Anna Jaques Hospital Celebrates 45th Annual Employee Service Awards

Newburyport, MA – On April 4, Anna Jaques Hospital hosted its 45th Annual Employee Service Awards that paid tribute to 147 employees who have dedicated 5 to 50 years of service to the hospital.

President Mark Goldstein, Chairman of the Board David LaFlamme, and President of the Medical Staff Dr. David Swierzewski welcomed guests while emcee Shelley DeSimone, VP of Human Resources, and the Senior Management team recognized and congratulated each individual employee who celebrated their work anniversary starting at five years to fifty years (in five year increments).

Major anniversary milestones included 10 employees at 20 years; 9 employees at 25 years; 7 employees at 30 years; 1 employee at 35 years; 3 employees at 40 years. Top honors celebrated two longtime leaders at Anna Jaques Hospital:

• Karen Binette, Health Information Management, celebrated 50 years of service. In 1968, Karen did a two-week internship at Anna Jaques while a student at Green Mountain College. After impressing her internship manager, she was hired at Anna Jaques doing transcription for the Emergency Department (ED) and clinics. Karen then transitioned to the ED where she worked for 12 years. Later, she moved to the Transcription/Health Information Management Department where she remains today. Colleagues describe Karen as: compassionate; always smiling; and stellar.

• Elizabeth (Betty) Abby Stearns, RN, Nursing Administration, celebrated 45 years of service. Betty started at Anna Jaques as a Candy Striper while a student at Newburyport High School. She progressed to become a nursing aide while in nursing school at Northern Essex Community College. After working in Medical/Surgical, Betty became a Supervisor in 1977 where she remains to this day. Colleagues describe Betty as: dedicated, giving, charitable, professional, and generous. Betty truly embodies the family feel that sets Anna Jaques Hospital apart, as her parents were both nurses. Betty's mom was a 25-year alum and her dad came to AJH as a nurse after retiring from the Army. Together, Betty and her parents have given 80 years (and counting) of service to Anna Jaques.

In honor of Karen Binette, the event also featured a fun game of trivia based on 1968 – the year Karen joined the Anna Jaques Hospital community. The Annual Employee Service Awards is a beloved event as it celebrates a hallmark of Anna Jaques Hospital's culture.

About Anna Jaques Hospital

Anna Jaques Hospital is a 119-bed not-for-profit community hospital serving the Merrimack Valley, North Shore and Southern New Hampshire. With 1,200 employees and more than 200 physicians on staff, Anna Jaques is recognized for delivering high quality community health care with an emphasis on patient satisfaction.

Anna Jaques Hospital is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians, and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through ground-breaking research and education.