2026

Excellence in Business Office Services

This award recognizes the exemplary contributions of business office staff, including schedulers, intake staff, billers, and other administrative professionals.

Nominees included:

• Dannielle Torres, Adventist Home Care Services
• Jo-el Karatzakiskis, Johns Hopkins Care at Home
• Melissa Kotlar, Johns Hopkins Care at Home
• Brooke Williams, Communications Manager, MedStar Health Home Care

This year’s Excellence in Business Office Services award winner is Alicia Forman, Clinical Administrative Assistant, Home Centris Personal Home Care.

What truly sets Alicia apart is her willingness to step up whenever needed. No task is too big or too small. She takes on anything that is asked of her with a positive attitude and a solutions-focused mindset. She has expanded her role far beyond its original expectations and continues to take on high-level responsibilities that directly impact our organization’s success.

Alicia took on the coordination of dementia training for over 1,000 employees, managing logistics, communication, tracking, and follow-through to ensure completion across the organization. She keeps the Quality Assurance program organized and on track, ensuring deadlines are met and documentation is properly maintained. She also oversees CRISP coordination and communication, helping maintain compliance and streamlined information exchange. In addition, she schedules nurse monitoring visits across both Maryland and Virginia, balancing multiple providers, locations, and timelines with efficiency and accuracy.

Alicia is incredibly helpful, approachable, and collaborative. Team members know they can rely on her, and she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure everyone has what they need to succeed. Her professionalism, work ethic, and supportive nature make her not only an invaluable member of our business office but also someone who is truly amazing to work with.

Therapists of the Year

Recognizes the outstanding contributions of a licensed speech language pathologist, or physical or occupational therapist or therapy assistant.

Nominees included:

• Katherine Larson, PT, Medstar Home Health
• Laura Aceituno, OT, Adventist Homecare Services
• Deborah Hutton, OT, Adventist Homecare Services
• Sheetal Khadsare, PT, Adventist Homecare Services

This year we recognizing two Therapist of the Year Award Winners

• Suzy Corriere, Senior Clinical Specialist at Johns Hopkins
• Mansi Khedekar, PT, MS, Neuro, DPT, OCS, Field Physical Therapist at Adventist Homecare Services

Suzy Corriere

Johns Hopkins Care at Home believes that Suzy’s practice exemplifies a home health clinician who consistently exceeds her patients’ expectations, her agency’s expectations, and has made a positive impact on her team, agency and the extended therapy community. Suzy has raised the profile of Home Health Care in local and national programs and demonstrates the value of skilled Physical Therapy in Home Health Care every day.

As part of her role as a Senior Clinical Specialist, Suzy conducts monthly meetings with rehab staff to share her expertise in patient care planning and treatment, support current change and growth within the agency, and support individual well-being. She participates in the ongoing improvement process for the agency onboarding program and quality review as well as acts as an instructor within our First Year Orientation program.

Suzy also positively impacts the Physical Therapy community. Even though it is not part of her job description, Suzy provides in person education sessions yearly to the local community college PTA program to introduce them to Home Health and work through hands on lab case scenarios for Home Health patients. Additionally, she just completed serving three years on the nominating committee for the APTA, the last of which she was co-chair of the committee. She continues to actively support our professional organization and attends educational/business conferences to keep our agency current as well. Suzy is about to embark on earning her Certificate as a Geriatric Clinical Specialist, which will just enhance her ability to support her team, agency and community.

Mansi Khedekar

Mansi exemplifies the highest ideals of home care therapy through extraordinary clinical expertise, uncompromising professionalism, and a depth of compassion that profoundly changes lives. Her work does not simply meet standards—it redefines them.

From the earliest days of her tenure with our agency, Mansi demonstrated exceptional aptitude and drive. She achieved rapid mastery of Homecare Homebase (HCHB), producing consistently accurate, timely, and fully compliant documentation that exceeds agency expectations. Her charts are thorough, clear, and audit-ready, serving as a model of excellence. Office staff, peers, and leadership alike rely on her for her precision, reliability, and clear communication.

