Employees welcomed into ‘VIP’ group

by Contributed
3 weeks ago
Northern Light AR Gould Hospital employees serving for more than 20 years were honored at a special breakfast recently as Veterans-In-Partnership. Dr. Jay Reynolds, hospital president and VIP member, officially welcomed new members to this elite group. Among those were, from left, Carol West, RN from Eye Care; Diane Doustou from Environmental Services; and Roseanne McCullough, CNA from Acute Rehab. A total of 13 employees were newly inducted as VIPs this year. (Courtesy of Northern Light AR Gould Hospital)

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Thirteen individuals at Northern Light AR Gould Hospital were welcomed into a “Veterans-In-Partnership” or VIP group at the hospital last week. While all employees are considered very important at the organization, this impressive group is the hospital’s most tenured, all having achieved the status of 20 years or more of service.

“Your care, compassion, and commitment to our patients, our community, and our organization are what allow us to do what we do every single day,” said Dr. Jay Reynolds, hospital president, to all the employees gathered for the VIP breakfast as he recognized their service and welcomed new members with a small gift of appreciation. As someone who is himself a VIP with 30 years of service at AR Gould, Dr. Reynolds knows from experience the truth in these words.  

Northern Light AR Gould Hospital employees serving for more than 20 years were honored at a special breakfast recently as Veterans-In-Partnership. Dr. Jay Reynolds, hospital president and VIP member, officially welcomed new members to this elite group. Among those were, from left, Carol West, RN from Eye Care; Diane Doustou from Environmental Services; and Roseanne McCullough, CNA from Acute Rehab. A total of 13 employees were newly inducted as VIPs this year. (Courtesy of Northern Light AR Gould Hospital)

The number of VIPs fluctuates as employees retire and others are welcomed into the ranks.  Currently, there are 162 team members considered VIPs – that’s nearly 20 percent of the non-profit healthcare organization’s workforce.  This includes staff who work for AR Gould as well as staff based at AR Gould, including those now employed by other organizations but still doing work that supports the hospital. 

New “veterans” welcomed into this elite club for 2024 from Presque Isle were Aron Chalou, Diane Doustou, Terry Hill, Denise Johnson, Toni Lloyd and Gail Wylder.

Carrie Winslow, administrative assistant in the hospital’s facilities management department, is presented a personalized backpack by Dr. Jay Reynolds, hospital president, as a small token of appreciation as she was welcomed into the VIP club at AR Gould Hospital for having achieved 20 years of service. (Courtesy of Northern Light AR Gould Hospital)

Also reaching this milestone were: Sally Garrison of Blaine; Roseanne McCullough and Therese Martin of Caribou; Rebecca Berube of Chapman; Rachel Boulier and Carol West of Easton; and Carrie Winslow of Mapleton. 

In addition to these 13 new members who have reached the 20-year milestone, the other VIPS in this group range in years of service from 21 to, amazingly, 51!