “Because a box must be setup at each hospital, that included The Medical Center at Albany. At the time, Toys for Tots did not cover Clinton County at all. I spoke with Laura Belcher and she expressed the need that Clinton County had and that a committee was formed to collect and disperse toys for the children there. I worked with Janel Doyle, the Local Toys for Tots Coordinator, and she also spoke with Laura Belcher. Because of this, Clinton County is now part of the Toys for Tots Southern Kentucky region. All toys donated in Albany will stay in Clinton County. We will also be working to send additional toys to that area as well.” We are really excited that collecting for Toys for Tots will now be a part of our service at Med Center Health. Chris and Darby’s initiative will no doubt serve many families across the entire region and make this holiday a special one. Thank you Chris and Darby for serving the Med Center Health Mission to care for people and improve the quality of lives in the communities we serve.” – Corie Martin
Good Samaritan – Trisha Reese
Congratulations to Trisha Reese, a nurse on 3B, for being honored with the Good Samaritan Award. Please see the nomination below to see why the Employee Recognition Committee selected Trisha as an award recipient.
“Trisha recently took care of a patient on 3B, who came in with some wounds, and it was obvious the patient wasn’t able to take care of the wounds well at home. She was the nurse for this patient a lot during her stay, and she found out this patient was a neighbor of hers.
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Good Samaritan – Adriana Herrera-Cabrera
Congratulations to Adriana Herrera Cabrera, a social worker on 4D, on being honored with the Good Samaritan Award. Please see the nomination below to see why the Employee Recognition Committee selected Adriana as an award recipient.
“Adriana always goes above and beyond for patients and families at Med Center Health. On May 13th, I called Adriana to assist with a situation in ambulatory surgery involving a nine year old boy with autism who only spoke Spanish and parents who only spoke Spanish that were very overwhelmed.
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Good Samaritan – Lindsey Johnson
Congratulations to Lindsey Johnson, an Occupational Therapist at the Medical Center at Scottsville, for being honored with the Good Samaritan Award. Please see the nomination below to see why the Employee Recognition Committee selected Lindsey as an award recipient.
Lindsey is certified in lymphedema management and has a passion for treating individuals whose lives are affected by this condition. Management of this condition is complex and includes consistent treatment by the therapist, including manual techniques and compression wrapping of the affected area.
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Good Samaritan – Jonathan Phelps
Congratulations to Jonathan Phelps, Director, Linen/Environmental Services, for being honored with the Good Samaritan Award. Please see the nomination below to see why the Employee Recognition Committee selected Jonathan as an award recipient.
“I want to recognize a peer manager for the above and beyond ways he supports his team. Jonathan is the manager of many employees. I was first impressed with Jonathan’s organization of an ESL class to help enhance communications with his employees. Then, a few weeks ago, Jonathan reached out on behalf of one of his employees in need of furniture and household items.
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Good Samaritan – Carrie Shephard
One thing that every human being has in common is that we are born and then one day we will die. However, the circumstances between birth and death vary so greatly for each individual. The choices we make, people we encounter, and experiences we have all depend on fate. With these differences acknowledged, I believe one thing we can all hope for is to encounter and make relationships with someone that will be there for us in our final moments.
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Good Samaritan – Meredith Cherry
Congratulations to Meredith Cherry, a night shift RN on the CCU, for being honored with the Good Samaritan Award. Please see the nomination below to see why the Employee Recognition Committee selected Meredith as an award recipient.
In April 2023, CCU found itself with one extra patient. This extra patient was accompanying his owner while traveling and his owner ended up in CCU for a period of time. While Marcus didn’t seem to mind hanging out in CCU, his owner was extremely worried about what may happen to Marcus and how he was going to take care of Marcus during his admission and subsequent rehab stay.
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