Mansi’s excellence extends well beyond her own caseload. She has taken on a vital leadership role as a preceptor and mentor, training students and newly hired physical therapists in HomeCareHomeBase workflows, high-quality documentation, and efficient clinical practice. Her ability to teach with clarity, patience, and confidence reflects both her deep technical knowledge and her commitment to elevating the entire team. She leads not by title, but by example.

Whether she is helping a 96-year-old patient regain independence after hospitalization or guiding a patient through the pain, fear, and uncertainty of post-operative recovery, Mansi delivers care with extraordinary skill, empathy, and heart. She does more than restore mobility—she restores confidence, dignity, and hope.

Nurse of the Year

Awarded to the RN or LPN with outstanding contributions to patient care and customer service.

Nominees included:

• Michelle Digennaro, RN, Medstar Health Homecare
• Katherine Cruz, BSN, RN, Adventist Home Health
• Patricia Salem, RN, Adventist Home Health

This year’s Nurse of the Year award winner is Renee Morales, RN, Home Health Field Nurse at Adventist Home Healthcare.

As a dedicated nurse with Adventist Home Health for 40 years, Renee exemplifies outstanding commitment to patient care, customer service, mentorship, and teamwork. Her long-standing service reflects not only loyalty, but a deep passion for the home health field and the patients she serves.

Renee consistently goes above and beyond to ensure patients receive timely, compassionate, and high-quality care. She is proactive in managing her schedule and productivity, promptly notifying her scheduler of cancellations so she can see another patient in need. This initiative ensures continuity of care and maximizes access for patients requiring urgent attention.

Renee is a dedicated preceptor for new hires and consistently welcomes nursing students to shadow her. She mentors them with patience and enthusiasm, helping shape the next generation of home health nurses. Her willingness to teach strengthens the organization’s workforce and ensures continued excellence in care delivery.

Renee readily volunteered to support the sister department of Home Assistance by completing nursing evaluations for private duty admissions and performing aide assignments. Her flexibility and collaborative spirit directly improved patient access to services and strengthened interdepartmental operations.

After 40 years of service, Renee Morales continues to embody compassion, professionalism, and excellence. She is not only an exceptional nurse but a true ambassador for Adventist Home Health. Her dedication has made a lasting difference in the lives of patients, colleagues, and the organization as a whole.

Caregiver of the Year

Recognizes a Home Health Aide, Certified Nursing Assistant, or Caregiver who consistently exceeds expectations on a day-to-day basis by demonstrating leadership, a strong work ethic, and commitment to providing excellent patient care.

Nominees included:

• Rose Cole, Adventist Home Healthcare Services

This year’s Caregiver of the Year award winner is Angelique Wallace, HHA/CNA, Medstar Health Home Care.

Angie has been a devoted employee of MedStar Health Home Care for over 10 years and consistently exceeds expectations in her role. She provides care that goes far beyond task completion—bringing comfort, dignity, and reassurance to every patient and home she enters. Patients and families frequently request her by name because of her kindness, reliability, and the trust she builds through every interaction.

Angie is highly proactive in her care, often assessing patient needs in advance of clinical visits and advocating for necessary supports such as adaptive equipment, supplies, or hospital beds. She also ensures patients are prepared for challenges, including severe weather, by addressing safety and emergency needs ahead of time.

Her compassion is evident in everything she does. She treats every individual with respect and dignity, ensuring they feel seen, valued, and cared for during both difficult and joyful moments.

Angie’s reliability, strong work ethic, and commitment to patient-centered care make her a true role model in home health. She communicates effectively with the care team, advocates for her patients, and consistently prioritizes safety and quality of care. Angie embodies the very best of caregiving and is truly deserving of this recognition.

