Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1527096
HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 B7 HEALTHCARE HEROES | 2024 Awards Winner Category | Nurse Noreen Gorero Hartford HealthCare Director of Integration, Patient and Family Transitions, Heart & Vascular Institute N oreen Gorero oversees the integration of patient and family transitions and services at Hart- ford Hospital, recognized as among the best in cardiology care nationally. She is a leader focused on staff and patient engagement, boasting some of the highest patient experience scores in the hospital. She champions equity, diversity and inclusion. What have been your significant contributions to your organization? My team and I conduct choles- terol, blood pressure and blood sugar screenings in the community. We have completed 54 screening fairs and screened more than 1,300 people to date. I have made connections with under- served communities, the unhoused and uninsured, developing trust among them. I take pride in my involvement in Hartford HealthCare's Asian and Pacific Islander Colleague Resource Group. I am a member of the board of directors of the state's Philippine Nurses Association and served as a voice for Filipino nurses in Connecticut and nationally. I also help recently hired international/Fili- pino nurses feel welcomed at Hartford HealthCare. Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome. I've learned if I show sick patients I care, they welcome help. I had a patient with complications after surgery. He and his daughters were very anxious. I checked on them frequently and asked the surgeon to give updates. He recov- ered and they were pleased with the care they received. What's your next major goal and/or challenge? My next goal is scaling our screening program statewide, especially for those facing healthcare insecurity and access challenges. I would also like to be able to screen more people in shelters and public housing. Personal side: Residence: Durham Favorite way to relax: Watching "Law and Order: SVU" and going to the beach Winner Category | Nurse Taylor Fusco-Ruiz St. Francis Hospital Trauma Program Manager T aylor Fusco-Ruiz is the trauma program nurse manager at St. Francis Hospital. She oversees the care of all injured patients and ensures the delivery of efficient and quality care. Her career began as an emergency department nurse, where she found her passion for trauma. She joined the trauma leadership team in 2021 and assisted the team through a successful Level 1 trauma re-verification. What makes you a Healthcare Hero? My love for nursing began at a young age, knowing I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my great-grandmother and aunt, both emergency department (ED) nurses. Not long after joining the St. Francis ED team, I found my passion for trauma, which led me to my current role. Over the past year, I have assisted in writing multiple new policies and clinical practice guidelines, including develop- ing the hospital's first Difficult Airway Response Team (DART). I am an active member of the Injury Prevention Team, serving as an instructor for Let's Not Meet By Accident and Stop e Bleed. Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome. A challenge I was able to overcome was adapting to my new role. I have always been and enjoyed being a "worker bee" and moving to a leadership position has challenged me to trust my leadership skills and learn new skills that would allow my team to thrive. What's your next major goal and/or challenge? My next major professional goal is to help lead my team through a success- ful site visit re-verification as a Level 1 Trauma Center. My next personal goal is to run a full marathon. Personal side: Residence: Windsor Favorite way to relax: Sitting outside in the sun listening to music and reading a book. Hobbies: Running, spending time with family and friends, traveling, going to concerts Congratulations to all of the 2024 Hartford Business Journal's Healthcare Heroes! UHY | Farmington, CT www.uhy-us.com | 860-935-6132