Published October 23, 2025
Cali Rivas, RN, who works in the Primary Care Center (PCC), received PEACE recognition for going above and beyond for a patient. The patient, who was seen by the PCC Pharmacy team, had a fever. Seeing that the PCC was busy, Rivas jumped in and did a triage assessment. She found the patient had a fever, chills and a swollen knee, and she became concerned.
Rivas raised her concerns about an infected joint and went the extra mile to take the patient to the Emergency Department for evaluation. The patient was diagnosed with septic arthritis. Because of Rivas’ timely and accurate evaluation, she prevented a delay in care and potentially saved the patient from harm.
The Rev. Augustine Okoroafor, a chaplain in Spiritual Care and Education, was awarded PEACE recognition after going out of his way to help a patient who was having a difficult time.
Okoroafor was visiting the patient, who said that he was feeling sad and isolated. He missed his family, particularly his mother, who lives in Haiti. After checking with the patient’s nurse, Okoroafor offered his personal cell phone so the patient could call his mother. The patient was incredibly grateful to speak with her.
Kadian Smith, Food and Nutrition Services, has been recognized for her keen attention to the patient experience. In a letter, a patient described Smith as “friendly, caring, warm, patient, such a joy.”
Smith was also recognized with a RAVE earlier this month by a Labor and Delivery nurse, who shared: “Kadian always goes above and beyond for all of our patients and even their family members. She makes sure patients are cared for and happy with their meal choices. She uses the interpretative tools available to communicate clearly and ensure there are no misunderstandings. We love Kadian!”
At a recent Surgery Service Excellence meeting, Smith was recognized for the way she helped a patient’s daughter plan for multiple meals, as the daughter would not always be available to assist her mother. Smith took the time to share her computer screen, showing the family how dietary restrictions were monitored and how nutritional limits were being respected with every meal.