CHA’s Healthcare Heroes Award celebrates and recognizes the invaluable contributions of exceptional healthcare workers, both to their field and to the community at large.
Congratulations to this year’s winners! Scroll down to read about each hero.
2025
CHA Healthcare Heroes
Scott Allen, Chief Medical Officer, Hospital Administration, UConn John Dempsey Hospital
Carrie Barganier, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), Bristol Health
Amy Benoit, Manager, Louis D. Traurig House, Gaylord Specialty Healthcare
John Capobianco, Senior Vice President, Operations, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
Ilia Chavez, Home Visitor, Nurturing Families Network, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital
Shannon Dingus, Radiation Therapist, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Health, Yale New Haven Hospital
Susan Downs, Engineering Coordinator, Facilities and Engineering, Johnson Memorial Hospital
Michael Fusaro, LPN, Griffin Health
Jaclyn Gilgallon, Lead ICU Advanced Practitioner, MidState Medical Center
Shannon Haynes, Community Health Outpatient and Community Health Dietitian, Windham Hospital
Karl Hellstrand, Physician Leader, Pediatrics, Emergency Department, Saint Mary's Hospital
Betsy Hlavac, Ambulatory Nurse Manager, Hartford HealthCare’s Cancer Institute, St. Vincent's Medical Center
Eric Katz, Registered Nurse, Float Pool, Stamford Health
Wendy Kilis, Main Lobby Concierge, Safety and Security, Hospital for Special Care
Ron Lemire, Public Safety Officer, Backus Hospital
Veronica Mansfield, Medical Director for the Middlesex Health Center for Chronic Care Management, Middlesex Health
Kevin McVeigh, Director of Community Engagement, Danbury Hospital
Cassandra Mitchell, Director, Strategic Initiatives, Office of Chief Medical Officer, Bridgeport Hospital
Minda Muong, Interventional Radiology Team Lead, Saint Francis Hospital
Lavetta Newton, Patient Service Representative, Outpatient Clinic, The Hospital of Central Connecticut
Candy Osborn, Women's Health Coordinator, Sharon Hospital
Staci Peete, Director of Community Engagement, Norwalk Hospital
Cheryl Petrarca, Executive Director of Nursing, Day Kimball Health
Athanassios Petrotos, Medical Director for Trauma, Greenwich Hospital
Kelsey Socha, Recovery Support Specialist and Manager of the Family Resource Center at the Institute of Living, Hartford Hospital