Malinowski Innovation Award

Recognizes innovation in the delivery of home health services, standards of practice, and/or the patient experience.

Nominees included:

• Patricia Pappas, MedStar Health Homecare
• Hernan Kim, MedStar Health Home Care
• Phyllis Norville, MedStar Health Home Care
• Marya Sabalbaro, Adventist Healthcare Home Care Services

This year’s Malinowski Innovation Award winner is Adventist HealthCare Home Health – Education Specialists.

Leiy Batiller, Christalline Rediang, Lauren Palmer and Bella Reyes demonstrated unwavering dedication and exceptional work in revitalizing our clinical orientation program over the past year. Through countless hours of collaboration and innovation, this team has transformed our clinical onboarding orientation into a comprehensive, modern, and highly supportive experience for newly hired clinicians.

The educators conducted a comprehensive update of orientation content to align with current evidence-based practices, adding hands-on skills training and a dedicated wound care class to build clinician confidence before independent field work. Clinical competencies were revised and converted to an electronic format, improving accessibility, consistency, and communication across departments.

A key enhancement is pairing each new clinician with a discipline-specific preceptor for individualized mentorship and hands-on support. Weekly meetings with the new hire, educator, manager, and preceptor provide feedback, address questions, and support a safe transition to independent practice. Ongoing mentorship continues beyond orientation, reinforcing a culture of continuous learning, support, and excellence.

This team’s tireless efforts have significantly enhanced clinician preparedness, confidence, and retention, ultimately improving patient outcomes and elevating the standard of care across our organization.

Emerging Leader Award

Recognizes an individual who exhibits strong leadership qualities, problem-solving skills, and a dedication to achieving meaningful progress in their role. This individual has made a significant impact early in their career, empowers others, and leaves a meaningful imprint on their organization through collaboration and initiative.

Nominees included:

• Judy Duplayee, MedStar Health Home Care
• Filemon DeLasAlas, Johns Hopkins Care at Home
• Natasha Bautista, RN, Adventist Home Healthcare Services
• Melissa Rush, RN, Adventist Homecare Services

This year’s Emerging Leader Award winner Ebony Truitt, Branch Manager, Eastern Shore/Salisbury at HomeCentris.

Ebony Truitt is exactly the kind of emerging leader our industry needs right now - steady, solutions-focused, and deeply committed to both people and outcomes. In a market with constant operational pressure, Ebony consistently brings clarity and forward motion. She listens first, identifies the root issue, and then takes action with calm urgency and accountability.

She doesn’t just “fix problems” she builds structure. Ebony proactively identifies gaps, strengthens communication, reinforces expectations, and helps put sustainable processes in place that reduce repeat issues. She leads collaboratively across departments, stays composed under pressure, and keeps teams aligned on what matters most: access to care, service reliability, and a strong caregiver/client experience.

Just as importantly, Ebony empowers others. She coaches with intention, provides clear feedback, recognizes wins, and creates space for her team to grow in confidence and capability. She raises standards while also raising people. Even early in her leadership journey, she has already made a meaningful impact on operational stability and team culture through initiative, collaboration, and results.

Rookie of the Year

Honors outstanding first-year performance and recognizes an individual who has quickly become an integral part of the team, inspiring others with their fresh perspective and initiative. This individual demonstrates excellence in their initial contributions, adaptability, remarkable growth, and/or an eagerness to meaningfully contribute to their organization that paves the way for future achievements.

Nominees included:

• Steven Eggers, RN, Adventist Home Healthcare Services
• Cherelle Morton, HomeCentris Healthcare

This year’s Rookie of the Year Award winner is Avy Rohr, PTA at Johns Hopkins Care at Home.

