Celebrating the moments that make Augusta Health stronger — one recognition at a time.
At Augusta Health, we believe in celebrating each other — because every act of care, kindness, and teamwork makes a difference.
When team members go above and beyond for our patients, our community, and each other, we make sure it doesn’t go unnoticed. Recognizing those who live out the Augusta Health Way and embody our values is one way we continue to support, encourage, and lift up one another every day.
Here is a list of our most recent Values Award Winners. Join us in celebrating these outstanding team members!
Discover the multitude of ways to recognize your peers and fellow team members with just a click of a button.
Let’s give a huge round of applause and celebrate these extraordinary team members for earning the highest, pinnacle award at Augusta Health! You inspire us all, truly embodying The Augusta Health Way and making an incredible impact on everyone around you!
Join us in celebrating these outstanding team members that continue to live out our Augusta Health values daily. You inspire us as you continue to rise to the occasion: embracing change, staying resilient and focusing on how we together can help our patients, our community and each other.
You are invited to attend in person or join virtually! During this celebration, we will recognize the 1st quarter 2026 award recipients.
Melanie and Whitney consistently go above and beyond for patients on the PCU, placing patient safety, dignity, and well-being at the center of every transition of care. Their dedication to ensuring seamless discharges—often through complex and challenging circumstances—sets a high standard for patient-centered excellence. In one notable case, they supported a patient and family who initially did not understand the need for a higher level of post-acute care. Through clear communication and close coordination with the care team, Melanie and Whitney ensured the family felt informed and supported. When insurance barriers arose, they persistently coordinated multidisciplinary documentation, facilitated peer-to-peer reviews, and led multiple appeals until approval for skilled nursing care was secured. Their advocacy relieved significant stress for the patient and family and ensured a safe, appropriate transition of care. Melanie and Whitney consistently treat patients as if they were their own family, making a profound impact behind the scenes and embodying true patient-centered care.
Ethan consistently exemplifies professionalism, integrity, and compassionate patient-centered care. He demonstrates a strong work ethic, accountability, and pride in his role, even in the high-pressure environment of the ER. His ability to recognize and respond to the emotional needs of patients and families ensures they feel informed, supported, and valued throughout their care experience. Ethan’s respectful approach to addressing compliance matters and his openness to feedback foster a positive and collaborative environment. He has a remarkable ability to make patients feel like they are the only ones that matter during moments of vulnerability, leaving a lasting impression through his genuine care and unwavering professionalism.
Will Harding exemplifies exceptional leadership through his consistent dedication, humility, and willingness to serve wherever needed. He continually raises the bar for his team and department, taking on additional responsibilities to improve workflow and support a positive, high-functioning environment. Known for his calm, compassionate presence, Will puts patients and families at ease while leading by example every day. Even while serving as Charge Nurse, no task is beneath him—he steps in to support colleagues, assist other areas, and ensure the team’s success. His positivity, professionalism, and selfless approach inspire those around him, making him a true leader who sets the standard and supports others at every turn.
The Augusta Health Data Science Team exemplifies exceptional teamwork and collaboration through their ongoing partnership with the Value-Based Care team to advance Population Health and improve patient outcomes. Their commitment to shared goals, innovation, and accountability reflects the core values of Augusta Health. Through proactive collaboration, customized analytics dashboards, and streamlined data workflows, the team has delivered timely, actionable insights that support care gap closure and value-based contract success. Their ability to translate complex data into meaningful strategies has resulted in measurable improvements in quality performance, contract alignment, and patient care—demonstrating the power of teamwork in action.
Ty Cashatt exemplifies the very best of Augusta Health’s values through his professionalism, compassion, and genuine care for others. During an incredibly difficult and emotional moment in the ICU, when a family was facing a sudden medical crisis, Ty took the time—despite a demanding shift—to stop, check in, and offer comfort and support. His willingness to pause and provide reassurance during a moment of deep vulnerability reflects true patient and family advocacy. Ty’s actions went beyond his job responsibilities, demonstrating that compassionate care extends not only to patients, but also to families and colleagues impacted by those critical moments. By making others feel seen, heard, and supported, Ty showed the kind of empathy and humanity that defines exceptional care. Ty’s thoughtful presence and willingness to show up when it mattered most left a lasting impression and exemplify the heart of Augusta Health’s mission. His actions remind us that even small moments of kindness can make an extraordinary difference.
On Christmas morning, the hospital was likely quieter than usual with simple humming of machines and soft footsteps. For many patients, Christmas was not marked this year by typical family traditions and gatherings, wrapped gifts, and familiar voices, but by long hours, uncertainty, discomfort, and the weight of being away from home. When, what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a group of 6 volunteers and a cart full of cheer! They arrived Christmas morning with warm smiles, festive spirits, and a hospitality cart full of goodies for every inpatient in the house. Some wore Santa hats or reindeer antlers, some wore elf slippers, but they all carried themselves with a calm kindness that felt like a gift all its own. They had chosen to be there, giving their time on a day most people spend with family. As the volunteers moved room to room, they did more than deliver treats. They paused. They listened. They made eye contact and created moments where rooms felt less like a hospital and more like a place where someone truly cared. Trust grew in those small moments, and peace of mind followed. The volunteers' confidence and gentleness reassured patients that they were in a place where compassion mattered just as much as medicine. The volunteers represented the heart of Augusta Health - not through clinical expertise, but through human connection. They reminded patients that they were not alone, that their comfort mattered, and that kindness was still present even on hard days. On Christmas Day, these 6 volunteers gave more than their precious time and much more than goodies. They gave reassurance, dignity, hope, and cheer. Through their presence, they embodied compassionate care and built trust in the most meaningful way - by showing up, listening deeply, and offering peace when it was needed most!
Explore all the opportunities we have available.
This award is given to nurses who demonstrate qualities of compassion, teamwork, knowledge and excellence. These nurses exhibit high levels of professionalism, clinical expertise, excellence in patient care, fosters patient-centered care, leads by example, and acts as a mentor and role model to other staff. RNs and LPNs are eligible for the Nurse of the Year award.
This award is given to individuals who are registered nurse leaders. They role model caring behavior, display professionalism at all times and have a passion for nursing excellence. These individuals exhibit a strong leadership image that focuses on providing patient-centered care. These leaders ensure a healthy dynamic environment that is healing and support empowered professional practice, which improves quality patient care. Clinical coordinators, nurse managers, nurse educators, nursing directors, RN office managers, and those in nursing leadership roles are eligible for the Nurse Leader of the Year award.
Recipients of this award must be dependable and patient focused, and work well with the team while advocating for their patients. They must be invested in Augusta Health’s core values. They might also be involved in unit improvement measures that promote patient satisfaction and increase unit morale. PCTs, CNAs, EMTs, MHWs, CMAs and clerical roles are eligible for this award.
Several awards are presented to hospital team members who support the nursing mission at Augusta Health. Hospital team members outside of the nursing division are eligible for this award.
Celebrate with us as we showcase photos from our recent team member events, dedicated to celebrating YOU. We appreciate your commitment to each other, our patients, and the Augusta Health community. Thank you for embodying the Augusta way!
Discover our "Spirit of Augusta Health" Facebook page!
We've got another exciting way to celebrate our team members and flaunt our Augusta Health pride. Come join the fun on our exclusive Facebook page just for our team members!
