Frisbie Memorial Hospital honors colleagues with annual awards
Frisbie Memorial Hospital, part of HCA New England Healthcare, recently honored five individuals for their commitment to their patients, communities and colleagues during the annual HCA Healthcare Awards of Distinction.
Frisbie had winners in two categories: The Frist Humanitarian Award and the HCA Healthcare Excellence in Nursing Awards. The awards celebrate the positive impact that Frisbie Memorial Hospital colleagues have on patients, the community and each other. The Frist Humanitarian Award recognizes the highest achievements in serving others and the Excellence in Nursing Award recognizes the highest levels of performance in the field of nursing.
“We have a wide range of talented, compassionate team members, and these awards recognize the best, brightest and most caring members of our Frisbie family,” said Tom Bowden, chief executive officer of Frisbie Memorial Hospital. “Each year, we recognize employees who go above and beyond to care for their patients, families and communities and we’re proud to honor these five outstanding individuals, all who have been nominated by their peers, which provides further testament of their impact.”
The award winners are:
Awards of Distinction
Frist Humanitarian Award – Physician
Christopher Lawson, MD – Cardiology
Dr. Christopher Lawson has been an integral part of Frisbie’s growth since its acquisition by HCA Healthcare in March 2020. Through his work at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, he expanded cardiology services to Frisbie, providing patients with a higher level of cardiac care, including cardiac catheterizations and other diagnostic and procedural services.
An exceptionally skilled and compassionate provider known for his clinical excellence and warm demeanor, Dr. Lawson fosters a culture of collaboration and trust. His innovative mindset drives him to remain at the forefront of cardiology advancements. Passionate about program development, Dr. Lawson is deeply committed to growing services that meet the evolving needs of the community, and equally dedicated to team development. He invests his time and energy into mentoring staff and building strong, multidisciplinary relationships that enhance both patient care and workplace morale.
Frist Humanitarian Award – Employee
Tammy Krampetz, Finance
Tammy Krampetz has been a Frisbie employee for more than 20 years and is an integral part of the Greater Rochester community. At work, she is diligent, compassionate and thoughtful, and goes beyond her formal duties by being an active member in the Employee Advisory Group, which plays a key role in the development of community relations and volunteer opportunities.
Outside of Frisbie, Tammy consistently plans and hosts family-friendly community events and fundraisers to assist community members. For example, for many years, Tammy has opened her home to the community at Thanksgiving, preparing several turkeys each year, and provides transportation to and from her home so that neighbors without transportation can enjoy the holiday meal. This generosity is a family trait, and in 2023, she and her husband were the recipients of the Spirit Award in their hometown of Acton, Maine, to recognize citizens who go above and beyond for their neighbors.
Additional Awards of Distinction
Nursing Excellence – Professional Mentoring
Jessica Gionet, RN – Endoscopy
Jessica began her career at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in 2000. She has served as a floor nurse, manager and director, but no matter her title, she sets the tone of whatever department she is in. Colleagues note that Jessica is always willing to assist others without hesitation, often stepping in without being asked. The recipient of numerous DAISY Awards, which demonstrates her positive impact on patients, she has been an official and unofficial mentor to many nursing colleagues at Frisbie and Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
Nursing Excellence – Compassionate Care
Ashley Allen, RN – Behavioral Health
Ashley Allen joined Frisbie in 2022 and brings compassion and integrity to everything she does. In 2022, Ashley was an integral team member when Frisbie launched its partial hospitalization program, often serving in numerous roles to get the program up and running. Ashely also brings creative ideas to the table including helping develop group sessions on nutrition and journaling that reflect her clinical expertise while connecting with what means the most to patients.
Ashley’s background is in emergency medicine — fast-paced, intense work — but she had always been drawn to behavioral health, especially crisis care. From the beginning, she brought a level of initiative and follow-through that made it clear: She isn’t someone who waits to be told what to do. She sees a need, and takes initiative to help best serve her patients.
Colleague of the Year
Denise Hance, Surgical Services
Denise Hance has been a Frisbie Memorial Hospital colleague for more than 10 years. She is a highly respected colleague and an individual of many talents. Denise lives the HCA Healthcare mission and constantly makes decisions with the patients in mind. Her commitment to patient safety and excellence fuels her work and is evident in all of her accomplishments such as implementing and educating others on new safety initiatives. She thinks outside the box to create new ways to educate her team and to implement new safety measures to help all staff provide safe, high-quality care.