Avy graduated from PTA school in 2023 and took a position in an outpatient clinic. He had never worked in Home Health until he started working with Johns Hopkins Home Health Services in August of 2025. In just six months, Avy has developed his practice to exemplify a home health clinician who consistently exceeds his patients’ expectations. He has already made a positive impact on his team and agency through his contributions towards developing programs. Avy is the first full time PTA dedicated to his territory team and is working in a pilot program, along with 2 physical therapists, Rehab Supervisor, Rehab Director and Scheduler, to develop an efficient pod system for scheduling, handoff and supervision of care. Avy’s willingness to be open with barriers and operational suggestions have guided our progress.

Avy’s current enrollment in Johns Hopkins MBA program has afforded him unique perspectives and insights for our developing Pod program as well as our upcoming transition to a new EMR platform and introduction and development of AI tools. Avy’s background includes a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science in addition to his Associate of Applied Science Physical Therapy Assistant degree, and he demonstrates the value of skilled Physical Therapy in Home Health care every day. Avy's team has applauded him for his teamwork and collaboration, and he has received multiple patient compliments already. He takes the time to listen to their concerns and work collaboratively with the patient and Home Health team to develop personalized treatment plans that are tailored to their specific needs and goals.

Leader of the Year

Awarded to an individual who demonstrates outstanding leadership, strong management skills, and compassion in the performance of their duties.

Nominees included:

• Brandie Simons, JSSA
• Praxedes Fofung, MedStar Health Home Care
• Deborah Kim, Adventist Home Health
• Heather Fitzhugh-Boehm, MedStar Health Home Care
• Gina Williams, Medstar Health Home Care
• Swea Hart, Adventist Healthcare Home Care Services

This year’s Leader of the Year Award winner is Adam Roscioli, Operations Director at MedStar Health Home Care.

Adam demonstrates exceptional leadership, strong management skills, and genuine compassion in his role. He is a leader who consistently motivates and supports people to be the best version of themselves.

In the demanding field of patient care, a true leader is someone who offers understanding when clinicians are exhausted, overwhelmed, or questioning their ability to continue. Adam embodies this standard.

He consistently goes above and beyond expectations—often anticipating challenges being faced in the field and proactively helping set others up for success. He takes the time to understand others strengths and areas for growth and tailors his guidance in a way that allows me to provide the highest quality care possible.

Adam is responsive and dependable—always available to answer questions, resolve issues in the home health setting, and ensure both staff and patients are supported. His leadership has made a meaningful difference in my professional growth and well-being.

Cindy Libby-Green Leadership Award

The Cindy Libby-Green Leadership Award recognizes an individual or agency who demonstrates outstanding leadership in the advancement of home health, private duty, or the home medical equipment industry at the local, state, or national level, and whose significant contributions and accomplishments impact the industry at large.

This year’s Cindy Libby-Green Leadership Award winner is Mary O’Donoghue, CEO at Corewood Care.

Mary shows up every day with integrity, accountability, and a genuine commitment to the people around her. Whether supporting colleagues, stepping in to solve problems, or helping guide important initiatives forward, she leads with both confidence and humility. Her steady presence and willingness to do what’s needed without seeking recognition has made a lasting impression on our team and organization. People trust her, seek her guidance, and feel encouraged to grow because of the environment she has created. Her leadership has strengthened collaboration, improved morale, and consistently moved the work forward in meaningful ways.

One story that comes to mind happened after a heavy winter storm that left many of our clients snowed in and isolated. One of our elderly clients, who lives alone and has no family nearby, was particularly affected. Their driveway and walkway were completely covered, making it nearly impossible for caregivers to safely get in and out of the home. The client was anxious about being stuck and worried about how they would manage if help couldn’t reach them. When Mary learned about the situation, she didn’t hesitate or delegate the task she handled it personally. After finishing her own responsibilities, she trekked to the client’s home with her son in tow via sled and a shovel. She cleared the driveway and walkway. She recognized a need and took action to make sure the client was safe and supported. What made this moment so meaningful was not just the act itself, but the intention behind it. The client felt seen and cared for, not as a task on a schedule but as a person.