Carthage Area Hospital Unveils 2018 Employee of the Year

Housekeeping Employee Wins Prestigious Honor

    Carthage Area Hospital employees gathered in the hospital’s conference room on January 17^th, 2019 with anticipation. The Employees of the Quarter for 2018, as well as the 2018 Employee of the Year were to be announced that afternoon.

Prudence Sheltray, ST, Ambulatory Surgery; Kyla Oliver, R.T. (R) (M) (CT) (BD), Medical Imaging; Tyler Beach, Housekeeping; and Valerie Gamble, PT, DPT were awarded Employees of the Quarter for the last quarter of 2018.

All other 2018 Employees of the Quarter included Sue Ward, RT (R) (M), Medical Imaging Department; Theresa Lampack, MS, LMHC-P, School Based Health/Behavioral Health; Morgan Pierce, MBA, Fiscal Services Department; Corey Burns, Plant Operations; Caleb Richter, MS, PA-C, Behavioral Health; and Colleen King, RN, QA Department.

Housekeeping employee, Tyler Beach was named the 2018 Employee of the Year.

“I was speechless. I wasn’t expecting it at all. It’s a great honor,” said Beach.

Tyler started at Carthage Area Hospital in August of 2012 working in the dietary department where he worked for two years. From there, he moved to the housekeeping department where he’s worked ever since.

“Tyler received a great deal of praise from hospital staff who nominated him. He’s a hard worker and it truly shows,” said Natalie Burnham, Chief Operating Officer. “This award reminds us how important it is to have a dedicated team to ensure we continue to be the best hospital we can be.”

Employees said that Beach “goes above and beyond in all areas of work and responsibilities,” and that he is “always smiling and brightens people’s day when met in any area of the organization.” “He not only cares about the “job” but also cares a great deal for the organization as a whole and the people within it, which is very clear by the work ethic portrayed and dedication that has been shown over the past few years,” another employee wrote.

Tyler resides in Carthage, NY with his girlfriend Kaitlin Gray, their newborn son, Silas and other son, Grayson.

Employees of the Last Quarter of 2018

Prudence Sheltray, ST

Surgical Technician, Prudence Sheltray started at Carthage Area Hospital as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) on the former Skilled Nursing Unit (SNU) in 1996. Prudence went on to work in a number of departments including, registration, switchboard, OBGYN, Medical Surgical Unit, Lab, and then Ambulatory Surgery.

Prudence was born and raised in Carthage, NY. She attended Carthage Central High School and went on to receive her Nurse’s Aide Certification from Country Manor Nursing and Rehab Center, Carthage, NY in 1991.

Sheltray has two children, Roxanne, Daytona Beach, Florida; and Joshua, Carthage, NY. She also has two grandchildren, Carson and Zoe. In her free time, she enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, live music, and riding her Harley.

“I am honored to have been nominated and thankful to all of those that have taken this career journey with me. I work at Carthage because we are family here, whether its longevity or short term. I have been supported by this family through some of the greatest hardships life can hand you and for that I am grateful,” said Sheltray.

Valerie Gamble, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist, Valerie Gamble has practiced at Carthage Area Hospital for four years. She works at the hospital’s Philadelphia Physical Therapy Clinic located in Philadelphia, NY. She specializes in post-operative care and pediatrics.

Gamble received her Bachelor’s in Biology from Clarkson University in 2010 and continued at Clarkson receiving her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2013.

Gamble lives in Gouverneur, NY and is married to husband, Kraig. They are expecting their first child together.

In her free time, Valerie enjoys spending time with family, exercising, camping, four-wheeling, and riding horses.

“I am honored to receive an award for which I was nominated by my peers. One of my values is purpose. Nothing makes my heart happier than being appreciated and feeling that I am serving my community. It’s an honor to practice at Carthage with my teammates where I can continue to crave excellence and be part of our continual growth to better serve our community,” said Gamble.

Kyla Oliver, R.T. (R) (M) (CT) (BD)

Kyla Oliver, R.T. (R) (M) (CT) (BD) has been at Carthage Area Hospital for four years as a Radiologic Technologist in their Medical Imaging Department. She specializes in mammography, computed tomography (CT), and bone densitometry (BD).

Oliver, also a Carthage native, graduated from North Country Community College with an A.A.S. in Radiologic Technology in 2014.

In her free time, Oliver enjoys boating on the St. Lawrence River, snowmobiling, and spending time with family. She is married to husband, Charles.

“I choose to work at Carthage Area Hospital because I grew up in Carthage and know the importance of having access to quality medical care close to home. I was a student at Carthage during my clinical rotation as a student from NCCC and immediately loved the atmosphere of the medical imaging department and staff,” said Oliver.

Nomination, Selection Process

    Employee of the Year selection is peer-based and limited to a pool of candidates who were selected as Employees of the Quarter during the year. Criteria include embodiment of the organization’s core values of accountability, compassion, customer service, professionalism, and teamwork.

    All team members employed for more than one year are eligible for nomination by fellow employees, supervisors, auxiliary members, patients, patient family members, or visitors. Nominations are reviewed based on each nominee’s embodiment of Carthage Area Hospital’s five core values.

   In 2017, the hospital’s Rewards and Recognition Committee implemented a new selection process through an anonymous vote open to the entire staff.