Health System also Recognizes Longest Serving Nurse at Each Hospital
At Tower Health nurses are the backbone of caring for patients and the community—in hospitals, outpatient settings, physician offices, and patients’ homes. Our nurses are strong and, no matter the challenge, are at the patient’s side when they need care, comfort, health guidance, or just a kind word of solace or sympathy.
Tower Health thanks and celebrates the more than 3,000 nursing professionals throughout our health system with profound gratitude and admiration for their strength, their skill, and their perseverance in the face of a once-in-a-lifetime public health crisis.
“Nurses are vital to the health of our communities,” said Mary Agnew DNP, RN, NEA-BC Sr. Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer, Tower Health. “The last two years have been challenging for all of us and through it all our nursing team pulled together to care for patients and their families. When COVID-19 first arrived many members of our team bravely volunteered to care for these individuals, even when we knew so little about the virus. I was honored to lead this group of dedicated and passionate individuals who are committed to providing the highest quality care while keeping their patients safe and healthy. Our communities are so fortunate to have nurses of this caliber caring for their family, friends, and neighbors.”
In recognition of the extraordinary commitment of its entire staff of nursing professionals, Tower Health is featuring those nurses with the longest tenures at each of our hospitals. The longest serving nurses are:
- Sue Bailey, RN, CAPA, began her career at Reading Hospital in 1975.
- Christina Drass, RN, began her career at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in 1971.
- Deborah Johnson, BSN, RN, began her career at Chestnut Hill Hospital in 1979.
- Diane Kochinsky, BSN, RN, began her career at Phoenixville Hospital in 1978.
- Peggy Neese, BSN, RN, OCN, began her career at Pottstown Hospital in 1979.
These nurses represent 228 years of service to patients and the community. P. Sue Perrotty, President and CEO at Tower Health stated, “The decades-long commitment from Sue, Christina, Deborah, Diane, and Peggy is admirable and they are one of the many reasons Tower Health is such special organization. They, like all the nurses at Tower Health, have truly made it their life’s mission to help and heal. Today, and every day, I encourage everyone to recognize and thank a nurse for all they do.”
Visit towerhealth.org/NursesWeek to read more about the longest serving nurses and their careers at Tower Health.
